Chapter 19 Summary and Analysis

We live in denial of death, which diminishes our lives, according to Viorst. She feels we replace our fear of death with anxiety about other things. Although we are, as humans, aware of our mortality, it does not make death acceptable to us. We often cannot personally believe that death applies to us, as illustrated by Viorst's recounting of Ivan Ilych's writing.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross has helped us learn that it is important to talk about our death, but Viorst does not necessarily agree with her assertion that we go through a patterned process when we die. Nevertheless, she does agree that being close to the dying we can learn what they need. Viorst's younger sister, Lois, died defiantly, concentrating on enjoying life, maintaining hope. Her friend Ruth courageously committed suicide rather than let cancer take her down the long road of...