BIOGRAPHY

I Keep Trying To Catch His Eye: A Memoir of Loss, Grief, and Love

by Ivan Maisel
Hachette. Oct. 2021. 240p. ISBN 9780306925740. $28. MEMOIR
COPY ISBN
Maisel, a former ESPN writer who lost his son Max to suicide, wrote this book as a way to express and cope with grief. The result is a tender account of a son’s life by his loving father. Maisel tries to understand Max’s death by reconsidering his life, and wishes he’d been able to help Max earlier. He delves into the nuances of how his wife and daughters and Max’s friends and extended family processed and experienced their grief in different ways. Maisel heartbreakingly describes Max’s complex and puzzling character and his roles as son, brother, and friend, in such a way that readers will come to enjoy his company.
VERDICT A painful, cathartic memoir for those who have known someone who died by suicide or contemplated it. The grief, and sometimes guilt, of a father makes this memoir a difficult read, but Maisel’s depiction of coping gives it a palpable warmth.
Reviewed by Amanda Ray, Iowa City P.L , Nov 01, 2021
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

NONFICTION

1974: A Personal History
by Prose, Francine
NONFICTION

Playing for Freedom: The Journey of a Young Afghan Girl
by Adiba, Zarifa & Anne Chaon
NONFICTION

The Book That (Almost) Got Me Fired: How I (Barely) Survived a Year in Corporate America
by James, Kelly K
NONFICTION

Nephew: A Memoir in 4-Part Harmony
by Asante, M.K
NONFICTION

One Step Sideways, Three Steps Forward: One Woman’s Path to Becoming a Biologist
by Grant, B. Rosemary
NONFICTION

A Good Bad Boy: Luke Perry and How a Generation Grew Up
by Wappler, Margaret
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?