Review of Not Dead Yet
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Marianne Loogma
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Review of Not Dead Yet
[Following is a volunteer review of "Not Dead Yet" by Mark Fletcher.]
Not Dead Yet is a book filled with fictional stories of people living at an aged care facility. The characters featured in these short stories include residents, carers, management staff, family members, and even random people who touched the lives of the elderly at the nursing home. Every story is different, yet they make up a whole picture of what life in such a facility looks like. A big part of the narrative is based on the residents' songs, poetry, and letters describing their lives now.
Not Dead Yet is a moving book about life and death, especially the few years before it. Both hilarious and thought-provoking, this piece of writing is truly a valuable insight into the world of the elderly living in a care facility just like this one. As the title suggests, even though the residents are moving closer and closer to their final days, there is still life left in them and they are ready to live it until the end. This serves as a much-needed reminder that old people are still valuable members of society; we should cherish their wisdom, listen to their stories, and learn from their mistakes. The elderly are not to be discarded, even though they may be 70, 80, or 90, they still have their hopes, dreams, and goals they want to accomplish before their time on earth ends. Just like us, they can find new passions in life, discover hobbies, fall in love, and much more. Their aging bodies do not necessarily limit their minds, as was shown by Millie’s large-scale protest or Alexander’s independence.
The main themes in this book include love, acceptance, warmth, and hope. Even residents who initially seem reluctant eventually settle in and find their place within the community. They provide each other with help, encouragement, and consolation. This book shows us the simple joys of life, the little things that make our hearts fill with love and happiness. Like how sharing a bad meal with friends can be made special if you only try. That family is important and something as simple as listening to a song together can create an unbreakable bond and memories that never fade.
My absolute favorite story in this book was Journal. The beauty of a wife caring for her husband suffering from dementia will stay with me for a long time. Another one that taught me an important lesson was Keiko. It’s never too late to reach out to someone we care about and it's never the wrong time to tell someone we love them because life is too short to leave these things unsaid. The characters in this book felt very relatable and realistic. I was rooting for Shirley’s stand-up career and having a moment of silence along with Alexander. I felt so happy for Frank and Douglas. These stories were incredibly heartwarming, sad, and hilarious at the same time and they touched my heart.
The editing of the book could use some work, but it didn’t take away anything from my reading experience. Overall, I would rate this book a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Not Dead Yet made me laugh, cry, and feel every other emotion imaginable. I would certainly suggest this book to everyone as a light and eye-opening read.
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Not Dead Yet
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Not Dead Yet is a book filled with fictional stories of people living at an aged care facility. The characters featured in these short stories include residents, carers, management staff, family members, and even random people who touched the lives of the elderly at the nursing home. Every story is different, yet they make up a whole picture of what life in such a facility looks like. A big part of the narrative is based on the residents' songs, poetry, and letters describing their lives now.
Not Dead Yet is a moving book about life and death, especially the few years before it. Both hilarious and thought-provoking, this piece of writing is truly a valuable insight into the world of the elderly living in a care facility just like this one. As the title suggests, even though the residents are moving closer and closer to their final days, there is still life left in them and they are ready to live it until the end. This serves as a much-needed reminder that old people are still valuable members of society; we should cherish their wisdom, listen to their stories, and learn from their mistakes. The elderly are not to be discarded, even though they may be 70, 80, or 90, they still have their hopes, dreams, and goals they want to accomplish before their time on earth ends. Just like us, they can find new passions in life, discover hobbies, fall in love, and much more. Their aging bodies do not necessarily limit their minds, as was shown by Millie’s large-scale protest or Alexander’s independence.
The main themes in this book include love, acceptance, warmth, and hope. Even residents who initially seem reluctant eventually settle in and find their place within the community. They provide each other with help, encouragement, and consolation. This book shows us the simple joys of life, the little things that make our hearts fill with love and happiness. Like how sharing a bad meal with friends can be made special if you only try. That family is important and something as simple as listening to a song together can create an unbreakable bond and memories that never fade.
My absolute favorite story in this book was Journal. The beauty of a wife caring for her husband suffering from dementia will stay with me for a long time. Another one that taught me an important lesson was Keiko. It’s never too late to reach out to someone we care about and it's never the wrong time to tell someone we love them because life is too short to leave these things unsaid. The characters in this book felt very relatable and realistic. I was rooting for Shirley’s stand-up career and having a moment of silence along with Alexander. I felt so happy for Frank and Douglas. These stories were incredibly heartwarming, sad, and hilarious at the same time and they touched my heart.
The editing of the book could use some work, but it didn’t take away anything from my reading experience. Overall, I would rate this book a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Not Dead Yet made me laugh, cry, and feel every other emotion imaginable. I would certainly suggest this book to everyone as a light and eye-opening read.
******
Not Dead Yet
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Latest Review: Deceptive Calm (Barnes & Noble Edition) by Patricia Skipper
