Scattering Ashes
A Memoir of Letting Go
by Joan Z. Rough
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Pub Date Sep 20 2016 | Archive Date Sep 19 2016
Description
Courageous and unflinchingly honest, Scattering Ashes is a powerful chronicle of letting go of a loved one, a painful past, and fear―a journey that will bring hope to others who grapple with the pain and repercussions of abuse.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
"...bravely honest....This is a moving narrative, and one that will ultimately serve a useful guide for families and their caretakers."--Publishers Weekly
“In this well-wrought memoir, Joan Rough shows us the beauty of becoming the alchemist of one’s own life. What happens after she invites her elderly, narcissistic mother to move in to her home will often set your teeth on edge. The amazing ending, however, will leave you standing in awe at the power of love.”—Shirley Hershey Showalter, author of Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World
“A brave story, beautifully written in an authentic, raw voice that strikes a universal chord about mother-daughter relationships, breaking the cycle of childhood abuse, taking responsibility for one’s own healing and finding forgiveness. “—Kathleen Pooler, author of Ever Faithful To His Lead: My Journey Away From Emotional Abuse
“At last, a mother-daughter memoir that chronicles a conflict-laden relationship without resorting to blame, victimization, or humor laced with sarcasm and cynicism. Joan Rough paints a vivid, in-depth portrait that captures anger, guilt, fear, denial, forgiveness, love and healing – all the pieces of life itself!” —Kevin Quirk, memoir ghostwriter and author of, Your life is a Book and It’s Time to Write! and Brace for Impact: Miracle on the Hudson, Survivors Share Their Stories of Near Death and Hope for a New Life
“ . . . a heartrending account of complicated mother-daughter relationship wrought with inter-generational patterns of conflict. Raw in its immediacy and honesty, Rough’s story testifies to the resiliency of the human spirit and how in the long and complex process of forgiveness, we must go through all of the stages of grief before we reach the final stage of acceptance. This story gives hope to those who cannot reconcile with their mothers when they were still alive.”—Saloma Furlong, author of Why I Left the Amish: A Memoir, and Bonnet Strings, An Amish Woman’s Ties to two Worlds
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781631520952 |
| PRICE | $16.95 (USD) |
Average rating from 3 members
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 342894
"Scattering Ashes: A Memoir of Letting Go" by Joan Z. Rough is about a daughter wanting to take care of her alcoholic, abusive, ill mother and to finally have a healthy relationship with her. She invites her mother to come live with her and her husband when the mother’s health starts to decline. The years of abuse she suffered as a child by her parents come rushing back mixed with the ongoing emotional abuse that still spews from her mother’s lips. Somethings never change. She does her best to take care of her mother even though she doesn’t make it easy. While the author’s resentment and hate build, she also feels love for her mother and wants the relationship that she isn’t even sure her mother is capable of giving her. After Joan Rough’s mother dies, she still feels the hate but also realizes she misses her. I’ll stop there because saying anymore would be giving too much away. I enjoyed this book and felt for the author and all she had endured. While reading I found myself wanting to tell the old woman off and to tell the author to remember who she is and what she has accomplished, not the words and actions of her parents. For me to have that reaction made this book worth the read.
Marie S, Reviewer
This is not a story of a normal mother and daughter relationship as the authors mother was emotional abusive and an alcoholic. It was a very interesting read on how the author had to learn to handle taking care of a parent at the end of their life who was abusive even near the end. This was a very powerful book and very helpful for others in similar situations. I could not put it down once I started reading, I will admit it was emotional upsetting at times but worth the read. This was a very powerful book and I highly recommend it.
