JH: I'm not very good at self-promotion. Most of the people who have read my book seem to be people who know me, or friends of theirs. I have talked to some book clubs, and to students in writing classes and the reaction has been quite positive. Some focus on the issue of nursing homes, some on families, and some on the characters - especially Hannah. It's interesting that most of my women readers focus on Hannah and the women in the story; the men focus on Charlie, a minor character I included for fun.
JB: I was smitten with Hannah myself, actually, so I identify with your women readers. There was a lot of growth and change in the book and that's hard for all of us, especially as we age. I loved how Hannah found new purpose in her life after being transplanted. Even though she had her lovely family to welcome her, she was not the type to limit herself to cooking meals. She needed intellectual stimulation. I think that's a fairly common problem, no?
JH: I think you've hit on an underlying, but important, theme in the book. So many times we think we're helping elderly people by doing everything for them, making their lives "comfortable", when what they want is a sense of purpose, or at least something to do. I found that happen in my own life. When I retired from teaching, my children--all grown and living their own lives--seem to have decided that I should no longer do my annual road trip out to Arizona (from Michigan) or to continue to live without a walk-in shower! I knew they meant well, but it was important for me to make it clear that I did not become senile overnight, and that I had decided that I was going to be a writer--or at least try to be one--and that I would travel and do what I had been doing all along. I did have to concede that I would let them know when I needed help!
I think that being idle, which sounds wonderful when you're too busy, gets boring quite quickly. And--I don't have any evidence of this!--but I think it ages you.
JB: Forced idleness is not good for anyone's psyche or self-image, whatever their age, race or gender. Getting back to Hannah: She was quite a product of her time, an unapologetic New York, Jewish socialist. If she were an actual person rather than a character in a book, she'd be thrilled to see a fellow New York socialist running for president. It's impossible to resist bringing this up as we find ourselves in the middle of the primaries. Your thoughts?
JH: Now that's an interesting question! I love questions that call for speculation--you don't have to pretend to know the answer. I find when I'm writing about a character like Hannah, a strong personality, somewhere in the writing she takes over and I find myself saying ,"No, she wouldn't say that" or "No she wouldn't do that." So in the case of Bernie Sanders I think she would have a difficult time making a decision, trying to decide to support a woman or a socialist. I think I hear her voice now: "Darling" (she says that a lot) "either one would be better than any of those other 'putzes'" (that's a derogatory Yiddish word) " but I think this country needs a good socialist. Too bad Hillary isn't a socialist."To the response that Bernie wouldn't be able to win the election, she would probably respond: "Well, that's too bad, but you have to vote the way you think." She's practical, but driven by principle--which she compromises when she can think of a way to justify it! There's a scene where she is thinking of blackmailing a man and she believes that blackmailing is wrong. She ends up "suggesting" what might happen, which she justifies by claiming that "it's not blackmail if you don't plan on doing anything." So, in answer to your question, I think she'd support Bernie, to the disappointment of her feminist daughter, but vote for either one who gets nominated.
JB: Go, Hannah! No simplistic, knee jerk answers for her. She's practical but not ready to give up her idealism. A nice mix; I like that. Do you have anything to add before we wrap this up?
JH: I guess all I'd add is that my intention in writing Aged to Perfection was three-fold: to show that getting old didn't mean becoming useless; to show a functional relationship between three generations of women; and to call attention to how we treat elderly people in our society. All of my writing focuses on some social problem. In this one, elder abuse; in Dying to Fit In, discrimination against women in academia; and in my next book, Nobody's Children, the plight of homeless children.
Thank you for your time and your interesting questions.
JB: Thanks for talking with me, Joyce. So glad you enjoyed yourself. I really liked Aged to Perfection, especially getting to know Hannah. And I love that you use your writing to tackle serious social problems. I look forward to seeing what else you have up your sleeve!
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Joyce's website
Aged to Perfection at Amazon
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