Tamikio Dooley's Reviews > DUCK redux
Tamikio Dooley's review
Jun 17, 2026 ·Five Star Review
I had the pleasure of receiving an invitation from Amanda Harkness to read and review Duck Redux by Nic Bettauer. I must say I wouldn’t have chosen to read this genre and topic, but I would never pass up an author invitation To Want to Read and Review.
About Duck Redux, I fell in love with the story about a cute, lovable duck! The name of the man who spent his journey with the duck is Arthur.
Arthur suffered a heartbreaking tragedy losing two people special and close to him. The lost caused him tremendous grief, as it would anyone who lost love. Arthur coped with the lost by nurturing grief.
Through his new journey coping with grief, Arthur met a duck at the pond. The duck and Arthur shared a warm and loving bond. The duck understood Arthur’s pain and new journey and stood by his side. A journey of lost love, overwhelming pain and truth of having to move on with a new journey leaving behind the people he loved and lost.
When the duck, which Arthur named Joe, created the bonded friendship, Joe was just as strong as Arthur. Together, they continued to travel through life’s ups and downs, unexpected circumstances, and it’s a cruel world out there. But Joe was a breath of fresh air and life, a rock, a confidant, and a strong companion in Arthur’s space. Joe taught Arthur to cope with grief, to love again, and never feel alone. Joe kept Arthur’s day’s filled with strength, happiness, and joy.
Through Arthur and Joe’s journey, Arthur became a stoic warrior helping other people they crossed paths with to overcome their pain, fear, tragedies and grief. Arthur and Joe crossed paths with people, real and imaginary, who they aided and encouraged. The people who saw Joe with Arthur were curious about the duck. Some people were cruel to Arthur and the duck, mostly Arthur. Arthur not only lost two people he loved, but he lost his home, job, and sense of reality to life, becoming homeless.
Oh, but Arthur had Joe!
Duck Redux is a lighthearted, vivacious, and profound story about surviving grief starting a new life on a different path with people to meet.
Arthur and Joe showed the world how grief and tragedy can hold one by becoming a strong barrier for others. What Arthur lost prepared him to help and meet new people he crossed paths with, including Joe.
Goodreads:
