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My Three Suicides: A Success Story
Hugh Gilmore has been a teacher, an anthropologist who studied monkeys in Africa, a drama critic, novelist, newspaper columnist, and owner of an old and rare bookshop.
In My Three Suicides he writes about his trials seeking to connect to his own father while trying to be a good father to his sons. All while searching for the wisdom to untangle the mistakes he makes along the way.
Gilmore’s memoir is a stirring, episodic tale about the challenges of turning from boy to man while seeking refuge from nuns, priests, poverty, shame, his drunken father and his religion-driven mother. On three occasions in Gilmore’s life, emotional and spiritual crises brought him to the edge of life itself.
Each of these climactic scenes arose from its own religious ecstasy at thirteen, misperceived failure at twenty-two, and a sense of paternal obligation at forty-eight. Each time he emerged as a different person.
The author had tried religion, bookishness, ambition and pleasure-seeking before discovering the simple beauty of trust, love, and commitment. My Three Suicides is a tale of compassion, woe, and laughter that ends with an unsought death, a wished-for birth, and a new life. A moving and truly beautiful story, told with grace, insight and wit.
Hugh Gilmore lives with his wife and son in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia and still operates his rare book business. He is the author of two novels, a story collection, several e-books, and now, this funny and wise memoir. He writes a weekly column about books and reading for The Chestnut Hill Local.
In My Three Suicides he writes about his trials seeking to connect to his own father while trying to be a good father to his sons. All while searching for the wisdom to untangle the mistakes he makes along the way.
Gilmore’s memoir is a stirring, episodic tale about the challenges of turning from boy to man while seeking refuge from nuns, priests, poverty, shame, his drunken father and his religion-driven mother. On three occasions in Gilmore’s life, emotional and spiritual crises brought him to the edge of life itself.
Each of these climactic scenes arose from its own religious ecstasy at thirteen, misperceived failure at twenty-two, and a sense of paternal obligation at forty-eight. Each time he emerged as a different person.
The author had tried religion, bookishness, ambition and pleasure-seeking before discovering the simple beauty of trust, love, and commitment. My Three Suicides is a tale of compassion, woe, and laughter that ends with an unsought death, a wished-for birth, and a new life. A moving and truly beautiful story, told with grace, insight and wit.
Hugh Gilmore lives with his wife and son in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia and still operates his rare book business. He is the author of two novels, a story collection, several e-books, and now, this funny and wise memoir. He writes a weekly column about books and reading for The Chestnut Hill Local.
423 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 14, 2015
I was so excited to read this book as it is written by a former teacher and mentor. His memoir, I felt I knew some of his life experiences as he imparted his wisdom and frequently shared his stories with his students.
I was immediately wrapped up in reading his journey. At times it was hard to fathom that this was the same person and the same teacher that I remembered from my teenage years. Now, at 45 years old, I was reading his life story, with a vague sense of familiarity but with an entirely new set of eyes.
This is a book for anyone. However, it is of great worth to anyone that is or has faced despair, crisis, tragedy, and or repeated challenges. It is heavy and sad, nostalgic, hopeful and inspiring.
Chronicling his journey through life and his own personal emotional roller coaster, the reader will be thoroughly engaged in this intriguing biography. It is laden with painful accounts that are so well-written and authentically documented, the reader can truly feel the raw hurt. Amidst the chaos, hurdles and real-life plot twists, evidenced are good times, joy, love and personal growth.
Knowing the author does lend a different perspective. However the take home for any reader is still the same. Stay the course, keep the faith (your own personal spiritual faith), let yourself feel, heal, forgive, accept, and don’t ever stop trying and learning. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Of any tunnel. Of all tunnels.
I was immediately wrapped up in reading his journey. At times it was hard to fathom that this was the same person and the same teacher that I remembered from my teenage years. Now, at 45 years old, I was reading his life story, with a vague sense of familiarity but with an entirely new set of eyes.
This is a book for anyone. However, it is of great worth to anyone that is or has faced despair, crisis, tragedy, and or repeated challenges. It is heavy and sad, nostalgic, hopeful and inspiring.
Chronicling his journey through life and his own personal emotional roller coaster, the reader will be thoroughly engaged in this intriguing biography. It is laden with painful accounts that are so well-written and authentically documented, the reader can truly feel the raw hurt. Amidst the chaos, hurdles and real-life plot twists, evidenced are good times, joy, love and personal growth.
Knowing the author does lend a different perspective. However the take home for any reader is still the same. Stay the course, keep the faith (your own personal spiritual faith), let yourself feel, heal, forgive, accept, and don’t ever stop trying and learning. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Of any tunnel. Of all tunnels.
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June 17, 2019TLDR: most of this book has nothing to do with the title subject. Would not recommend
This was just a play by play of the author's life. For some reason when i picked this up I thought the author was a counselor or the person that talks potential suicides down. Upon finding that he was going to talk about his own experience i was disappointed but determined to give it a chance. I got through 88% of it before i couldn't bare anymore in depth play by play of the author's life. I don't think we should dramatize or glorify suicide attempts by any means but when you title a book "My Three Suicides" I feel like the build up and time around them should be more emphasized. This book should be retitled, "How not taking my education seriously screwed me" because 90% of the story is the author going, well if i had actually not been the class clown and been motivated to do x,y, or z i could have accomplished so much. The title subject is just an afterthought usually contained in about 3 sentences at the end of each subject.
This was just a play by play of the author's life. For some reason when i picked this up I thought the author was a counselor or the person that talks potential suicides down. Upon finding that he was going to talk about his own experience i was disappointed but determined to give it a chance. I got through 88% of it before i couldn't bare anymore in depth play by play of the author's life. I don't think we should dramatize or glorify suicide attempts by any means but when you title a book "My Three Suicides" I feel like the build up and time around them should be more emphasized. This book should be retitled, "How not taking my education seriously screwed me" because 90% of the story is the author going, well if i had actually not been the class clown and been motivated to do x,y, or z i could have accomplished so much. The title subject is just an afterthought usually contained in about 3 sentences at the end of each subject.
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July 14, 2026Hugh Gilmore was my high school English teacher senior year and we all adored him. A fellow classmate told me about this book and it was a poignant read- learning intimate details about an adult who mentored me ❤️
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March 5, 2015FROM AMAZON:
5 Stars To be or not to be....
“This is an excellent, deeply provocative, and honest work of art. I strongly recommend it to anyone but particularly to anyone who has experienced the darkest side of despair. I've lived inside of the pages of this book for several days now. It has often been uncomfortable but interesting enough to make me follow the path. I was not prepared for where it led me. To borrow my grandfather's expression, "Sweet suffering s*** !" This is a book for anyone who has to survive the horrificably unimaginable. This book has something powerful to share. Thank you Hugh Gilmore. Well done.”
5 Stars most wonderful
“In honest moments, we look back over our most painful, most wonderful, most embarrassing moments and realize that they are the fabric of our lives. In 'My Three Suicides', Hugh Gilmore openly unfolds his for us. This is a wonderfully honest exploration of the life of one who has traveled far.”
5 Stars To be or not to be....
“This is an excellent, deeply provocative, and honest work of art. I strongly recommend it to anyone but particularly to anyone who has experienced the darkest side of despair. I've lived inside of the pages of this book for several days now. It has often been uncomfortable but interesting enough to make me follow the path. I was not prepared for where it led me. To borrow my grandfather's expression, "Sweet suffering s*** !" This is a book for anyone who has to survive the horrificably unimaginable. This book has something powerful to share. Thank you Hugh Gilmore. Well done.”
5 Stars most wonderful
“In honest moments, we look back over our most painful, most wonderful, most embarrassing moments and realize that they are the fabric of our lives. In 'My Three Suicides', Hugh Gilmore openly unfolds his for us. This is a wonderfully honest exploration of the life of one who has traveled far.”
February 14, 2015
To be or not to be....
This is an excellent, deeply provocative, and honest work of art. I strongly recommend it to anyone but particularly to anyone who has experienced the darkest side of despair. I've lived inside of the pages of this book for several days now. It has often been uncomfortable but interesting enough to make me follow the path. I was not prepared for where it led me. To borrow my grandfather's expression, "Sweet suffering shit !" This is a book for anyone who has to survive the horrificably unimaginable. This book has something powerful to share. Thank you High Gilmore. Well done.
This is an excellent, deeply provocative, and honest work of art. I strongly recommend it to anyone but particularly to anyone who has experienced the darkest side of despair. I've lived inside of the pages of this book for several days now. It has often been uncomfortable but interesting enough to make me follow the path. I was not prepared for where it led me. To borrow my grandfather's expression, "Sweet suffering shit !" This is a book for anyone who has to survive the horrificably unimaginable. This book has something powerful to share. Thank you High Gilmore. Well done.
March 7, 2015
This is a remarkable memoir. I was drawn in from the first page, and I finished the whole thing in about 24 hours. I knew the author in person, having been one of his students, and that added to the emotional impact for me; however, I would recommend “My Three Suicides” to anyone, because the story is so compelling. You don’t need to have known the author personally to be touched by his story. Anyone who has grown up with an addict, lost a loved one, or lived through their own suicidal moments will find so much of value in this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews