I couldn't put my finger on this book. Is it a memoir? Is it a book with research? Both? None of the above? There is a difference between being alone and being lonely. Unlike the author, I am an only child. I do not have any significant others, no children, not even pets. Aside from my full-time job, I am the sole caretaker of both of my parents who are now in their 80s. Seven years ago my father suffered a debilitating stroke. Within six years, my mother's health has worsened because she was the other major caretaker for my father. They were once part of a large group of friends. Gradually, their friends have all abandoned them. Family rarely visits. Last year, my mother underwent heart surgery and my father suffered a set-back. I needed to make a decision. I placed my father into a long-term care facility that was close to my mother and where he is getting wonderful care. In fact, my mother has decided she wants to move from their house into a small apartment at the senior living side. Fortunately, they can afford it. In the meantime, I decided I was going to "reclaim" my life. I went back to taking classes, going to yoga, and enjoying theatre. Since she doesn't drive, I've even included my mother in many of these things. This year, we started to return back to what we once were. I've been very lucky to have more than a few friends who have actually gone through the same experience as I am going through. We've supported each other and are there for each other. Loneliness is an epidemic, especially in one-child countries like China. Japan is going through a major problem with elder orphans and loneliness. But the majority of the experiences in this book rang hollow to me. Maybe I've learned to "live with the solitude."
