I saw this novel during Women in Translation month, but it didn't become available until September, so I finished it in the month of September. I suppose I could save the review for May- Older Americans month, but that seems a little silly. This novel won the Swedish Book Award, and was quite the best-seller!
This book- is so good. It is so well written, as a reader, I felt all the emotions. Oddly, EVERYONE in the book was entirely relatable. I felt like the carers, the granddaughter, the son and the father in different moments.
I did shed a tear or two and the end of the book, even though I felt like I knew what the ending would be. Indeed, without spoilers, death comes for us all. Ridzen created this novel based on notes left between caregivers at her grandfather's home during his last months. It's told from a variety of points of view and gives an interesting view of the aging process. As a nurse, and someone with older parents, I have definitely seen the slowing of persons, and the decline of independence as people age. It's something I think on quite a bit and this novel really hit home. How can people age and continue to have agency while their body, and sometimes their minds start to fail them. It seems, even when people strongly want to respect choices and preferences, that this can be a frustrating time, especially for those who are used to being in charge, and being the authority in their lives. I'm left thinking about ways that folks can maintain their independence, or, at the very least, feel ok in their dependence.
This book is a great read for those of us with aging relatives, it offers no solutions, but points out the universality of this period in life. This might be an interesting book for book club, but it also may stir up quite a few negative emotions, so... read at your own risk?
I did do the audio book because, I mean... why not? It was perfectly read- and I felt more immersed in the narrative. Definitely recommend!
First Published : 08/2025
Pages: 320
Available as an Audio Book :YES
Trigger Warnings: family drama, aging, death, medical situations
Not a full TW list, please read responsibly.
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