Unforgettable

February 23, 2015
In this tender memoir developed from a series of Twitter messages, Simon, the host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday, finds the last week of his mother's life to be a time for them to cherish each other and tenderly reminisce. In his daily tweets, which garnered a considerable audience at the time, Simon recorded the last days of his mother's life as significant and newsworthy. An only child, Simon was raised by his mother, Patti, in a Chicago apartment. His comedian father's drinking became unbearable and his mother divorced him before he could bring down the family; he died when Simon was 16. Subsequently, Pattiâpretty, kind, and accommodatingâsold clothes at "posh shops" on Michigan Avenue, worked as a secretary in an advertising agency, and volunteered for styling hands and hair ads. She also entertained many suitors. Her vitality informed Simon's youth. As Patti lies dying of respiratory failure in a Chicago hospital, she and her son exchange "painful truths" while listening to Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable." Simon appreciates how generously Patti is treated by the staff at the hospital, which brings up memories of the "lovely" men who courted her. He takes his quirky, devoted, gracious mother on her own terms, and his work shimmers as a touching tribute.

Starred review from July 1, 2015

What started as a series of tweets by NPR host Simon (Pretty Birds) has been expanded into a touching, heartwarming biography of his ex-showgirl mother, Patricia Lyons Simon Newman. Tweeting from his mother's hospital room during her final days, Simon not only portrays the parent/child bond and celebrates his mother's unique qualities but also demonstrates the limitations of social media. Reflecting on the inevitability of death and the broader meaning of life, Simon jumps between Patricia's final hospitalization and her life as a single parent. Simon's professional broadcast expertise enhances his expressive voice, which is nicely paced as he reads. An easy, entertaining, yet thought-provoking listen. VERDICT This program will appeal to biography/memoir readers and those familiar with Simon.--Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 25, 2015
Simon delivers a powerful and heartfelt reading of his memoir, which recounts the last week he spent with his mother. As he sits by her hospital bed, Simon flashes back to various childhood memories, revealing a portrait of a gracious, elegant woman and a loving mother. Simon portrays his mother with steady, deliberate pacing that reveals her unending patience, love, and selflessness, while his inflections convey her calm consideration of the questions he asked. In revealing his memories, it is clear how Simon himself has adopted her ability to focus on the positive aspects in situations, embracing life and love in all gestures. While Simon offers accents and character voices to inject humor and lighten some of his recollections, he also allows for deft pauses and slow delivery to emphasize his awe and respect, such as when referring to nurses in the ICU. Simon provides thought-provoking social commentary on some of the paradoxes of the elderly in the United States and doctors who think they know it all. These observations are made all the more poignant by Simon's evocative portrayal of his mother during their frustrating and anxious search to find a doctor who would listen to what she was saying. Simon's moving story and narration is a beautiful tribute to his mother. A Flatiron hardcover.