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Ka Hancock
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The Duzy House of Mourning Kindle Edition

by Ka Hancock (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 98 ratings
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Sometimes the purest love flows through broken hearts…

On the night she was born, her father died and her mother was forever damaged.

22 years later, January Duzinski works as an embalmer in her grandfather's mortuary. She's a bit of an introvert, comfortable with the dead and completely brilliant at the piano. And she has a very conflicted relationship with her non-verbal, severely disabled mother, Claire.

But things are about to veer off course with the arrival of an attorney representing her now-deceased maternal grandparents. It seems there is a Steinway concert grand piano up for grabs...and anything else that once belonged to Claire.

What ensues is the unwitting discovery of her mother's incredible life. January unearths Claire's history of unparalleled privilege, strength, character and talent. She also learns of the love story that compelled a complete disinheritance from her wealthy upbringing in trade for a Polish mortician--January's father.

What emerges is a sense of true belonging, and a bone-deep understanding of what love really looks like.

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  1. Print length
    378 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    September 12, 2023
  5. File size
    4354 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

Cover of the book The Duzy House of Mourning

relationship, mother, daughter, conflict

love, loss, deeply moving, unforgettable

accident, tragedy, blame, guilt

ka hancock, the duzy house of mourning

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Duzy House of Mourning" by Ka Hancock is a fantastic portrayal of a modern family—unconventional, rife with messy secrets, but teeming with love. The sleepy mortuary and quirky characters added another layer of intrigue to the already-engrossing storyline. For readers who love books about identity and self-discovery, this one will top your list!" Reader Views 5-stars

About the Author

KA (pronounced Kaye) Hancock Ka Hancock is the author of the beloved novel DANCING ON BROKEN GLASS and newly released THE DUZY HOUSE OF MOURNING. Always intrigued by the human experience and how people navigate their unique challenges, Hancock began writing stories as a child, and never stopped. She discovered early that humanity is a tangled mystery, and that to understand our fellow travelers, and to thrive in difficult relationships, it helps to acknowledge truth, and then proceed accordingly.To support her writing habit, she became a nurse and settled in the realm of addiction and psychiatric medicine. She finds people-in all their complex and varied lifeforms-completely fascinating. She lives in Utah with her husband. Her four children, who have multiplied at an impressive rate, keep her happily engaged with a whole new generation. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CFCPS9WW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independent Publisher (September 12, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 12, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4354 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 378 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B0CDNMDR7N
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 98 ratings

About the author

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Ka Hancock

Ka Hancock

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Ka was born and raised in the shadow of the most spectacular mountains on earth. A lifelong learner, her expertise is in the field of mental health. She finds people--in all their various lifeforms--completely fascinating, and what motivates them even more so. It's why she writes books about ordinary humans (joking, according to her there's no such thing) and how they attach and detach and navigate life amid the piles of laundry, bills, tears, and dog poop... And, of course, how they triumph! Her underlying faith in the resiliency of the human spirit shines through in everything she creates. Her books are an unvarnished look at flawed people mired in challenging circumstances, and they echo long after the last page is turned.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
98 global ratings
Powerful
5 Stars
Powerful
I really fell in love with her main character January. Ka has a really powerful way of having you get invested with her characters and connecting with them. I also really love how she tells her parents love story. Everyone wants a love story like that. If you enjoyed Ka Hancock's first book, you will definitely enjoy this one as well.
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Top reviews from the United States

Karen Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this one, loved this book on so many levels!
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book is amazing!! Ka Hancock pulled me into this story and after laughing and crying I was very sad to get to the end of the book because I didn't want it to end! Maybe she could write a Duzy #2 and we could find out what happens to these wonderful people. I thought the back drop of the funeral home was so unique and provided many interesting and heartbreaking side stories. Life can take so many different turns and twists and we can all relate to losing someone we love dearly. I was drawn in by the cover of the book which I thought was so beautiful. The Steinway piano itself is a character in this book, I wanted to hear the piano pieces as I read the book so I asked my Alexa to play the selections that the author mentions in the book. Listening to Chopin and Beethoven while reading this book really brings it to life! I have gained an appreciation for these masterpieces! The characters in this book are unforgettable and the way the author describes the people and places makes you feel like you can see it all in your mind. I will be looking for more books from this wonderfully gifted and talented author! Bravo Ka Hancock!!
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Nanette Littlestone, Author
5.0 out of 5 stars A precious pearl to savor
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
The book opens with a horrific accident that turned my sensitive stomach and
almost made me want to stop reading. Thankfully the scene is short. I'm so
glad I kept going because this is a mesmerizing story. January Duzinski is a
mortician who loves her job-the art of revering the dead. She works for the
family mortuary run by her grandparents and lives with them and Babka, her
Polish great-grandmother. January's father died in the accident, which left
her mother, Claire, severely disfigured, a mother January barely knows and
hasn't wanted to know. Then Claire's mother, Rose, dies and leaves a
Steinway piano up for grabs, and January suddenly begins a journey of
exploration into the lives of her unknown grandparents and her mother.

There are some shocking and grotesque moments where you venture into the
embalming process or Babka tells January about the atrocities that occurred
during the war. But every moment, even the hard-to-handle ones, is delivered
with honesty and tenderness. Each character-and there are a number of
important ones-stands out from the rest in personality, dress, stature, and
strength. January's grandparents, Babka, her best friend Jaz, Claire, Rose's
attorney, the man January starts to fall for all make up a wonderfully
interactive community that deals with the reality of life with huge amounts
of heart and compassion. And January's journey into understanding her mother
and other grandparents is a wonder to behold. There is doubt and
trepidation, the examination of closely-held memories, and a beautiful
unfolding of astounding events and realizations that constantly had my heart
swelling and my eyes welling. The straightforward prose is handled with such
precision that I couldn't help but feel January's pain and love.

To say I loved this book is an understatement. The Duzy House of Mourning is
a precious pearl, a story to relish, to savor, to consume with care. This is
Ka Hancock's second novel. If you haven't read her first book Dancing on
Broken Glass, please do. It's remarkable as well.
One person found this helpful
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wls
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful deserves 10 stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is not my normal genre but something about the blurb drew me in, so I purchased the book. I am so very glad I did. The night January was born, her parents got into a horrific automobile accident. Her father lost his life in the accident and her mother should have also but she stayed alive to deliver January. But Claire, January 's mother, was tragically injured in the accident. January was raised by her father's parents. The story is about a young woman who has learned who her maternal grandparents and her parents were. Because of this, we the reader, are pulled in to witness the delightful, heartwarming and poignant story of a mother and daughter's love of the piano and each other. Don't forget the tissues.
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SUSAN PETERSON
5.0 out of 5 stars extraordinary
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2023
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I have waited a long time for Ka Hancock to publish her second novel, and The Duzy House of Mourning was worth the wait. This is an extraordinary story of great love and unfathomable loss, featuring memorable characters who wedged themselves into my heart. I hope I don’t have to wait as long for the next book, but when it does come I know I will embrace it as well.
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Deanna Sommer
5.0 out of 5 stars Hey. Ka, you did great!! So, happy to be your next-door neighbor.
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
I loved your first novel 'Dancing on Broken Glass". But, this story was amazing! You. did good, very good.
At first, I started to read it, and I couldn't imagine where you got such a story from all places a mortuary . Wow! But, when it took off, I couldn't put it down. A story that reading got rolling... from one tragedy to a other tragedy. The spiraling effect it had on a two families. I cried right a long with January and her mother. That beautiful mother how she endured her life after the accident was truly awesome. Ka this was a humbling story. You never know what life is going to be... it's a crap shoot for sure. Also, as I am old and getting ready to pass over... it was enlightening what goes on in a mortuary. I hope mine will be as attentive as this "Duzy" of a family. Loved it Ka! Next-door Neighbor, Deanna Sommer
One person found this helpful
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Panda Bear
4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2024
A very emotional story with relatable characters. I enjoyed this book, it does dive deep into how we can somehow feel two things at once (ie: feeling responsible for something even though we aren’t at fault). January’s journey into discovering and understanding more about her mother brings a lot of those conflicting emotions to light in a relatable way.
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Melika
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written!
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2023
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I read Ka’s book Dancing on Broken Glass 10+ years ago, it was a fast favorite and I chose it for my book club and she called in! When I saw she had written another book I had to read it and again she knocks it out of the park, so beautifully written, I loved this story and did not want it to end!
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SuzyQ
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2023
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This is such a beautiful story! It made me cry and made me laugh...so very touching! I loved all the characters, they were so special! Not a story that I will soon forget! ❤❤❤
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Top reviews from other countries

B Michaels
5.0 out of 5 stars A touching Story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
I was quite nervous at the beginning of the story as I am not up to speed with what happens at the funeral directors. This was immediately touched with the description of how Ashley a lady born with Downs Syndrome life was cerebrated. They made to look so beautiful- quite captivating and a unique entrance to this unknown and mostly undiscussed world of what they do with bodies when we die. This book is an eye opener into the other world and now I feel at ease with the once feared subject- Captivating story, well written.
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