A poet and an essayist, John Daniel weaves meditations on the nature of memory, identity, ageing, and the tenacity of family into this account of his mother's last years. Uneasy in his role as caregiver, Daniel struggles with guilt, embarrassment and anger over his mother's transformation. As she loses her memory to Alzheimer's, he delves into his own in a passionate attempt to remember - for her and for himself - the remarkable history of their lives.