One More Day review
After reading Diane Chiddister’s debut novel One More Day, it is almost impossible to believe that Chiddister has never worked in or been a resident in an assisted living home or known a loved one who worked in or lived in an assisted living situation. How else, could she know so much about it and write about it with such insight and compassion?
One More Day is the story of Grace Woods Care Center, a home for elderly people living with various stages of dementia. It is told from the points of view of Thomas, a sad and oh so loveable elderly gentleman resident. Lillian, who misses her home and is obsessed with finding it again; Sally, a caregiver who stumbles into an unexpected love; and Beth, the director of the center who feels constantly overwhelmed and inadequate to the job.
Chiddister brings the lives of these Grace Woods residents and workers to vivid life. Chapters alternate between Thomas’s story, Lillian’s, Sally’s and Beth’s. While reading the first few chapters, I found it slightly difficult to keep straight in my mind who was who and how each was related to the others. But that didn’t matter in the least because each chapter was a beautifully and fearlessly written story in itself, and the relationships quickly sorted themselves out.
Chiddister does not shy away from the more upsetting aspects of ageing. She embraces each of her characters, and so will you as you read about these characters.