Review of The Caretaker

[DTamara]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Caretaker" by Roberta Dupont.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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In 2015, 34.2 million Americans cared for at least one adult, aged 50 or older, outside their profession. In Canada, 7.8 million people, or 25% of the population, were caretakers in 2018. Many of us are aware that it is very likely at some point in our lives, we will have the choice of either providing care for a loved person or placing them in a long-term care facility. Roberta Dupont faced that choice herself and chose to care for her husband for almost a decade. Then she had to place him in a home due to the gravity of his situation.

Throughout this harrowing experience, she learned how to cope with the pressure by carving time of the day for herself to focus on her writing, poetry, and art. Moreover, she emphasizes - to maintain an equilibrium and take better care of others, it is imperative to take care of yourself first.

The Caretaker comprises two parts. The first part contains an introduction with the history of long-term care facilities or lack thereof. After reading the concise summary, I had to do some research on the subject on my own, and I was shocked to discover that what Roberta Dupont writes about is not only the case for Canada. She also draws from her extensive experience with caretaking facilities and that of those around her. On top of that, the author writes about activism, her coping strategies, and her approach to life.

The second part that makes up most of the book exhibits her artwork, poetry, and short stories. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this section. The idea is to inspire other caretakers to find a way to become mindful, enjoy the present moment and avoid common pitfalls such as the onset of anxiety, stress, depression, and a wide variety of other mental and physical diseases. The core of this book is getting across the message that caretakers shouldn't feel guilty about taking time for themselves. On the contrary, it is the only way to make sure you maintain your well-being and thereby remain in a better shape to help others.

Every poem or short story is accompanied by a carefully crafted, themed, meaningful colored design. This unique approach makes this book stand out. I enjoyed reading each poem or story and then contemplating the art piece looking for the connections. The poetry was concise, deep, and full of symbolism and metaphors. What I found extraordinary is that her poetry transcends age. I enjoyed it immensely, and at the same time, I am sure that even young children would be able to understand and appreciate most of the included poems. Therefore, it was not surprising to find out that she was an educator for 36 years.

The aesthetics in The Caretaker were outstanding. Overall, it was a unique experience. The subject is of personal relevance, and it hit me deeply. If I had to describe the overall impression in one word, it would be heartwarming. Despite dealing with such a dark topic, the work brims with positivity and hope. Roberta Dupont's voice is one of empathy and compassion. I learned something new about caretaking, and I agree with the author it is outrageous that the call for change is not louder. We need to improve many things to make the system beneficial and adequate for everyone, the caretakers and those in need.

I rate The Caretaker 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book first and foremost to those interested in the topic of caretaking, educators looking for inspiration, those who like philosophy books, and finally, anyone who enjoys high-quality aesthetics, art, and poetry.

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The Caretaker
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[Maliha Naveed]

A very unique combination of caretaking and artistic capabilities indeed. You have presented such a detailed commentary on the book that everything becomes crystal clear. Kudos for such a splendid review!

[Ashiraf Sserwadda]

Taking care of others it very very important . may interest came in to the second part of the book as the idea is to inspire other care takers to find the way of becoming mindful, enjoy the present moment and avoid common pitfalls.thanks for the review

[DTamara]

Thank you both! I hope you enjoy it, original, and highly recommended.

[Neelakshi jain]

In India, it is common to take care of your loved one in a difficult time. It is a very difficult task and with so many artistic capabilities. Thank you for this impressive review.

[Eddy E]

This is beautiful. I haven't come across books that center on this but I believe it is equally important to educate the general public of this.
Good job

[Ardhi Rahma]

From this review alone is enough to make me interested. This is a good review, I'll add the book into my reading list.

[DTamara]

In India, it is common to take care of your loved one in a difficult time. It is a very difficult task and with so many artistic capabilities. Thank you for this impressive review.

Thanks a lot. So it is in my country as well, North Macedonia, and the care facilities are very bad.. I was surprised to learn that is the case in North America.

[DTamara]

This is beautiful. I haven't come across books that center on this but I believe it is equally important to educate the general public of this.
Good job

Thanks, indeed it is rare and it is a very unique book. After learning how bad it actually is in fact worldwide, I feel strongly about the subject. We should all raise awareness about it and demand change.

[NetMassimo]

It's not easy to take care of someone who has health problems and might have disabilities. It's heartwarming to see that this book includes poems that can inspire other caretakers. Thank you for your great review!

[Urvashi Tripathi]

I lost my mother 6 days before and she was in bed since past 5 years. I was with her whole time for 5 years. I don't know if I'll be able to pick up this book because of personal experiences as this book will be emotional rollercoaster ride. But thank you for the detailed well-written review.

[DTamara]

I lost my mother 6 days before and she was in bed since past 5 years. I was with her whole time for 5 years. I don't know if I'll be able to pick up this book because of personal experiences as this book will be emotional rollercoaster ride. But thank you for the detailed well-written review.

I am so sad to hear that... It is the most crushing thing to witness, and we all should remind ourselves that every moment we spend with our loved ones is precious, no matter how ordinary it seems at the moment.

[Rayah Raouf]

I love it when a book is separated into parts. I am not too familiar with caretakers but I have heard both sad and happy stories from my aunt who used to be one. Great review!

[DTamara]

I love it when a book is separated into parts. I am not too familiar with caretakers but I have heard both sad and happy stories from my aunt who used to be one. Great review!

Thanks! Yes, the book is especially well structured, and your observation is on point with what is portrayed in the book. The author explains that even though she starts with all the bad things that need to be fixed, there are also many positive stories.

[derrick kinyalili]

This book entail what would make one self human. It is nothing less than inspiring