Week 12 Prompt Response

 

The most recent non-fiction book I read is popular TikToker Hadley Vlahos' memoir. She went viral last year for her stories about being a hospice nurse. Wonderful memoir! For more of my thoughts, check out my earlier review. 

• Where is the book on the narrative continuum? 
• Highly narrative (reads like fiction)
• What is the subject of the book?
• The subject of this book includes death, dying, and hospice care in the United States. 
• What type of book is it? 
• This is a memoir written by a TikTok famous hospice nurse. 
• Articulate Appeal
• What is the pacing of the book?
• Fast-paced 
• Describe the characters 
• Each chapter is dedicated to a different hospice patient. Some of the characters are elderly, which is what you'd expect. There are also some young patients and it can be heartbreaking to get to know these characters, ultimately because you know the ending. 
• How does the story feel?
• It was a very emotional book for me. If you're looking for an inside look into how hospice works and what happens near the end of life, this is a great memoir to read. However, proceed with caution. It was very difficult for me to read because of personal experiences. 
• What is the intent of the author? 
• She's talked about this on TikTok quite a bit but to make death not as scary as we think. A lot of her patients experience a lot of peace at the end and often start seeing loved ones. 
• What is the focus of the story?
• Each chapter of Hadley's memoir is about a different patient but we also get the story of her nursing journey. 
• Does the language matter?
• Yeah, Hadley writes like an everyday person so it feels more accessible. 
• Are there details, if so, of what?
• There are plenty of details of the in-between. Hadley calls this period of when a patient is actively passing but is still with us. It's this weird phenomenon when their ailments seemingly disappear, they are in good spirits, and start to see loved ones who have passed. It's a period of incredible peace for the patient. 
• Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?
• No charts or other graphic materials
• Does this book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? 
• Yes! I learned a lot about how hospice works and a better understanding of death. I also appreciated that this is not a religious book. Hadley does not dive into religious beliefs, like what is right/wrong. She does talk a bit about her own journey. 
• Why would a reader enjoy this book? (rank appeal)
• learning about hospice care and death, pacing, and the characters are so lovable