Lost: A Memoir

by Dennis Garnhum

Late September, 1995. Cathy and her family are waiting for her youngest brother to call them on his birthday. For years it has been a family tradition that no matter where in the world David might be--from Australia to China to England--he will call on his birthday. The day passes and by evening there has been no call. Could he have forgotten?

A month before, David and his girlfriend Sarah set sail from Ireland in their boat Mugwump, headed for the tropical island of Madeira. What should have been a two-week journey becomes a mystery as days and months pass with no sign of the missing boat. Unable to wait helplessly at home, Cathy travels to Madeira determined to uncover information, or better yet, find her missing brother. Instead of finding answers, the beautiful and sensual island of Madeira stirs Cathy's longings and she begins to examine the choices she has made in her own life. How can she care for her three young children and a husband recovering from cancer, when she no longer sleeps, and is up every night wondering what happened to Mugwump?

Lost--A Memoir is an inspiring true story that demonstrates what it means to live a life filled with love, loss, compassion and boundless dreams.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2008

About the author

Dennis Garnhum is a writer, a theatre director, and the artistic director of the Grand Theatre in London, Canada. Before that, he was the artistic director of Theatre Calgary between 2005 and 2016. In addition to directing at those theatres, he has been a guest director of productions for Bangkok University in Thailand and for companies which include the Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Canadian Stage, American Conservatory Theater, Vancouver Opera, National Arts Centre, Tarragon Theatre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Florida Grand Opera, Bard on the Beach, and Citadel Theatre. Garnhum is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has written and cowritten several award-winning plays and adaptations, including Lost: A Memoir, Timothy Findley's The Wars, and A Christmas Carol. Toward Beauty is his first book. He lives in Ontario with his family.

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I read Karma, I had to read more by Cathy Ostlere, so read this next (2013). Stunning, heartbreaking. So different from Karma yet superb in its own way. Searingly honest. One of those books that stays with you for a very long time.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ostlere writes about the year following the disappearance of her brother and his girlfriend during what was supposed to be a routine, ten-day sailing trip from Ireland to Madeira. It's not so much about any rescue attempt, although she does visit both their destination and the starting point, but about coming to terms with the grief and the strain David's near-certain death places on the remaining family relationships.

[Mr C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written account of the author's loss of her brother at sea. It is at once an account of what it means to lose a loved one under unclear circumstances. (How did her brother and his girlfriend die? Where? Why?) More than that, it is a journey inside herself, her family, her memories and her very identity. It is clear that the loss is life changing. This is not my usual read but it is exceptional, lyrical writing.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally read a description of the play theater Calgary was performing and added this book to my to-read list. So glad I did.

[Adam Cormier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this a great deal. Terrific account of a sister trying to come to terms with the unexplained loss of her brother. Retracing the steps he took with his sailing journey. She hopes to track down some answers around his disappearance.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written account of one woman's struggle to come to terms with her grief and sense of loss when her brother and his girlfriend are lost at sea.

[The Bookish Owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth the read.

[Ella Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting. Evocative. A testimony to the bonds between sister and brother; loss and grief; following one's dreams.

[Heather Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling take on the loss of a loved one. I enjoy this one - especially by a local. ;)

[Joanna Korasadowicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this was like reading poetry, I enjoyed it but it dragged on a little bit. Would love to read some more of her books tho!

[Kurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A haunting meditation on life and what it means to live.

[Ryan Murdock · Rating 3 out of 5]

In September 1995 the Cathy Ostlere' brother David sets out with his girlfriend in a twenty-eight foot sailboat to cross the 1,200 empty ocean miles between Ireland and Madeira, telling only Cathy in order to protect their parents from worry. More than two months pass with no contact. When a family tradition is missed, David’s sister suddenly realizes that they are lost.

The narrative begins with those first few days of waiting for a phone call that never came. It tracks back and forth through time, exploring childhood events and later happenings as Ostlere’s search for her brother takes her from prairie Canada to Madeira, Ireland and Scotland. In this movement between present and past, the order of events is not chronological. Rather, they ebb and flow as memory does, with each reminiscence sparked by a smell, the sight of a piece of clothing, or a phrase overheard by chance. The author’s search drives the book forward, but it is that exploration of where past and present, memory and future, meet which drives the book deeper.

As she reaches the end of her narrative, the search for a missing brother has rippled out to have broader and unexpected implications for Ostlere herself, her marriage, and her family. The reader is left with a compelling exploration of what it means to be lost – both literally and as a state of mind. In a book which blurs the lines of temporality, it’s fitting that by the conclusion we’re never sure which is which.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who has lost a loved sibling, this book will resonate with the story of a brother and sister who change each other’s lives. LOST will also appeal to the reader whose interest in true adventure stories includes the examination of what it means to be passionate, alive, and committed to one’s dreams.

I am the author Cathy Ostlere. For information on the book or to contact me please visit cathy-ostlere.com.

[Jane Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can pick this book up on any page and be inspired by its poetic style. A human journey, beautifully written. Best savoured and sipped in small bits, I prefer it to Elizabeth Gilbert's books.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting. Evocative. A testimony to the bonds between sister and brother; loss and grief; following one's dreams.

[Jaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written.

It makes one think of the fact that there will be mysteries that may never be solved-no matter the importance.

[Jael Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the structure and approach to the story.

[Kathryn Burwash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunting and deeply moving. A kaleidoscopic account of the meaning of loss, family, and freedom. Each memory and new discovery is lovingly and bravely deliberated. A fitting tribute to a beloved brother.