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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I have a profound respect and love for the elderly, so I was so, SO excited for the premise of The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher! Edna, a 83 year old woman living in a nursing home, is spending her final days knitting, watching reruns of I Love Lucy with her roommate, and pranking the orderlies. But it all changes the day she finds out she is the new Chosen One. She jumps at the chance of escaping the drudgery of the nursing home and begins a grand adventure with her favorite orderly, Benjamin, at her side.
This book has been recommended as a cozy book in circles that I follow and I have to say, I disagree. The cast of characters are lovely and fleshed out, but Clementine, a teenager with serious anger issues walks onto the scene and kind of just shits all over everything, all the time. Granted, she's dealing with, but ummm every character in the book lets her walk ALL OVER Edna! Literally, her first interaction with Edna is
My grandma took me into her home when she was 72 and when I graduated from high school and moved out, she was 82, so I was constantly surrounded by old folk: the young at heart, the doddery, the hearty and hale. Old people are not to be infantilized. They're just regular people with more life experience but at that age, the vast majority of them are physically fragile and some are mentally frail. If there's one thing that makes me flash crazy eyes and Hulk the fuck out, it's threatening harm to vulnerable old people. And apparently also fictional old people.
But it's not just Clementine coming for Edna. Edna with the bad knees and the bum hip. Edna who almost always feels completely overwhelmed and incapable. Edna who bumbles along, doing her best but struggling throughout. It's the author. The author throws so much at this woman that it gave me anxiety, and my sense of dread just built and built with each page. If you don't want to read about an old woman getting burned, stabbed, shot, having her medications destroyed, getting wicked sunburn, and physically thrown to the ground multiple times, THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR YOU.
But if you're fine with that and have any experience with octogenarians, then good luck maintaining your suspension of disbelief. My grandma was a fucking unit and even she couldn't have taken a quarter of what was thrown at Edna.
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A spirited old lady is excited to become the Chosen One because it means she'll get to leave her boring AF and slightly soul crushing nursing home? Hell yes! I've been looking forward to reading The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher for months now!! I'm buckling up for bittersweet seasoned with salty tears.
This book has been recommended as a cozy book in circles that I follow and I have to say, I disagree. The cast of characters are lovely and fleshed out, but Clementine, a teenager with serious anger issues walks onto the scene and kind of just shits all over everything, all the time. Granted, she's dealing with
Spoiler
grief and PTSDA volunteer rammed into Edna on her way up the stairs. Edna staggered. "Watch it!" Benjamin said in alarm, reaching for Edna. "Watch it yourself." [says the moody teen]Edna is a fucking sweetheart AND saint, and this kid slings abuse and disrespect at her nonstop. She frequently curses at her, she steals from her, she whirls a sword on her!! So literally 13% into the book, my hackles are already raised and I'm ready to slap this girl. And it just doesn't stop.
My grandma took me into her home when she was 72 and when I graduated from high school and moved out, she was 82, so I was constantly surrounded by old folk: the young at heart, the doddery, the hearty and hale. Old people are not to be infantilized. They're just regular people with more life experience but at that age, the vast majority of them are physically fragile and some are mentally frail. If there's one thing that makes me flash crazy eyes and Hulk the fuck out, it's threatening harm to vulnerable old people. And apparently also fictional old people.
But it's not just Clementine coming for Edna. Edna with the bad knees and the bum hip. Edna who almost always feels completely overwhelmed and incapable. Edna who bumbles along, doing her best but struggling throughout. It's the author. The author throws so much at this woman that it gave me anxiety, and my sense of dread just built and built with each page. If you don't want to read about an old woman getting burned, stabbed, shot, having her medications destroyed, getting wicked sunburn, and physically thrown to the ground multiple times, THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR YOU.
But if you're fine with that and have any experience with octogenarians, then good luck maintaining your suspension of disbelief. My grandma was a fucking unit and even she couldn't have taken a quarter of what was thrown at Edna.
----------------------------------
A spirited old lady is excited to become the Chosen One because it means she'll get to leave her boring AF and slightly soul crushing nursing home? Hell yes! I've been looking forward to reading The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher for months now!! I'm buckling up for bittersweet seasoned with salty tears.
adventurous
emotional
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A different perspective on the 'Chosen One' trope, on 'good' and 'bad' categorizations and on the role of elder people in society. Comfortable LGBTQIA+ representation on the side, just part of life. A magical version of present-day earth that questions Western society in a colourful, warm and thoughtful way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I completely loved this book. The tongue in cheek approach to tropes like a "Chosen One", and the premise of having an 80 year old fill that role, are a great start. Beyond that, though, the book serves up a ton of loveable characters, some really interesting plot developments, and a satisfying message. The story doesn't shy away from the darker things in life but still ends happily. Definitely recommend!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Fun book club read. The author visited our book club virtually, which ended up being great! They were very willing to entertain our various questions about the writing process, choice of setting, and the all-important details about how dragons are controlled.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dragons? ✅
Unlikely hero?✅
Found family?✅
Diverse and gay characters? ✅
Everything I could want in a magical adventure story!!!💞
Unlikely hero?✅
Found family?✅
Diverse and gay characters? ✅
Everything I could want in a magical adventure story!!!💞
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Skipped through the final parts of the book because I found it a bit slow. Entertaining & heartwarming tho