Featured books

Featured Websites

.: Reader Views Kids

Provides book reviews, by kids, for kids

.: Inside Scoop Live

Provides live author interviews for podcast

.: Authors Access

Provides interviews with experts in the publishing industry

.: Midwest Book Review

Provides post-publication reviews

.: Reader Views

Provides book reviews and author publicity

.: LR Communication Design

Provides professional website design and development

.: Blogging Authors

Provides a place where writers and readers meet

.: Review The Book

Provides 5 books reviews on 10 different sites

.: Best Sellers World

Provides book reviews and author features

.: Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Provides book reviews and author features

reviews

The Nursing Home

James J. Murphy III
I & J Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9780984273102
Reviewed by Mary Durfor for RebeccasReads (09/10)


"The Nursing Home" by James J. Murphy III is a very disturbing novel, with many observations related to the stereotypical treatment of nursing home residents, which anyone who has spent any time around real nursing homes knows to be at least partially true.  The staff spends as much time smoking and eating as they do caring for patients, untrained (and in the case of the book, probably underage) staff is given responsibilities beyond their capacities, and some tyrannical supervisors are thrown in for good measure.

While the use of somewhat offensive language is found throughout the book, it seems to be in keeping with its use as a tool to make the teenagers seem more realistic and believable. The family members are given character by the author as he sets up various scenes, and the group of oldsters in the nursing home is brought to life by detailing many encounters with them.  The reader definitely is drawn to like the old folks, and feel for them and their situation. 

The introduction of the two cops serves as a foil for the horror aspects of the story, and their antics do provide some comic relief in the disturbing sequence of events. The generalizations about free food at local restaurants, always making sure to eat on the clock, and others do resonate with the reader as a typical beat cop attitude and routine.  

While readers of the horror or suspense genres would be the typical audience for this book, I think some nursing home residents might enjoy it as a comic relief from their own plight, if they can tolerate the language used, especially by the teens.  Given the supernatural twists in the plot, it might not be a good choice for someone in the process of choosing a nursing home to move into!