The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving
Jonathan Evison
2012, 278
Fiction
Having lost his children and his marriage, Ben starts building a new life as caregiver for Trev, a 19-year-old with muscular dystrophy and a twisted sense of humor. As Ben struggles to gain a foothold, barely holding on to the new job and his sanity, the two develop a deep friendship.
Somehow, they convince Trev’s mother to let them visit Trev’s estranged father, resulting in a wacky road trip which stretches their emotional limits and brings them endearing new misfit friends.
Flashbacks reveal more details about the accident with Ben’s children, making it all the more touching as he trusts himself to take new people under his wing.
This deeply affecting tragicomedy (Evison’s third novel) has laugh-out-loud dialogue and absurdly memorable scenarios, and you will surely find yourself pulling for its brave, damaged characters.
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