My book reviews for Beck Valley Books are few because the story really needs to pique my interest with the blurb about it or even the title. This was one of those books.
Just reading the blurb about the book, I could see me being Louise and making that pact. Since I don't have a sister, it would probably have been with my best friend that I grew up with (you know who you are!). You see, visiting the elderly aunt, could have been me.
My parents were older (both were 45 years old) when they had me and with the fact that there were 20 years between my mom and her oldest brother, I was always around older generations. My grandparents (my Dad's parents) were already 70 when I was born. My aunt was in a nursing home at the age of 70 because of Alzheimer's. Of course, the older generations just visited each other too.
Reading the Prologue, even though it said "back in the fifties," I could relate to the book already with the statement, "We'd seen our fair share of old people..." Reading Chapter One, was like someone had gone and visited an old relative with me! The author, Kim Cano, does a great job of describing all of those things a young person thinks when visiting an elderly person - especially, "I was thankful when it was time to go."
When you are young, you don't see the person you are visiting as the young person they were. You see the pictures from their younger years, but the person you know is the person you see in front of you. I never really knew the aches and pains of the older generation around me, but saw the "shuffling" and the person trying to connect/have a conversation with the younger generation. Oh such a mirror as I was reading chapter one!
The story follows Louise throughout her life and the ups and downs she went through. All the while, remembering the pact that she made with her sister. Louise's story could be anyone's. The struggles, the missed opportunities, the loves, the loss, the friendship. I love how Louise's story covers all of it and how it down-to-earth it is. It covers someone's life story and how the curves and turns in the road take you down a different road than you expect and how you make the most of the life you have.
Several times throughout the book, something would resonate with me and make me think of something that happened in my life. I think if you like memoirs, you would like this novel. I bet you anything, it will remind you of something that has happened in your life.
I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours,
all the opinions above are 100% my own.
Traumatized by visits to the nursing home to see their elderly aunt, Louise and her sister Jeannie made a youthful pact to not live past age eighty. Was it a silly childhood idea, or were they wise beyond their years? Most importantly, will they go through with it when the time comes?Eighty and Out Editorial Review: “An emotionally-charged women’s fiction novel about the bond between sisters, friendship, and fate, Eighty and Out will have you deliberating your destiny.” ~ Bestselling author Deborah Brown
Available to buy from....
About the Author
Kim Cano is the author of two women's fiction novels: A Widow Redefined, her debut novel and On The Inside, a novel about a middle-aged woman who is sentenced to 17 years in prison for committing a white collar crime.Kim has also written two animal books: For Animal Lovers, a short story collection for kids ages 9 to 12. and for adults who are young at heart. Kim Cano lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and cat.
Find the author on the following sites...
Follow the book tour
NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY
Win a $25 Amazon.com Giftcard
Open Worldwide
Open Worldwide
Ending on Thursday 28th May at 11.59pm EST
