Book looks at old age and the right to die
Joan Barfoot’s latest novel Exit Lines explores the idea of choice — the right to choose life or death at will — through the lives of four very different characters brought together in an old folks home. With funny and thought-provoking scenes Barfoot places the characters in a perplexing situation — helping a friend take their own life. Within this context the boundaries and loyalties of friendship are pushed to the limit setting the tone for a novel-length debate about choice infused with great humour.
The novel’s four main characters — three widowed women and one man who has suffered a debilitating stroke — become friends and accomplices in their day-to-day lives. All have recently moved into their new retirement home the Idyll Inn and spend most of their days sharing the aches and pains that come with aging and illness while discussing what’s left of the future and what to do with it.
Although the premise of the novel is dark it’s brilliantly written amusing and entertaining. Barfoot is without a doubt one of Canada’s most gifted writers with tremendous insight into the human psyche which she delves into without fear or inhibition.
Part of the novel’s appeal is its intimate look at elders: a group that is often invisible in our society. “How much control do we retain and how much are we entitled to when we reach a certain age?” asks Barfoot. “How do we treat elders and are they able to take advantage of that” She adds with a sly smile “There is something to be said about being invisible.” And that’s precisely what the four characters in Exit Lines are. Because they are mostly forgotten they bend the rules proof that despite their aging bodies their spirits are vivid.
“…rapture: ecstatic delight of skin.” It’s always the same character Greta who defines words a legacy of learning English as a second language with the help of a dictionary and her three daughters. “I’m all for precision with words” says Barfoot who admits she gets annoyed when people use words badly. These interspersed definitions act as moments of rest. The words bring whole sentence to life. It’s very effective.
Barfoot amusingly depicts the clash of generations. A group of high school students take a field trip to the Idyll Inn with instructions to interview the residents. A petulant disinterested tattooed girl asks questions of Ruth (one of the three widows and a retired social worker with stories to share) without interest barely letting Ruth answer before asking her next question.
The third widow Sylvia whose husband was a lawyer is the most affluent of the three women. The strongest personality of the group Sylvia brings spice defiance and a pinch of bitchiness occasionally offending her newfound friends. However she’s the glue that holds them together and freely shares her stash of wine for the occasional afternoon drink in her private room.
All three widows hang out with George who is stuck in his wheelchair and barely able to talk mostly grunting and screaming out a few words at inappropriate times. Yet the three women nurture him on a daily basis with massage therapy and physio exercises.
Exit Lines is thought-provoking and offers amusing insight into the debate over the choice between life and death; debates that revolve around mercy and cruelty faith and friendship limits and loyalties.
