The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins

By Lester L. Laminack

Book Overview

A poignant tale of an elderly nursing home resident who seems to live in a world of memories, from award-winning author Lester L. Laminack.

Although Miss Olivia is unable to respond and doesn't always seem to notice her family, her daughter Angel and grandson Troy know better. They know that Momma Olivia has an inner life filled with beautiful memories.

Anything from a stunning sunset to the mention of her porch swing can remind her of her past, when she was just a little girl out on the farm with her papa or, more recently, at a birthday party shared with her daughter. Although she can no longer do the things she used to do or communicate her thoughts, she's still the Momma Olivia they know and love.

In tender terms children can understand, Lester L. Laminack gives voice to the seldom discussed tragedy of watching a loved one age and slip into the past. Constance R. Bergum's delicate watercolors softly express the love that holds a family together during times of hardship.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561451398
• ISBN13: 9781561451395
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.9" x 10.9"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

Sensitive, Truthful and Filled with Hope

The language in this sensitively told story is almost poetry. There is such love in these words that you can tell it comes from some heartfelt experience. It is a rare treat to see art that so carefully supports and extends the language in ways that make the meaming more robust for even the younger listener. Though the subject is serious, the story leaves you with great hope. The jacket indicates that this is Mr. Laminack's first book, I certainly hope there are others to come.

Gives You Hope

Lester Laminack has given all readers who have had their life touched by Alzheimer's new hope. My grandmother passed away with Alzheimer's, and I was devastated when I felt she did not know me. However, this book gives you hope that somewhere deep inside the people it affects, this horrible disease cannot fully erase those memories. It should be recommended reading to not just children whose lives have been affected by this disease, but adults as well. Thanks Mr. Laminack for giving me a new hope to hold on to! :)

Sensitive Telling of a Difficult Issue- Kudos to Laminack

When young Troy and his Grandma Angel visit Momma Olivia in the nursing home we get a brief glimpse into the life of an Alzheimers patient. Any family coping with Alzheimers will immediately recognize the tender care, the love, and the hope that lies within the lyrical language of this most sensitive story. The poetic prose and exquisite art reveal a rich and robust life now trapped within. A sensitive telling of a difficult issue. Kudos to Mr. Laminack and Ms. Bergum.

A Beautiful Story

Miss Olivia just sits with her hands folded in her lap and stares, saying nothing. Her daughter Angel and great-grandson Troy visit, and she still sits as they talk to her. She still says nothing, but she thinks of beautiful memories from her past, beautiful as the sunset the nurse had pointed out that evening. Beautifully illustrated by Constance R. Bengum, this wonderful book was written by Lester Laminack, who went to the same high school as I. Though it was published in 1998, I didn't discover this book until Christmas 2001 when I was visiting my sister and she showed me the copy she had purchased. It is such a beautiful book, and a wonderful gentle and loving story that can help young and old cherish their loved ones who have Alzheimer's.

A wonderful story for anyone who is affected by Alzheimers

Lester Laminack has done it. He has captured what many others attempt to do. He has reached into the heart of a person who is affected by someone with Alzheimers and put their thoughts into words. My grandfather passed away from Alzheimers. I never thought he knew me. However, after reading Lester's book, I realized he was still "all there". If you have a child who is struggling with understanding this illness, this is the book to get. I agree that this book should be recommended to anyone who is going through the heartache of Alzheimers.