The Flowers Mother Ate

<P>A memoir-in-essays, <I>The Flowers Mother Ate</I> captures the gradual decline of the author's mother, an artist who lived with Alzheimer's disease for more than a decade. The book's nonlinear structure and mix of literary styles and perspectives reflect the ever-shifting, often bewildering nature of dementia—for both the patient and their loved ones. Glimpses of imagery from their former life—like a beer bottle perched on the edge of a bathtub or faded oil paintings of a much younger mother and daughter—blend together with the stark realities of elder care, including doctor's appointments, difficult conversations, and unpredictable behavior. What emerges is a relatable portrait of life, death, and family in modern America, told in a series of stunning and often surprising stories.</P>