If you are looking for an extraordinary book to read, look no further than The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold. It is a wild ride through a remarkable life.
Aidyn is a rookie reporter with great ambition. She is tired of writing fluff pieces. She pushes the limits and earns the punishment of writing an obituary for a woman who has just entered hospice care. She doesn’t want the assignment, and she doesn’t want to talk to a dying woman. Yet she knows this is exactly what she must do to get back in good graces at work, so she grits her teeth and goes to it.
Mrs. Kip is the 79-year-old dying woman, but she isn’t done with living yet. She knows that Aidyn has been put in her life for a reason. She will give Aidyn her story, but she will make Aidyn work hard for it. There is more to Mrs. Kip than meets the eye. She may be old and dying, but she still has a lot on her plate to get done before she goes. Sharing her history with a cub reporter is just a small part of it.
As Aidyn begins to interview Mrs. Kip, it is hard to view her dis-ease at having to deal with someone old, sick, and dying. But as their interactions become more frequent, it is easy to see the growth Aidyn is experiencing. There is a cast of supporting characters that are hard to forget. Mr. Selsher is dying in the room across the hall. Rahmiya is Aidyn’s friend who is not always understanding of what Aidyn is going through. Martha is Mrs. Kip’s friend who helps her to see the path she might take going forward in life after Mrs. Kip’s husband dies at an early age. Woods is Aidyn’s hard-nosed editor who secretly pushes Aidyn to reach her potential. Even the nurses at the hospice center play their part in this story.
Although Mrs. Kip says she has had an unimpressive life, she has actually been a part of changing the culture of Kansas City. She was part of a movement to help Laotian refugees start new lives in the United States after Communists overrun their home country and threaten their lives. She becomes close to one refugee in particular and wonders what became of the woman after they lost touch years ago.
This novel is not my usual reading fare. However, I found it to be delightful. The book inspires me to be more like Mrs. Kip, a truly extraordinary woman. You will be glad that you pick up The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. Enjoy!
