Displacement: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley

 Displacement: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley-161 pages

"Displacement" is the story of the author going on a cruise with her aging grandparents. Her grandma and grandpa live in an assisted living facility in Connecticut. Both are dealing with dementia and old age. The family decides that they should send someone to accompany Knisley's grandparents on the cruise and Lucy volunteers. This is the story of that cruise. Knisley recounts being her grandparents' caretaker for the duration of the cruise and during travel to and from. It seems like it must be tough to care for people we love who're dealing with dementia (or Alzheimer's or other such diseases). A nurse on the cruise tells the author that it's tough to care for the elderly, but one could be doing the last kind thing for someone who's dying and that makes it worth it. Knisley's grandpa says that they had a great time with her on the cruise when they get home. Reading this book is a reminder that life is worth it and we should appreciate the time we get to spend with family. I liked reading this book.

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green -

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green - 336 pages

You know how they say something can be beautiful and devastating at the same time?  A mushroom cloud, a lightning strike, a mime...well, here's the literary version of that for you.

I won't say much about the story, because there's been a lot of exposure after the film and I think we all know it's about youngsters riding the wave of terminal illness.  What I will say is that I cracked this book open knowing exactly what was going to happen, planned to read it all in one sitting (like ripping off a band-aid, I thought it would be less painful to get it all over with at once), and it still made me bawl like a starving baby.  Still, the pain was well worth it; Green is intuitive and thought-provoking through his characters, story, and setting.  In short, read it.  It may make you a giant squid of anger, but in a "growing through squiddy anger" kind of way.