A Beautiful Death evokes a strong emotional connection with the story’s main character, concert pianist Cassie Brennan, whose career comes to an abrupt end when a younger-onset dementia diagnosis forces her admission to a nursing home in her hometown.
A recently qualified journalist, Elle, receives an assignment to write a story about the local nursing home’s recent inclusion of a village-like community area. Elle, initially apprehensive about the assignment, quickly connects to several residents, particularly Cassie. Elle offers to do some follow-up articles for her newspaper and in the process discovers Cassie has a much younger cousin, Simone. Elle and Simone connect and between them piece together Cassie’s painful past.
The story provides interesting insights into someone with dementia. The author, Carolyn Bourke, writes from her chaplaincy experience with elderly patients. The story contains strong Christian themes included in a subtle way designed to encourage thoughtful reflection on the power of love, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Overall, a satisfying and moving story.
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