This was so heartbreaking to read. Bascaramurty's writing was graceful and really brought forth the struggles of dealing with grief and living with illness. The strength of relationships that are tested and tried when dealing with illness in the family is poignant in this work.

‘This Is Not the End of Me: Lessons From a Dying Man’ by reporter Dakshana Bascaramurty is a profoundly moving and thought-provoking book that explores the indomitable spirit of resilience in the face of adversity. Through the lens of Layton Reid, a young husband and father who is diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of thirty-three, Bascaramurty delves into themes of strength, determination, and the transformative power of embracing life's challenges.

One of the notable strengths of the book is the author's ability to capture the essence of Layton Reid’s journey, presenting his story with empathy, authenticity, and reverence. Bascaramurty provides insights into Reid’s experiences, perspectives, and the lessons he learned along the way. Through her writing, she allows readers to connect with his emotions, struggles, and triumphs.

The following quote illustrates the resilience and strength displayed by Reid:

"Sometimes the thing that causes us the most pain also makes us the strongest, and I think that's been true for me”.

This quote encapsulates the underlying message of the book, emphasizing the transformative nature of adversity and the potential for personal growth that can arise from it. Layton Reid serves as an inspiring example of an individual who faced an immense challenge head-on.

In another powerful quote from the book, Reid explores the concept of finding meaning and purpose in life:

"You have to find the good things in your life to keep yourself going".

This sentiment underscores the importance of finding hope even in the darkest of times. Layton Reid exemplifies this outlook, highlighting the significance of focusing on the positive aspects of life to navigate through adversity.

Bascaramurty's writing captures the nuances of the human experience with sensitivity and grace. She explores the complexities of emotions and the impact of relationships in a way that will resonate deeply with readers. Through her storytelling, she invites readers to reflect on their own lives and consider the ways in which they can find strength and meaning amidst their own challenges.

’This Is Not the End of Me’ is a remarkable and emotionally resonant tribute to a good friend. Bascaramurty’s poignant writing, coupled with Layton Reid’s story, will leave a lasting impact on readers. Through the exploration of Reid’s journey, she reminds us that even in the face of unimaginable difficulties, there is hope, strength, and the potential for growth. This book serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human experience and will leave readers feeling inspired and uplifted.

A huge thanks to McClelland & Stewart and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! I found it hard to put down. I highly recommend reading it! You won’t be disappointed.

Beautifully written! This is a story of an ordinary guy: husband, father, son fighting the battle of his life when he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis. I really enjoyed how the author was close friends with Layton Reid and was able to listen to his story and turn it into something wonderful. This book gives the reader some perspective on how real life is after a terminal cancer diagnosis, the treatments involved, and ultimately how to live life to the fullest with the time that you have left. Unfortunately, this book did not have a happy ending. I definitely cried and felt for Layton's family. One big and important takeaway from this book: It's so important to be present in life. This book will definitely stay with me for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Run, walk, crawl. I don’t care. Just keep moving forward and you’ll eventually get where you need to go. I promise.”

Despite initially not being too sure of how invested I was in this book- it was slow and measured to start, it ended up becoming quite simply breathtaking, captivating my attention completely. This is the story of an just ordinary guy: husband, father, son, fighting the battle of his life.

I felt the author did this story justice in bringing the essence of his character to life through the pages and with the inclusion of his own words. You get a sense of his values, the love for his family, the turmoil they all faced, and, ultimately, his strength in facing the unthinkable head on; knowing when to fight and when to let go. There was so much depth here and a raw human quality and, because of this, I was often moved to tears. The storytelling is quietly emotional, authentic, and very personal.. I’m so glad I picked it up. 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this before, and I highly doubt I’ll encounter anything like it ever again.

Author Dakshana Bascaramurty was enlisted by friend Layton Reid to write of his experience with terminal illness and dying. This book is the result of years of heartbreak, observations, pain, macabre humour, successes, suffering, questions, strength, hope, determination, and curse words.

This biography hit very close to home, quite literally. Layton grew up and eventually became anchored to Halifax, he was very close to my age, he played with his son and went for walks with his spouse in the same streets, parks, ponds, and neighbourhoods I do, he bought a house close to where I grew up, he strolled the same hospital hallways in which I work - if there ever was a book that made me view my own mortality firmly grounded in reality, this is it.

I cried a lot when reading this book. It was extremely raw and honest, it wasn’t dripping with sentimentality or inspirational quotes, just as Layton would have preferred - it reverberates Layton’s love for his son and wife, his deep appreciation for his parents and loved ones, and his thankfulness and being able to say goodbye.

Sincere thanks to @netgalley , @penguinrandomhouse , & @mcclellandandstewart for the digital copy of this moving book.

~👩🏻‍🦰

Thanks to Penguin Canada and NetGalley for an e-ARC! This is a sad read as you know the ending before going in. Bascaramurty is a journalist writing about a late friend of hers, a wedding photographer who’s recently become a father, following the last years of his life through a melanoma diagnosis. I found it vaguely interesting at the beginning though I was surprised at how personal it gets, how many details of the family (who clearly signed off) are shared that feels quite uncomfortable.

However, my enjoyment really took off with the second half as Layton gets further into his illness and the author incorporates some of the Facebook posts he made about his plans and hopes for his young son. Though the entire book is about Layton, it was really through these posts that I felt I had a clearer grasp on his personality and voice. But the beautiful balance of this book is that along with getting to enjoy his humour and sarcasm through these posts, you can also very clearly sense just how devastated he is by the diagnosis and failed treatments. A sad memoir for sure (pitched as a “grief memoir”) but a touching story of family and strength.

The story of Layton Reid really hits home for me. My own brother died of cancer at the young age of 28. He was diagnosed and passed away within 8 months. Reading about Layton's journey of remission and then finding out he has cancer again, it is very emotional for me. I cannot imagine being in his shoes. Dakshana Bascaramurty does a great job journaling the path of Layton and Candace. The path they took may seem like the wrong one, but when you are in the situation you know the medications will be awful and putting home into a more homeopathic treatment seems like their best shot. I am so happy this book doesn't just highlight how amazing Layton is and how great his family is. This book showed the hardships, how relationships are still relationships and can have disagreements and disappointments. It's not all roses because someone has terminal illness. Sweet Finn and Candace can go on knowing Layton loved them largely and they can remember his strength and love. This is a great book and I highly recommend it.

Synopsis: Layton was about to become a father when he found out his melanoma had returned, and was now stage 4. He battled for three years before succumbing to the illness, all the while fighting to be there for his family, and to prepare them for life without him.

This is a heavy memoir, similar to When Breath Becomes Air and My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me. I liked that this one was unique in that the writer was a third party who could write about observations, thoughts and feelings of both Layton and Candace. It was raw and full of honest conversations and thoughts. I know not everyone likes to read accounts like this that are so heavy with tragedy, but I find reading these types of memoirs and gaining insight is helpful for me processing my own feelings and experiences. I find it inspiring to see the strength of character and determination when faced with such unfair circumstances

Grab your tissues, a cup of tea, and a cozy blanket and settle in for this book. I absolutely loved this book. What a heartbreaking story which had so much hope and love in it. I cannot imagine what it must be like to know that you are dying and feeling like you have so much to share with your family and friends. The letters and legacy box that Layton leaves for his son is moving and beautiful. Thank you, Dakshana, for bringing Layton’s story to life.

Thank you to Dakshana Bascaramurty, Penguin Random House Canada, McClelland & Stewart, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One man's cancer journey, a devastating diagnosis of terminal cancer, takes us through both his living and his dying, and the family's experience throughout. Painful to read, nonetheless sensitive and uplifting.

This was a raw and honest account of how one person’s cancer affects everyone in the family. Dakshana, as an ‘outsider’, was able to show the pain and the joy that Layton and his immediate family experienced and give the reader valuable insight.

With this story, we get the final glimpses into a man's life before he dies from a long-term illness. It reminded me a lot of Life After Breathe and that book nearly suffocated me in sadness. I think books that are ghostwritten by the dead (in a way) are some of the saddest books we can read. They are truly heartbreaking. While this one didn't hit me quite the way others have in the past, that in no way negates its influence. It might not be a happy story, but it still gives us an idea of what living so closely alongside death is like.



4/5 Stars

Toronto-based reporter Dakshana Bascaramurty met Layton Reid when he photographed her wedding: their immediate connection was unusually strong, and although Reid eventually relocated to Halifax, the pair remained in friendly communication. It was a bombshell, therefore, when Reid emailed Bascaramurty to let her know that his cancer had returned and the prognosis wasn’t good — he had months to a few years to live and he worried what of himself would be left behind for his unborn child. While Reid began a series of legacy-related posts on Facebook, he and Bascaramurty decided to collaborate on a memoir as well, with This Is Not the End of Me being the result. There is much that is valuable and relatable in this book, but to be honest, I much preferred the excerpts of Reid’s own writings to Bascaramurty’s distanced journalistic tone. I will say that Bascaramurty successfully captured this end-of-life story — warts and all, the stresses acting on Reid and his entire family — and in a world where death is hidden away and caregivers are reluctant to complain, there is real value in sharing a story like this. I just expected to feel more.

This book is a raw and intimate look into the life and death of a young man. Raw and intimate- those are the most applicable adjectives that I can bring to my mind. When care-free, citizen-of-the-world, newly-married Layton Reid is diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma, it begins a journey that will upend his entire family. Author Bascaramurty became a close friend of the family and reveals here an unflinching view into Layton's experience with side effects of medical treatments, extreme homeopathic efforts, battles with insurance (in Canada), the incredible dedication of their extended family, the desperation to leave his young son a gift that will outlive him, the enormous toll on his care-giving wife and the resulting stress on their marriage.

I've read several books and memoirs in which the authors have realized that death is coming to them more quickly than expected. Those books normally involve a lot of reflection on life lessons, treasured memories, intended legacies, etc. This book is not at all in that vein. It is simply the rare honest story of a family's struggle to push back the inevitable.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have shared here. My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley. #ThisIsNotTheEndOfMe

This Is Not The End Of Me is a powerfully moving exploration of the effects of a terminal cancer diagnosis on a patient - Layton - and those close to him. It is a difficult and emotional read at times, but it is beautifully written and explores grief from many different angles.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dakshana Bascaramurty and McClelland & Stewart for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.