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The Long Hello: Memory, My Mother, and Me
A powerful, ground-shifting account of caring for a parent with Alzheimer's about which Maya Angelou exclaimed, "Joy!"
Since Cathie Borrie delivered her keynote performance at the World Alzheimer's Day event sponsored by the Community and Access Programs of the Museum of Modern Art, her self-published manuscript has won rapturous praise from noted writers and Alzheimer's experts alike, from Maya Angelou, Lisa Genova, and Molly Peacock to Dr. Bill Thomas, Jed A. Levine of the Alzheimer's Association, NYC, and Meryl Comer of the Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer's Initiative. Now it is available to the general public for the first time in a trade edition.
The Long Hello distills the seven years the author spent caring for her mother into a page-turning memoir that offers insight into the "altering world of the dementia mind." During that time, Borrie recorded brief conversations she had with her mother that revealed the transformations within—and sometimes yielded an almost Zenlike poetry. She includes selections from them in chapters about her experience that are as evocative as diary entries. Her mother was the emotional pillar and sometime breadwinner in a home touched by a birth father's alcoholism, a brother's early death, divorce, and a stepfather's remoteness. In Borrie's spare prose, her mother's story becomes a family's story as well a deeply loving portrait that embraces life.
Since Cathie Borrie delivered her keynote performance at the World Alzheimer's Day event sponsored by the Community and Access Programs of the Museum of Modern Art, her self-published manuscript has won rapturous praise from noted writers and Alzheimer's experts alike, from Maya Angelou, Lisa Genova, and Molly Peacock to Dr. Bill Thomas, Jed A. Levine of the Alzheimer's Association, NYC, and Meryl Comer of the Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer's Initiative. Now it is available to the general public for the first time in a trade edition.
The Long Hello distills the seven years the author spent caring for her mother into a page-turning memoir that offers insight into the "altering world of the dementia mind." During that time, Borrie recorded brief conversations she had with her mother that revealed the transformations within—and sometimes yielded an almost Zenlike poetry. She includes selections from them in chapters about her experience that are as evocative as diary entries. Her mother was the emotional pillar and sometime breadwinner in a home touched by a birth father's alcoholism, a brother's early death, divorce, and a stepfather's remoteness. In Borrie's spare prose, her mother's story becomes a family's story as well a deeply loving portrait that embraces life.
236 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2016
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95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 16, 2017
There's something that makes you feel guilty to rate a book that is written from the heart about an author's most painful time giving a three.... but I feel like this book was indeed good and probably for someone going through a similar time in their life it would rate a 5.
I think the book would have been stronger with a little more about what she was coping with and a bit more narrative as opposed to the pure words of her mother which made sense to set the stage but then in some ways had a hint of betraying trust... would mom want her declining years captured in a word by word transcript? Again, the author knows her own mom best, but I think my mom would have preferred enough to get the point at cross but at some point pull back the lens a bit.
I understand the author was going for a more poetic , esoteric approach rather than a straight memoir in narrative form as we most often see- and this was deliberate- but I'm not sure it's what would touch me as deeply as another format.
I think the book would have been stronger with a little more about what she was coping with and a bit more narrative as opposed to the pure words of her mother which made sense to set the stage but then in some ways had a hint of betraying trust... would mom want her declining years captured in a word by word transcript? Again, the author knows her own mom best, but I think my mom would have preferred enough to get the point at cross but at some point pull back the lens a bit.
I understand the author was going for a more poetic , esoteric approach rather than a straight memoir in narrative form as we most often see- and this was deliberate- but I'm not sure it's what would touch me as deeply as another format.
May 10, 2024
Tender. Intimate. Sad. Beautiful. Cathie Borrie didn’t write a “book” here. Instead she peeled away layers and layers of herself, and exposed the most intimate, vulnerable, fragile core. I felt her as though I was her..she was palpable. Such tenderness, such honesty. An experience I will treasure.
March 25, 2017
Most people think all is lost when they hear "Alzheimer's." In Cathie Borrie's beautiful memoir we learn this is not so, that there are still many happy moments to enjoy, and meaningful memories to be made. This is the story of the love between a mother and daughter, and everything in between. Recommended for those on the Alzheimer's journey, and anyone with an interest in this disease.
May 7, 2017
Not a fan of the writing style, too scattered for me. Maybe itself a description of what her mother's mind had become. The author is a good daughter. I admire how she cared for her mother. I'm sure the loneliness and sadness not to mention the physical aspect of caring for someone, were hard to bear.
February 28, 2020
Some reviewers didn’t like the chaotic writing style....I did. I liked the way she wove present with past and the conversations with her mother. Sometimes conversations were lucid, most of the time not and yet so poignant. If you are dealing with Alzheimer’s or senility with a loved one, like I am, I believe you will find this book hopeful.
August 27, 2017
It's a slow start, but redeems itself in the end. The last bit of the book I couldn't put down, and without spoiling the ending, I felt my chest get tight with sadness.
The writing style is different, but I like the way it's kind of like organized chaos. No chapters, split into sections. It makes it have a rhythm that reads quickly. I also enjoyed the back and forth between her more current situation and going through her past.
It wasn't my favorite book, but it was interesting. Sometimes the dialogue was downright boring, and sometimes quite the contrary.
The writing style is different, but I like the way it's kind of like organized chaos. No chapters, split into sections. It makes it have a rhythm that reads quickly. I also enjoyed the back and forth between her more current situation and going through her past.
It wasn't my favorite book, but it was interesting. Sometimes the dialogue was downright boring, and sometimes quite the contrary.
June 29, 2023
A caring and empathetic portrayal of the stark reality of Dementia as it slowly steals your mind away. This resonated so powerfully with me because I have just gone through a similar journey with my Mum with Lewy body Dementia, where many tangled conversations were punctuated by moments of surprising lucidity. For those who haven't been through it first hand, it may not make a lot of sense. The only reason I didn't score a five, is that there were many parts where I was unsure who was speaking. Perhaps putting the Mothers dialogue in a different font might have solved this problem.
December 14, 2019
As other reviewers have written, this book is full of what the author and her mother said to each other. Much of what her mother says makes little sense. I sometimes got lost, not knowing who was speaking when Borrie played along with her mother's nonsensical conversations. There was tenderness and compassion in her recounting of caring for her mother which makes the book compelling. It's a short book with short chapters, so it's easy enough to read even when you lose interest.
May 9, 2021
Sometimes lovely, sometimes heartbreaking—Bits and pieces strung together; it’s Life in all its desperate and gorgeous glory…
My Full Review →
My Full Review →
February 22, 2024
Raw, diary-style, stream of consciousness collection of non-sequiturs that offers an intimate glimpse into the world of dementia with the subtle but wise invitation to simply enter their world; follow their lead; wherever it leads; because on good & bad days we all need a companion on the journey
March 26, 2026
I listened to this book on Audible. It was like I was listening to my own conversations with my momma. So beautifully tragic, if that makes any sense.
Thank you, Catherine, for sharing your journey.
Thank you, Catherine, for sharing your journey.
July 25, 2017
It didn't move me.
October 30, 2020
Heartbreaking with just a couple of laughs. I’ve never read anything quite like it, yet it was as familiar as a memory one may rather wish away.
August 28, 2021
Short, clippy sentences. I breezed through it in probably 4 hours total over two pre-bedtime reading sessions.
March 1, 2022
A heart warming tale of a daughter’s struggle with a mother with memory loss. Made me cry a few times. Recommended for all women who are close to their mothers.
June 22, 2016
This touching story was so close to the truth about care giving. My daughter who is disabled because of Rheumatoid Arthritis and severe Fibromyalgia is someone I take care of on a daily basis. She has her good days and bad days. This care giver's thoughts are something I've thought about myself. Thoughts that you can't share with someone that isn't in your situation. I feel a kinship to this story. I feel for her pain and loneliness. I'm just glad that God is helping me with my daughter. Great book.
October 21, 2016
I'll keep this short...
I don't understand the value of this book. My mother suffers with dementia, and I cannot make sense of much of what she has to say. Same goes for this book. If I want to struggle to make sense of what is going on, I'll go spend some more time with Mom.
Sorry.
I don't know why I bothered to finish the book.
I don't understand the value of this book. My mother suffers with dementia, and I cannot make sense of much of what she has to say. Same goes for this book. If I want to struggle to make sense of what is going on, I'll go spend some more time with Mom.
Sorry.
I don't know why I bothered to finish the book.
February 4, 2017
This was good. I definitely felt for the author dealing with her mother and Alzheimer's . This brought back
Many memories when her mother was dying and how difficult it was for her mother. We went through the same steps and feelings when my mother died.
Many memories when her mother was dying and how difficult it was for her mother. We went through the same steps and feelings when my mother died.
March 28, 2017
Not your average book about dementia. I really enjoyed the snippets of conversation between mother and daughter. Such beautiful language in a heartbreaking environment. I appreciate the author's honesty about wanting to escape sometimes.
This isn't a book with advice on how to care for someone with dementia. It is a book that shows the beauty and pain in the journey.
This isn't a book with advice on how to care for someone with dementia. It is a book that shows the beauty and pain in the journey.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews