John Gould, prolific columnist and writer from small-town Maine, expounds on his life in a retirement home as a nonagenarian.
The textured Maine vocabulary and speech rhythms come through clearly, whether he is documenting his efforts to get some fresh air at night in his new home, or recounting stories from his childhood.
The sense of times gone by is supported by frequent price quotes. 7 cents for a fresh loaf of bread, 6 cents for a stale one for stuffing. An elegant horse-drawn buggy, said to have been custom-built for $700, bought by John Gould’s grandfather for $3 at an estate auction.
Present-day costs at the Rhapsody Home are “steep” and subject to unexpected surcharges. The staff makes no effort to accomodate the elderly residents.
The book is a quick read, funny and bitter by turns. The underlying theme of adjusting to change can apply at any age.