My Last Name (Book Review)

This week I had the pleasure of reading My Last Name by Eric M. Schumacher. It's a short 35-page novella that packs a punch. When I picked this up, I had no idea what to expect. I often don't look up novellas before I read them; it's my way of diversifying what I read. While reading, I also listened to the audiobook version on Audible, and the narrator's voice (Frada Nally) brought the protagonist to life in ways that the text alone could not imagine. Not only did this novella get me out of a major reading slump, it's just nostalgic, it's bittersweet, it's infuriating, it's heartbreaking. It reminded me of every patient I sat with when I was working as a mental health technician. It reminded me of my friend and neighbor Barb, who died last year. Barb had early-onset Alzheimer's and was in the early stages of starting to forget. This book falls under the genre of Christian fiction, contemporary, drama, and family, and I'd recommend it to anyone who's got an hour to spare. It's especially poignant for those who have experienced a loved one with dementia. It's an accurate portrayal of the devastating disease. It's a reminder that the person we love is still inside, struggling to find their way home.

One of the most impactful things about this story is that it's a gentle reminder of the pain and heartbreak we all endure when we lose someone close to us. It's a gentle easing into the idea of a life lived and a transition into death. “There is an oldness and not a good oldness that settles on a person, even a young person, when they have walked through seasons of grief and disappointment. There is a seriousness that settles on a person when they have felt the weight of loss and responsibility and worry.” (Schumacher, My Last Name) It's a reminder that though our pain ages us, isn't there also a youth and a beauty that comes with that? Knowing that one day our own time will come, and this is just another snapshot in our memory we can reflect on when we get there. A reminder that when we arrive at our own death, we are coming to terms with not only who we are in the moment, but everyone we've been along the way. After reading this novel, I wrote a shorter review on Instagram, where I'm desperately trying to get on Bookstagram's good side. (You should follow me there, even if in pity.) And the author and narrator both responded to my post. This was the first time the door had opened for me to connect to a book I love, and while the exchange was just a few sentences, it made me feel like as the reader I was part of a bigger experience. I remember in one of my past literature classes learning about the importance of a reader when we write. That's something that I strive for as a new writer. I hope what I say always finds an audience to resonate with. If you've stuck around to read this whole review, I just want to personally thank you for connecting with me.

My Last Name ended up being an unexpected 5-star read for me. Have you read it? If so, I'd love to hear about who or what the book inspires you to think about. I'd also love to hear what book recommendations you have that focus on the themes of aging, death, and dying. Maybe your book will be in my next review.