Happy December,
It is such a busy time of year and it is my hope that you can find those peaceful moments to curl up with a good book and escape the craziness.
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer is Fredrik Backman’s most recent book. The book starts with a letter to you the reader, explaining that this story was never meant to be read.
He wrote this story to help him sort through the feelings and thoughts of missing someone who is still living and present in his life, but the memories are fading. The short 96 page novella is a slow goodbye between a man, his son and grandson.
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer can be read in one sitting; it took me a few more days simply because the beautiful heartfelt story brought tears to my eyes and all of the memories of the slow and long goodbye with my grandfather who suffered from Alzheimer’s. Sometimes I just needed a break as it took me back to the same time and feelings.
The story follows a man who is losing his memory. He struggles to remember and also to explain to his grandson, NoahNoah why he can’t remember. Throughout the book he and NoahNoah play a game that they both love; Grandpa will pick him up and take him somewhere, but NoahNoah never knows where they are going it is a surprise. But then Grandpa can’t always remember things, he can’t remember how to get home, or where they are going. Memories deep in his soul creep in and he tries to tell NoahNoah the stories and then in the blink of an eye, the memory is gone. He struggles to remember and hang on to the connections in his life, when he isn’t in control and the memories come when they come.
Grandpa tells his grandson that every morning when he wakes up, the way home is taking longer and longer; meaning it takes him longer to know where he is, clear the cobwebs and become present.
This touching and beautiful story is so relevant and hits home to so many who are dealing with parents or spouses living with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. If you have someone in your family going through the same situation, I encourage you to read the book. At times it may bring memories back, but it also helps you understand the side of the loved one who is losing memories. It was a comfort to read. The story is beautifully written and very personal.
You all may think I can’t type or I developed a stutter when typing Noah’s name. I’m going to leave that secret and not going to share with you why Grandpa calls NoahNoah, you will just have to read the book.
Until next time,
Bee Readin’,
Terri
[ult_button buttonlink=”http://amzn.to/2gggUKp” buttonsize=”medium” color=”000000″ hovercolor=”none” backgroundcolor=”#FE2E2E” hoverbgcolor=”#F2F2F2″ icon=”” rel=”” target=”_blank”]Buy on Amazon![/ult_button]
Save