one of my favourite books is A Ring of Endless Light because it so beautifully encapsulates the basic lessons of life and death in such a realistic way that i can related to.

Vicky's grandfather, who is terminally ill with cancer, says these poignant words early on in the story:

' "if we knew each morning that there was going to be another morning, and on and on and on, we'd tend not to notice the sun rise, or hear the birds, or the waves rolling into shore. we'd tend not to treasure our time with the people we love. simply the awareness that our mortal lives had a beginning and will have an end enhances the quality of our living. perhaps it's even more intense when we know that the termination of the body is near, but it shouldn't be."

i(vicky) wanted to reach over to him and hold him and say '"it is, oh, it is," but i couldn't.'