Nine Days

Sara Austin struggles with a job she no longer enjoys when she learns her mother is ill. Genevieve Austin was never an easy mother to love, and Sara, along with her siblings Jess, Parker, and Ross, has struggled when it comes to getting along with the strong-willed ninety-four-year-old woman. Frankly, she’s been a force to reckon with for as long as anyone can remember. But the time has come for the family to come together and rally around Genevieve as she comes to terms with a death she claims she’s ready to accept. Will the siblings be able to put aside their differences and find time in their busy schedules to care for their mother? And will Sara find the peace and contentment she’s been longing for, even with the possible loss of her mother?

Ms. Lannon has written a profoundly moving story about how women cope when things get tough. While reading this, I was caring for my ninety-year-old aunt, who is also in-home hospice care. This book somehow made me feel less alone. Mainly when it explored Genevieve’s care at home. Ms. Lannon exposed the feeling and questions most of us deal with when facing the end of life care with a relative. I loved the way she portrayed her main character, Sara. She was a woman who had many issues and problems to juggle. Not only did she need to care for her mother, but she couldn’t help but question how she ended up in a job she no longer finds fulfilling. Plus, she has her husband and children to care for as well. This meant she had little time to relax and care for herself.

Nine Days touches on numerous challenges that many women can relate to. Not only is that what makes it a complex and enjoyable story, but it also seems to me that it would be a perfect fit for a book club. Or a good book to share with someone who has lost a loved one or is caring for someone special. And while Sara Austin might be a fictional character, she embodies what many women of a certain age feel. That sense of time passing and yet a continuing need to find purpose in life and a desire to create or strengthen familial and personal relationships.

Overall, this is a well-written story with well-developed characters and themes. It is easy to get drawn into their worlds and events, making this one I will remember for some time. I hope the author continues to create moving and enjoyable stories that touch readers’ hearts. I know I would love to read more.