Book Review: The Last Best Thing
Author: Kate
Sebeny
Personal
Quality Rating: 3
Reviewer: Yvette
van Niekerk (South Africa)
Summary:
This Novella is written using the setting of the farm in
Iowa. A short story not more than 84
pages starts off with a statement from Sam.
The characters in the story are all in the retired years, people that
have come together due to circumstances.
Betty’s daughter Libby comes to live with her mother to help
with her ageing father who suffers from Alzheimer’s and Betty’s friends Sam and
Sarah and Joe. The story takes a turn
when one of the characters needs help in committing suicide. This happens suddenly and to be honest I
didn’t expect it from this person as they supposedly loved the other
person.
A lot of bantering takes place which makes the story
enjoyable to read. Then a twist in the
story takes place when someone turns up that the farm house inquiring about the
deceased person.
Social / Historical
Context:
The normal day-to-day living in a very tight community of no
more than 5 people and what they do and talk about. It was amazing to see how these old folk
adjusted and helped each other. They
seemed to be living life as it presented itself to them. I felt the hardship they were facing and yet
it was not that difficult as they had each other comradely.
It reminded me of my
mom in some way the way she is ageing and how thin she too was. The way they coupe with matters and be what
they are there and then.
Writing Style:
The writing style to my mind is common place. It narrated a relationship with each other
out of circumstances and friendships.
The writer seems to understand the ageing process and has sympathy with
the characters.
It narrates a group of elderly people living together due to
circumstance beyond their control.
My Thoughts:
The story depicted a telling of ageing people, circumstances
that made for an unforeseen decision on a suicide or was it a murder or was it
euthanasia? The person that assisted
with the act of taking care of this persons dilemma didn’t consider their own
conscience and the impact of their decision later on.
As fiction I think was very close to real life experience
and the problems that elderly people face with sickness and misfortune.
Short version
Betty and Gary with a daughter Libby are portrayed in the
beginning of the story; two of the characters go through to the end of the
story and an unexpected romance comes into play. Sam and Sarah with Joe and some doggies are
friends with Betty. A murder, suicide or
euthanasia happens and the person who assisted with the act becomes senile and
starts speaking to the dead person. What
a tragedy. A friend who comes from
Amsterdam to live in Iowa and someone that pops into these people’s lives
looking for the deceased person.
Something no-one considered.
No comments:
Post a Comment