Keeper

This is a exceptional book but it is not an easy read and with that I recommend it to only those with a genuine interest in the subject. Unless one can relate to the author and her families predicament then they will subject themselves to pages of family related trauma, trauma that not all will want to read about or imagine.

What the author has offered is a view into a world that some will never relate to and with any luck never have to. My mum was recently placed in care, though my family were never full time carers we had a long road to travel to get her from her being alone in the family home to the assisted living that she needed. Many of the issues raised in this book were incredibly close to the bone and I found myself reading deep into the evening as I related to event after event that the author so articulately expressed with her sharp eye and ear and her deep sense of frustration. The author was also aware of the depth of power her family story may have had on the reader, so by interspersing the narrative with medical discussion through to philosophical debate she was able to give the reader an almost welcome break from the drama of the utter sadness of the story. This was constantly thought provoking and useful to the likes of me, someone who likes to have a some modicum of understanding as to life's personal and challenging events.

I see that this book has won both the Orwell Prize and the Wellcome Trust Book Prize. If this is indicative of the quality of the books that have won or even been nominated for these awards then these award winners must be of the highest quality in their fields.

Not only highly recommended to those with an interest in this subject but an absolute must.