Black Cat Book Review

Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry

Treha Langsam takes other people’s memories and makes them her own.  There are few things she remembers from her past and accepts this as another thing that is different about her.  And she is very different;  she not only looks different she  thinks differently.

Treha works at Desert Gardens, an assisted living facility for the elderly.  She does menial labor but the soon to be retired director of Desert Gardens knows that Treha is gifted in an extraordinary way.  Treha can help those with dementia to come back to a full life…not forever but for a while they can be a part of everyday activities and enjoy their last days or months. The residents appreciate her and enjoy her visits and do not think anything of her differences, she is simply Treha, their friend.

One resident, Dr. Crenshaw, seems to have a special interest in Treha but no one thinks anything of it. But he has a very good reason for wanting to know everything about her.  Then there is the team that is recording and filming some of the resident’s, including Dr. Crenshaw,  stories for a documentary.  The interviewer learns of Treha and is intrigued by her and wants to know more about her…who she is, where she came from, her gift.

With Treha’s permission and the help of Miriam, the facilities director, they begin to find some answers to the questions of Treha’s life.  The truth they find is not easy and raises more questions then are answered.  There has been terrible injustice done, not only to Treha but to many others.  The what and why of the injustice is easily answered but what will or can be done for the victims is not so easily answered.  The unfolding of the story is in some ways encouraging but in the end it leaves everyone wondering, can life be better than it is now and if not how to come to terms with it and carry on?

I found it hard to get into the story at first but about a third of the way in I was intrigued and thoroughly enjoyed the story.  Treha is a difficult central character.  For me it was hard to understand her thinking and how she is so accepting of her lot in life. But as the story unfolds she begins to make sense and is a wonder of courage.

This book was sent to me, without cost, by Tyndale House Publishers,Inc in exchange for this review.