Review of Not Dead Yet

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

[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
Author: Mark Fletcher.

'Not Dead Yet' is a charming, thought-provoking series of stories or scenarios around older people. Those reading this book who have an elderly relative in care may feel a connection with them. These are not just stories but small moments in the lives of people who have lived a lifetime with stories to tell, have made mistakes, overcome life's obstacles and are wise with all that knowledge. We meet, amongst others, witty Shirley, who stands up in front of the others and makes them laugh, ninety-one-year-old Thomas, embarrassed and humiliated about the necessity of adult incontinence pads, inadvertently finding a friend during a visit to the launderette and cursing Gerald, heavily involved in a community meeting. There is rather beautiful and poignant poetry towards the end, a testament to the wisdom these characters have gained over the years.

Mark Fletcher writes so well, and I enjoyed his style immensely. Although the central theme runs through the book, I found each short story separate, with different characters and atmospheres. The people in care homes for the elderly are not 'past their sell-by-date'; they are emotional, vibrant human beings, and even those with age-related memory loss still need human love and compassion.

I found 'Not Dead Yet' a thoroughly satisfying read and found nothing to dislike. The chapters were the perfect length, and the prose was personable, easy to read, and perfectly edited. It's not a harsh look at the reality of living in a care home but rather a nuanced exploration of the feelings and realities of living in a facility and how it affects the patients and their relatives. I'm grateful that a book like this exists, as it challenges the assumption that once admitted, people in care homes will live happily ever after, which is not always the case. 5 out of 5 stars is appropriate here.

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Not Dead Yet
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