Assessment:
Plot: At first glance, this memoir's plot seems straightforward. However Baumgartner's telling peels back layer after layer of emotion and depth, creating a lovely, rich, and tragic story of love and loss. The succinct chapters are well crafted, full of imagery and metaphor, and maintain a compelling momentum, even when slips into emotional abstraction seem to threaten the memoir’s pace.
Prose: From page one, it is easy to relax into Baumgartner's capable authorial hands. Her lovely prose is simultaneously emotive and concrete, giving readers a vivid portrait of her life.
Originality: While this memoir might initially seem familiar, readers will be pleasantly surprised by the author's ability to portray a well known story in a new way.
Character Development: The book's specificity and attention to detail quickly create a vivid picture of the narrator and her husband. With this skillful characterization, the reading experience is powerful and heartbreaking.
Date Submitted: May 19, 2017
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite, 5-Stars
Moonlight in the Desert of Left Behind: A Journey of Love, Terminal Illness, and Hope by Jan Baumgartner is a spellbinding memoir, an emotionally charged story of survival and hope that will touch readers in subtle ways. They sold their home in San Francisco and moved to the coast in Maine, seeking a quieter way of life. But less than four years after getting settled in their new home, Jan Baumgartner’s husband, John, was diagnosed with the terminal illness amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS. It was the prime of their marriage and they were a young couple, just starting out in life. The news was devastating for both of them, and the author knew she’d spend her life as a caregiver to the man she loved. This is a powerful story that depicts what it takes to “stand in love” and it comes with wonderful lessons for the reader.
Jan Baumgartner’s memoir is a book that speaks about courage, love, sacrifice, and the power of connecting to things and persons we love. In a beautifully written work, the reader follows the author as she seeks answers, embraces her tough and challenging reality, and reaches out to give love even when she feels broken. It’s wonderful to see how she grows in faith and love, believing in the love she has for her husband and allowing that love to nourish and transform her. The narrative voice is powerful and it rings through with honesty. As the reader follows the author in her travels to the wilds of Africa, in her attention to her dying husband, and in the pain that awakens her heart, they feel invited to embrace their own humanity with courage. Moonlight in the Desert of Left Behind: A Journey of Love, Terminal Illness, and Hope will make readers cry and laugh at the same time. Here is what it feels like to live with a person with a terminal disease and the joys of embracing the experience.
"Ms. Baumgartner has written her book with passion and unerring honesty, evocatively documenting the emotional and physical nuances of caring for a terminally ill spouse. While this could be a dark, negative story, she finds an unexpected source of light, hope and spiritual connection from her travels in Africa. The book is not only a poignant account of going through the death and dying process with a loved one, but it is also, ultimately, an inspirational celebration of life which deeply touched me."
~ Rob Kall, award winning journalist and author. His work has been featured in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC, Huffington Post and Discover; conference pioneer and motivational speaker on Positive Psychology and Story.
This was an incredibly well-written book, describing times of challenges and the beauty that can be found within them. I was touched and transported from Maine to Africa. A great journey that the author shares with candor and insight. Beautiful. ~ Wesley Gleason
Moonlight in the Desert of Left Behind by Jan Baumgartner is a true story of a young woman caring for her husband struggling with ALS. The author affectionately juxtaposes compassion and hope with her love of nature on the coast of Maine and Africa. The reader is taken on a vicarious safari as the author delivers keen observations while searching for answers. The prose is so well written that it begs to be read out loud! ~ Mary Gunning
Inspirational x10. 5 StarsThis author takes us on a journey into her heart: love, loss, healing and rebirth through nature. Here is a near epic tale told with humility, honesty and dignity. This is a story that will touch and inspire your soul. It is an extraordinary book worthy of your time to read. ~ Phillip W. Hurtig
Jan's story in moving, while deeply touching many emotions. I found myself not wanting to put it down. I cried, laughed, recalled my own journey where we had parallels as well as where we didn't. She is able to describe all beautifully in her artfully written book Moonlight in the Desert of Left Behind. Jan created beautiful pictures with words, in a way that let you into a very special place. I'm recommending MDLF to all my friends, including my book club and giving it to family members who need to hear this story. This is also a book I know I'll read again and again. Thank you Jan! ~ Brrenda
It was a pleasure to read this book. Among the stylists Jan's style has a name 'velvet', that is soft but strong, up to the point but multicolored, easy, but not simple. The topic is tough and it was approached with courage and determination. Meanwhile, the 'sidebars' on Africa and France are full of genuine love of the countries and people with absolutely no arrogance, so frequent in many travel memoirs. Great achievement and I wish the author the new beautiful endeavors. Mark Labinov, engineer/author
I connected on a deep level with this book. While very honest and open about loss, this book was also quite philosophical about both that and growth and change.The upswing is hope, which we must always have. There is always a balance in life, and Jan Baumgartner finds it in quite poetic ways. This is a must read on many levels - for those who have lost, for those who are finding themselves, for those who seek other ways of connecting to the universe. ~ Mary Ann Sanidad
Jan takes you on a Journey of Life in a way that intertwines passionate stories of the love she shared with her husband, of his terminal illness and their love of travel. The book will make you smile, laugh, cry and wonder how one person could endure the journey. It is very sobering, but you are also lifted by the humor and the joy of the simple things in life even in the face of tragedy. The descriptions of their travels allow to feel like you are with them seeing, hearing, tasting and sharing in the adventure. It takes a very difficult subject to the day to day reality, but in a very real, respectful and gracious manner. Makes you think about your own life and what is important. ~ Kim Fansler
Is this a love story? Oh my yes. A story of a promised life all ahead and full is rewritten on the fly? Of two hearts basking in the arms of yeses only to be told no? Where what is planned is not the plan? Yes. All of that and more....
Jan and John... in the truest sense this is the love story. Not only about the two of them, but of each of them. How each brief moment becomes a lifetime. How denial becomes acceptance. How upstream turns downstream. Ms. Baumgartner's book hurts and heals, holds and lets go, as she connects herself and the reader to how love, like water, always finds it way to itself. A majestic telling of the truest love, of beauty becoming. How the hearts yes cannot be silenced...the greatest love. Bravo. ~ Mikel Paul
Moonlight in the Desert of Left Behind A journey of Love, Terminal Illness, and hope by Jan Baumgartner was a heartwarming memoir of Jan’s journey caring for her husband and her life after his death. John and Jan fell in love, married, and looked forward to traveling and spending the rest of their lives together. Unfortunately, a diagnosis with a terminal illness crushed that dream. Jan’s theme throughout the book is hope. It comes out in her tone, the title, and throughout her life after the diagnosis of John’s illness. Jan’s story isn’t just for the “widow’s club,” it’s not a book on “death and dying.” It could be considered not only a memoir but a travel guide as well. I could trace her journey on a map, look up the restaurants, and camps she stayed at each night. What I loved the most about this book was her description of the terrain, food, and people. I could almost see, feel, and taste the food on her adventures. I do wish there were some secondary material in the book like maps of her route in Africa, or a picture or two of her home in Maine or her favorite crow or hummingbird. I enjoyed this book, and I couldn’t put it down. I think it would make a beautiful movie. I can imagine the gorgeous cinematography of Africa, the beauty of the French countryside, or her home in Mexico. Jan writes that “we are dumbed by so much inconsequential entertainment news” so I suggest everyone buy a copy of this book and not only read a love story, become a couch adventurist, or maybe look at the big picture of loss not only in her life but loss and suffering throughout our world and what we can do to change what goes on in our lives and in this world of ours. ~ Anne
Jan Baumgartner takes us on a heartfelt journey of a woman coping with losing her beloved husband to ALS. Her writing is eloquent and honest in sharing her shattered dreams, times of anger, acceptance, as well as the day to day difficulties in taking care of John, a once vibrant and healthy man. I felt right there with her on every page. Her love of nature and fascination of animals (and knowledge), especially in Maine and Africa, is intertwined throughout the book in helping her not only to survive these difficult times but push through. This is a memoir of hope, love, and determination. A gem! ~ Dona
An incredible true story about the strength of the human spirit, on so many different levels. I highly recommend this book. Jan Baumgartner is a truly gifted writer and an has a wonderful attitude towards all living creatures, including our Mother Earth. Brava! ~ Zola Delburn
