Furnishing Eternity: A Father, a Son, a Coffin, and a Measure of Life

Written by David Giffels

Narrated by Eric Michael Summerer

David Giffels grew up fascinated by his father's dusty, tool-strewn workshop and the countless creations-both practical and fantastical-it inspired. So when he enlisted his eighty-one-year-old dad for the unusual project of building a casket, he thought of it mostly as a way to learn and to spend time together. Life had other plans.

The unexpected death of his mother and, a year later, of his best friend, coupled with turning fifty and the growing realization that his father won't always be around for such offbeat adventures, leads to a harsh confrontation with mortality and loss.

In this soulful, panoramic memoir and father-son story, Giffels confronts some of the hardest questions common people face with wisdom and humor, unraveling the absence and presence of the people who define us and taking a true measure of life. Furnishing Eternity is the story of a year brought down by loss, a family finding hope in its roots, and the unexpected epiphanies to be found in the things we build. Heartfelt, unvarnished, and piercing with insight, this powerful memoir is Giffels' most intimate exploration of the values and traditions that illuminate the Midwest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Highbridge Company
• Release date: Jan 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781681689159

David Giffels

David Giffels is an assistant professor of English at the University of Akron, where he teaches creative nonfiction. Formerly an award-winning columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal and a contributing commentator on NPR, his writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and many other publications. He lives in Akron, Ohio, with his wife and two children.

Reviews for Furnishing Eternity

[kropferama · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

David Giffels brings together the physical world of woodworking with the spiritual world of family, friendship and loss. He sets out to build a coffin for himself under The mentorship of his father,a master woodworker. Throughout the time it takes him to design, build, and finish the coffin, we learn about Giffels own family history growing up in Akron in the 70s and 80s, his friendships, and interests in art and music. He connects the coffin through all of his stories into things that matter most in his life. It’s not a sad book. It’s a hopeful one. Quoting Robert Frost summing up all that he’s learned in life, “It goes on.” He’s created something for himself, given to others in his family,and given the reader a sincerer, poignant story that should resonate with everyone.