A Washington Post Best Nonfiction Book of the Year

In the spirit of Fierce Attachments and The End of Your Life Book Club, acclaimed novelist Brian Morton offers a "superb" (Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air) darkly funny memoir about his mother's vibrant life and the many ways their intense, tumultuous relationship was revisited in her final years.

Tasha Morton is a force of nature: a stunning educator who has left her mark on generations of students—and also a whirlwind mother, intrusive, chaotic, compulsively dedicated, and unruly. For decades, her son, Brian, kept her at a safe distance, but as her health begins to decline, he knows it's time to take responsibility for her care. However, he is unprepared for what awaits him as her refusal to accept her frailty leads to a series of epic outbursts and confrontations that are sometimes terrifying, sometimes hilarious, and sometimes both.

With a clear-eyed look, "deeply moving" (Dani Shapiro, The New York Times Book Review), and filled with dark humor, Tasha is both a vivid portrayal of an unforgettable woman and a hard look at the impossible mission of caring for an aging parent in a country whose unofficial motto is "you're on your own."

Pages: 224, Year of Publication: 0816, Dimensions: 14x14cm