Secure Your Copy August Farewell: The Last Sixteen Days Of A Thirty-Three-Year Romance Produced By David G. Hallman Available Through Volume

written. I kept putting this book aside because I knew it would make me an emotional wreck, and it did, but it was also a celebration of life when life mattered most.
Beautiful story. It's hard to write about love and loss, but David G, Hallman does just that, eloquently, as he recounts the death of his longtime partner, Bill Conklin, to cancer, Covering the lastdays they shared together, August Farewell is a fitting tribute to love lost, far too young, Poignant,beautifullywritten story of love and loss, a model of how endoflife care should be, It was August,, when the doctor stood at the foot of the hospital bed and with a deliberation that was both efficient and compassionate, looked directly at David Hallman and his partner Bill Conklin and said, ""Our diagnosis is pancreatic cancer, stage four.
"" In his thoughtful and deeply personal memoir, David Hallman narrates the sixteen days after Bill was diagnosed with terminal cancer and intersperses vignettes drawn from their thirtythree years together as a gay couple.


With poignancy, humor, and affection, David describes the excruciating intensity of caring for Bill during those final two weeks while reminiscing about the joys and challenges of their life together.
During their lengthy relationship, both were deeply committed to social and environmental justice, loved the arts and traveling, and embraced faith and spiritualityvalues that were never more important to them than during the final days of Bill's life.
As David sat at Bill's bedside, he shares how the memories of their great love provided him strength and helped him prepare Bill for the end.


"August Farewell" offers an intimate portrait of a loving relationship brought to an abrupt end and affirms the power of love in the face of adversity.
This beautifully written memoir is careful to show the love of this thirtythree year relationship and not just the angst of watching someone die.
Hallman has done a wonderful job of interspersing memories of trips painted wonderfully with description so the reader can get to know these two main 'characters' even though we are well aware of the outcome from the onset.
The testament to the longevity and love of this gay couple goes a long way to show that 'marriage' does not know gender.
My partner and I only togetheryears a third of David amp Bill have traveled extensively as well and I enjoyed the portions as I reminisced about my own life as Hallman displayed their shared moments together before those final days in August.
I cannot imagine planning out my spouse's service as he did while tending to and caring for Bill with an unconditional love that allowed his soulmate such dignity in death.
Sharing these private moments with others may just aid in the relief that someone reading this book could need displaying once again how giving this author truly is.
I feel almost that I cant articulate how deeply moved I was by August Farewell, I cannot imagine watching the final days of a loved one, let alone a partner of thirtythree years, I dont think that I would have the strength to endure that,

Hallmans love for his partner, Bill, as well as Bills personality leapt off the pages, Though quite a lot of the book is somber, there was a brief passage that made me laugh out loud about how Bill would have responded to a specific situation.
I would love to tell you all about it, but I think that its one of those that you must read in context.


I think that reading this book will be a very personal experience that will be completely individual for each reader.
I often read in bed and on my bedside table is a box of letters from my boyfriend, Every so often when I was reading August Farewell, I would catch the scent of his cologne, I could not imagine going through such a situation with a partner of two years, let alone the scope of David and Bills relationship.


This book will enrich your life and make you grateful for what you have, This book is a mustread, An interesting book about a true story of a gay couple of which one is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which is rather far advanced that there is little that can be done by the medical profession, which means he has only a few weeks left to live.

The couple have been together foryears, and the book goes back and forth between today, then a flashback into the past they enjoyed together
It is not the most uplifting story, the victim is rather ready to die any time, in fact wonders why it is taking so long, fordays he is taken care of by his partner in their luxurious condo downtown Toronto, there are times that the partner despairs as to why it is taking so long for him to die, and is he in much pain.
. . he makes arrangements for the funeral, their friends include some "who is who" who will participate in the memorial service.
he reads up on line what to expect when a person dies, like what might happen, he is surrounded by agencies that provide care workers for various jobs that require doing,which is the beauty and benefit of our Canadian Health Care System much sneered at by some of our friends in other parts of the world.

I read the book in abouthours, did not care for some of the religious beliefs espoused, however the author has worked for the United Church of Canada, hence the religious connection.
The Author David has written other books as well, Having been involved in palliative care for several years with a Toronto Hospice agency, many of the details were not new to me.
A good and sad journal, it would be interesting to know what has happened to the "left behind partner" today.
Very moving and poignant memoir, Heartbreakingly honest. Still haunted by its final pages days later, An amazing account of one man's journey through grief and love, A great work of nonfiction would recommend it to everyone, I rarely, if ever, write a review and I especially feel bad writing a negative one, But this book was so weak, in my opinion, that I felt the need to express that so that others would avoid reading it.
This book seemed like a paid advertisement for the Canadian public health system more than anything else, The author came across as pompous and conceited, I did not feel the sorrow for his partner and I did not feel his sorrow for his partner, On a positive note, I have been debating writing my own book, After reading this one, I feel confident that I could do at least as good a job, I gave this beautiful book four with the intention of leaving a fourpointfive star rating!
I've read this book more than once I guess Mortimer would like that and have enjoyed it every time.

Mr. David G. Hallman you should be proud of your writing talents!Stars

August Farewell is inarguably the most touching book I have read thus far in my life.
David G. Hallman pours forth the heartbreaking last days spent with Bill Conklin, his lover and best friend for thirtythree years,

David G. Hallman allows the reader to share an intimate time with his partner, The telling of the final days with Bill was surely a cathartic exercise for David, and such an honor to read.
You can feel the emotions jumping from the pages as David and Bill meet specialist after specialist trying to get answers to the pain Bill was living with, until the terrible diagnosis of Cancer.
From the highs to the inevitable lows, David relives the pain and despair Bill was experiencing, bringing raw emotion forward.
David shares fond memories of times he and Bill travelled the globe enjoying the opera and of spending time with friends and loved ones through the holidays and other occasions as they built their life together.


The memoir could have been weighed down with the darkness such emotion can bring, however David added touches of humor and little quirks of Bill's allowing a lightness to the love story.
The inclusion of private photos of their life and adventures brings a connection between the couple and the reader,


I challenge anyone who has read “August Farewell” not to have a moment when they recall a time shared with, or the loss of a loved one.
I can't recommend this book highly enough,


Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review, I was not paid for my service, I finished reading David Hallman's beautiful memoir of the life of his partner and realized I had been in the presence of true love.
While August Farewell is about Bill's battle with cancer, it truly is a love story and not simply one about death.
I can't say much more that hasn't already been said in other reviews, I was just blown away to realize I finished it on the anniversary of Bill's death when I saw Hallman's tweet on Augustrd.
Read this book. You'll be glad you did, Today I got to read David G, Hallmans “August Farewell”. This book is sitting in my shelf for like two or three weeks now, So today I finally picked it up and havent put it down in the last fivesix hours,

Reading the summary on the back suggested that this book would be a real tearjerker and I was ready for that.
Ive been following David on Twitter for quiet a while now and its been a few times that Ive seen reviews or sneak peaks to this book so I was excited and curious to read it myself.


The book is basically about the last sixteen days David shares with his partner Bill, after he got the diagnose of

pancreatitis cancer stage.


This book a homage to love, David described the last days of his partner with love, passion, courage but also humor, I loved how he mixed the current ongoings, the progress of Bills disease with loving, funny and special memories they have had adventured together trough their relationship.


So we go by his side while he takes care for his lover, arranges everything that has to be arranged and is faced with something everyone of is probably scared.
Losing the person we love the most, But with strength, love and faith he provides Bill everything he needs to help him, be by his side as he takes the final step.


Ive been laughing, crying and weeping trough the whole book and I think this one of the most honest and affectionate books Ive ever read.
And Im very thankful that David wrote down this process, those memories and decided to share them with us, the readers.


This is a wonderful story about love, faith, support and strength, A story about a long going relationship thats brought to an abrupt hold but doesnt stop there, Its about a love so deep that not even death can break it,

Im giving this bookout of,
I read the lastof this incredibly moving and lovefilled tribute to Bill last night and was brought to tears.
These were tears of feeling a warm glowing love in my heart for Bill amp David, tears of sadness for longing to be held in my mother's arm just one more time she passed awayyears ago of metatastic lung cancer and tears of joy for my fiance David and our fledgling relationship.
David, Thank You for writing this book and letting us who read it feel the absolute love you and Bill had for each other! In August of, Bill Conklin was diagnosed with stagefour, pancreatic cancer.
Only sixteen days later, Bill died, Bills partner of thirtythree years, David Hallman, narrates this sixteenday journey interspersed with vignettes drawn from their rich and varied life together.


For the most part Bill was unconscious during his last weeks, so this memoir is more of David Hallmans experience of caring for and letting go of his lover after a long and beautiful relationship.
This book started as a personal account for David, as he wanted to document the details of those last weeks together before his memory began to fade, and much of it does seem like a personal diary.


I found the book well written with good pacing except for one issue, It is written in present tense, The author states up front that all these events happened in, and then voices his story as if it were happening as he tells it.
I found this very jarring, something that bothered me from first page to last,

One thing I found fascinating is that, one week after Bills diagnoses, he was bedridden, in much pain, couldnt eat, couldnt talk, didnt even have the strength to suck water through a straw, yet they continued to keep him alive for as long as possibleanother nine days of pain.
If he were a horse, they would have mercifully shot him, Why, in this day and age, cant we find the compassion for humans that we have already found for animals

This is not a pleasant story.
It is told with poignancy, humor, affection, and a good deal of tears, But be aware, I found this to be a depressing read, A bright spot is that the author delves into their life together: their commitment to environmental justice, love of the arts, love of traveling, and their deeply felt Christian beliefs.


This is a tale of letting go, a journey through the past to gain the strength to endure the separation.
This is not a book I can recommend to all readers, Perhaps to readers who have made similar journeys, or people preparing for their own loss,

I don't normally write reviews, but I'd like to make an exception here,

I came across this book in a bit of an usual manner, Last year, I was creating an inventory of the influential teachers I've had in my life, Bill Conklin was one of them, He taught my sisters and I piano for a couple years in the earlys, Admittedly, I wasn't the greatest student I hated having to practice, but always patient with me, While he had me practicing a new piece on the piano, he'd turn and chat with my mom, I loved listening to Bill talk because he always had the most amazing stories, I never realized how much those stories stuck with me until now, Bill taught me what it meant to be a good teacher who genuinely cared about his students and their wellbeing, regardless of their ability or dedication.
When I eventually gave up piano, I was more worried about disappointing him than anything else, We eventually lost contact with him and I hadn't thought about him for nearly a decade, Fastforward to last year and I decided to try looking him up and seeing what he might have been up to.
I went into knowing that there was a very good chance he had already passed away, Didn't hurt any less to find out I was right,

I was initially very nervous about reading this book, but I'm glad I did, I learned a lot about this wonderful man who touched my life for an hour or two every week for almost two years.
I got a better understanding about him as a person beyond what preteen me remembers, Mr. Hallman's touching retelling of those trying sixteen days had me in tears several times, I don't know if I would have enjoyed the book as much had I not had an existing connection to Bill, and was thus already invested in the subject matter.
While not the best writing I've ever read, I think his attempts to capture Bill's spirit through the many anecdotes of their life together are far more important than anything else.
I cannot even begin to imagine the pain of watching someone you love that fiercely go through such suffering and decline so rapidly.
The book is obviously a labour of grief and love and I have difficulty faulting him for what I, as reader, may not have necessarily enjoyed as thoroughly.


Regardless of any perceived faults, I'm thankful for this book, It has given me some closure regarding an important albeit brief influence in my life, Thank you David Hallman for pouring your heart into this memoir, .