I wanted to like this memoir. It desperately wanted to be liked, but that was the problem. It was hard to wade through all the shifting wonderful and at times it felt overdone. I understand Mr. Simon was trying to share the luminous life that was his mother's, but felt more connected to the story and his tender relationship with his mother when the scene shifted to the low lights and quiet of the hospital room.

With a little reworking, this might have been slim gem of a book.