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A Timely Death
Grace is living the American Dream. She has a gorgeous home in the hills of Southern California, a loving husband and two grown daughters. It is time for Grace to relax and enjoy the life she and her husband have built for themselves.
But just as Grace is getting used to her “empty nest”, her daughters and grandchildren move back into the house. Then her father dies suddenly, leaving her to care for her ailing mother. Grace reaches her emotional brink, and the family is forced to make a controversial decision.
A Timely Death delves into the rich relationships between family members, the devastation of Alzheimer’s, and the lengths we go to for those we love.
But just as Grace is getting used to her “empty nest”, her daughters and grandchildren move back into the house. Then her father dies suddenly, leaving her to care for her ailing mother. Grace reaches her emotional brink, and the family is forced to make a controversial decision.
A Timely Death delves into the rich relationships between family members, the devastation of Alzheimer’s, and the lengths we go to for those we love.
169 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2010
15 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Genia Stemper
47 books5 followersI have a degree in journalism from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I have always loved writing about people, what makes them who they are, and how they relate with others and the world they live in. I also write educational material for Remedia because discovering a love of reading at a young age, I think, is crucial to enjoying life to the fullest! I live in Southern California with my husband, two teens and two dogs.
Note: I've noticed the reviews I give books are generally quite good, as in four or five stars. This is because there are so many wonderful books out there and life is tooooo short to read books you don't genuinely enjoy. If I'm not into a book by about page 20 or 30, I don't read it...and I'm not going to review it, obviously, if I haven't finished reading it!
Note: I've noticed the reviews I give books are generally quite good, as in four or five stars. This is because there are so many wonderful books out there and life is tooooo short to read books you don't genuinely enjoy. If I'm not into a book by about page 20 or 30, I don't read it...and I'm not going to review it, obviously, if I haven't finished reading it!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 13, 2011
Do you enjoy the movies on Lifetime or Oxygen? If you do, then you won't like my review. This book was torturous for me. I just wanted it to be over as much as Grace wanted her mother, Lily to die. Lily is suffering from Alzheimer. Without her husband, Henry, her descent accelerates. This story isn't really about Lily. It's more about Grace and pathetic life. When I say pathetic, I mean pathetic. From what I can ascertain, she gives herself to everyone but herself. She's a mom to basically 4 generations - her mother, husband, daughters and grandkids. If she loved it, that would be one thing. She doesn't. She resents it. Why does she resent it? Because it is very clear NO one appreciates her nor really helps carry her burden.
Grace is one of those women who bad things happen to because she expects it. She's what firefighters call a black cloud. If she was on duty, everything bad that could happen would take place. On top of it, she's a martyr because she puts herself in that position. If she wants respect and help, well, she should have communicated that with her family and not be so taken advantage of by her loved ones.
I really couldn't stand Grace. I felt sorry for Lily. Diana, good to know when your mom tried to advise you that your husband was not good enough, you purposely married him. How does it feel to have 2 kids and divorced because your husband cheated on you? I have no sympathy. Julia, really, you give born again Christians a bad name. Good to know you can't be a self sufficient woman and that in order for your self identity to work, you need to have a man to complete you. All the women in this book are deplorable and ones I'd never want as friends or even acquaintances.
Charlie, you poor bugger. I don't know how you survive with all these crazy women. Henry, you were the lucky one. You had to die to escape the madness.
The epilogue was odd for me. Overall I think I really hated this book. I'm not marking it as a 1 star only because it was well written. The author's writing voice was fine. The concept for the book was good too. It was interesting and piqued my interest. Her characters just killed it for me. It felt like a never ending whine session during a girls nights out. I avoid those as best I can.
I recommend this book to women who are stuck with taking care of kids and parents at the same time and can empathize with Grace. I recommend it for women who enjoy the movies from Lifetime. I do not recommend it for people who are in the Adult GR groups I'm in.
Grace is one of those women who bad things happen to because she expects it. She's what firefighters call a black cloud. If she was on duty, everything bad that could happen would take place. On top of it, she's a martyr because she puts herself in that position. If she wants respect and help, well, she should have communicated that with her family and not be so taken advantage of by her loved ones.
I really couldn't stand Grace. I felt sorry for Lily. Diana, good to know when your mom tried to advise you that your husband was not good enough, you purposely married him. How does it feel to have 2 kids and divorced because your husband cheated on you? I have no sympathy. Julia, really, you give born again Christians a bad name. Good to know you can't be a self sufficient woman and that in order for your self identity to work, you need to have a man to complete you. All the women in this book are deplorable and ones I'd never want as friends or even acquaintances.
Charlie, you poor bugger. I don't know how you survive with all these crazy women. Henry, you were the lucky one. You had to die to escape the madness.
The epilogue was odd for me. Overall I think I really hated this book. I'm not marking it as a 1 star only because it was well written. The author's writing voice was fine. The concept for the book was good too. It was interesting and piqued my interest. Her characters just killed it for me. It felt like a never ending whine session during a girls nights out. I avoid those as best I can.
I recommend this book to women who are stuck with taking care of kids and parents at the same time and can empathize with Grace. I recommend it for women who enjoy the movies from Lifetime. I do not recommend it for people who are in the Adult GR groups I'm in.
May 10, 2013
Did I like the book? No. Was it well written? Undoubtedly. So why did I not like it? Because it cuts so close to the bone. Euthanasia is something I think about very often. Alzheimer's is so prevalent in modern society and I have read and witnessed how it destroys families. This is an extremely honest account of a daughter's struggle to accept her mother's plight and to decide how to handle it.
I must admit that I did not warm to the main character, Grace. Yes, she going through a terrible thing, but she constantly whines (by means of internal monologue) about everything. I am not going to pull the character apart.
I thought it rather presumptuous to assume the voice of the mother - it is all supposition. We cannot even begin to imagine the plight of the person with Alzheimer's. The voice is used almost like a 'deus ex machina' to justify Grace's thoughts and actions. My point of view only - I am sure that there are many others readers who will find this technique useful, if not necessary.
Another thing which I found irritating was the swearing - again in my opinion - completely superfluous.
The book has tons of merit and I will certainly recommend it to other readers. Perhaps a thorough edit will help to smooth a few rough edges.
I must admit that I did not warm to the main character, Grace. Yes, she going through a terrible thing, but she constantly whines (by means of internal monologue) about everything. I am not going to pull the character apart.
I thought it rather presumptuous to assume the voice of the mother - it is all supposition. We cannot even begin to imagine the plight of the person with Alzheimer's. The voice is used almost like a 'deus ex machina' to justify Grace's thoughts and actions. My point of view only - I am sure that there are many others readers who will find this technique useful, if not necessary.
Another thing which I found irritating was the swearing - again in my opinion - completely superfluous.
The book has tons of merit and I will certainly recommend it to other readers. Perhaps a thorough edit will help to smooth a few rough edges.
April 25, 2021
Getting Old Isn't for Sissies
A hard but gallant book about dying and death.
I picked it because it dealt with Alzheimer's and one of my grandmother's had this disease and was in a nursing home for some yrs.not knowing any of us anymore,not even my father,her son.
This book describes what happens to one woman's life,when both grown daughters move back home,one with two children and the worrisome and tired feeling she gets from worrying about her mother in a nursing home.
She feels that she has no time for herself and she gets tired of being needed by everybody.
Her mother is the worst offender, even though she has Alzheimer's, she had no other illnesses and could live for yrs.
Grace, herself,doesn't feel she can go on like this much longer.
What happens to change this around,is worth the read.
Do go ahead and see what changes take place.
A hard but gallant book about dying and death.
I picked it because it dealt with Alzheimer's and one of my grandmother's had this disease and was in a nursing home for some yrs.not knowing any of us anymore,not even my father,her son.
This book describes what happens to one woman's life,when both grown daughters move back home,one with two children and the worrisome and tired feeling she gets from worrying about her mother in a nursing home.
She feels that she has no time for herself and she gets tired of being needed by everybody.
Her mother is the worst offender, even though she has Alzheimer's, she had no other illnesses and could live for yrs.
Grace, herself,doesn't feel she can go on like this much longer.
What happens to change this around,is worth the read.
Do go ahead and see what changes take place.
September 7, 2023
This book touched my soul
I'm not sure how this book ended up on my Kindle but I saw it there two nights and began to read. Having just lost my mom to Alzheimer's two weeks ago, I feel like it was put there by an unseen hand. The author got it exactly right. I loved the narrative changing points of view from granddaughters to mothers to grandmother. Beautiful prose, elegant, poetic at times. Anyone who has been with a loved one in the ugly final part of life will recognize the truth of both loving and hating them and their disease and wondering if there is something moral and ethical way out.
I'm not sure how this book ended up on my Kindle but I saw it there two nights and began to read. Having just lost my mom to Alzheimer's two weeks ago, I feel like it was put there by an unseen hand. The author got it exactly right. I loved the narrative changing points of view from granddaughters to mothers to grandmother. Beautiful prose, elegant, poetic at times. Anyone who has been with a loved one in the ugly final part of life will recognize the truth of both loving and hating them and their disease and wondering if there is something moral and ethical way out.
July 27, 2024
As someone who has lost family to Alzheimer’s, this book is gut wrenching. It gives you a perspective into the experience of someone living with this disease, affirms the guilt, the grief, and the pain of the families that witness the disease change their loved ones and ultimately steals them away. I cried for pretty much the whole book, definitely 5 stars for me. Would recommend to anyone who has someone in their life going through something similar.
January 28, 2018
Easy reading
Worth the afternoon indulgence, it might give you something to think about... it was a must share with my daughter.
Worth the afternoon indulgence, it might give you something to think about... it was a must share with my daughter.
April 26, 2021
Wow!
I felt emotional all the way through this book. The author did such a good job of expressing the toll of Alzheimer's on both the sufferer and the family. Very good book.
I felt emotional all the way through this book. The author did such a good job of expressing the toll of Alzheimer's on both the sufferer and the family. Very good book.
March 19, 2017
A touching story about life
Very well written and full of the daily life in this family story. The characters are real and flawed as all people are. The relationships between mothers and daughters across four generations is poignant and feels true to life. This is a gem.
Very well written and full of the daily life in this family story. The characters are real and flawed as all people are. The relationships between mothers and daughters across four generations is poignant and feels true to life. This is a gem.
May 4, 2015
A Timely Death (Kindle Edition) By Genia Stemper
Grace has the perfect life and is adjusting to her “empty nest”, then her daughters and grandchildren move back into the house. Soon her father dies leaving her to take care of her aging mother Lily. When her Mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, Grace and her family are faced with difficult decisions.
Told from different points of view. We get a good look at how Graces feels. We also get a feel of what a person with Alzheimer's might be feeling, we hear from Lily's point of view as well.
At times I was frustrated with Grace. Everyone reacts to a family members declining health in different ways. Although I may not react the way Grace did, I do understand her world-wind of emotions. I liked Lily and really felt her pain and frustration. She losses her husband, then slowly loses her mind. It was quite sad watching her slowly slip away (Mentally).
I could relate to this story. There is more I would like to say, but I do not write spoilers. The decisions the family have to make, may not be the choices I would make. But, I did understand why Grace and her family made the choices they did. A heart-felt story that will stay with you long after you read the last page.
Grace has the perfect life and is adjusting to her “empty nest”, then her daughters and grandchildren move back into the house. Soon her father dies leaving her to take care of her aging mother Lily. When her Mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, Grace and her family are faced with difficult decisions.
Told from different points of view. We get a good look at how Graces feels. We also get a feel of what a person with Alzheimer's might be feeling, we hear from Lily's point of view as well.
At times I was frustrated with Grace. Everyone reacts to a family members declining health in different ways. Although I may not react the way Grace did, I do understand her world-wind of emotions. I liked Lily and really felt her pain and frustration. She losses her husband, then slowly loses her mind. It was quite sad watching her slowly slip away (Mentally).
I could relate to this story. There is more I would like to say, but I do not write spoilers. The decisions the family have to make, may not be the choices I would make. But, I did understand why Grace and her family made the choices they did. A heart-felt story that will stay with you long after you read the last page.
September 10, 2010
What a wonderful story! I loved all the characters. Nothing overly descriptive. A fast read. You know. Even though I haven't read many books by Jodi Picoult, it seems like something along the lines of what she would write.
There is more than one difficult issue being dealt with in A Timely Death. Issues I'm not going to reveal because it's for the reader to uncover. I can't say that I agree with how the main "issue" being dealt with here, was handled, and it was a tough decision for Grace, the main character to have to make. Who's to say however, that I wouldn't want that decision to be made for me if I was in the same boat as the person whom Grace was making the decision for/against.
About the other "issue," Grace? Sock it to 'em! (or her!)
Beautiful, Genia! Simply beautiful!
There is more than one difficult issue being dealt with in A Timely Death. Issues I'm not going to reveal because it's for the reader to uncover. I can't say that I agree with how the main "issue" being dealt with here, was handled, and it was a tough decision for Grace, the main character to have to make. Who's to say however, that I wouldn't want that decision to be made for me if I was in the same boat as the person whom Grace was making the decision for/against.
About the other "issue," Grace? Sock it to 'em! (or her!)
Beautiful, Genia! Simply beautiful!
May 23, 2013
I found myself questioning why I was perservering with this book, but I'm glad I did. It got off to a slow start and lacked tension. The sequence of this happened then that happened left me struggling to maintain my interest at times, and it didn't help that the subject was depressing, but there were rich rewards for perserving. The author exposed beautiful and wise philosophies and presented a refreshingly honest and reassuring perspective on life and death. The story was thought-provoking, challenging law and conventional morality. The ending was beautiful.
Tackling subjects like this requires courage, sensitivity and empathy, and the author has all three in spades. But this is by no means ''light reading". Be prepared to struggle to read through tears.
Tackling subjects like this requires courage, sensitivity and empathy, and the author has all three in spades. But this is by no means ''light reading". Be prepared to struggle to read through tears.
January 27, 2014
This book brought back many sad memories and struggles of watching my father transition from life to death.
I could not relate to the main character Grace. I found her cold and detached. But that is how some people become when dealing with the dying. euthanasia is a controversial topic.
This story was lacking heart. It was just "let's put mom out of her misery. " How do we kill her?" I was disappointed
This book does nothing I feel to help those for the case of A Right To Die.
I found no redeeming qualities in most every character. If the author continued the story I am sure the family members were fighting over inheritance and what do we get when she's finally dead.
I am for the right to die. But I cannot say I recommend this book
I could not relate to the main character Grace. I found her cold and detached. But that is how some people become when dealing with the dying. euthanasia is a controversial topic.
This story was lacking heart. It was just "let's put mom out of her misery. " How do we kill her?" I was disappointed
This book does nothing I feel to help those for the case of A Right To Die.
I found no redeeming qualities in most every character. If the author continued the story I am sure the family members were fighting over inheritance and what do we get when she's finally dead.
I am for the right to die. But I cannot say I recommend this book
April 3, 2015
It is hard for me to decide whether I agree with some of the choices made in the book as I haven't exactly been in these characters shoes.
Alzheimer's is one of those diseases that is just so hard to watch a loved one deal with (and even harder on those in the role of caretaker). In this novel, one of the main characters, Grace, becomes caretaker for her mother (with Alzheimer's) almost immediately after the death of her father. Throughout, we watch as her mother, Lily, is increasingly affected by this disease. As Lily's health declines, her family becomes more stressed and her condition starts to affect them as well. What can they do in this situation to ease up the suffering of everyone affected?
Slight warning as the subject matter may not be suitable for all.
Alzheimer's is one of those diseases that is just so hard to watch a loved one deal with (and even harder on those in the role of caretaker). In this novel, one of the main characters, Grace, becomes caretaker for her mother (with Alzheimer's) almost immediately after the death of her father. Throughout, we watch as her mother, Lily, is increasingly affected by this disease. As Lily's health declines, her family becomes more stressed and her condition starts to affect them as well. What can they do in this situation to ease up the suffering of everyone affected?
Slight warning as the subject matter may not be suitable for all.
February 24, 2011
Picked this up for free on smashwords.com and so glad that I did! The writing style of the author is fresh and the first two pages suckered me into the plot. Grace is not only dealing with her two grown daughters moving back home, but her father dies and she (and her family, husband) are left to deal with her mom who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. I could relate to the main character and actually probably could see myself having the same thoughts she did, throughout the story.
The ending wasn't what I had in mind. That is where the main character and I would have differentiated. But I am still glad I read the book. Am looking forward to seeing what else this author has up her sleeve.
The ending wasn't what I had in mind. That is where the main character and I would have differentiated. But I am still glad I read the book. Am looking forward to seeing what else this author has up her sleeve.
April 21, 2015
Praise for the depiction of a real family!
This book was wonderful...I am in the place of this protagonist, Grace, as a fifty-something woman witha supportive husband, two grown daughters, a grandson, a dad who recently passed away, and a mom with Alzheimer's. The author spun her tale in a way that makes me say, yes, yes! Thats just how it is! I loved how she gave voice to Harry and to Lily, the father who has passed,and the mother trapped inside her own failing mind. Thank you, thank you, for this touching story!
This book was wonderful...I am in the place of this protagonist, Grace, as a fifty-something woman witha supportive husband, two grown daughters, a grandson, a dad who recently passed away, and a mom with Alzheimer's. The author spun her tale in a way that makes me say, yes, yes! Thats just how it is! I loved how she gave voice to Harry and to Lily, the father who has passed,and the mother trapped inside her own failing mind. Thank you, thank you, for this touching story!
June 28, 2015
This book was written beautifully. I related to it on several levels. I think there is a wisdom weaved into the story. I liked the way different characters shared their truths.
July 1, 2014
Good
this,book is about how death and Alzheimer's effects families.the way people have to learn about the way it effects there loved ones.
this,book is about how death and Alzheimer's effects families.the way people have to learn about the way it effects there loved ones.
August 21, 2014
Awesome
now I feel validation that my wishes have and shall always be told by someone like this author with courage and sensitively.
now I feel validation that my wishes have and shall always be told by someone like this author with courage and sensitively.
March 8, 2015
Great book!
Alzheimer's is a horrible disease. I liked that this brought you into the mind of the sick. What she was feeling, why she acted the way she did.
Alzheimer's is a horrible disease. I liked that this brought you into the mind of the sick. What she was feeling, why she acted the way she did.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews