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Six to Carry the Casket by Bill Hulseman

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Our Review:

Bill Hulseman’s Six to Carry the Casket is a tender memoir that balances humor with heartbreak. With a keen sense of detail and an unflinching look at the complexities of family, Bill Hulseman explores identity, grief, and the ties that bind us to the past. Six to Carry the Casket invites readers to step into his world, evoking moments that are universally relatable. The result is a memoir that feels as comforting as a talk with a close friend.

At its heart, Six to Carry the Casket is a book about family: the way it shapes us, sustains us, and, at times, frustrates us. Hulseman recounts his journey growing up in a large, tightly knit family with all the joys and challenges that come with it. Six to Carry the Casket spans decades, chronicling formative moments with his parents and siblings. He recounts the ways their relationships evolve, and their shared history during times of loss.

Hulseman’s writing shines in its ability to transform ordinary moments into universal experiences.  One particularly relatable scene, for me, describes the dividing of his late parents’ possessions—a process full of laughter and tears. I’ve personally gone through a parents belongings after they passed, and was impressed by Hulseman’s ability to capture the same thoughts and feelings I experienced. In Hulseman’s hands, these milestones feel less lonely.

Six to Carry the Casket is not merely a nostalgic look back at the author’s upbringing; it’s also a journey of self-discovery. Hulseman candidly explores his identity as a gay man within the context of his traditional Catholic family. His reflections on navigating acceptance, add another layer of depth and intrigue. He writes with grace and vulnerability, allowing readers to see his struggles to reconcile different parts of himself.

Grief looms large in Six to Carry the Casket, but it’s handled with  warmth and sensitivity. The deaths of Hulseman’s parents, which provide the emotional framework for much of Six to Carry the Casket, are more than just moments of sadness but opportunities for connection. There’s a beautiful honesty in the way Hulseman describes the messiness of grief. He captures tears mixed with awkward laughter yet shows how life stubbornly continues.

Hulseman’s ability to weave humor into even the heaviest moments enhances Six to Carry the Casket. His mother, for example, had a knack for delivering unexpected and hilariously unfiltered remarks, such as her blunt explanation during a family holiday screening of It’s a Wonderful Life. While everyone watched Lionel Barrymore’s portrayal of Mr. Potter, she matter-of-factly informed the room that the actor was in a wheelchair because he was “full of syphilis.” The off-handed comment left the family both laughing and bewildered, perfectly capturing her sharp wit. The memoir is filled with these kinds of moments, drawing the reader into the family.

Hulseman’s voice is the driving force of the book. He writes as though he’s sitting across from you, sharing stories over coffee. The memoir is conversational yet polished. At times, his reflections verge on the philosophical, but they never feel heavy-handed. Instead, they invite readers to pause and consider their own relationships.

Six to Carry the Casket will resonate deeply with readers who appreciate stories about the ways we navigate life’s joys and losses. Especially those who are going through the death of a loved one. It reminds us to hold onto memories and cherish the time we have on this earth.

Six to Carry the Casket is a celebration of life’s messy, beautiful contradictions: the way grief and joy intermingle, how family can be both a source of frustration and profound love. But most importantly Six to Carry the Casket speaks to the quiet moments that end up meaning everything. Hulseman’s ability to capture these nuances with humor and heart makes Six to Carry the Casket a standout memoir. It’s not just a book to read—Six to Carry the Casket is a book to cherish.

Six to Carry the Casket is a celebration of life’s messy, beautiful contradictions: the way grief and joy intermingle, how family can be both a source of frustration and profound love.”

Six to Carry the Casket will resonate deeply with readers who appreciate stories about the ways we navigate life’s joys and losses.”

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