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Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Visiting by Polly Walker Blakemore is a series of journal-style, dated entries that chronicle the author’s visits with her aging mother during the final stage of her life. Rather than following a traditional format, the book unfolds through real-time observations of caregiving, decline, and the small, often raw moments that accompany them. Conversations are sometimes humorous, sometimes blunt, and often revealing, as her mother moves between clarity and confusion. The presence of caregivers and friends shows the shared effort required to support her. Across the entries, there is an accumulation of details that together form a portrait of both the mother and the act of showing up for her. By the end, the book presents a deeply personal record of time spent with a loved one whose needs are increasing and whose world is gradually narrowing.
Polly Walker Blakemore’s writing is unfiltered, shifting between humor, frustration, tenderness, and honesty, often within the same passage. The pacing is shaped by the entries that reflect real life rather than a constructed narrative arc. Sensory details such as smells, sounds, and physical discomfort are not softened, giving the writing a grounded, observational quality. Visiting has a personal, intimate focus that will have particular meaning for readers closely connected to the author, her mother, and anyone interested in the family's memoirs, especially those who recognize the realities of caring for an aging parent. At the same time, it offers a clear and steady portrayal of presence, responsibility, and the complicated emotions that come with staying close through difficult moments.
