Decomposing Maggie

by Ann Eriksson

Maggie Cooper has lost sight of the living. Three years after her husband Peter's death, Maggie is estranged from her daughter and removed from her son. She wears Peter's one remaining item of clothing--a paintsplattered sweatshirt--and spends more than the occasional night sleeping in her car, away from the memories of their once-shared bed. Obsessed with making the perfect basket to contain her late husband's ashes, Maggie spends her days gathering kelp at the local beach and weaving in her sunroom. Now, the island property where she and Peter had first built their lives together has been sold and Maggie has no choice but to return there to pack what belongings remain and face the ghosts of the past. Decomposing Maggie resonates with dignity and clarity. Eriksson writes with compassion, frankness and grace.

Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Tammy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at a thrift store; I love coming across little known gems, especially local Canadian authors. I loved this author's voice, the straightforward emotion of the characters. No extra wordiness or fluff, just plainspoken this is the human condition, this is life.
This copy is even signed by the author, an extra special bonus, on top of the great read, to add to my Canadian bookshelf.
I will be looking to read her other works!

[Stephanie Suter · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an op shop find this was a really good book. I'm shocked not more people have read or heard of it. It's a very heavy book and needs trigger warnings. However I still rate it....

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just happened across this book at the library while looking for something else. I was fairly intrigued by the title. It's about a woman coming to terms, or trying to come to terms, with the death of her husband. The author is a biologist, and interweaves beautiful passages about the flora and fauna of the island where much of the story takes place. The grief expressed in this novel is fairly raw -- would not be a good read for someone in the throes of a recent loss, but it has lovely moments.