Brian Morton (1) (1955–)

High expectations, mediocre outcome

This had been categorized as humor but aside from a few lines of dialog, I failed to find it. Florence Gordon is a crotchety 75 year old women's lib author who years later becomes popular once again. Based in New York, her arrogant, erudite manner is second only to the divorced husband, Saul. A mother to a son and daughter, her behavior with her children is akin to work colleagues rather than family. Resisting at first, she agrees to 'allow' her granddaughter Emily to act as her assistant as she prepares to apply to colleges having traveled from Seattle with her parents. Daniel, her father comes across as the only character that's relatable. If there was a theme to this story, it would have to be broken relationships since its littered with them across generations. Put simply, Florence is a difficult character to engage with much as the rest of the family. The story goes nowhere and lacks depth much like the characters. While it's well written, I cannot recommend it at all.… (mehr)

nonfiction/memoir - a writer tries to help his 85-year-old mother with worsening dementia.

Dementia is a series of small but not insignificant heartbreaks; here, the author documents his experiences relating with his aging mother.

These stories trigger flashbacks of worrying about the grandmother who still lives alone, who didn't want to give up driving, who doesn't seem willing or able to carry out the doctors' instructions; the endless search for reliable home aides; not knowing whether the elder's stories of neglect/abuse by caretakers is to be believed (because they are not mentally able to provide accurate testimony either way--in this instance a nanny cam/voice recorder unfortunately provides ready proof); the question of whether you can possibly take them into your own home when they refuse to enter a care facility.

It also offers a somewhat terrifying glimpse into the future for when my own (hoarding) mom may need help of some sort. Yikes--but also, a welcome kindness in the way that the author writes about his mother with respect and tenderness, and the hope that we all will find this kind of help when we find ourselves in similar need.… (mehr)