Life on the Refrigerator Door
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4.7 • 46 Ratings
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- £4.99
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
Mom,
I went to the store. See inside the fridge. I watered the plants. I cleaned out Peter's cage. I tidied the sitting room. And the kitchen. And I did the washing up.
I'm going to bed.
Your live-in servant,
Claire
Life on the Refrigerator Door is told exclusively through notes exchanged by Claire and her mother, Elizabeth, during the course of a life-altering year. Their story builds to an emotional crescendo when Elizabeth is diagnosed with breast cancer.
Stunningly sad but ultimately uplifting, this is a clever, moving, and original portrait of the relationship between a daughter and mother. It is about how we live our lives constantly rushing, and never making time for those we love. It is also an elegy to how much can be said in so few words, if only we made the time to say them.
A new edition of this simultaneously heartbreaking and heart-warming novel by Alice Kuipers.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Kuipers's haunting debut unfolds like a flip book of half-drawn images too swiftly ended, a compilation of tantalizing notes posted on a refrigerator by a single working mom and "Claire-bear," her wistful teen daughter. Bittersweet, funny and achingly real, the nameless mother (an overworked obstetrician) and bubbly Claire communicate through these notes instead of talking, e-mailing or text messaging. Missives range from the daughter's plainly impassioned ("Hi MOM! (Who I never see anymore EVER!)") to her mother's soothing, tough-upper-lip responses written during her breast cancer treatment. Kuipers captures the anxiety surrounding tragedy and conveys the importance of fully experiencing life. Although the format has its limits (notably in character development and narrative momentum), Kuipers delivers a strong, emotional reminder about the importance of loved ones, even through times of unceasing complications and challenges.
Customer Reviews
Childhood book 12 years of age - 19 years of age.
When I first ever read this book I was 12 years of age. I’m not 19 and it’s took me 7 years to find it. I have told my boyfriend about this book previously and we looked at all local library’s. I was able to tell my boyfriend most of what happened throughout.
Reading this book 7 years later suddenly felt like it has more meaning and the fact it still got to me just like it did when I was 12!
Amazing writing and an amazing story. It’s so truthful and reality it makes you feel like your apart of their family and your going through the struggles with that. I never knew how books could get to a person and how involved they can make you feel.
My childhood book. I will forever keep this purchase and continue to read through out my life.
Amazing
This book is absolutely fantastic I recommend it very much! It’s such a great idea “ life on the refrigerator door”. I just love it.
Best book ever
It's the best book I've ever read it's great!!!