IR VERDICT:
Joy K. Johnston, who cared for her mother as she died of colon cancer, captures the overwhelming struggles and small joys of her experience in THE RELUCTANT CAREGIVER. While she does retread some topics and anecdotes from essay to essay, the collection balances saucy stories about dealing with mom’s intimate bodily functions with musings on the failings of the health care system. Johnston’s hard-earned lessons will inspire caregivers and non-caregivers alike to cherish the time they have with loved ones and give themselves and the others around them grace.