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A review by jchristen
The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream by Jeannie Zusy
3.0
This book is told from the perspective of Maggie, the youngest of the three Frederick sisters. She becomes the involuntary or perhaps voluntary caretaker of her middle sister, Virginia, or Ginny/Gin-Gin after she is hospitalized for becoming septic. The story starts with Maggie driving her into New York from Maryland to stay at a nursing/assisted living home. I'm not sure if it was the authors intent or if it is the nature of a caretaker but this story felt like it jerked you around a lot more than I'd like. Maggie certainly felt like a realistic character but the whole book felt like it sidled up to issues and then they just disappeared. A few, like Maggie's alcoholism were certainly resolved/addressed by the end of the book. I just didn't have any appreciation for the way a sentence was snuck in about certain topics and then just randomly we're a week ahead in time or something else is going on. It felt jumpy in that sense.
I did enjoy the story as whole, now that I finished the book. One of the things I appreciated the most were the childhood flashbacks between Ginny and Maggie. I think that helped develop Maggie's growth arc of realizing that yes she does need to take care of her sister but it's not as black and white as Ginny is a (pretty) high functioning adult before this hospitalization. The story explores the need for autonomy within adult care rather well.
It gives a nuanced look at what life is like with a family member with disabilities, and how that might affect you as their sole decision maker/caretaker. I appreciated that none of the characters were unrealistically likeable. You can want to be helpful for your family member but still loathe certain parts of it and feel burdened. If the story could have moved along a bit smoothly instead of hurrying up and tying it in a bow at the end I probably would have enjoyed more. All in all, 3.5 stars from me.
I did enjoy the story as whole, now that I finished the book. One of the things I appreciated the most were the childhood flashbacks between Ginny and Maggie. I think that helped develop Maggie's growth arc of realizing that yes she does need to take care of her sister but it's not as black and white as Ginny is a (pretty) high functioning adult before this hospitalization. The story explores the need for autonomy within adult care rather well.
It gives a nuanced look at what life is like with a family member with disabilities, and how that might affect you as their sole decision maker/caretaker. I appreciated that none of the characters were unrealistically likeable. You can want to be helpful for your family member but still loathe certain parts of it and feel burdened. If the story could have moved along a bit smoothly instead of hurrying up and tying it in a bow at the end I probably would have enjoyed more. All in all, 3.5 stars from me.