Let me be up front – I loved this book. It was recommended to me by Joanne over at Portobello Book Blog as a great book about intergenerational friendship, and boy was she ever on the mark! It’s the story of two people who, for different reasons, are having a hard time in thier lives and circumstances. Dot is a pensioner who has lost her husband and lives alone. She has a small life on a fixed income and, though she’s fiercely independent, is beginning to feel her age. Max is a young man who is doing community service cleaning up a local park to pay for a mistake he made. The two meet by accident when Dot notices that Max doesn’t have the same attitude and lack of caring the other young offenders seem to take pride in, and goes out of his way to do the job well, regardless of its forced nature.
Two events take this first accidental meeting and turn it into something more. The first is Dot experiencing a traumatic event that suddenly makes her feel vulnerable rather than capable, and unsure rather than confident. The second is a lucky break that will change both of their lives. Dot decides that she likes Max, and when these two things happen, he’s the only person she can think of that she’d like to share both of these events with, and she goes back to the park and strikes up a friendship with him.
Their relationship is not without its challenges, misunderstandings and difficulties, but I loved how each of them made a choice to let the other in, and each made effort to overcome something that was difficult for them to make and maintain that connection. I loved both of these characters individually and could understand what each was experiencing to a certain extent. But I also loved them even more together. They are one of those magical pairings who bring out the best in one another, offer support without any kind of obligation, and who are able to push each other gently in the right direction. They help each other accomplish goals that are important to them, and their friendship ends up drawing in others around them.
I found this book wholly delightful, and it’s one I know I’ll read again in the future when life is getting me down and I feel like I need a story that will help to restore my wavering faith in the potential for goodness in strangers. Definitely a great one for readers who enjoy intergenerational friendships, character growth, and a really lovely story.
Dot is a pensioner who lives her days alone. Max is a young offender doing community service. But a chance meeting in their local park will change everything for this unlikely pair. They soon find they share a wicked sense of humour and a penchant for petty crime.
When Dot wins the lottery, Max helps her make a bucket list of all the things she’s always wanted to do but never had the chance. And Dot helps him turn his life around, opening his eyes to his own potential. From race cars and fun fairs to zombie films and random acts of kindness, the pair soon realise they’ve never been happier. Dot’s astonished to find that her actions cause a ripple effect through the community – proving that it’s not money that makes a difference, but people working together to make a change. – Goodreads
Book Title: Bucket List
Author: Russell Jones
Series: No
Edition: Audiobook
Published By: Polygon
Released: July 4, 2024
Genre: Fiction, Intergenerational Friendship, Found Families
Pages: 304
Date Read: August 21-22, 2023
Rating: 9/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.35/5 (43 ratings)
