The Faded Flower

by Paul McCusker

Funny, the difference a few hours can make. At 4:30 P.M., Frank Reynolds still has a sense of accomplishment and control. By five o’clock, he’s lost his job of twenty-two years. By six o’clock, he’s learned of his father’s Alzheimer’s disease. An hour-and-a-half is all it has taken to turn Frank’s world upside down, thrusting him and his family onto a path none of them could ever have expected.

The one certain thing now is change. For Frank, that means grappling with the painful implications of unemployment and his father’s illness. For Pap, it means facing the heartbreaking realities of the affliction that is stealing his mind. For Frank’s high-school-graduate son, it consists of finding his own path in life despite his father’s disapproval. And for Frank’s wife and daughter, it involves surprisingly pleasant discoveries as the family, moving to Frank’s childhood town, creates a future amid the ghosts of Frank’s past.

On the outskirts of Peabody stands an imposing old mansion known as The Faded Flower. For many, it is both a beginning and an end. For the Reynoldses, it is the place where God’s grace will unfold, changing their understanding of what life is about--and for Frank, resurrecting faith, hope, and purpose in ways he’s never dreamed.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Paul McCusker is a writer of many different kinds of things. You may know him from Adventures In Odyssey and Focus On The Family Radio Theatre. Or the Father Gilbert Mysteries. Or the Augustine Institute audio dramas Brother Francis: The Barefoot Saint of Assisi and The Trials of Saint Patrick. Or plays like The First Church of Pete's Garage and Catacombs. Or C.S. Lewis projects like The Chronicles of Narnia audio dramas or The Annotated Screwtape Letters. Or the film Beyond The Mask. Or lots of other dramas, novels, scripts and lyrics. He simply can't make up his mind what he likes to write.

Reviews

[J.D. Sutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fantastic story that on the surface explores the challenges facing a family with a loved one suffering from dementia. Even though the setting itself is a bit dated, the family dynamics are very real and believable and I had no trouble overlooking some of the outdated references. The characters are well developed and many of them are dealing with real-life issues that really ring true.

While there are a few moments when things are a bit predictable, the plot for the most part flows nicely with a few little surprises. Despite his obvious flaws, I found myself really relating to Frank, the main character, in several ways and rooting for him the way a good story makes you want to do.

The final pages of the book are very touching and wrap up the tale with a very satisfying ending. McCusker has spun a story full of likable characters and lots of heart that will leave you with a new appreciation for life and the ones you spend it with.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short novella -- easy read. Very well written. It's about changes in life and our fears of not being in control. It centers around a family's struggle with their patriarch's struggle with Alzheimers, and how that affects the whole family. Frank is the main character, struggling with all the changes in his life (he just lost his job) losing his father to alzheimers and his son to independence. A realistic story.

[Kobie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I left my e-reader at home and was forced to read what was available at the beach house. So, I read this 20 years after it was published and it isn't my normal read. It was well-written, interesting, and presented the idea of letting go of your plans in order to live your actual life.
It had a few things that didn't age well, a racist image called politically incorrect, and some paternalistic views. I skimmed the religious parts because that's just not my jam. Oh, and the end was too abrupt for me.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The novella starts off with an interesting conflict but about halfway through drops off abruptly and never really resolved itself. The main character comes across as alternately sympathetic and unable to relate to anyone else, and the teenage son gains an entire personality and plot arc just about out of nowhere.

Theres a lot of interesting pieces to a longer story here, but the way they were assembled here leaves much to be desired.

[Jennifer Golden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great weekend read. The book honestly looks at how a family deal with the loss of a job, finding out a parent has Alzheimer's and life decisions.