A beautiful story about family, connection and community with memorable characters.
This was a wonderful book that I had to just think about when I finished. The characters are beautifully and fully developed. Quinn is grieving the loss of his 11 year old son he never really connected with, Belle is suffering the deep grief of a mother who loved her son unconditionally, and Ona Vitkus, 104 years old, has lost the boy who came once a week to do chores around her house to earn boy scout badges. The boy, who remains unnamed throughout the book, brings everyone together. We see him as Ona recounts their weekend visits and tells her life story at the same time (which he was tape recording for a school project). Each character is a little lost and lonely at the beginning and they all come together - this book is about community and friendships. And so much more. I loved these characters and the story ended nicely. Well written and beautiful book.
This is a truly amazing book. It has been a long time since I have read a book that I could not put down. I picked this up on vacation and basically could not put it down until it was over. So sad when it ended, felt like I had gotten to know the characters.
Really a terrific read, which is quite provocative in many ways thinking about our attitudes about aging and parenting.
Really a terrific read, which is quite provocative in many ways thinking about our attitudes about aging and parenting.
I LOVED this story! It made me laugh, cry & my heart just swelled throughout the whole story. The 104 year old woman had such funny phrases - things I could hear or picture my own mother saying. Shows you what riches an old woman who has nothing can give to 3 people who come into her life just be becoming friends. The only thing that bothered me was that the author did not name "the boy" but called him "the boy" through the whole book. He was such a wonderful little boy, I think he deserved to be named. I recommend moving this one up on your to-read-pile if you have it there!
This book was so amazing on so many levels. A heartwarming story about an autistic child ( although it never quite states that) and his friendship with a 104 year old woman with a lifetime of stories to tell. He finds her the perfect subject for his research paper, and during his weekly visits with her, he brings her out of her loneliness, and she brings so much to his life. There are all kinds of sub- plots involving his dysfunctional family, and her past. I should have known I'd be bawling my eyes out at the end!
