To the River by Don Gillmor

Don Gillmor's book "To the River" is the picture of our society's dark corner where most of the writers hesitate to explore. When I first  read the book's cover, I thought the book is about the death of writer's brother and the whole content might be his extensive journey in search of his dead body. However. as the pages keep unfolding I was hypnotized by the writing and the board knowledge on the topic 'suicide.

First of all, Don has vivid sense of past memory with his brother David who was four years younger than him. In their childhood, they did everything stupid, humble, fun. The family memoir was grounded on reality. Their parents moved to Calgary. As they grew up, David got married before his elder brother, Don, the writer. But David was different then his siblings. He loved music, gathering, pot. He involved in different bands. Later, he moved to Whitehorse with his new girlfriend. Don moved to Toronto to become the writer. Sister lived in Saskatchewan. Family divided in four different places. However, mom was their mediator. She would tell Don about David. 

When David was living in an apartment with his girlfriend in Whitehorse, he used to sing in the clubs and stay late night drinking and smoking joints. He cheated his girlfriend frequently picking new girls. As the days pass by he become physically ill as well. He started drinking heavily. Drinking, taking drugs, cheating his girlfriends resulted in separation with his most beloved girlfriend. Then he stopped drinking and cocaine. He started a decent job in a local book store as a manager. Everything seemed good. David's change brought happiness in the family in Calgary.

On day, David drove his truck to the Yukon river which was thirty kilometer away from the town. He parked on the side, put cowboy hat on the bank of the river and stepped into the frozen water. His body was discovered near the hydro dam thirty Km far from the truck. This was end of his life by suicide. 

Don, the writer with his seventy five years old father goes to Whitehorse in search of his lost brother. He meets David's new girlfriend and his close friends. Finally he lost hope when RCM discovered the  Dead body. With the heart touching narrative of his brothers death, Don explores the reasons why people end their life by killing themselves. He talks about a Calgary poet, and Toronto based author H.S Bhabra and their suicide. He explores the reasons why people kill themselves when they are in their most booming age. One reason according to the research suicide is genetic. It is in the blood. Second it is mental problem like severe depression or schizophrenia. Third is economic like joblessness, debt or unexpected penalty. Fourth is deteriorating health condition with addiction or illness. 

Suicide is looming in the society. There are many people who attempted suicide when they didn't see the option with the life. Death always comes with option. Another research shows that most of the writers committed suicide because they used writing as therapy. Once they know it is not helping them anymore, they choose the option of death.

This book speaks from the heart. It has a lot of resources on the topic. The writer has done enough research on suicide bringing multiple case studies to justify the death of his brother.