Estates Large and Small

 by Ray Robertson

I bought this book because it was getting good reviews, because it was about a bookseller, but I didn't know what the book was really about.  If I had I probably wouldn't have bought it.  However, I am glad I did buy it.

The book takes place in covid times.  It is about Phil Cooper who has reluctantly had to close his used book business.  He is drowning his sorrows taking drugs and listening to the Grateful Dead.  He is sorry he as lost his business but especially misses his contact with customers.

He has all his book inventory in his house and is getting an online website set up with the assistane of his nephew and a young woman techie who is in a wheelchair.

The title reflects what Phil does, he goes to peeople's homes to evaluate the book collections of the deceased.  However, one day when he goes to check out a collection he is startled to learn that the woman he meets is actually the owner of the book collection he is evaluating.  She has stage 4 cancer.  He agrees to wait until she is gone to buy the books from her.  The woman invites him to visit her and they strike up a friendship and eventually become lovers.

In addition to the man's lover we also meet a favourite customer of his who comes to visit him along with his dog.  The man's mother is in a care home because she has dementia.

Phil had been trying to learn about the history of Philosophy.  As his friendship with Caroline develops he suggests they study the history of philosophy together so they meet regularly with wine and marijunan spicing their discussions to talk about the Philosophers and their key philosophical thoughts.  I think they continue doing it because they are trying to figure out the meaning of life, what makes a good life, from the philosophers.

Phil's customer's dog dies and one day Caroline tells Phil she doesn't want to suffer to the end.  She wants to die after a good day. 

 Kant - A single moment is no different from eternity (Pg.254)

She also tells him she wants him to be with her when she takes the medicine.  Phil isn't sure he can deal with this.  But he is there with her/for her when she decides to end her life.

This book appealed to me as a book lover, the author really captured the addiction to books of the bibliophile.  It was tough to read with the talk of impending death.  It was about loss, loss of life, loss of your business, loss of your memories, loss of a beloved pet.  But it is also about the vital importance of human connection.

It was very painful to read, I cried at the end, but while I want to give it away because I don't know if I will ever want to read it again, I feel it is brilliantly, beautifully written so I won't give it away for now,