Out Of Time
A Bassendean love story unfolds by the banks of Derbal Yerrigan. Joe and Anne have been partners since their student days; now their first grandchild has just arrived. Retirement plans are thrown into chaos when, with daughter Claire, they must confront the realisation that Joe’s autonomy is slipping away as dementia takes hold.
Publisher: Fremantle Press
Paperback: RRP $27.99
Available as E-book
Published 2019, PP 296
ISBN 9781925815283
Joe Warton’s architectural career has descended from near dizzying heights to the blandness of suburban renovations, but he reckons he might have one more big project left in him. Anne is fiercely dedicated to her career as an English teacher, but exasperated by the inane bureaucracy of the education system. Their relationship has not always been smooth sailing, but they have finally found the sweet spot, they reckon.
Their first grandchild arrives in the world. They believe their golden years are looming. But Joe finds himself starting to lose things, making miscalculations, blanking parts of his day. Joe has close personal experience of the realities of dementia, and has sworn he will not go there. He tries to hide the reality, and makes a terrible hash of things when he is eventually forced to reveal the truth to Anne. As Joe’s condition worsens, he and Anne, and daughter Claire who is also dealing with her own traumas, face the agonising question: what is the point of no return?
From the author
It’s truly not as grim as it sounds folks. Joe never loses his sardonic sense of humour; it is one of his trademarks, and becomes one of his coping mechanisms.
I’ve never really believed the Tolstoy line about all happy families being the same. This is an exploration of deep and enduring love, and the ways that families can strive for happiness, or at least, ways to make things work. These are things I believe to be well worth writing about.
That said, watching my mother and my aunt go through the dreadful, inevitable decline of dementia forced me to do some thinking, and this is what bubbled out.
I suppose I should not be surprised that this one did not turn out to be a best seller. But I’ve given up on reading those endless stories about the latest scientific breakthrough that is going to lead to a cure for Alzheimer’s – “the big A” as my mother so beautifully dubbed it. I think talking about the human realities of living with it and dealing with is more interesting and more fruitful. And there is joy to be found there, as well as despair.
Reviews
“A very insightful and thought provoking book … This is not a book about ethics or morals, this is a book about love – unconditionally”
“The central characters are real and convincing, their lives recognisable and relatable, the situations they find themselves in have the echo of truth. It confronts an important topic and is sincerely told.”
“At it’s heart is a profoundly personal dilemma that Steve tackles with great sensitivity. It is an often warm-hearted, darkly humorous … and deeply moving love story.”
“You can literally feel the heartbreak through Hawke’s wording. A love story and a family story, Out of Time will have you in tears and turning pages.”
“Out of Time is such a moving and touching story … a beautiful picture of family, friends and of love and loss. It poses hard, ethical questions about the quality of life of those suffering from dementia. It weaves its way into your heart and alongside Joe and Anne, you find yourself asking “what is the point of no return?”