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amn028's review against another edition
4.0
A really lovely book full of humour and insights. It was enjoyable "watching" as the relationship moved from felt awkward to companionable as the week moves along.
asperdrewsual's review against another edition
5.0
I have now read all of Reid’s published work. All 5 stars and so he is solidified as my favourite author.
This was a touching and warm memoir. I saw the relationship I had with my grandma reflected in the stories. I also lived in Kingston for a decade and so it was cool to see places I’ve been represented in the book. Even though none were explicitly named I could often tell where he was talking about.
This was a touching and warm memoir. I saw the relationship I had with my grandma reflected in the stories. I also lived in Kingston for a decade and so it was cool to see places I’ve been represented in the book. Even though none were explicitly named I could often tell where he was talking about.
vehicularsugar's review against another edition
4.0
Gah. So endearing. I just wanted hold hands with author and Grandma.
kickpleat's review against another edition
3.0
A 28 year old freelance writer decides to give his grandma the gift of time - a road trip from her home in Ottawa to his in Kingston, Ontario. There isn't much to do but talk and reminisce. It starts off slow and a bit rough. Reid is such a guy with an old car, a dirty house and a mattress on the floor instead of a bed. He's sweet to his grandma but for the first half of the book, he's just internally apologizing for his life. The second half of the book grandma talks and tells stories of her life, previous unknown to her grandson and that's where the life of this book lies. It's sweet, sincere and earnest but a little wobbly too.
heather_d's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
gemmadee's review against another edition
4.0
Memoir, especially in the casual language that Reid uses, could easily fall victim to the kind of navel gazing to which bloggers like me are prone. The greatest strength of the book is the way that Reid’s memoir isn’t really about him. It’s pretty daring to try to stretch a whole book out of a week’s worth of chatting with your grandma, but his focus on the life and wisdom of a really interesting woman gives it substance.
clarehitchens's review
3.0
3 1/2 stars for this one. I would have gone to 4 if it had started as well as it finished. By the time I was done reading I was thoroughly charmed, but the first half of the book dragged a bit. When I think about that, I think that it mirrors the story itself. A twenty-something young man on a "staycation" with his elderly Grandma? At first he had no idea how to entertain her or what to say. But as the days went on it became obvious that Grandma was a lot more interesting than he had originally thought, and as his interest grew, so did ours. A tender, lovely memoir that I think would be enhanced by a live reading to bring out the author's wry humour.
jooniperd's review
5.0
sometimes you read a book and it becomes something you connect with so personally and deeply that it becomes nearly impossible to detach from it to assess or review it constructively. that happened with this amazing book by iain reid. but, i have thought about it overnight and i think - my personal attachment aside - the strength of reid's writing, the flow of the story and his ability to make us care about what he and his grandma are up to make this book totally worth its 5-star rating. his grandma and my grandma are very similar women. both were born in scotland (mine in 1917). both lived through two wars and the depression and both worked most of their lives. as well, both women are very smart people. so, in reading reid's book, it was like having my grandma here with me again. there were moments in the book that had me laughing so hard, tears streamed down my face and my stomach hurt. there were other, quieter moments, that were beautiful and heartfelt. i am glad reid - encouraged by his brother jimmy - went with the idea of giving his grandmother his time as a birthday gift. they spent five days together talking, eating and learning things they hadn't previously known.
i have been on this trend lately of reading books with older people featuring as main characters - here, reid's grandma is 92; earlier this week i read a novel, [b:Up and Down|13530979|Up and Down|Terry Fallis|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336588099s/13530979.jpg|19092647] that has a 71yo protagonist. [b:The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared|16036214|The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared|Jonas Jonasson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348106212s/16036214.jpg|10365993], which i read a few months ago, was a hoot. [b:The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry|13531083|The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry|Rachel Joyce|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335366150s/13531083.jpg|18156927] and [b:Major Pettigrew's Last Stand|6643090|Major Pettigrew's Last Stand|Helen Simonson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320539020s/6643090.jpg|6837577] also feature characters of retirement age. given our trend towards an aging population, perhaps this is the new thing in publishing? if it is -- i am a big fan. we have a lot to learn and we take a lot for granted. hearing about the experiences of older generations should smarten us up and help us realize that older doesn't mean already dead. i remember talking with my own grandma about how when people get old, they often get forgotten. she used to tell me how lucky she felt to have her family around her and i used to feel really sad thinking about those who either have no one or have people who choose to stay away. my grandmother, in her 80s, had more energy and more of a social life than i have ever had and i really hope to live as excellent a life as she did.
so, i thank reid for his wonderful book but also for the fact that his book allowed me time to remember my own grandmother and the shenanigans we got up to together. that is a great gift indeed!
i have been on this trend lately of reading books with older people featuring as main characters - here, reid's grandma is 92; earlier this week i read a novel, [b:Up and Down|13530979|Up and Down|Terry Fallis|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336588099s/13530979.jpg|19092647] that has a 71yo protagonist. [b:The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared|16036214|The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared|Jonas Jonasson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348106212s/16036214.jpg|10365993], which i read a few months ago, was a hoot. [b:The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry|13531083|The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry|Rachel Joyce|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335366150s/13531083.jpg|18156927] and [b:Major Pettigrew's Last Stand|6643090|Major Pettigrew's Last Stand|Helen Simonson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320539020s/6643090.jpg|6837577] also feature characters of retirement age. given our trend towards an aging population, perhaps this is the new thing in publishing? if it is -- i am a big fan. we have a lot to learn and we take a lot for granted. hearing about the experiences of older generations should smarten us up and help us realize that older doesn't mean already dead. i remember talking with my own grandma about how when people get old, they often get forgotten. she used to tell me how lucky she felt to have her family around her and i used to feel really sad thinking about those who either have no one or have people who choose to stay away. my grandmother, in her 80s, had more energy and more of a social life than i have ever had and i really hope to live as excellent a life as she did.
so, i thank reid for his wonderful book but also for the fact that his book allowed me time to remember my own grandmother and the shenanigans we got up to together. that is a great gift indeed!
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