Review by JELombardo -- Final Notice by Van Fleisher
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JELombardo
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Review by JELombardo -- Final Notice by Van Fleisher
[Following is a volunteer review of "Final Notice" by Van Fleisher.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Final Notice by Van Fleisher is a poignant look into life and the choices we make.
Vince Fuller (70) and his wife Trudi (65) are retired and live in Pasadena, California. Vince had been at the mall that day and a younger man pushed him down calling Vince an "old geezer". Although physically OK, Vince's pride and ego suffered. That night an NRA spokesman on the TV news talks about an Armed Seniors Discount Plan that would make guns more affordable to seniors. This, for protection. Vince mulls it over and thinks carefully about this - he feels both thrilled and scared. Meanwhile, in Quincy, Mass, Vijay Patel has developed a watch that could measure, analyze, diagnose and predict complex health issues - even the number of days to death. A "Final Notice" would be issued to the test subject with a choice of 10,20 or 30 day notification. This, called the VT2. Not just monetary gain for Vijay and his team but a way to be in the forefront of competitors. For the alpha testing group he would supply 100 of these watches to physicians in the US for volunteer studies for 65-90 year old patients. After 3 deaths are attributed to the VT2 and gun violence, Agent Zoe Brouet (FBI) meets with Vijay.
Vince is at a dinner party and asks an ex-cop friend about himself and Trudi having a gun for protection. His friend suggests they first obtain Handgun Safety Certificates and then talk to him again. Vince and Trudi attend a gun show, get their certificates and buy a gun with a 10 day waiting period. In Quincy, we find out that 2 people were killed by the apparent senseless gun action of an 89 year old nursing home resident and one in Florida - a suicide. Vijay's team has figured out that one detail had not been considered- how individuals would handle their "Final Notice". A less strong message may be not be even cared about by some. Eventually another lab would do the "Final Notice" thing, anyway. Yet,Vijay is very concerned. The FBI agent reminds him that horiffic things get reported in the news but what about the noble causes: goodbyes, putting affairs in order... In Seattle, Greta Johnson was doing just that by handing her husband's guns in and saying goodbye to her daughter.
Vince goes for his annual check-up and his doctor gives him a watch - a (VT2). He gets a phone call that tells him to have a blood test rerun. Yeah, a couple of days - after all his VT2 hasn't alarmed him. Vince finds out later tht he has rabies and needs immediate, essential treatment - he had, after all, been bitten by a pitbull not too long ago. In Missouri, a senator (with a VT2) kills off three adversaries. Now, this was the first time someone was still alive after killing someone while wearing the VT2. Vince gets a 30 day notice and switches it back to 10 days. The notice goes away. Trudi and her friend attend an NRA convention...
Any reader would eventually wonder if they wanted such a device like the VT2. After all, you could put your affairs in order and say goodbye to loved ones. Yet, do you have scores to settle, retribution for wrongs done to you? It is a very difficult concept to ponder. Would you live your last days in fear? After all, it would be an almost impossible situation to worry about. Does Vince's or the Senator's example make you think there is a malfunction in the VT2 or does it have inherent problems with the individuals wearing it?
The NRA touted people about responsible use of guns. In Chicago, are those injured and killed by gun violence registered or obtaining their weapons legally? How can we expect law-abiding citizens to comply when they know there are people utilizing guns for mere destructive behaviors? I cannot answer this, nor can anyone I have asked. Living in Chicago, yes, it would be nice to be protected - but at what cost?
Van Fleisher portrays a remarkable range of ideas and potential in this work. His characters show a variety of emotion and substance. The premise of his book is an excellent start to an even more excellent view into the fact that knowledge is a very powerful thing.
I give Van Fleicher's Final Notice a 4/4 without any noticeable grammatical errors and for a wonderful read.
******
Final Notice
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Like JELombardo's review? Post a comment saying so!
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Final Notice by Van Fleisher is a poignant look into life and the choices we make.
Vince Fuller (70) and his wife Trudi (65) are retired and live in Pasadena, California. Vince had been at the mall that day and a younger man pushed him down calling Vince an "old geezer". Although physically OK, Vince's pride and ego suffered. That night an NRA spokesman on the TV news talks about an Armed Seniors Discount Plan that would make guns more affordable to seniors. This, for protection. Vince mulls it over and thinks carefully about this - he feels both thrilled and scared. Meanwhile, in Quincy, Mass, Vijay Patel has developed a watch that could measure, analyze, diagnose and predict complex health issues - even the number of days to death. A "Final Notice" would be issued to the test subject with a choice of 10,20 or 30 day notification. This, called the VT2. Not just monetary gain for Vijay and his team but a way to be in the forefront of competitors. For the alpha testing group he would supply 100 of these watches to physicians in the US for volunteer studies for 65-90 year old patients. After 3 deaths are attributed to the VT2 and gun violence, Agent Zoe Brouet (FBI) meets with Vijay.
Vince is at a dinner party and asks an ex-cop friend about himself and Trudi having a gun for protection. His friend suggests they first obtain Handgun Safety Certificates and then talk to him again. Vince and Trudi attend a gun show, get their certificates and buy a gun with a 10 day waiting period. In Quincy, we find out that 2 people were killed by the apparent senseless gun action of an 89 year old nursing home resident and one in Florida - a suicide. Vijay's team has figured out that one detail had not been considered- how individuals would handle their "Final Notice". A less strong message may be not be even cared about by some. Eventually another lab would do the "Final Notice" thing, anyway. Yet,Vijay is very concerned. The FBI agent reminds him that horiffic things get reported in the news but what about the noble causes: goodbyes, putting affairs in order... In Seattle, Greta Johnson was doing just that by handing her husband's guns in and saying goodbye to her daughter.
Vince goes for his annual check-up and his doctor gives him a watch - a (VT2). He gets a phone call that tells him to have a blood test rerun. Yeah, a couple of days - after all his VT2 hasn't alarmed him. Vince finds out later tht he has rabies and needs immediate, essential treatment - he had, after all, been bitten by a pitbull not too long ago. In Missouri, a senator (with a VT2) kills off three adversaries. Now, this was the first time someone was still alive after killing someone while wearing the VT2. Vince gets a 30 day notice and switches it back to 10 days. The notice goes away. Trudi and her friend attend an NRA convention...
Any reader would eventually wonder if they wanted such a device like the VT2. After all, you could put your affairs in order and say goodbye to loved ones. Yet, do you have scores to settle, retribution for wrongs done to you? It is a very difficult concept to ponder. Would you live your last days in fear? After all, it would be an almost impossible situation to worry about. Does Vince's or the Senator's example make you think there is a malfunction in the VT2 or does it have inherent problems with the individuals wearing it?
The NRA touted people about responsible use of guns. In Chicago, are those injured and killed by gun violence registered or obtaining their weapons legally? How can we expect law-abiding citizens to comply when they know there are people utilizing guns for mere destructive behaviors? I cannot answer this, nor can anyone I have asked. Living in Chicago, yes, it would be nice to be protected - but at what cost?
Van Fleisher portrays a remarkable range of ideas and potential in this work. His characters show a variety of emotion and substance. The premise of his book is an excellent start to an even more excellent view into the fact that knowledge is a very powerful thing.
I give Van Fleicher's Final Notice a 4/4 without any noticeable grammatical errors and for a wonderful read.
******
Final Notice
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Like JELombardo's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: Yesterday by Samyann
