Tuesday, December 19, 2023

THE FORGOTTEN LIFE OF EVA GORDON by Linda MacKillop, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney


"On the morning of Eva Gordon's escape, the sun sat crisply in the New England spring sky like a promising sign."

Sometimes the first lines are the best lines. Case in point, as this particular first-liner introduces Eva Gordon as a determined escapee conjured from a place in her mind that remains confused about so many things, and yet crystal clear about many of the things that she suspects she ought to regret. Eyeballing a suitcase packed with all the essentials, Eva Gordon just wants to go home. (If she could remember how to get to the bus station or the fact that she no longer owns a home.)

Cleverly using many of Eva's confused missteps to give her readers a glimpse into the muddled mindset of someone who knows their cognitive abilities are becoming hazy at best and disastrous at worst, the author utilizes extended family and friends to bravely salve Eva's many missteps and cantankerous escapades with words of unconditional encouragement. Just about the time Eva decides that staying could be better than leaving . . . her jewel of a granddaughter, Breezy, announces her engagement and in the blink of an eye, Eva's life is destined to change . . . once more.

" . . . this was a memory morning. Some mornings were empty mornings, offering only a blank mind with familiar words vanquished, memories scattered . . . sometimes she found herself thinking about nothing at all. She'd simply settle into an awareness that her mind was blank. . . "

A thought provoking, timeless, and inspiring nod to sunset years . . . including the fact that it's never too late to forgive and to be forgiven, even if you forget. 

*I received a copy of this book and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

BackCover Blurb:
Eva wants to run away from her life--if only she could remember how

Failing memory has forced Eva Gordon to move in with her granddaughter, Breezy. But Eva hates the bustle of Boston. All she wants to do is move back to her quiet, cozy Cape Cod home and be left alone.

Then Breezy announces she's getting married, and they'll be moving to her new husband's rundown family farm, where he lives with an elderly uncle. They'll be one big family--but only Breezy and Brent think it'll be a happy one.

It's all too much for Eva. Too much change, too much togetherness, too much of an over-crowded life she never wanted. But as her desire for privacy collides with her worsening memory, Eva may find herself in a pickle she can't get out of. 

Kregel Publications, May, 2022
Available in digital ebook and paperback:

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