I stumbled onto this at the local library and am so happy that I did.

This is a fine, intricate and gorgeous novel telling the story of George Washington Crosby as he lays on a rented hospital bed in the last week of his life, surrounded by his family, drifting into and away from the conscious world.

The writing is aromatic and evocative, whether Harding is describing clock repair, the trade of a tinker, flowers or the abandonment of family. It is beautiful, frail and uplifting.

It is no small thing for me to say that I look at the death of my grandparents differently now, and that I am far less afraid of dying of old age than I was before I read this novel.

Highly recommended, both for its impact on me as well as the sheer power of the writing.

An afterthought: Clear your calendar before you start to read this one. It's best taken in one long, lazy afternoon in front of a fireplace or on a lounge chair, rather than in small chunks over a week or two. I will reread this one many more times.