San Francisco's Portola, California (Images of America Series) Book

Morton's book does a great job of introducing an unfamiliar visitor to the cemetery. She introduces the important permanent residents with an appropriate amount of information, then focuses on the lovely and unusual statuary in the cemetery's permanent collection. She includes Cleveland-area history, illustrated with just the right number of vintage photographs. She discusses the varieties of nationalities-of-birth represented in Lake View.

My chief issue with this cemetery guide is the cover photo, which -- while hinting at the diversity of monuments within Lake View Cemetery -- gives no indication how beautiful the place is. Even in mid-November, with most of the leaves already drifted to the grass, Lake View is a gem of garden cemetery design.

I found this book in the shop at the Cleveland Clinic, which turns out to be just down the road from Lake View Cemetery. Morton's guidebook encouraged me to visit Lake View for myself. I am so glad I did. The restful beauty was exactly the respite I needed from my hospital vigil.