If your care giving duties allow you time to read.....................I'm interested in what book you are in the middle of or just finished or have waiting on your bedside table.
I'm reading "Total Control" by David Baldacci
It's a crime/thriller drama. Quite compelling.
If you can't find the time to read, you should try. It helps to escape from it all in a good book.
Or Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving A (naughty word).
Lots about nature — birds, bunnies, her dogs, plants, weather — and quite a bit about her relatives including the old age and death of her parents. I enjoyed it though parts were really sad. All about the seasons of life. Very thoughtful but a delicate touch.
Memorial Days: A memoir by Geraldine Brooks about when her apparently healthy husband suddenly died right on the sidewalk. It is her walk through early widowhood.
I do admit to guilt over not PAYING for authors I love. So sometimes when a book is amazing I will buy one to send to daughter, SIL, grandson.
Christopher Bollen.
First read Havoc, a DELIGHTFUL tale of an old woman fleeing (SOMETHING), currently in Egypt. Is she evil? IF she is, the she may (or may NOT have) met her match in a small boy at the same hotel with his mother. DO get it!
Having Thus fallen deeply in love it is on to everything I can find in the library by him. So many that N. had to drive me to pick up the stack.
Currently reading my second of his called A Beautiful Crime. A gay couple, intent on some minor fraud, in Venice (speaking of falling in love again).
And what are YOU reading.
I am going to take Alva's advice -- Havoc is next on my list.
I heard Michelle on a recent podcast, promoting her book (late 2024 release) which documents the caregiving journey of her Mom, who battled Lewy Body Dementia. I normally seek out other genres for greater escape, but something told me to grab this one quick. Why? Because Michelle uses something I rarely come across in caregiving and, admittedly, have also forgotten to seek out…HUMOR. How healing it is to be able to laugh at the brutality of cognitive decline, even if only momentarily. She does it in a way that is respectful and relatable. I laughed and cried my way through. I appreciate her gift of writing and the reminder that love and laughter are still the best medicine.
The Marmalade Diaries
The True Story of an Odd Couple
By Ken Aitken.
During covid shutdown in England Mr. Aitken availed himself of NHS Britain's program Care and Share, in which a young person, for a very reasonable (indeed small) rental can move in with an elder who wishes to stay in the home, but who would like a companion present at times: details to be worked out by the individuals.
Why or why or why do we not have such programs in our country.
Entertaining, enlightening and just plain GOOD FUN, is this read.
He also wrote "The Midnight Library" a great statement on the futility of regret. I am now on to another of his called "Humans".
The main characters name is Alva
The 50 year old smoking, drinking, heroine was shot in the stomach and then went into cardiac arrest. Four months later she is chasing a villian, climbing high fences, running him down and cuffing him. Pretty resilient I say!!! It's very popular in the UK and will be made into a TV series.
I guess we all need a little fantasy.
Reminiscent of the Elena Ferrante Brilliant Friend series but not copycat by any stretch.
In this wonderful (but VERY TOUGH) book, the battle with cancer is not won. Over time Tony does lose his beloved wife. But their facing down the disease is a remarkable story in just exactly what the diagnosis, treatment, and life-journey with metastatic stage IV cancer can be/often is.
I highly recommend this tough book if you are ready to take a tough journey through a disease and a medical system that can work miracles, but at a cost. In this book, while the cancer is held at bay, the side effects of the treatment of it let you know that this choice to battle IS a choice, and takes great fortitude and acceptance, and requires tremendous sacrifice from our caregivers.