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One Last Waltz
Welcome to the The Acorns - a residential home for the elderly. A place of reflection, tranquillity and calm, where our residents can enjoy the highest standards of care and consideration. Here, we value our clients rights: the right to choose, the right to independence, the right to privacy, self-expression and individuality.
At least that is what it says in the brochure. The truth is, when the Grim Reaper is hovering over you like a bad smell, and your mind and body are in steady decline, you understand the importance of time.
When your future looks bleak, you make sure you enjoy the present and treasure the past.
What you can remember of it anyway...
20% of all royalties earned will be donated to The Alzheimer's Society.
Thank you for your contribution to this worthy cause.
At least that is what it says in the brochure. The truth is, when the Grim Reaper is hovering over you like a bad smell, and your mind and body are in steady decline, you understand the importance of time.
When your future looks bleak, you make sure you enjoy the present and treasure the past.
What you can remember of it anyway...
20% of all royalties earned will be donated to The Alzheimer's Society.
Thank you for your contribution to this worthy cause.
440 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2023
12 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 15, 2023
A story to touch your heart!
Ang worked in the Acorns care home, tending to the senior residents who had various ailments but always had their pride, memories and most of all their sense of humour. They were all one big happy family until the Trust started to change things. The residents soon showed their determination and became a force to be reckoned with. Don't mess with us!
This is a beautifully written story of the residents of a care home, their daily lives and struggles with aging. The author has a fantastic sense of humour which is displayed throughout the book and lightens some of the more serious aspects. This, together with the heartwarming and touching experiences the residence have make you appreciate their generation so much more and also the fantastic work of the carers. I could relate wholeheartedly to the alzeihmers condition suffered by some and the small things that can be done to resurface some of the memories and let joy and happiness return. This story makes you smile, laugh and occasionally moves you to tears, an exceptional piece of work by this talented author. A true gem!
Ang worked in the Acorns care home, tending to the senior residents who had various ailments but always had their pride, memories and most of all their sense of humour. They were all one big happy family until the Trust started to change things. The residents soon showed their determination and became a force to be reckoned with. Don't mess with us!
This is a beautifully written story of the residents of a care home, their daily lives and struggles with aging. The author has a fantastic sense of humour which is displayed throughout the book and lightens some of the more serious aspects. This, together with the heartwarming and touching experiences the residence have make you appreciate their generation so much more and also the fantastic work of the carers. I could relate wholeheartedly to the alzeihmers condition suffered by some and the small things that can be done to resurface some of the memories and let joy and happiness return. This story makes you smile, laugh and occasionally moves you to tears, an exceptional piece of work by this talented author. A true gem!
December 22, 2024
One Last Waltz by Peter Scholes is undoubtably the most beautiful book I’ve read this year. It’s the story of The Acorns—a residential home for the elderly. Now, you might think this is a book about old people waiting to shuffle of this mortal coil, and you’d be correct up to a point. This book is about a group of fifty or so people who don’t plan on going quietly into the night. They plan on making the most of what time they have. They’re full of fun, occasionally mischief, and they are still enjoying themselves.
Of course, having good staff helps. And the staff there—namely Ang and Vera—do everything in their power to make life as pleasant as possible.
I laughed so much while reading this book—sending someone for a can of tartan paint had me in stitches and the ‘A Team, A as in Acorns,’ are not to be messed with when two jobsworths decide the place is badly managed. And the humour of some of the residents is just brilliant.
But I cried a lot, too. The ‘Bucket List’ chapters, while tinged with sadness, had me weeping feel-good tears.
This is a beautiful story, with beautiful characters and it’s a book for everyone to love and enjoy, and a reminder of what we will all face in the coming years.
Of course, having good staff helps. And the staff there—namely Ang and Vera—do everything in their power to make life as pleasant as possible.
I laughed so much while reading this book—sending someone for a can of tartan paint had me in stitches and the ‘A Team, A as in Acorns,’ are not to be messed with when two jobsworths decide the place is badly managed. And the humour of some of the residents is just brilliant.
But I cried a lot, too. The ‘Bucket List’ chapters, while tinged with sadness, had me weeping feel-good tears.
This is a beautiful story, with beautiful characters and it’s a book for everyone to love and enjoy, and a reminder of what we will all face in the coming years.
April 22, 2023
This is an honest review after receiving a ARC from the author.
Oh my! This story gave me so many feels. I grew up with my grandparents, as my parents were separated and both of them worked. I could see my grandparents in so many of these seniors. As the story unfolded, I found myself laughing, crying, nodding my head in a “Yup that’s grandpa” way, and reminiscing.
The Acorn Retirement home is the place you want to be if you are retired and want to enjoy all the time you have left. While not cheap and there is a long waiting list, it makes every penny of monthly costs worth it. Seniors at the Acorns love every minute of their time in this retirement home. That is until “Upper Management” decides that everything is all wrong and the staff don’t get paid to spend time with the retirees. Seniors at Acorns set out with a plan to get “Upper Management” off everyones back when they disagree and The Acorn starts going down hill. Will their plan be enough to bring back the Acorn that they love?
All the characters are so realistic and loveable. All they want at the end of the day, is to be able to say that enjoyed the time they had and lived the best life they could.
This is just a beautiful story that while it will give you every feeling you could imagine, it also gives you reason to stop and think. Quite often while reading I would catch myself thinking about my grandparents, about the wonderful life the Acorns have and how todays society is not like it was years ago. It’s very much an inspirational story.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This book has something for everyone and is truly one of a kind. I can only hope that when I get older, I have half as much fun as the Acorns have.
Oh my! This story gave me so many feels. I grew up with my grandparents, as my parents were separated and both of them worked. I could see my grandparents in so many of these seniors. As the story unfolded, I found myself laughing, crying, nodding my head in a “Yup that’s grandpa” way, and reminiscing.
The Acorn Retirement home is the place you want to be if you are retired and want to enjoy all the time you have left. While not cheap and there is a long waiting list, it makes every penny of monthly costs worth it. Seniors at the Acorns love every minute of their time in this retirement home. That is until “Upper Management” decides that everything is all wrong and the staff don’t get paid to spend time with the retirees. Seniors at Acorns set out with a plan to get “Upper Management” off everyones back when they disagree and The Acorn starts going down hill. Will their plan be enough to bring back the Acorn that they love?
All the characters are so realistic and loveable. All they want at the end of the day, is to be able to say that enjoyed the time they had and lived the best life they could.
This is just a beautiful story that while it will give you every feeling you could imagine, it also gives you reason to stop and think. Quite often while reading I would catch myself thinking about my grandparents, about the wonderful life the Acorns have and how todays society is not like it was years ago. It’s very much an inspirational story.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This book has something for everyone and is truly one of a kind. I can only hope that when I get older, I have half as much fun as the Acorns have.
June 19, 2023
Lovely characters and the story is interlaced with so many stories from the residents of The Acorns :). Heartwarming and sad with a great message to live life to the fullest and some parts are laugh out loud!
September 13, 2023
A heartwarming tale.
What a lovely heartwarming story. The story is set inside an old people's home with some comical and endearing characters.
Having worked with the elderly for thirteen years, I felt as if I was walking down memory lane. But the sad truth is that a lot of homes for the elderly are nothing like the Acorns where it's residents are treated with dignity, compassion, and love.
It didn't matter that some of the content was a little far-fetched because the book brought a smile to my face, and made me laugh.
Brilliant humour and fantastic story-telling.
Highly recommended!
What a lovely heartwarming story. The story is set inside an old people's home with some comical and endearing characters.
Having worked with the elderly for thirteen years, I felt as if I was walking down memory lane. But the sad truth is that a lot of homes for the elderly are nothing like the Acorns where it's residents are treated with dignity, compassion, and love.
It didn't matter that some of the content was a little far-fetched because the book brought a smile to my face, and made me laugh.
Brilliant humour and fantastic story-telling.
Highly recommended!
June 23, 2024
I enjoyed this story. It is a story about the lives of people living in a residential facility and the people who work there take pride in their work. I would really like to think that there are facilities like The Acorns out there. The residents there are very well respected and cared for by all the people who work there as if they've know each other for years. You are taken into the lives of residents and workers and read their fasinating stories. This was a cute story, it touches the heart. I enjoyed it.
April 14, 2023
Another emotional read from Peter. Thank you
November 18, 2023
This novel moved me to tears, which is a rare occurrence — and more than once. One Last Waltz takes the reader on a journey of several lifetimes. This novel is a rich emotional experience for the reader.
One Last Waltz is set in a retirement community/home for the elderly, The Acorns, and the stories of its residents are told through the eyes of one of its employees, a caregiver, Angie Tomlinson (Ang, to her clients and friends.) These are the days of their lives, as their lives arrive at their terminal point. The novel highlights their small moments and casual conversations, but this is not a quotidian experience for them or the reader; it is in these small, personal interactions that the most intimate exchanges are made. This is a novel about the depth that exists in the ordinary and mundane.
Over the course of three years, the novel takes us and the residents of the Acorns, to various locations. A field day for them is as much a field day for the reader. There is indeed, a final waltz, and it is a beautiful, inspiring thing to witness as a reader.
One Last Waltz is also gorgeously written. With few words — Scholes applies an economical approach to writing — he creates an emotive landscape and breathing characters. Readers should not expect verbose visual descriptions, rather, a starkness here allows the reader to fill the visual gaps with emotion; it is their joy and pain, regret and worry, contentment and satisfaction, that is the reward of this novel. Scholes handles chronological leaps easily, taking the reader back in time to witness the events of the elderly residents lives and the meaning these have had for them. Of course, their journeys are really for our benefit as readers, as we traverse the course of our own lives, parallels to theirs.
For readers at any stage of life, Our Last Waltz is an uplifting (yet deeply solemn) and profound novel well-worth the tears it will bring to the eyes.
One Last Waltz is set in a retirement community/home for the elderly, The Acorns, and the stories of its residents are told through the eyes of one of its employees, a caregiver, Angie Tomlinson (Ang, to her clients and friends.) These are the days of their lives, as their lives arrive at their terminal point. The novel highlights their small moments and casual conversations, but this is not a quotidian experience for them or the reader; it is in these small, personal interactions that the most intimate exchanges are made. This is a novel about the depth that exists in the ordinary and mundane.
Over the course of three years, the novel takes us and the residents of the Acorns, to various locations. A field day for them is as much a field day for the reader. There is indeed, a final waltz, and it is a beautiful, inspiring thing to witness as a reader.
One Last Waltz is also gorgeously written. With few words — Scholes applies an economical approach to writing — he creates an emotive landscape and breathing characters. Readers should not expect verbose visual descriptions, rather, a starkness here allows the reader to fill the visual gaps with emotion; it is their joy and pain, regret and worry, contentment and satisfaction, that is the reward of this novel. Scholes handles chronological leaps easily, taking the reader back in time to witness the events of the elderly residents lives and the meaning these have had for them. Of course, their journeys are really for our benefit as readers, as we traverse the course of our own lives, parallels to theirs.
For readers at any stage of life, Our Last Waltz is an uplifting (yet deeply solemn) and profound novel well-worth the tears it will bring to the eyes.
May 30, 2023
Set in The Acorns Nursing Home, and told through the eyes of Ang, one of the carers there, One Last Waltz gives us a look at life in a care home.
The story is often poignant and bittersweet but also laugh out loud funny in places. Some really great characters amongst the residents. The ones with no filter were especially entertaining.
The character of Ang is a wonderful portrayal of a carer. A truly selfless career that makes all the difference to so many lives and Ang seemed so invested in the physical and mental welbeing of those in her care. I loved how they looked out for her in return
It also touches on the realities of putting a relative into a care home - the cost and often the guilt.
Could easily have been a fairly depressing read but instead it is one filled with laughter and friendship. A really lovely story.
The story is often poignant and bittersweet but also laugh out loud funny in places. Some really great characters amongst the residents. The ones with no filter were especially entertaining.
The character of Ang is a wonderful portrayal of a carer. A truly selfless career that makes all the difference to so many lives and Ang seemed so invested in the physical and mental welbeing of those in her care. I loved how they looked out for her in return
It also touches on the realities of putting a relative into a care home - the cost and often the guilt.
Could easily have been a fairly depressing read but instead it is one filled with laughter and friendship. A really lovely story.
June 20, 2023
This is the story of an amazing nursing care facility called The Acorns, but is more likely the author's vision of what he would like these homes to be like rather than the reality. Here the staff and the residents are like family ... a home away from home.
The narrator is one of the care givers and we come to know each of the residents with their quirky personalities and catch a glimpse their daily lives. Various activities and entertainment are provided, but at one point the residents come up with one of their own ... a list of last wishes requiring a mini road trip for each of them. The lengths the staff go to in order to fulfill the special requests is 'above and beyond'. Come along on their adventures and learn an important lesson ... that love, life, and our experiences mean much more in the end than material things.
The narrator is one of the care givers and we come to know each of the residents with their quirky personalities and catch a glimpse their daily lives. Various activities and entertainment are provided, but at one point the residents come up with one of their own ... a list of last wishes requiring a mini road trip for each of them. The lengths the staff go to in order to fulfill the special requests is 'above and beyond'. Come along on their adventures and learn an important lesson ... that love, life, and our experiences mean much more in the end than material things.
April 8, 2023
One Last Waltz by Peter Scholes is a heartwarming yet heartbreaking look inside a nursing home through the eyes of a caregiver, following the day-to-day antics of the residents in their golden years.
If only all nursing homes were as filled with love as the Acorns. Ang, the caregiver, must deal with some residents' minor forgetfulness and others with Alzheimer's disease, and she must do it without losing hope or spreading fear to the other residents. What a wonderful tribute by Mr. Scholes to this profession. Someday, if I ever need to go to a home, I would like it to be the Acorns.
I recommend this book if you are looking for an uplifting yet thought-provoking read.
If only all nursing homes were as filled with love as the Acorns. Ang, the caregiver, must deal with some residents' minor forgetfulness and others with Alzheimer's disease, and she must do it without losing hope or spreading fear to the other residents. What a wonderful tribute by Mr. Scholes to this profession. Someday, if I ever need to go to a home, I would like it to be the Acorns.
I recommend this book if you are looking for an uplifting yet thought-provoking read.
April 3, 2024
A beautifully written story.
I can't say enough amazing things about this book. You go through so many emotions reading it, and this had a personal touch to me as my mam has Alzheimers too. Scholes does a great job in explaining the disease and has clearly done his research. The idea of the bucket list in the story was a brilliant idea, and a lot of thought was put into it.
I can not highly recommend this book enough. Great work.
I can't say enough amazing things about this book. You go through so many emotions reading it, and this had a personal touch to me as my mam has Alzheimers too. Scholes does a great job in explaining the disease and has clearly done his research. The idea of the bucket list in the story was a brilliant idea, and a lot of thought was put into it.
I can not highly recommend this book enough. Great work.
June 4, 2023
Laugh and cry...
This book made me laugh and cry! And this is exactly as old age should be - lived disgracefully with no regrets!
I must compliment Peter on writing from a woman's perspective, not easy but extremely well done!
Everyone should read this book, and appreciate each day. This will stay with me for a long time.
This book made me laugh and cry! And this is exactly as old age should be - lived disgracefully with no regrets!
I must compliment Peter on writing from a woman's perspective, not easy but extremely well done!
Everyone should read this book, and appreciate each day. This will stay with me for a long time.
May 24, 2023
I absolutely loved this book – the characters, the story, the way it’s written.
The pages turn quickly and before you know it, you’re living with the residents at The Acorns (some of the people are right characters).
A great story that I definitely recommend.
The pages turn quickly and before you know it, you’re living with the residents at The Acorns (some of the people are right characters).
A great story that I definitely recommend.
August 2, 2023
Breath taking book of the elderly acorn residents. Highly reccomend it
October 19, 2025
This is a brilliant book - so true to life - sad but funny too - if I ever had to go into a care home I hope it would be like the Acorns.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews