I'm Fine, Thanks

by Chris Doveton

A heart-wrenching journey of love, grief and redemption.

Chris and Anne are enjoying a loving marriage in the prime of their lives when Anne is diagnosed with a rare and fatal genetic disease. For ten years, Chris and Anne endure this terrible secret alone.

After Anne’s death, Chris, ravaged by crippling grief, realises that his survival depends upon him ridding himself of his stiff upper lip. He must learn to open his heart and cry. Saved from the depths of misery by life-saving therapy, he discovers a life beyond despair, rekindles his lapsed faith and finds love again.

Chris Doveton was born in India just before WW2, later moving to South Africa and the UK. Chris joined the Royal Navy and became a commissioned officer in HMS Ark Royal and after leaving the military, started his own company, the Doveton Press. He is the author of The Spanish Dream and In the World’s Shadows. Now in his 80s, he is enjoying life in Bath.

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2020

Reviews

[Isabelle]

I hate to say it but I DNFed this one. Not because it’s a bad book though. I just really struggled to pick this back up each time due to real life situations going on with family members and close friends.

I usually read memoirs from a patient’s POV so I thought it would be interesting to read a caretaker’s side of things for once. I wasn’t expecting it to affect me so strongly, to be honest, but it put me in a not so great headspace so I decided to put it down halfway through.

In regard to the book itself, it was quite different to read a memoir written in present tense. It threw me off sometimes, especially when it jumped back and forth with the timelines. I also struggled to read about his wife’s treatment and decline at times, especially as her death drew near. Of course, people have a right to their feelings and a right to write them down. But it’s hard sometimes to do so without hurting the subject’s dignity and I struggled to sort my feelings in that regard while seeing similar situations in real life at the same time.

I want to say thank you for the review copy and I’m sorry that I did not manage to finish this one. I’m just not in the right place for this one.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mainly autobiographical as not a huge amount of this book refers to the author’s wife, Anne, who dies from a rare disease. Whilst it is of course sad and heart wrenching, it’s also hard to read and not just because of the subject matter. I didn’t like the way it was written at all as it was disjointed and bitty, flitting from one thing to another. I would have preferred a continuous timeline with a beginning, middle and end, not hopping forwards and backwards continuously. It would also have been much nicer not to refer to Anne as his substitute mother. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Gail Marchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Chris Doveton for this book
Chris gives an honest account of his life
His parents & the effects they had on him
The love and loss of his first wife Anne
His daughter, his 2nd wife
His deep depression, his wilderness years
His faith which he losses then finds again
I enjoyed this book his description of his depression & panic attacks I could relate to

[Jamice Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m Fine, Thanks is about a man’s journey after his wife is diagnosed with a rare terminal disease that takes her life. It’s a brutally honest heart wrenching story of their happy years and goes into how it is to live with someone you love, knowing they are going to die and there is nothing you can do about it, and then somehow you have to still live on after their death

This is probably one of the hardest stories I had to read this year. I’m not sure how I made it through with all the ugly crying I was doing.
I can’t even imagine how Chris survived all this, he kept the secret of his wife’s illness for years...years. Can you imagine the emotion and physical toll that had to take from him? Like I said I was ugly crying over their love for each other knowing it wasn’t going to end well. You may need a huge supply of tissues for this story because it’s not the easiest story to read but it’s also a really good story, that I know will help someone through their grief as well.

[Eliska · Rating 4 out of 5]

The grieving and depression processes are sad, nevertheless, they are interesting. It is interesting to know how people deal with these situations, how do they cope with everyday life and what leads to their decision to seek help. Chris provides his personal story of how he dealt with life while his wife was slowly dying in front of his life, and how he dealt with life after she passed. I found myself reading and wanting to know what comes next. I admire Chris for being able to tell this personal story and for being able to overcome what happened.
The book is well written, although jumping between years can get a bit confusing at times. However, it is a must-read for everyone who wants to know what happens in the life of a person after significant life events, such as the death of a loved one. It’s a book for everyone, who needs help, inspiration, or to gain understanding.

[ao_always_reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brutally honest account of what it takes to look after a terminally ill loved one and the aftermath following their demise. The secret of his wife's illness was kept for YEARS and I cannot imagine the toll that alone had on him. Not only does he discuss the helplessness, loneliness and inferiority he feels, but the utter loss of rights, and dignity of the loved one. He discusses his personal reflections of the depression that consumed him following the death of his wife, as well as what it took and the time he took to restore his life. The couple's daughter has contributed a few chapters on what her perspective of the illness, the death and all that follows.

This is not an easy read at times, but the unflinching honesty makes this book a must-read.

[Amani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is perfect for fans of sorry I’m late - I didn’t want to come ! I think it’s good for anyone dealing with mental health battles and other things that can get very overwhelming.