Simone de Beauvoir manages to put more essence into one page of writing than your average author can do in an entire novel

Yet another memoir about a daughter losing their mom to an illness. But this one was (expectedly) very well written. This book was written by Beauvoir after her mom fell, and later was diagnosed with peritonitis. What intrigues me the most about this book is how in the near time of her Maman’s death, Beauvoir was able to recount her Maman’s life, how her identity was shaped by her identity as a mother. It’s remarkable how many details was written in such short passages; Beauvoir recalls all the times her Maman was happy, laughing and suffering in her time at the nursery. Beauvoir keeps stressing the fact that whatever happened to her Maman, she must not suffer; thus the title, A Very Easy Death. I think by writing this down, as time passed, Beauvoir came to understand and accept her Maman’s death even before it occurs. It’s an honest writing, without too much added to the book.