The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving

I'm thinking of creating a new category for this book: delightful. But then I remember the start up was slow (I considered quitting at page 100.) I've been mulling the story delightedly since. It rings true in its insights on loss and grieving. It's comic. All the characters are quirky except for estranged wife and she seems to have lost her sense of humor in the trauma of loss. There is a way out of profound loss; I'd say that's the message. ( )

A guy named Benjamin who has been in a downward spiral since his family fell apart needs to get a job. He takes a course on "the fundamentals of caregiving" and manages to get a job as a caregiver for a disabled teenage boy - mostly because he can relate to the boys love of the female anatomy. The book follows Benjamin's journey - and he literally does go on a road trip with his charge near the end of the book - as he faces both the present and the past. Along the way the reader gradually learns why Benjamin is so messed up.
I found a lot of this book to be a downer for me, and it didn't redeem itself much by the end. Not very memorable for me and not one I would recommend . ( )

Listened to this while I painted my house. A nice story about a guy trying to get over a personal tragedy and the unravelling of his life by throwing himself into the care-giver role of a teen who is trapped inside his own failing body. They go on a road trip and encounter some interesting characters. Generally the book unfolds more or less as expected, but it's a nice story. The revelation of the backstory/tragedy is well done, giving out enough details each flashback to explain a bit and make the reader wonder what actually happened. I hear this was made into a movie, and I can understand why (it fits the criteria -- limited number of characters, heartbreak, drama, humour, limited but varied scenes). ( )

Loved this book! Quirky but interesting characters make it a fun read but the book is not all sunshine and sparkles. Benjamin Benjamin was a stay at home dad until a tragic accident took away his family. He was basically living off his credit cards which were almost maxed out. He needs a job and takes a caregiver's class which leads to him taking care of a young adult male who has MD. The young man lives with his mom and is a bit of a homebody. Ben and Trev spark up a friendship and take on a road trip to visit Trev's dad who had an accident. The road trip is challenging but filled with offbeat humor as Ben and Trev have a knack for rescuing stranded travelers. Among the humor the reader gets the sense of some healing going on for both Ben and Trev.
The chapters of this book are fairly short which makes it a perfect read for busy people or beach days. ( )

Quirky & tender. Packed with vivid characters. Good pace. ( )