The Good Life is a poignant and sometimes heartrending novel about the complexities of family relationships. It is a thought-provoking story about finding out what is truly important in life and how we sometimes lose the best parts of ourselves in our attempts to get ahead. Susan Kietzman also provides an in-depth and insightful look into the devastating impact that Parkinson’s disease and dementia have on those afflicted with these life-altering diseases and their loved ones. Please click HERE to my review in its entirety. ( )

I'm not usually into books like "The Good Life". I'm really into fantasy & alternate history. Well, I wasn't overly enthused to begin the book, but once I did, I was caught. I immediately see how the characters live... filthy rich, anything they want anytime they want it. Teens get to do what they want and parents live their lives. The mom is the central character... I didn't like her one bit. Over-exercised, drinks too much, ignores her kids, barely has sex with her husband while thinking about what she'll wear to the next big thing. She's caught up in frivolous things and too busy for anything else. At first, I thought she was the total opposit of me, but as I read more, I could see some parallels in my life. Getting caught up in things that aren't bad, but not the best choice; something I've been thinking of and actively working on the past few months. Then comes her parents... both 72 and her father has Parkinsons & dimentia. They really don't affect her nonsense life, but she feels like they do. She tries to escape them any chance she gets & drinks too much. Her parents actually for bonds with her son & daughter. I loved the story. It's been a long time since I've read this kind of book. It was a pleasure to read and I will definitely reread it. ( )

This is a story about Ann Barons who is married to a very successful CEO, has 2 teenagers and more money than she knows what to do with. When her mother calls one day and tells Ann that she needs help with her father, who has dementia, Ann reluctantly agrees to let them come stay until a room opens up at a assisted living home. She decides to put them in the guest house, hires a decorator to redo it telling her to replace the furniture with inexpensive wood composite furniture that Ann could simply donate to the Salvation Army when her parents left. The two kids, Nate and Lauren, don't really know their grandparents and aren't happy that they are coming even for a short time. Ann assures them that the grandparents will only come over to the main house on Sundays for dinner and the rest of the time stay in the guest house away from them. But her mother Eileen has different ideas.

This book brings out so many emotions and it was interesting to see the kids change under the loving hands of their grandmother. Ann is the only one that is unlikable throughout the whole book. Because Ann wanted to forget her simple upbringing on the family farm, she rarely visited her aging parents. She has it all and yet is reluctant to share even the slightest bit with her parents. All her mother wants is to spend more time with her only child and all Ann wants is for her mother to stay in the guest house and leave her alone to her drinking which is what Ann does best. When Mike points out to her that her drinking is getting out of control all Ann has to do is pout and tell him he is being mean for Mike to once again turn a blind eye to it. Not only does Ann not have time for her parents, she also doesn't have time for her children, she doesn't cook for them, attend their sporting events, doesn't even take the time to know their friends. At one point Mike says "The kids will be out of the house in a few years" and Ann responds with "God, I dream about that." Mike is not quite as shallow as Ann is but in thinking that he is providing a good life for his family he feels justified in not having any interaction with his children.

The book for me was about watching Nate and Lauren go from kids who didn't want to be in their grandparents presence to wanting to be with them all the time. As Lauren learns to cook with her grandmother and other life lessons Nate forms a bond with his grandfather that is so heartwarming. The only two people who really don't get it is Ann and Mike. Right up to the end I kept waiting for the parents to think of what would be best for Nate, Lauren, Eileen and Sam but Ann and Mike stayed just as self absorbed and selfish to the last page, which I think was written in an attempt to make the reader like Ann. At the end when Sam pulled Nate in for a hug and whispered "You are my best friend" I could not quit crying.

Read this book if you want to read a feel good story. You will fall in love with Eileen, Sam, Lauren and Nate. This book was so good I read it in one day, I simply could not go to sleep until I read the last page. I won this from LibraryThing Members Giveaway and I highly recommend this book. ( )

Ann is living the good life-- a successful if workaholic husband, plenty of money, designer clothes, champagne, a large house, and two teenagers. She is obsessive about her weight, drinks a little too much, and spends a lot of money but these are just ways of dealing with her stress of being rich and serving on various charitable organizations' boards.

Things change, however, when her mother calls and asks if she and Ann's father can move in with Ann and her family temporarily. Ann's family barely know her parents but they quickly become acquainted as they share meals and family events. Even the challenges of Ann's father's dementia can be overcome with love and understanding.

This is a story with a lot of potential, but Ann's character becomes rather tiresome. Her resentment about the minimal changes her parents bring come across as pure selfishness. While the accommodations which often need to made for aging parents can be difficult, the reader just wants Ann to grow up and be a responsible adult instead of a whining, self-centered, obsessive, drunk snob; her children deal with the changes much better than she does. The conclusion of the story also wraps things up too neatly and quickly. ( )

The Good Life by Susan Kietzman
Ann and her husband Mike have it all. The phone call from her mother forces her to help out.
She will have them live in the guesthouse after she's remodeled it til they are accepted at the nursing home/assisted living facility.
So many other things to see to: rent the parents house, and hire caregivers for her parents.
Ann and her family, among them 2 teens will live on the property in their own house and share a meal on Sunday. She's busy with her life and charity events.
One reason why I wanted to read this book is because it's about an elderly man who's going through dementia and as I have some family members going through it I hope to learn a bit about how to help them.
Hardships they all endure and some can see what the grandmother has gone through and help out. They make it through the holidays and one day the grandfather just up and leaves and now they have to go out in the cold to find him...
When the call comes about the opening they have many choices and decisions to make. Is it too late to be a family? ( )