"To Martin, With Love is a gift for its prose and perspective. Come for the memoir, stay for the mystery!" (Jocelyn Carbonara, Spiritus Communications)
World War II veteran, teacher, coach, and Cubs fan Martin Grojnecki lived his life "by the book"-if only his son could find it!
To Martin, With Love is a touching yet painful inquiry into one family's imperfect lives, as explored during Martin's critical, seventeen-hour hospitalization. His son's quest to comfort him triggers youthful memories of their seemingly normal lives-but also opens stale wounds from a distant past where addiction, prejudice, and ambivalence cut deep.
As the hours pass and Martin fades, his son struggles to make sense of the day:
Has he waited too long to probe his father for the truth-to understand how and why their family disintegrated, effectively dissolved by time?
Will their relationship be haunted by a new mystery, one that's unclear but staring at him in black-and-white?
Their time together in the ICU is precious, and fleeting. Can his son find the truth in those seventeen hours?
Or will Martin take it with him?
To Martin, With Love takes you on an emotional journey where an uncertain future meets an unmapped past. This reflective yet stirring story of family relationships connects then surprises as the journey unfolds-but don't be surprised if you discover your own truth along the way!
"I wanted it to all be normal. And to me it was. Only if you know what is abnormal would it not be. And I didn't."
** BONUS: Discussion questions included to assist with conversations about the novel's content and important themes **
