Review of Not Dead Yet
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Tammy Grey
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- Latest Review: Not Dead Yet by Mark Fletcher
Review of Not Dead Yet
[Following is a volunteer review of "Not Dead Yet" by Mark Fletcher.]
Not Dead Yet!: Stories from the Last Stop is a collection of nursing home stories, uniquely portraying each story and character. It centers on the lives of people living in nursing homes who, although old, are very much alive and still going through life. They have desires too, like every other living human being. We are introduced to some of the residents. We see characters like Jil, who only cared about her performance when she began working at the care home but slowly began to understand and see these older people as individuals with various talents and desires. There were also Bec, Cathy, and some other staff members who worked in the home and did beautiful work taking care of these older adults and truly caring for them as people. It was lovely to see.
Mark Fletcher blew my mind with such an insightful look into the thought processes and emotions of older people. They are not dead, and they can feel like everybody else, living their daily lives. The book is admiration-inducing as well as thought-provoking. The storytelling of the author is nothing short of skillful. With the author's drive to change the narrative and preconceptions of what old age entails. A glimpse into the all-too-neglected lives of the elderly and the struggles they face collectively and separately The infusion of music and humour makes the book very well-rounded and entertaining.Before now, I had the same notion of the elderly, seeing them simply as older adults. However, reading this book impressed me and emphasized that their reality is entirely different from the usual dismissive way we tend to think of them. The author's drive for this book stems from his experience with his mother in a care facility. He is able to depict the lives of these elderly people, showcasing their own experiences and making for deep reflection on the norm. It brings to light the unfortunate reality of some of the things these older people go through, like rude nursing home staff that show no emotion towards them. The themes of love, independence, growth, and acceptance were the foundation of the book. The welcome infusion of humour and music further deepens the reading experience.
Not Dead Yet!: Stories from the Last Stop has such an insight. The individual experiences of each person are distinct in their peculiarities. The residents of these homes had me feeling emotionally attached to them and their struggles and joys. As I read along and followed the characters, I found myself contemplating why people send their elderly to care homes. Alexander's struggles to cope and come to terms with the new home were saddening, but coming into acceptance and finding happiness was wholesome. There was also the story of Thomas, which left an impression on me. Especially with Carla's care, allowing him to go at his pace and relate his story. His relationship with his grandson was a welcome warmth I did not know I needed. Much like the experience of Jil, which I could relate to. I'm glad she came to understand that these older people were individuals first and not just about her performance ratings.
Not Dead Yet!: Stories from the Last Stop is a book of teachings for me because I learned so much from it. I found no grammatical errors whatsoever. I am thankful to Mark Fletcher for the attention to detail and exceptional editing. I rate it a 5 out of 5 stars which is well deserved.
I readily recommend this book to adults and those working in care homes. It is a worthwhile read and is very informative as well as helpful in understanding aspects of our society that have preconceived notions in specific areas, calling for reflection and change in those aspects.
******
Not Dead Yet
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Not Dead Yet!: Stories from the Last Stop is a collection of nursing home stories, uniquely portraying each story and character. It centers on the lives of people living in nursing homes who, although old, are very much alive and still going through life. They have desires too, like every other living human being. We are introduced to some of the residents. We see characters like Jil, who only cared about her performance when she began working at the care home but slowly began to understand and see these older people as individuals with various talents and desires. There were also Bec, Cathy, and some other staff members who worked in the home and did beautiful work taking care of these older adults and truly caring for them as people. It was lovely to see.
Mark Fletcher blew my mind with such an insightful look into the thought processes and emotions of older people. They are not dead, and they can feel like everybody else, living their daily lives. The book is admiration-inducing as well as thought-provoking. The storytelling of the author is nothing short of skillful. With the author's drive to change the narrative and preconceptions of what old age entails. A glimpse into the all-too-neglected lives of the elderly and the struggles they face collectively and separately The infusion of music and humour makes the book very well-rounded and entertaining.Before now, I had the same notion of the elderly, seeing them simply as older adults. However, reading this book impressed me and emphasized that their reality is entirely different from the usual dismissive way we tend to think of them. The author's drive for this book stems from his experience with his mother in a care facility. He is able to depict the lives of these elderly people, showcasing their own experiences and making for deep reflection on the norm. It brings to light the unfortunate reality of some of the things these older people go through, like rude nursing home staff that show no emotion towards them. The themes of love, independence, growth, and acceptance were the foundation of the book. The welcome infusion of humour and music further deepens the reading experience.
Not Dead Yet!: Stories from the Last Stop has such an insight. The individual experiences of each person are distinct in their peculiarities. The residents of these homes had me feeling emotionally attached to them and their struggles and joys. As I read along and followed the characters, I found myself contemplating why people send their elderly to care homes. Alexander's struggles to cope and come to terms with the new home were saddening, but coming into acceptance and finding happiness was wholesome. There was also the story of Thomas, which left an impression on me. Especially with Carla's care, allowing him to go at his pace and relate his story. His relationship with his grandson was a welcome warmth I did not know I needed. Much like the experience of Jil, which I could relate to. I'm glad she came to understand that these older people were individuals first and not just about her performance ratings.
Not Dead Yet!: Stories from the Last Stop is a book of teachings for me because I learned so much from it. I found no grammatical errors whatsoever. I am thankful to Mark Fletcher for the attention to detail and exceptional editing. I rate it a 5 out of 5 stars which is well deserved.
I readily recommend this book to adults and those working in care homes. It is a worthwhile read and is very informative as well as helpful in understanding aspects of our society that have preconceived notions in specific areas, calling for reflection and change in those aspects.
******
Not Dead Yet
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Latest Review: Not Dead Yet by Mark Fletcher
