Flying the Nest by Joy Norstrom

 

From Goodreads

Lonely millennial Chad MacEwan can't seem to get it together. While his boomer Uncle Martin sails through his twilight years with a full social calendar, Chad's weekly highpoint is dutifully visiting Martin at the Eldernest Assisted Living Lodge. Maybe his uncle's magnetism and way with the ladies will rub off on him, or perhaps Chad will one day gain enough courage to strike up conversation with the woman who works in the cafeteria.

It's not only Chad who struggles with loneliness and self-doubt; the Eldernest is teeming with residents searching for belonging. There's the animal lover who owes her spot at the affluent Eldernest to a government subsidy, and the resident who finds himself back in the closet due to the close-minded confines of communal living. Then there's the love triangle with Martin firmly ensconced in the centre position. Or is he really?

As Chad becomes further entangled in the lives of Eldernest residents and staff, each person must decide how much to risk in their pursuit of companionship and connection. Flying the Nest is a heartfelt examination1 of our assumptions on aging and sexuality, the strength of family, and the enduring power of community.

My thoughts

My thanks to TBConFB Reviewer group for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this a 4 stars or 8/10

This was a charming story surrounding the people who had links with the Eldernest Assisted Living Lodge. It makes you think about the residents living in homes, my father in law lives in a residential home and it does have it's benefits, but in lots of ways it also has some negatives. For the residents of the Eldernest it was in many ways similar to some of what my father in law has in ways of benefits and the negatives too. I found it quite a thought provoking read in many ways if I am honest.

I felt that the Eldernest Assisted Living Lodge in many ways was as much of a character in the story, as the residents, staff and family of the residents. The Eldernest Assisted Living Lodge was very much the main character in my opinion.

I enjoyed the relationship between Chad and his Uncle Martin, as the story progresses we learned more about them both and reasons behind certain things that happened. Both Chad and his Uncle Martin suffered from periods of loneliness for various reasons. I feel that most of us go through periods of this in our lifetime. No one knows what is going through someone else's head at any time and why we do the things that we do to make others react to our actions, etc. Uncle Martin relied on the visits from Chad to help break the monotony of life in the Eldernest Assisted Living Lodge and loneliness that he was suffering from in his life. He craved company and if he had to manipulate others to gain some form of company then that is what he was prepared to do.

It's not very often that you find a character in a book with your first name, but there's a minor one with the name Bernadette which is shortened to Bernie like mine. I get versions of both depending on who is talking to or asking for me. It made me smile as I read about this character every time she was mentioned in it.

Grab a copy of this book and immerse yourself in the life of the people associated with the Eldernest Assisted Living Lodge.