Evelyn

In any type of art, one desires to invoke something in the audience; “apathy is worse than hate” after all.
I don’t feel a sense of joy when I think of ‘non-fiction’ writing. Part of me must still associate non-fiction as being comprised of journalism and biographies. Well, memoirs can be interesting! In fact, sometimes a non-fiction tale can read as if it were a novel.
Now, when I read non-fiction with the frame of reference to reinforce that the words in front of me are real, I desire more to feel something from the work.
I took most interest in Carol Guess’ Evelyn; I’ve worked with senior citizens in the past and that experience has shaped me to care more about that age group.
And, when the piece depicted Evelyn as someone with Alzheimer’s? The chords were struck.
I volunteered with Alzheimer’s patients for many years. Even though I knew that the patients had Alzheimer’s, interacting with wonderful people who were losing themselves became no easier.
The author’s style establishes a strong emotional appeal to the audience. Even if one hadn’t spent years volunteering with Alzheimer’s patients, one could imagine something.
The author writes this piece with a narrative string leading the way. The reader encounters Evelyn, gets close to her, and then realizes that her memory is dying bit by bit.

“For weeks I watched Evelyn water her hanging plant, hung too high by the door. Every morning her routine was the same. She placed a stepstool in front of the plant and set one foot on the stool. It wobbled, she wavered. She went back inside. Came out with a pot of water. Threw the water at the plant, streaking the side of her house with wet.”
Many of us have retired grandparents whom, lacking an occupation, establish a routine. My grandparents are immigrants, and the routine helps them feel alive. My paternal grandfather is a gardener of sorts, though his home resembles a small farm more than a garden. So, I know how important these kind of routines and acts can be for someone older than us.
I think that the ability to establish a strong emotional appeal works well here, and one could even suggest that some type of appeal to the audience in necessary in any non-fiction work.


~Nitesh Arora