Nightlight: A Memoir

by Janine Avril

In this memoir, family secrets and their consequences emerge from the safety of the night and shed light on a life of mysteries. Janine Avril was twelve years old when her mother was diagnosed with a deadly cancer, from which she died three years later. While a junior at Cornell University, Janine learned that her father, a popular French chef and entrepreneur, was terminally ill. But it was the unexpected phone call five years later that truly forced Janine to re-evaluate her childhood.
Embarking on a journey into the dark corners of her past, Janine's investigation revealed a deeply personal and powerful link to her father, further illuminating the truth behind her mother's illness.

Genres: Memoir

248 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Christian · Rating 1 out of 5]

A short read, invariably infuriating, both in terms of content and once you realize you’ve been duped. A memoir in which the author recounts her lush Long Island life of privilege which is shattered when her mother dies of cancer. Six or seven years later her father follows, his death of AIDS. What follows is a witch hunt vilifying her father for his illness and manner in which he dealt with it, crucifying him for an array of stereotypical assumptions that may have lead to his diagnosis: drug abuse? bisexuality? pure ego and selfishness? I’m paying the postage to mail the book back as it is nothing I want anywhere near my bookshelves.

[Amanda Valenti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book... And I work with the author!

[Amanda Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written - very moving! One of my favorite recent books I’ve read!

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janine's story is so heartbreaking, it's almost unbelievable. I can't imagine losing both of my parents the way that she did. Understandably she was quite bitter towards the end, but I feel that she used that to her advantage to become the person that she always wanted to be. From her father she was constantly seeking his approval and acceptance, which he did not often give. Her parents did not share what was really going on with their illnesses to protect their children, which ultimately left them hurt and confused after all was said and done. I greatly admire Janine and her will to put her anguish into words for everyone to read.

[Mari Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This memoir was thinly written and based entirely on the author's experience of finding out that both her parents died of AIDS. The author just did not come across as sympathetic enough and her writing was choppy and seemed incomplete. I wanted to feel for her and her family but I just couldn't summon enough empathy from the facts given to really care. It almost read like a badly written novel instead of a first person memoir.

[Susanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very moving. Definitely NOT of the 'Misery Memoir' genre, but it had me boggling at just how much misfortune one person should have to cope with, so early in life. Shocking discoveries and traumas are layered one upon another, yet she survived to tell the story.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

highly recommend

[Kristen Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

How a daughter dealt with losing her parents and finding secrets about them after they died.

[Jane Goldberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this memoir of Jeanine Avril of the secret that was withheld from her about her parents life. Knowing her parents I found it very interesting and poignant