Carrying the Tiger - by Tony Stewart (Paperback)

About the Book

An inspiring story of love, loss and renewal. Tony Stewart and his wife navigate her cancer treatment with humor and grace, and after she dies, his journey through grief reveals that grief and joy can coexist.

Book Synopsis

An inspiring story of love, loss and renewal. Tony Stewart and his wife navigate her cancer treatment with humor and grace, and after she dies, his journey through grief reveals that grief and joy can coexist.

When Tony and Lynn learned that she had incurable cancer, they faced an impossible truth: their time together was running out. Thus began an extraordinary journey of courage, heartbreak and enduring love, as they navigated the twists and turns of Lynn's treatment while learning to live fully in the shadow of death.

Carrying the Tiger chronicles their final years together with unflinching honesty and deep tenderness. Through Tony's eyes and excerpts from his journal, we witness the intimate moments that matter most: hands held across the kitchen table; difficult decisions made with courage and hope; love, laughter and dancing at midnight; and the honor and privilege of being present for Lynn's final breath.

But Carrying the Tiger doesn't end with Lynn's passing. It continues into the wilderness of grief: the shattering disorientation, the guilt, the slow and uncertain path toward life, as Tony learns to experience joy again without diminishing his love for Lynn.

If you're caring for someone with terminal illness, this book illuminates the road ahead. If you're navigating the aftermath of loss, it offers the comfort of shared experience. And if you're simply wondering how to keep living when everything has changed, these pages prove that even in darkness, light can break through.

This is the book Tony wished he'd had. Now it's here for you: inspiring, informative and profoundly moving.

• GOLD MEDALIST at the Global Book Awards
• Finalist for the AmericanBookFest Best Book Award
• Finalist for the Indie Author Project/Library Journal best memoir award
• Semi-Finalist for the BookLife Prize (a perfect 10.0 in all categories)

"A beautiful and very human love story which breathes an extraordinary generosity of spirit." - David Newman, author of Talking with Doctors

"Captures emotions and experiences that will be familiar to anyone who's stood by a loved one facing a cancer diagnosis. But here, too, are quiet moments of joy and triumph; this is a work that will strengthen all who read it." - Khalid Dar, MD, Oncologist, Mount Sinai Morningside

"A remarkable odyssey of learning to 'live fully in the shadow of death.'" - Publishers Weekly (Editor's Pick)

"A masterclass in facing life's hardest moments with grace." - IndieReader

"Heart-wrenching... beautifully describes the couple's unique relationship" - Kirkus Reviews

"Tony Stewart writes with unflinching honesty about love and loss at the deepest level. The book is both devastating and hopeful as we accompany Tony through his wife's diagnosis and illness and his subsequent discovery that joy and grief can live hand in hand." - Jessica Fein, author of Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

Review Quotes

"Stewart crafts a beautifully devastating memoir honoring his late wife, Lynn Kotula, and their journey of navigating her terminal cancer... A remarkable odyssey of learning to 'live fully in the shadow of death.'" - Publishers Weekly (Editor's Pick)

"The author seamlessly weaves real-life scenes, emails, internet posts, and photographs from his life with Lynn into a varied and intimate narrative... A heart-wrenching cancer memoir..." - Kirkus Reviews

"An emotive, intimate memoir about ... coping with loss, finding a community, and seeking a happily ever after in the wake of grief." - Foreword Clarion Review

"Anyone in their own battle against this dreaded disease - whether as a patient or caregiver - will draw hope and inspiration from this account." - BlueInk Review

"A moving memoir that explores love, loss, and resilience... more than just an account of illness and grief; it's a masterclass in facing life's hardest moments with grace." - IndieReader

"Carrying the Tiger delivers a gut-wrenching tale of love and loss, while also inspiring others. Though marked with sadness, it also serves as a testament of healing." - Amy Wilson, NovelsAlive