Responses to Flowers in the Dark: Notes from the Infusion Center

“Don’t miss McSweeney’s author Tucker Nichols’ affecting, important and beautiful new project: Flowers in the Dark.” —McSweeneys

Suffice it to say that this project is one of the most moving and beautiful things I have ever seen. I am speechless at the beauty in fact. I hope it is getting all of the attention it deserves. —Dr Jonathan Terdiman, MD, Gastroenterologist and co-director of the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco

I just read it all the way through. As someone who has been on both sides of life-threatening illness, it is maybe the most validating writing I’ve read about those experiences. The art is stunning, richly-layered, and provides beautiful and timely breaks from the intensity of the content, while still authentically representing the content. —CR

Your delivery of how you saw your process through your long hall of illness toward healing touched me deeply. To share such intimate details and make yourself vulnerable gave me an opportunity to step into your world and for me to relive some of my memories of the past.

Having the flowers as a part of the conversation was both soothing and supportive of your story. I was able to feel your emotions both visually and through the written word. —AD

Sharing the story of your illness and how it has intersected with friends, your work, your wife and child, and your parents is incredibly moving, unique, relatable, and yes, inspirational. I feel closer to myself, and less alone having read it. If that was a goal it worked. —SS

I started to read this yesterday in the pick up line for school for my kids and finished just now. I have been dealing with health issues myself lately and this writing along with the images of really beautiful work felt like really good company. I still feel it with me. Thanks so much for sharing. — AF

A stunning, deeply rooted gift of a contribution to art and life. Absolutely wonderful project. — AC

This is so beautiful and it’s a gift, to me and so many people. Thank you. I’m glad to learn about you, and to connect with this like I do. Everyone will connect with this somehow. If not now, then soon. —WM

I finished your essay and it was not only beautiful and moving but really helpful to me right now. So this is both a note of thanks and congratulations. You are a fabulous writer. Your piece is terrific, and by pure coincidence, landed at just the right moment for me. I hope you feel good about it. You sure as shit should. —JM

A heartfelt thank you—for making this and making it available for free. Your vulnerability and honesty is really moving. And the images are beautiful, immediate, inscrutable but generous—like flowers, I guess. 
I have a number of loved ones dealing with chronic/terminal illness. I am often at a loss for words, unsure of what to do to express caring or how to help them through it. And I have often resorted to flowers as a substitute. I will definitely be sharing your book. —SO

I encourage everyone to pass it along, especially to anyone living with health issues or chronic illness. It's insightful, funny, vulnerable, and uplifting despite the serious subject matter. —LR

I cannot thank you enough for having the courage to write this remarkable book. —CS

I am reading Flowers in the Dark. I have the attention-span of a gnat, but your brilliance has held me fast. —SC

This is so sobering, heartbreaking, inspiring, edifying and beautiful. Thank you. —IW

I read every word — some more than once — and very surreptitiously wiped a couple tears. The older couple watching the baseball game didn’t notice, but I’m quite sure the bartender is moderately concerned.  —DM

This knocked me out. It’s superb, and I could go on about that but won’t here. I’ve sent it to several people so far. There will be more. —BH

I have just finished reading and viewing Flowers In The Dark and found it an astounding heartfelt, honest and a stunning account of your (and your family’s) medical history. The story is told so well in somewhat disparate paragraph pages and accompanied with lush, vibrant and relevant imagery warming every single page. Thank you for this. 

I am so entranced by your work and the force of these brilliant paintings. —DL

A million thank yous Tucker. A beautiful excruciating positive wonderful journey. —MR

I shared this with my spouse (and several others) and there was a collective sense of empathy, understanding and being understood. Thank you very much from us all. —AK

I just read it beginning to end. It is beautiful. The authenticity, rawness, realness, and wonder remind me how to journey on this journey. —MN