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Roses in December: A Story of Love and Alzheimer's
Contributor(s): Batiuk, Tom (Author), Ayers, Chuck, Rabins, Peter V. (Foreword by)
ISBN: 1606352342     ISBN-13: 9781606352342
Publisher: Kent State University Press
OUR PRICE:   $22.46  
Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats
Published: June 2015
Qty:
Temporarily out of stock - Will ship within 2 to 5 weeks
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Fiction | Literary
Dewey: 741.597
LCCN: 2014045347
Physical Information: 0.55" H x 9.89" W x 8.26" (2.47 lbs) 272 pages
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:
Laughter and pain, love and loss

"Stories told in comic strips aren't generally intended to be book-length narratives, but, on occasion, a story rises above the rest of the work and marks itself as something special. Roses in December] is one of those stories." - from the Preface

Since its debut in 1987, Crankshaft has engendered reader loyalty and affection with its wry wit, engaging storylines, and identifiable characters. Created by Tom Batiuk and drawn by Chuck Ayers, the strip offers plenty of humor but also tackles serious issues like adult literacy, school violence, and the challenges of aging.

Roses in December is a touching collection of two Crankshaft storylines of characters who find themselves dealing with the incurable condition of Alzheimer's disease. First, Ed Crankshaft's best friend Ralph is confronted with the trauma of his wife Helen's worsening Alzheimer's. He never knows if the love of his life will recognize him on those days that he visits her at Sunny Days Nursing Home. Ralph and Helen's love story unfolds with humor and heartbreak.

In the second story arc, Crankshaft's neighbor Lucy McKenzie also exhibits symptoms of Alzheimer's and eventually is moved to Sunny Days Nursing Home by her sister Lillian. The fourteen-year struggles of Lucy, Helen, and their loved ones are elegantly told, preserving their dignity and reminding us that sometimes a sense of humor can be our greatest possession during life's trials.

Through the deceptively simple medium of the daily comic strip, Tom Batiuk and Chuck Ayers address the profound effects of Alzheimer's disease in a thoughtful and occasionally humorous way. Roses in December includes a resource guide for caregivers, patients, and practitioners.