Chronic: A Sick Novel

by Paul Lima

Beta readers react"If this book were a movie, the cleaners would have to mop up buckets of tears when it was over. Of joy. Of laughter. And yes, of sadness. I'm lucky I had a big box of tissues close by.""You cracked my heart, and then fixed it. Broke my heart, and then repaired it. Smashed my heart into smithereens, but somehow left me feeling that it was fully mended.""I don't know if it's because I have MS, but I laughed, cheered, and cried. Sometimes all three in the same chapter.""You don't have to be sick to love this book.""As a cat lover, 'kitty' was my favorite part of a mighty fine book!"About the BookPaul and Deena are friends with MS and Parkinson's Disease respectively. They've found a wonderful flat renovated for people with disabilities, only they can't afford it. Enter Albert, a former nurse with cancer, and Bolton, an athletic paraplegic. They too look at the flat, and love it. But can't afford it.The solution? The four of them move in together. And life happens.Paul, who has retired from motivational speaking, is motivated into accepting another talk, while working on his painting. Bolton, a former sprinter, tries out for the wheelchair racing team and wheelchair basketball team, while setting up his web design business. Deena, a former PhD student, needs help with her renovation business. Instead of helping to heal people, which he did as a nurse, Albert begins to help Deena heal houses.Our main characters also have to sort out issues with former partners, some of whom have broken up on good terms and some on terms that were not so good, all while dealing with their maladies, and helping each other deal with their chronic issues.About the authorPaul Lima has had MS for over 20 years, moving from relapsing remitting MS to secondary progressive MS about five years ago. He has been a professional writer all his healthy and all his sick life. It's been more difficult when ill, but it has just meant he has had to work harder at it.

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2020

About the author

Paul Lima has worked as a professional writer since 1980. In 1993, he started a freelance writing business and has covered technology and business issues for the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Profit, Time Canada, CBC.ca, and many other periodicals and websites. For corporate clients, Paul writes case studies, media releases and promotional copy and conducts business writing and media interview preparation training seminars. He also conducts freelance writing and business writing e-courses.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of 4 people that are living with chronic illness or paralysis that come to live together in a flat in Toronto.
Initially I thought this was going to be a heartbreaking story but author Paul Lima gives us an enlightening version of the unselfishness and willingness to help these characters have for each other even while dealing with their own debilitating ill health.
A very informative and compassionate read that I highly recommend!

[Laima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Situated in my hometown of Toronto, this heart-warming and uplifting story describes the lives and struggles of four chronically ill people who stumble into sharing a flat. Paul Lima, the author, shares his personal experiences through these well-developed characters so that the reader can gain insight into the lives of those struggling with uncontrollable aspects of life.

This is not just a story of dealing with chronic illness. It sends a message that life is what you make of it, no matter what cards life deals out to you.

This book was recently discussed by my book club, who would like to thank Paul for his attendance via Zoom. His openness on how the story came into being enriched our understanding of people with chronic disabilities and the art of story-telling.

We look forward to the completion of his next project, a work of historical fiction entitled, Family Tree: An Historical Novel Spanning 17 Centuries.

[Emily Perkovich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storyline is fine and could probably work well in the right hands, but this bored me the majority of the time. The voice is so tell instead of show and every bit of empathy or hope ends up sounding preachy because of that. It was basically like listening to a hyperactive able bodied person give a motivational speech. People in wheelchairs can do anything! We’re not all sad! It’s ok to be fatigued! Choose what treatment is best for you! Idk. Not for me, but maybe will make some people feeling hopeless feel seen.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sat on this review for awhile because initially I didn't like it. I found it a bit repetitive and a little to airy for a what should have been a serious novel. But after listening to our review at bookclub which also included an hour of discussion with the author via Zoom I realized I was looking at it from the wrong perspective. This is a book about hope, friendship and community. Yes everyone has chronic illnesses or disabilities but their disease isn't defining who they are. Paul Lima has the expertise to write about chronic illness as he suffers from and has been battling MS for 22+ years.
If you go into this book without any expectations, you will probably consider it a good read.

[Karna Bosman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4. This is a feel good story of four people living with chronic illness or disability that start living together in a flat in Toronto. It is a book about hope, friendship and community.

Sometimes the conversations and situations seem forced, and sometimes it seems that maybe too many issues are addressed in one book, but shining through there are some valuable life lessons and some education about what it is like to live with MS, Parkinson's, or even disability that we might bring on ourselves.

There are life lessons for all of us regardless of what difficulties we may face. I found it to be a worthwhile and valuable read.

[J.E. Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compassionate read about four people who suffer from various illnesses and move in together to share expenses in an accessible apartment. It chronicles their strengths and experiences and is a feel good book.

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