Customer Reviews

Next of Kin

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Author Priscilla Lalisse-Jespersen purged raw emotions into her short story "Next Of Kin." Priscilla learns of the death of her father while residing in France. Her father struggled with cancer before. After learning that his cancer returned, Priscilla thought this time would be like any other and end in remission. That was until she received the dreadful phone call in the middle of the night. That was the night that her world as she knew it turned upside down. She not only had to go through the stages of mourning, she also had to learn about the greed of family members and the responsibilities of being the next of kin.

If you are someone who has experienced the death of a loved one, you will be able to relate with the author's struggles. The author's natural emotions are deeply felt. One minute she is planning the burial of her father, the next she is thinking about the past. If you are an individual that wants details along the lines of a story, this book is not for you. I enjoyed "Next of Kin." I could feel the author's emotions. This would definitely be a good book for a grief and loss support group. There were a few minor grammatical errors and the story was difficult to follow. I think this is due to the rawness of the author's emotions. Would I purchase another book by this author? Most definitely. I look forward to reading her novel "Stockdale."

Reviewed by: Sabrina
3.5 stars

Date: 5/11/11
Title: Next of Kin
Author: Priscilla Lalisse-Jespersen
ISBN 10: 1456345192
ISBN 13: 978-1456345198
Pages: 76
Publisher: Unknown
Cover: Electronic Galley/e-book
Reviewer: Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant- Literary Wonders!
Rating: 3 Stars


Next of Kin by Priscilla Lalisse-Jespersen, is non-fiction work about the death of her father. Living in Paris, Mrs. Jespersen received that unwanted but inevitable phone call while being miles away and worlds apart from her father who had been suffering with cancer.
While back in the states for her father's funeral, she reconnects with family and finds out that her father's caretaker had not been treating her father as well as she had liked.
I would have really loved if this book had been a full novel, perhaps the author would have been able to expound upon issues within her family and her father's illness. I felt that the story didn't flow well from point to point.
Mrs. Lalisse-Jespersen is also the author of the novel, Stockdale. I may take a chance and add this to my TBR list.

"Next of Kin" is an accurate portrayal of so many family dynamics where a family member shows their true colors and acts less than family-like. The book tugged at my heart strings and caused me to put a face to the characters. Who do I know that would act like this at a time when loss is the catalyst that causes others to tread over others that are suppose to be family? I felt as if I were there!

'Next of Kin' is a daughter's touching tribute to the father she didn't say goodbye to before he died.

It's a deeply personal essay and memorial and cathartic sharing all wrapped into one little package, which gives us insight into the author's pain and confusion as well as the inner workings of a deep south American family today.

Lalisse-Jespersen doesn't judge as much as question what went on following the death of her father. In doing so she makes us privy to her own uncertainty and ambivalence about being so far from the crucible of events, as well as trying to understand the actions and reactions of those geographically nearest to the one who passed away.

In the end 'Next of Kin' is a brave public exercise in coming to terms with loss and grief, and the frustration of important things not said. As such it has the power to strike a deep chord in all of us, because where is the person who has never regretted not saying certain things and who has had to come to terms with it, and accept it, alone?

The book ends with a gently positive message, indicating that the author has managed to move past this difficult chapter in her life, and we are left feeling moved and ultimately inspired by the courage of her Alabama father, and of his Paris-based daughter too.