Review of Not Dead Yet

[Janki Patel]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Not Dead Yet" by Mark Fletcher.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Not Dead Yet! by Mark Fletcher is a collection of stories from a nursing home. It tunes into the voices of the old residents who want more than the primary and sometimes unnecessary care they're given in such institutions.

The author chose to blend humour with heavy themes to deliver a wonderful piece of writing. The themes of ageing, illness, and old age facilities tend to generate only a sympathetic reaction from the readers. However, the author instead addresses the notion that though they might be at the precipice of their lives, they still have a life that they wish to live on their own terms. There's also a line of discussion about the corporate nature of these facilities, for whom the day-to-day functioning is merely a formality to be checked off from the list. It is the carers who are most intimately connected to old people through caregiving, and the fact that it is a job for which they are paid also creates a moral dilemma.

A theme in particular that I loved was that in a place where these people come to eventually die, it gradually becomes a place they cherish. It becomes a place where they find a new will to live, to confront their past fears, to rekindle their forgotten hobbies. The book does not stereotype the families who send their parents or grandparents to these facilities. Another topic that was dealt with beautifully was through the story of Thomas, about how he comes to terms with his ageing body and, with that, the subtle loss of dignity he feels.

All in all, the book was extremely moving; it showed different shades of the lives of the old and the ageing. I have no complaints from the author either regarding the characters or the way of storytelling. I loved each and every aspect of the book. For the above-mentioned reasons, I rate this book five out of five. Truly, a must-read book for everyone out there.

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Not Dead Yet
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