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Reviews by Arlene S. (Granger, IN)

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Activities of Daily Living: A Novel
by Lisa Hsiao Chen
Activities of Daily Living (2/1/2022)
There is no real plot to this book other than the suspense we all live with day to day to see what tomorrow will bring.
There are two simultaneous stories going on here: Adult stepchildren taking care of an aging stepfather and the difficulty that brings. Remembering "what was" and merging that with "what is", heartbreaking at times; and the activities of daily living that everyone has in their life. The most mundane tasks are amplified and reflected upon. The things we do by reflex and don't give much thought to, well, they all take time, and they all must be done. We are all coping with what we need to do.
This book heightens awareness of what is required.
He Started It
by Samantha Downing
A doozy! (2/18/2020)
Siblings reunite to recreate an earlier road trip with Grampa. This time, however, Grampa's ashes are in a box and the inheritance is at stake. The character development is great - the family dynamics are spot on. The conflict comes between greed and family. Lots of unexpected twists and turns move this book along, getting darker and darker as the story unfolds. It is a quick read in that it's hard to put down.
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