Child of Earth and Starry Heaven

“The author writes with the probing lyriciism of a poet... Readers will admire Binder's refusal of sentimentality, observant eye and determination to grasp answers that seem always on the verge of evaporation. An illuminating and moving meditation on dementia.”

—Kirkus (“Our Verdict: Get It”)

“How can a book of grief so profoundly embolden our senses? This writing draws our attention to every precious moment of a life, and in doing so, enriches our own immeasurably. Read L. Annette Binder’s devastatingly exhilarating chronicle of her mother Helena’s last days—it will remind you to breathe, to be stunned that you can breathe."

--Michelle Latiolais, author of Widow and She

"In Child of Earth and Starry Heaven, Binder turns the sadness of loss and tragedy into a thing of great beauty. It is the story of a daughter’s love for her mother suffering from dementia, and it is told skillfully, carefully, with enormous heart, grace, kindness and compassion. This is a hauntingly powerful work of the sort only the very best of writers may hope to achieve in a lifetime."

—James Brown, author of Apology to the Young Addict 


"The devastating consequences of Alzheimer’s disease have profound implications for patients, their families, and society. Drawing on insights ranging from poetry and literature to neuroscience and neurology, L. Annette Binder provides an eloquent first-hand account of her mother’s decline into dementia. Filled with rich insight into the importance of memory and consequences of forgetting, Child of Earth and Starry Heaven is an essential book that both moves and informs."

—Daniel L. Schacter, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of The Seven Sins of Memory Updated Edition (2021)

“In this gorgeous memoir that bears witness to her mother’s decline and death, L. Annette Binder allows us space to explore a fundamental truth of all our lives: 'We all build our own paradise if we’re lucky, and every one of us must leave it much too soon.' In prose that deftly combines personal memory with research and poetry, Binder weaves a tapestry that reveals the many textures of love.”

—Brenda Miller, author of A Braided Heart: Essays on Writing and

Form

“A beautiful and deeply moving memoir about a mother’s descent into Alzheimer’s and a daughter’s quest to honor her mother through time… Binder writes with heartfelt love for our common humanity… She is a masterful writer, elegant, clear, purposeful, and wise. I didn’t want the book to end.”

—Sandell Morse, author of The Spiral Shell

“Child of Earth and Starry Heaven is a profound meditation on identity and consciousness. Binder's prose is so exquisite that it borders on poetry as she charts the last few months of her mother's life and descent into Alzheimer's disease. As devastating and terrifying as dementia can be, Binder manages to find moments of grace and humor in the last precious days. This is a memoir that explores a dark topic, yet leaves the reader full of optimism and thankful for the moments of brightness.”

—Pamela Klinger-Horn, Valley Bookseller and Host of Literature Lovers’ Night Out

“Ancient Greeks tell of Lethe, the river of forgetting. Today’s scientists speak of fibrils. Plaques. Almost lovely words, but when present in the brain, they confuse memory and shroud the mind …though not necessarily, as L. Annette Binder finds, the essence of what it means to be human. Her mom’s favorite color was burgundy. She almost always wore pearls and was never seen without lipstick, even when shoveling snow. These shards are all the more precious as she falls into Alzheimer’s and remembers none of it. With grace and tenderness, Binder paints a portrait of her mother, revealing the woman’s verve and making our witness to her decline quietly heartbreaking. Binder’s self-portrait is compassionate, filled with curiosity and love, all rendered with sure and gentle strokes.”

—Suzanne M. Lang, host of the NPR podcast, A Novel Idea

"A complete compendium of literary comfort and practical guidance ... suffused with warmth and with deep insight”

—Eileen MacDougall, Host of Book Stew

“Dementia is the grief thief, the destroyer of minds. Binder's captivating memoir takes us inside the memory-care facility where her mother was living out her final days. We learn about this merciless disease and experience the compassion, frustration, and enduring love she felt as she was saying farewell to a truly amazing woman.”

—Vick Mickunas, Host of Book Nook on WYSO

"Filled with love, vulnerability, and strength... This is a very, very special story that will leave a poignant mark on your heart.”

—Tina Panik, Avon Public Library (Connecticut)

"A gorgeous memoir of her mother's journey through Alzheimer's...sensitive, thoughtful, and intelligent. An amalgam of personal thoughts, observations, and research, Binder takes this journey step by step with her beloved Mutter. This is an important read for all adult children to be prepared for their parents' possible future.”

—Traci HalesVass, host of NPR podcast, Write On Four Corners

“Transforms the intensely personal experience of escorting an elderly parent through the ‘labyrinth’ of Alzheimer's Disease into a literary journey of finding one's way home--to key relationships; to the vital significance of language, place, and treasured things; and ultimately to one’s very soul. Utterly relatable and brimming with love, Child of Earth and Starry Heaven adds an elegant, empathetic voice to the evolving discourse on dementia.”

—Judith G. Russell, Library Director, Converse Public Library (New Hampshire)

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