Book Review: The Last Moon Before Home
The Last Moon Before Home by Barbara J. Dzikowski is a poignant and moving novel about the protagonist, Willow, meeting her paternal family for the first time. The book addresses the subject of Alzheimer’s in a very personal way, taking the reader on a journey through the eyes of different characters as they experience the decline of Walt due to this illness.
One of the standout features of the novel is the unique voices given to each character. This allows readers to truly differentiate between them, and ensures that none of them get lost among the others. The story is told with such intimacy and detail that the reader feels as if they are witnessing everything firsthand.
The emotional depth of the novel is remarkable, particularly in its portrayal of Alzheimer’s. Dzikowski skillfully depicts the complexity of the disease, unveiling the ways it affects not only the individual suffering from it, but also the entire family. The novel also explores themes of identity, family, and the power of connection that transcends physical barriers.
Overall, The Last Moon Before Home is a remarkable book that will stay with readers long after they finish. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling, and a touching reminder of the importance of human connection, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Buy Now on Amazon
The Last Moon Before Home by Barbara J. Dzikowski
“Dzikowski brings a steady authorial hand to this poignant and approachable family tale.”
–Booklife by Publishers Weekly (editor’s pick)
“A thoroughly moving and engaging read.” -BlueInk Review(starred review)
“Wonderful character studies … a complex and engrossing family tale.” -Kirkus Reviews
Willow Trudeau is looking for the home she never had and for a father about whom she knows only his name: Leon Ziemny. Abandoning college, she leaves California to journey to a deteriorating ethnic neighborhood in Indiana where she first encounters her grandfather, Walt, owner of a dying tavern, who’s just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The two of them forge an immediate bond, but she does not disclose her identity to him, or to her father Leon, who is in denial about his own father’s diagnosis. As Walt descends into dementia and the entire family is thrown into chaos, Willow–still concealing her identity from them–seems to be the only one who can provide the balm for Walt’s ailing soul, including his ongoing plea to return to a home that no longer exists.
The Last Moon Before Home is a tender, engrossing, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes humorous, story about looking for the home we all search for, in one way or another.
