Grandparents: Purpose

Reviewed by Maria Beltran for "Readers' Favorite". What happens when grandparents, ready to enjoy their role as doting elders to their grandchildren, find themselves becoming the parents all over again? This is what happens in Grandparents: Purpose by J.I.M Lord. To top it all off, they are already raising an 18-year-old. And as if it weren’t enough, the very same couple is caring for an elderly parent. It’s a complicated situation: a daughter dies, leaving behind three kids and an irresponsible husband who willingly relinquishes parental responsibilities when the adoption papers are processed. J.I.M. “Jim” Lord and his wife, Fran, are practically running a household of four generations under one roof. As complicated and heartbreaking as it sounds, Jim writes in a genuine voice, his narrative exuding the wisdom of one who has made it to the heart of life’s experiences, and yet readers will never feel that he is preaching. Grandparents: Purpose can be considered an original story. Having said that, one cannot help but wonder how Jim and Fran have ended up in a bizarre situation like this, but this is what makes readers turn the pages – especially also that Jim’s grandfatherly storytelling makes mention of events and things that he promises to return to later. Then again, one realizes that not many are talking about an experience that may be affecting so many families around the world. More than this, however, it seems that the author, in writing this book, is not only offering advice to those who find themselves in similar cases. What makes it a good read is that in writing this book, Jim Lord journeys into himself to find answers and closure, as well as a sense of comfort in the fact that he may not be alone in this kind of ordeal. This book is only the first volume of two, and people may find themselves looking forward to the second one. Highly entertaining!