The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving

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Average customer rating 4.9 (8 comments)

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A joy and a kick in the gut of a read. The first half of the book is perfection in that the protagonist basically moves into one's life. (The character development is that good.) Further, its plain spoken story telling offers a glimpse of those who care for the disabled, the aged and others. It's not glamorous work, but it rather heroic work, in my opinion, and I thank Mr. Evision for bringing it to the page. The guilt of a father's failures is all too familiar to any father, but Evison does this while utilizing the ultimate parental fear without letting it control the emotional pull of the book. The road trip part starts about half-way through the book, and gets a bit messy here an there, and the slap-stick (as with most slap-stick) can be hit and miss. However, the character development is brilliant, leading to a well-written last 50 pages. Further, the empathy proves to be a stunning example for everyone. It does not just move the book forward, it moves the reader forward. Or at least, it seems to me, it should. (Now I do have quibbles about a couple of details: The parking lot at Old Faithful is not completely full in late September, and the last place anyone would choose to meet a soon-to-be ex-spouse to hand off the signed divorce papers is the mall at Jantzen Beach. I get it, Mr. Evison, you know about Jantzen Beach because it lived off of Washingtonians driving just across the border to purchase crap from big box stores without having to pay sales tax, but that doesn't mean you have to use it in a book.) Yes, I take my quibbles seriously! And I also give my compliments generously. This book opens up lives seldom explored, and it does so in a way that touches us all.

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Evison continues to work his magic. This book is another must read! Great storyline and characters.

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I loved this book. Benjamin is the pathetic main character unable to stay afloat after losing his wife and daughter. Despite the gloomy future for himself that he envisions, he still manages to continue on. In an effort to make any sort of progress in his life, he signs up for a class in caregiving and soon has his first client, Trevor. The author could have gone down so many well traveled roads with this book and he didn't. Is it a plot that has been done before? Yes, but Jonathan Evison manages to deliver. His characters are quirky and compelling and likeable. Even Ben, who made me want to scream every time his gloom became gloomier, was a character who ultimately was an underdog worthy of the reader's hope. I'm a sucker for a good road novel and was pleasantly surprised when Ben and Trevor hit the road, not an easy task considering Trevor's disabilities. I've been recommending this book to everyone. It has the kind of humor and charm that defies being lumped into a "type" that would limit it to certain readers.

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Laugh-out-loud funny, quirky yet real characters, a unique, thoughtful plot and writing that compelled me to read in nearly one sitting.

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This book will make restore your faith in the human race. The central character is down and out, divorced, unemployed and haunted by past events. He becomes the caregiver to another down and out boy, who has a debilitating disease. As their friendship develops, so do they - into wiser, more compassionate people. It is a real page turner. Read it - it will make you feel good.

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I really enjoyed this book. The writing wasn't elegant, but the story and the characters touched my heart. It is the story of a man whose life is in shambles, he is divorced, unemployed and haunted by past tragedies. He becomes the caregiving of a teenage boy who has a delibitating and ultimately terminal muscle disease. These two damaged people become good friends and when they take a trip across country to see the boy's dad (who left when his son's illness struck)they have quite a journey, meeting several people along the way who, like themselves, are damaged but struggling. I read this in one day - and was sorry when I finished it. If I had had the author's telephone number I would have called him immediately just to say "I Loved Your Book.!" flag

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Ben Benjamin is a mess. He has been dragged through the mud all the way to hell and back. He is the type of person you would expect to draw the curtains, stay inside and slowly let himself go. You expect to see him on an episode of "Hoarders" or "Intervention" and the flashbacks that fill the novel would be the reason that the hoarding or shooting up began. Ben's resilient though. Through it all while not ready to let go maybe he is ready to start moving on. That is what made this novel the best I read of 2012. This is not a story of a hero saving the day after some conflict that we learn about early on. This story weaves it's way between current day Ben, who is kind of a wreck, and latter day Ben who thought his life was in place until one event shattered it. We are piecemealed parts of these flashbacks. The reader can guess what this event is as it begins to unfold but that doesn't lighten the shock of it being spelled out on the page. Evison has done a great job of showing you someone that is imperfect. Makes bad decisions along the way to moving on. The most important decision made by Ben Benjamin, however, is his decision to start moving on. He wants to accept his life and the past that now defines it. He isn't ready to let go and maybe even move on but for that we have a great novel showing someone that is trying. He's doing his best the only way he knows how and I don't know anyone that couldn't learn a little something from Ben.

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Hopeful, uplifting, not sappy. Splendid story, characters, loved it