MacCracken's fifth memoir, published posthumously, tells of her husband's struggle with Alzheimer's disease. The author married inventor and squash champion Cal MacCracken in 1969. It was a second marriage for each of them, as well as a second lease on life that allowed both to follow their own passions. She pursued her dream of teaching, working with emotionally disturbed children; her husband, following the bankruptcy of his furnace manufacturing business, worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to rebuild and come up with new ideas. MacCracken divides her memoir into four sections to chart her husband's experience with Alzheimer's disease. Initial signs led to a diagnosis in the fall of 1993, to which Cal's determined response was that they should write a book about how they beat the disease together. The author explores, with candor and compassion, the things that did and didn't help them as her husband's memory and health deteriorated. Along the way, they received support from loving family members and friends, and Cal participated in a drug trial, motivated by his desire to contribute to scientific research. MacCracken's prose style effectively foregrounds small moments of happiness and other fortunate aspects of their situation, such as their financial ability to move from Englewood, New Jersey, to a continuing-care retirement community in New Hampshire. However, the work never shies away from the hard realities of everyday life with Alzheimer's and the transitions between the known and unknown. The book's final section, which follows Cal's move to a memory care unit, transitions from prose to a diary format, chronicling the final year of his life. A moving and frank remembrance of love and loss.
COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)
Starred review from June 1, 2022
Bestselling author MacCracken (Lovey; A Circle of Children) spent the final decade of her life writing about the heartbreaking experiences she and her husband Cal endured together as he battled Alzheimer's disease. In poignant stories, MacCracken highlights the ups and downs of their relationship, their support of one another's work, and the sacrifices made to ensure both his safety and their continued time together. The MacCrackens met in 1969 after both had left unhappy marriages and were able to blend their lives into a supportive and equal partnership. Mary discovered her passion for writing and ability to tell the stories of children with autism and learning disabilities, while Cal, a nationally ranked tennis and squash player, became a massively successful inventor with over eighty patents to his credit. Once the symptoms of Alzheimer's become too disruptive, the MacCrackens move together to a continuous care retirement community, intent on staying together as long as possible. VERDICT MacCracken's focus on the strength of her husband and the inspiring bond between them as they realize that their journey together is coming to an end will surely bring comfort to others facing similar situations.--Lisa Henry
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.