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bel017's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
I had a playgroup in Bethanie Gwelup Aged Care Home. I struggled along trying to get attendees. I wanted it be for the family of residents, but the facility, after allowing the playgroup, even letting an article be written about it in the local paper, did nothing to advertise it. I'm not on social media. I tried. Had posters up at the local shops. Encouraged friends to spread the news. We limped along for several years, with a few children turning up each week. One week in February two home schooling mums turned up with five children each. We had a blast, we were in the courtyard in the sun, the kids all playing with toys and doing colouring in. It was wonderful. Then we went back to a few children, mostly babies, each fortnight.
Then in August a new lifestyle coordinator arrived. I asked her to help me advertise the playgroup within the home. She said that a staff member had reported that it was too raucous. When I pressed she identified that single day in February as the cause of the complaint. She wanted to manage numbers more closely, via Facebook invites with capped numbers. I pointed out that mothers with babies aren't always reliable to turn up as stuff happens, I pointed out that most weeks we only had a couple of babies, I pointed out that I'm not on Facebook, I pointed out that I was trying to increase attendance not reduce it, I pointed out that lots of people say 'I'm interested' on Facebook but don't attend, I pointed out that she hadn't even attended the playgroup to see what it was like. In the end I realised that I was a volunteer and that I didn't have to be brought to tears, repeatedly, by the lifestyle coordinator. So I quit. The playgroup was over. I'm sure she was thrilled.
The point being, I strongly identified with the residents struggling with everything being curtailed because of health and safety. I really enjoyed Hattie and Walter's adventures and their fights against being treated like toddlers. It is a wonderful book, so well written and engaging, and I loved all the characters.
I would have preferred if their relationship wasn't pushed as romantic. Hattie's solitary existence came across as ACE/ARO (asexual/aromantic - not interested in sex/romance) and I would have preferred for that to be embraced rather than her belatedly wondering if she'd missed out. Hopefully I misunderstood and her frissons of excitement were for a new friendship, and the 'unsaid' things between them were different from Walter's perspective than from Hattie's.
Then in August a new lifestyle coordinator arrived. I asked her to help me advertise the playgroup within the home. She said that a staff member had reported that it was too raucous. When I pressed she identified that single day in February as the cause of the complaint. She wanted to manage numbers more closely, via Facebook invites with capped numbers. I pointed out that mothers with babies aren't always reliable to turn up as stuff happens, I pointed out that most weeks we only had a couple of babies, I pointed out that I'm not on Facebook, I pointed out that I was trying to increase attendance not reduce it, I pointed out that lots of people say 'I'm interested' on Facebook but don't attend, I pointed out that she hadn't even attended the playgroup to see what it was like. In the end I realised that I was a volunteer and that I didn't have to be brought to tears, repeatedly, by the lifestyle coordinator. So I quit. The playgroup was over. I'm sure she was thrilled.
The point being, I strongly identified with the residents struggling with everything being curtailed because of health and safety. I really enjoyed Hattie and Walter's adventures and their fights against being treated like toddlers. It is a wonderful book, so well written and engaging, and I loved all the characters.
I would have preferred if
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
udari's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Terminal illness, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer and Chronic illness
Minor: Death and Grief
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