Contemporary Fiction
Back of the book:
IS A Simple Life TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR?
Ben thinks the retirement home where he works should be called "Heaven Can Wait a Little Longer While I Golf" instead of Heritage Gardens. But who asked him? He's just the janitor, after all. Of course, his inept boss, the cantankerous residents, and even his attractive podiatrist friend don't know one important thing about him: he was recently a cardiothoracic surgeon, not a broom-pushing custodian.
Ben is in search of a stress-free life with a little freedom from the past thrown in. But will it be that simple to escape who he used to be--and all he used to fear?
An inspiring, quirky story from an award-winning author, Prime of Life reminds us that new life can find us in the most unexpected places.
My thoughts:
The opening paragraph of Prime of Life caught my attention and the ensuing story kept compelling me to turn just one more page until I came to the final word. Let me share with you that opening paragraph so you'll understand.
"I clean rooms in a retirement home. Four years of college, four of medical school, four more in residency, and another four training in cardiothoracic surgery, and now i spend my days scrubbing toilets and mopping floors."See what I mean? How in the world do you spend all of that time training to be a heart surgeon and then become a janitor. I definitely had to keep reading to find out. Fairly soon we find out that a horrific event has caused Ben to completely walk away from his old life and assume a new one that is stress free.
Ben is employed at Heritage Gardens which is a retirement community. The characters that reside there are what adds that extra pop to this novel. You can't help but being amused by their antics. They are continually getting into some fix and expecting Ben to bail them out.
All seems to be going well for Ben until one day it isn't. His carefully controlled environment begins to come unraveled when his true identity is discovered and a person from his past unexpectedly shows up. What ensues is a beautifully written story about a life out of control and the Power that can set it right again.
This is Dr. Bekendam's first novel but I am hoping it won't be his last. I loved the story and I'm still smiling over the people that populate the novel. If you like a story that meshes funny and serious I think you'll get a kick out of this one.
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