“Hey Dick”: How I Loved and Lost My Brother – Book Review
Grief is a journey that frequently lacks road signs, a map, and a clear endpoint. Robbie Blackburn shares his intensely intimate and unvarnished account of losing his older brother in a terrible accident in Hey Dick: How I Loved and Lost My Brother. This story has a strong undertone of love and resiliency despite being honest, beautiful, and completely heartbreaking.
I was very grateful to receive a review copy of this book, and I’m happy to share it with you today. This was, at times, difficult to read due to the heaviness of the loss. But it was also very beautiful and enjoyable to read, as it memorializes the bond they had, and it reminds all of us the importance of family, love, and remembering to cherish those you love while you have them in your life.
The complicated and frequently unsaid reality of survivor’s guilt is at the core of this book. Blackburn freely struggles with the heartbreaking notion that his brother’s death was somehow brought on by a quick, thoughtless thinking. His words reveal the weight of unachievable blame and reflect the constant “what-ifs” that haunt those left behind. He does, however, provide an honest look at the emotional upheaval of loss – the numbness, the anger, and the desperate search for meaning – through this agonizing contemplation.
Despite its tragic subject matter, Hey Dick is a celebration of the enduring link between brothers as much as a story of grief. Blackburn’s vivid stories transport readers to cherished siblinghood experiences, such late-night video game fights, amusing road trips, and thought-provoking conversations that linger long after the last word is spoken. These moving and genuine memories are evidence of the love that never dies.
Hey Dick is a very engrossing read because of Blackburn’s captivating blend of poetic style and unfiltered passion. Instead of providing simple solutions or tidy conclusions, he presents grief as a constant presence that one must learn to bear rather than conquer. Moments of grace appear along the journey, such as a family coming together, a friend offering support, or the understanding that love survives even in the absence of the one you love.
For those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, Hey Dick will resonate deeply. While acknowledging the depths of suffering, Blackburn’s story also sheds light on the unpredictable but necessary journey to healing. His remarks offer consolation, empathy, and a reminder that love and remembrance are indestructible bonds that bind us to the people we have lost, even in the most difficult circumstances.
I truly enjoyed reading it, sharing this journey with the author, and found many parts of it painfully relatable. I highly recommend. Hey, Dick is a must-read for anybody dealing with sorrow, siblings who understand the special anguish of losing a sibling, and anyone looking for a profoundly poignant book that highlights the resiliency of the human spirit.
Available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle editions. Also available in Kindle Unlimited. Check out the book trailer here: