Fireflies

by David Morrell

The best-selling author describes his teenage son's valiant but unsuccessful battle against bone cancer and relates the mystical and miraculous events that led the author to an understanding of the undying quality of the human spirit. Reprint.

Genres: Nonfiction, Ebooks, Biography, Relationships, Literary Fiction, Health, Medical

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 5, 1988

About the author

David Morrell is a Canadian novelist from Kitchener, Ontario, who has been living in the United States for a number of years. He is best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become a successful film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. More recently, he has been writing the Captain America comic books limited-series The Chosen.

Reviews

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every once in a while, I try to take a break from the usual mystery, thriller and shoot-'em-ups that make up my favorite genre of books. Admittedly, I'm pretty choosy about what I pick; anything that even smells like a romance novel or bodice-ripper, for instance, isn't even on my radar.

Those that fall into the realm of tear-jerkers usually are avoided too. In this case, however, I decided to make an exception - even though for the life of me I can't think of anything worse than losing a child under any circumstances, and certainly not to a horrific form of cancer at the tender age of 15.

Sure enough, all it took was wading through the first couple of chapters to make me say to myself, amid watery eyes, "Whatever were you thinking?" This is a mostly true story (about 90% of it is fact, the author says) that starts when he himself supposedly is on his deathbed, many years after losing his son Matthew to a form of Ewing's Sarcoma that lodged itself on the underside of a rib in a place nearly impossible to remove. In reality, he started writing the book only months after his son's death, in part as a form of therapy.

Tempted as I was to shut down my Kindle and try to forget I'd ever started such a gut-wrenching story, I kept going - and in the end, I'm glad I did. To be sure, there is no happy ending; in fact, the word "happy" didn't enter my head from Page 1 to the very end. But it is a story of one man's journey into understanding, of sorts, the meaning of life and death as well as the strength of the human spirit (of the author, his wife and their courageous son). It is medically informative, tender and inspiring and, perhaps most important of all, underscores the wisdom of that bumper sticker the author mentions in his epilogue: Have you hugged your kid today?

[Ferdi van der Kamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

''All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses,/And to die is different from what any one supposed.'' E=mc2

David Morrell tells his big loss in a passionate and inspiring story. It starts with this thrilling story (mostly non-fiction) and later explains more clearly the story and a part of what happened with him afterwards. Very strong written (so powerful) and on occasion it really hit me; I was hoping (while already knowing better), being disappointed, mourned for the loss for many, found ways to word my own thoughts, and every ending of a page I wanted to turn it to the next one.

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

rip, matthew

[Cafes and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Everything's an act of faith." This book was so beautiful and sad and thought provoking. I think God allows things to happen based on what He understands for Eternity. David Morrell came to understand his faith when he lost his beautiful son. His son was a tragedy from beginning to end simply because he was such a good kid. He was the type of kid everyone loved. And that made him so hard to lose. I can't begin to imagine the desperation and urgency Morrell and his family felt when they lost Matt. This book framed the aftermath of Matt's death well. It offered readers a glimpse of how supernatural events gave Morrell and his family so much peace. We do not know how much time is given to us. Life is simply one step of faith after another. We could die at any moment and yet we live on indifferent to this fact. This book gave me a sense of purpose. I haven't been able to see a clear direction in my life and now I feel I have nothing but direction. The direction I have is to persist and trudge forward no matter what I face. It was a book I needed to read. It's funny how books come into our lives just when we need them. Rest in peace Matt with our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Eileen Granfors · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a library book by David Morrell, which reminded me of his 1988 book, Fireflies. I wanted to reread Fireflies. The 1988 book journeys with the Morrell family through the death of their 15 year-old son of Ewing's Sarcoma.

The original book held me spellbound as I had recently lost a beloved student to stomach cancer and prior to that a student died of throat cancer. In both cases, the treatments were equally as harrowing as the disease.

Morrell's first book was written at the moment of the most intense grief. He details some of the frustrations with chemo and surgeries, but focuses also on the resilience of his son.

The new edition that I read on Kindle last night occurs well after the loss of the son. While it details more carefully the treatments and the slow decline of his beautiful boy, the second book also offers a wider look at our responses to grief. It is more philosophical and also more, possibly, angrier, until the final explanatory chapters. I have carefully ordered a copy of the 1988 first-edition to see if my reaction is still the same.

[Fredric Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is very difficult to read, I skipped past a number of sections and when I got half way through it, set the novel aside and won't return to it. It's written well, but if you are like me, reading about other people's misery is not entertainment though it *is* informative, and what I want is entertainment.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in one sitting and cried the entire way through.. one of the best books I've ever read. My sister was friend's with Matt and I remember him visiting our home. Matt lives on in the memory of so many who loved and cared for him. God speed

[mary vosburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grief

This book taught me many things about grief and the way it is experienced is profoundly personal.. This is an intense read with many take aways on moving beyond grief and living your best life.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Kris Lodwig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty heartbreaking read. The author of Firstblood and Rambo writes about losing his son to cancer in 1987.

[Lori Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life changing read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never expected to love a book where I knew a fifteen year old boy was going to be dead by the end of it, but I did.

The whole story was captivating, a beautiful combination of reality and imagination. The characters were almost to good to be true, yet they were. Matthew especially was outstanding, the kind of person everyone dreams of being. The kind of person who can stare down the barrel of death and not stop fighting. It was unbelievably heartbreaking yet unbelievably real.

It was good being reminded of a world that most people are able to remain oblivious too, a world in which children die leaving behind families crippled by grief. A reminder of how short life is, and how lucky we are to have it.

This would have to be one of the few genuinely life changing books I've read, and is the kind of book that everyone should read at least one of every few years. We all forget how short life is once in a while.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't always understand what was going on as the author went from imagining himself to be an old man on his deathbed to being a young father trying to save his son. What was real? What was imagination? What I did understand, however, is that a bright young teen died way too soon. And his grieving father tried to make some sense of what happened by writing about the events that led up to his son's death from a rare form of cancer.

I identified with a good deal of what was written. Like Morrell, I had some eerie experiences in the initial months of grief following my daughter's death. Mine involved dragonflies.

It must have caused Morrell a great deal of pain to write this story. But surely it's healing to know that his son is still touching hearts all these years since his passing.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and sad memoir from one of my favorite authors of the death of his teenage son. While really describing the way it must feel to lose a child, he doesn't merely offer a linear memoir. David Morrell imagines a future scenario on his deathbed where he is supernaturally transported back in time, armed with the knowledge that might save his son, and given a second chance to save his life. Intensely personal and creative, this book also shares three omens near to his son's death that helped comfort him. Any fan of Morrell should read this book, as it affects so much of his other writing. Anyone who has lost a child or loved one should also read it.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having met this author at a grief conference this summer, I was prepared for the drama and heartbreak of this story of his loss of his son to Ewings. Difficult to read, yet healing in a way because of the signs and messages he receives from his transitioned son, something every grieving parent has experienced in one form or another, and can appreciate as validation. The most tragic part of reading this book for me, is knowing that 15 years after his sons death, he will lose a grandaughter to the same rare bone cancer. A powerful heartfelt book.

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grief Observed

This is a profound book about facing and embracing grief honestly. David Morrell, Author of best-selling books like first blood and brotherhood of the Rose, tells his experience of losing his 15 year old son Matt to cancer in 1982. It is a journey from loss, through grief, and into hope changing the life of David and his family in powerful ways and helping them be a source of strength to others who grieve. It is also a story from agnosticism to faith. It's just a great book and I encourage you to enter the suffering with the Morrell family and find hope.

[TeriLin · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the time the Author's Son was being treated for cancer, my Grandfather was going through the same. Each time I read this book I am drawn back to the times I spent with my Grandfather while he was sick - the laughs we shared, the songs he would sing. Most memorable were the prayers - saying the rosary with him, amazed at how well he knew all the words to each prayer.

[Anne Hussey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author lived in my neighborhood in Iowa City and he was notable as the writer of the character built on the film Rambo and as a professor at the University of Iowa....Fireflies is the story of his son, Matt, who was a few years younger than I and his heroic swift hopeless battle with Ewing's Sarcoma.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. Parts were hard to read, because my mom almost died of cancer two years ago. But wow. to lose a son to cancer. I can't imagine. Loved this book. Glad the author went through the sorrow he had to relive the memories and write it. I loved how he told it to. Combining an element of fiction to tell such a great story. Excellence.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is mostly, but not all, nonfiction. It tells the story of how Morrell lost his 15 year old son to a serious disease, and it is heart wrenching. I had a boy about the same age when I read it and it was very hard for me to get through. I really thought it was a powerful story.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in college and it had a really strong impact on me - author's son died of cancer and he (author) subsequently had several "signs" after his death. Reread parts after Heather died...it brought a little comfort.

[Andrew Vachss · Rating 5 out of 5]

The surest bet there is in the action-adventure game.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story haunts me. It pops into my mind at the most unexpected moments. Its beautiful sadness makes it unforgettable.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A moving and thought provoking account of a Father's grief at losing his teenage son to the horror of cancer.

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tear-jerker all the way...

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in my early 20's and was deeply moved by it. A beautiful memoir & tribute to his son.

[Neenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so sad.