Rosie Keith coexist in the same house with her wayward mother one summer as her grandfather lies dying across town. She passes a dance studio everyday as she walks to visit her grandfather. While visiting with her grandfather, she learns of his love for jazz music and dancing and how much he misses his wife who has died. She vows to take money which her own absent father sends her every week to give her grandfather a dance party. She uses the money for dance lessons at the studio.
I love this book for many reasons. First, it shows a relationship spanning generations which has become rare in our society. Second, it show that gifts which come from the heart and are very intangible are some of the best gifts of all. My favorite part of the book is as Rosie sits talking with her grandfather and trying to help him dispose of some of his life's clutter, they put special things "In Trust". She learns why some old record albums may have special meaning to him and he exposes her to artists of his era which she also learns to appreciate. Not everything is sacred much of it does get cleared out as they make way for a hospital bed.
This book is so full of life even though it is ultimately the story of a dying man!
1 comment:
A note of tremendous thanks to you for these words, just newly discovered.
They mean so much...
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