The Role of Age in Today's Society

Use this forum to discuss the March 2018 Book of the Month, "Final Notice" by Van Fleisher.
Post Reply
User avatar
ostercl
Posts: 50
Joined: 08 Feb 2018, 20:55
Currently Reading: Horse Soldiers
Bookshelf Size: 11
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ostercl.html
Latest Review: Final Notice by Van Fleisher

The Role of Age in Today's Society

Post by ostercl »

Do you think today's society reflects Fleisher's depiction of the world's opinion towards the elderly? What is similar, and what is different? Would this book have had the same overall theme if he had replaced the "elderly" with another demographic/minority group? I look forward to hearing your opinions on this!
User avatar
gunnyswife
Posts: 43
Joined: 18 Jan 2018, 17:24
Currently Reading: Patch Man
Bookshelf Size: 30
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gunnyswife.html
Latest Review: God Versus The Idea of God by Thomas Richard Harry

Post by gunnyswife »

I honestly believe that the views about the elderly are accurate, which is unfortunate. The major difference with those elderly and ours is that most of them seem to be able to live independently instead of what we have been doing is putting our elders into nursing homes or forcing them to stay with family once something bad happens to them. You could substitute children and the effect would have been worse. Kids are generally very tech savvy but when it comes to common sense there's a wide range to look at.
It's amazing to see the world through the eyes of children. It's more fun to read with them, too.
User avatar
Britteney
Posts: 1
Joined: 10 Mar 2018, 18:43
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Britteney »

Our elders has taught us many thing from how to take care of our selves to all about Life... They have been our greatest role models and passed down knowledge that cant be taught in a classroom. We should honor our elders and show them the same curtesy that they have shown us...
User avatar
britt13
Posts: 473
Joined: 04 Nov 2017, 21:19
Currently Reading: the last of the really great wangdoodlea
Bookshelf Size: 165
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-britt13.html
Latest Review: Timewise by Robert Leet

Post by britt13 »

I thought about this quite frequently. I felt some things felt a bit stuffy to me and I realized that may be because this book would speak better to someone older. I talked to my husband about the chapter where the Pitbull attacks Vince and his sweet little Corgi, and he (my husband) pointed out that the older generation have a lot of bias against Pitbulls. That is just one example of many that I noticed.
User avatar
VictoriaMcMillen
Posts: 149
Joined: 24 Jan 2018, 16:39
Currently Reading: When Angels Play Poker
Bookshelf Size: 49
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-victoriamcmillen.html
Latest Review: The Making Of A Soldier by Adriene Odom

Post by VictoriaMcMillen »

I cannot say for sure if this reflects true society, as I am not elderly. Yet, the way the book is written, with the background understanding of the author and his likely friends and conversations, it is highly believable that all of this could come about. I do feel that the theme, or tone in perceptions, would have been different given any change in race or age. However, I think the choices made my test participants would have been similar, as we are all human and act on free-will and often impulse.

Great question to ask!
~Victoria M.L. McMillen

"You can, you should, and if you are brave enough to start, you will." Stephen King
User avatar
jenjayfromSA
Posts: 201
Joined: 19 Jun 2017, 03:44
Currently Reading: First Family
Bookshelf Size: 60
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jenjayfromsa.html
Latest Review: Adrift by Charlie Sheldon
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by jenjayfromSA »

Whatever colour or creed, race or religion, we all get old. Someday we will have to face youngsters terrorising us, or pushing us over, laughing at us when we're slow or can't find the buttons on our, no doubt, antiquated phone. It's a common denominator. The old should be respected for their knowledge and life experience, but these days that doesn't count for much. Increasingly the older folk are pushed out of businesses to make room for the bright youngsters who can handle all the technology.
User avatar
Poppy Drear
Posts: 534
Joined: 10 Mar 2018, 02:34
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 147
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-poppy-drear.html
Latest Review: Five of Pentacles by Anna Munson

Post by Poppy Drear »

I feel like change has happened so quickly in the past decades, with the advent of personal computing and cell phones, that it's easy for our society to leave the elderly in the dust. Choosing the elderly as the minority group of focus in this novel was a good move, in my opinion. It avoids dating the book, and since societal change will likely continue at its current breakneck pace, this ensures it will stay relevant for some time.
User avatar
prettysmart
Posts: 199
Joined: 03 Feb 2018, 15:12
Currently Reading: Big Doc Bitteroot
Bookshelf Size: 19
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-prettysmart.html
Latest Review: Serendipity Mystery by R.F. Kristi

Post by prettysmart »

Age impacts politics, economics and technology etc...Different age group carries different perspectives, outlooks and social responsibilities...Older age are liable to have more influence on type of politics in society given that they are all above the age of majority and they are also given more legal privileges whilst younger age groups have adapt more to technology and are more likely to induce change. I agree with Fleisher where the world seems to be leaving the elderly behind.
User avatar
Jeyasivananth
Posts: 238
Joined: 07 Jan 2018, 18:17
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 191
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jeyasivananth.html
Latest Review: Heartaches 3 by H.M. Irwing

Post by Jeyasivananth »

I am not sure . Since I am not an elderly person , I am not able to comment much on the treatment of the elderly. However I do perceive a certain falling standards in the treatment of the elderly when compared to previous generations.

Its an interesting point to discuss: substituting the elderly with a minority group. However that would have shifted the focus of the book from the guns to issues of marginalization .
User avatar
Camille Turner
Posts: 612
Joined: 28 Feb 2018, 22:24
Currently Reading: Angela's Ashes
Bookshelf Size: 58
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-camille-turner.html
Latest Review: Hippocrates and The Hobgoblin: The Sedes Infernum by C.S. Colvin

Post by Camille Turner »

Great question! I feel a little out of the loop in terms of how the elderly are currently treated but from what I have seen at nursing homes, etc. leads me to believe the book is not that far off base. Are people literally pushing the elderly down and calling them old to their faces like in the book? I've never seen that and I'd like to believe that doesn't happen. But, even if not treated with aggression, I believe the elderly are treated with neglect and often overlooked in general today.
User avatar
Samisah
Posts: 274
Joined: 17 Feb 2018, 02:16
Currently Reading: Final Notice
Bookshelf Size: 44
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-samisah.html
Latest Review: Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles

Post by Samisah »

Life itself is in stages. The older you become, the less relevant youbtwnd to be, or that's how the world has placed it. I think the author has only shown was is the prevalent in the current society we live in.
User avatar
Samisah
Posts: 274
Joined: 17 Feb 2018, 02:16
Currently Reading: Final Notice
Bookshelf Size: 44
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-samisah.html
Latest Review: Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles

Post by Samisah »

Life itself is in stages. The older you become, the less relevant youbtwnd to be, or that's how the world has placed it. I think the author has only shown was is the prevalent in the current society we live in.
User avatar
kwame1977
Posts: 432
Joined: 10 Jan 2018, 14:16
Currently Reading: The Vatican Protocol
Bookshelf Size: 150
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kwame1977.html
Latest Review: Learn to Play Guitar by Gareth Evans

Post by kwame1977 »

We need to respect the gray hairs. Our elders are our greatest assets with repertoire of knowledge. The current society shows less regard to the elderly which is wrong.
User avatar
stacie k
Posts: 918
Joined: 01 Feb 2018, 17:04
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 192
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-stacie-k.html
Latest Review: River Kids by Jennie Linnane

Post by stacie k »

Before reading this book, I was not in tune with our society's views of the elderly. However, after dwelling my mind on the depiction in Final Notice, I started to catch myself with feelings of impatience when an elderly person was crossing the street and slowing down my plan and progress. I think the author has done his job to make us think about these issues. It is sad and true that so many of our elderly are placed in nursing homes rather than being cared for by their families. I desire to slow down and give respect and appreciation for the older generation who have so much wisdom and experience to offer.
“The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable.” Proverbs 15:2a
User avatar
holsam_87
Posts: 858
Joined: 03 Feb 2018, 15:45
Currently Reading: The Unbound Soul
Bookshelf Size: 1691
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-holsam-87.html
Latest Review: Herai by Aaron D Key
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG

Post by holsam_87 »

ostercl wrote: 09 Mar 2018, 15:53 Do you think today's society reflects Fleisher's depiction of the world's opinion towards the elderly? What is similar, and what is different? Would this book have had the same overall theme if he had replaced the "elderly" with another demographic/minority group? I look forward to hearing your opinions on this!
Unfortunately, I think that a lot of our society shares the opinion that is depicted, mainly that the "elderly" could be considered throwaways. It is too bad that so many people have little to no respect for their elders in this society and would prefer to place them in a home instead of trying to provide home care for them where a better quality of life would be sustained. If the demographic had been changed, I think that the theme of the book would have changed to an extent, but some elements would have stayed the same.
Samantha Holtsclaw

“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.”

—J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Latest Review: Herai by Aaron D Key
Post Reply

Return to “Discuss "Final Notice" by Van Fleisher”