4 out of 4 stars
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We Won’t Forget You Mr. McGillicuddy by Ira White follows one family as they experience various highs and lows during one very tumultuous period of their lives. Robert McGillicuddy, a widower, is forced to retire in order to better care for his father, Gil, a WWII veteran. His early retirement and the overall poor state of the US economy force Robert into financial and emotional stress like he’s never before experienced. To complicate matters more, Robert’s daughter Ruby, and her pre-teen daughter Sapphire, are headed to live with Robert after Ruby falls pregnant by her drug addicted ex. Feeling the significant effects of the financial crunch, as well as the stress of caring for an aging father and pregnant daughter, Robert turns to his blog as an outlet. Through his blog, Robert vents about his many frustrations with society. To Robert’s surprise, his blog begins to garner a fairly large following. But are the wrong people getting a look at Robert’s blog?
The plot is filled with multiple elements that make this story unique. At its core, the novel is about the value of family and the difficulty in selflessly caring for both old and young. However, the story adds a political element via Robert’s blogging and the possible repercussions he faces for his somewhat radical ideas. Towards the end, this plotline takes to the forefront and the novel moves in a thrilling new direction.
The best aspect of We Won’t Forget You Mr. McGillicuddy is the expert development of the main characters. Told from the third person omniscient point of view, the author vividly paints the picture of father and son and their all too common, everyday struggles. Gil’s frustrations towards his deteriorating physical and mental state, as well as his fears of being a burden to his family, are expertly narrated. Similarly, Robert’s financial struggles, frustrations for caring for his needy father, and desire to help his pregnant daughter were equally well drawn. The author’s language aids in making both characters sympathetic and relatable.
Through his prose, the author clearly articulates his points without any flowery or ponderous writing. Even scenes depicting Gil’s various ailments and frustrations were done so in a manner that felt relevant and never boring. The narrative flows nicely and the overall pacing keeps the reader excitedly turning the page.
Ira White wonderfully captures the incredibly difficult relationship between a child and their aging parent. In these cases, the child, in turn, becomes the caretaker as the roles they have always known are quickly reversed. We Won’t Forget You Mr. McGillicuddy is an emotional and poignant read that comes with elements of a political thriller. Though the book was not action packed, I could not stop reading about Robert and his family. I happily rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and recommend anyone who has gone through a similar experience with an elderly parent, or those who enjoy fiction about strong family values to read this book.
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We Won't Forget You Mr. McGillicuddy
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