☆ .7
This was definitely a novel. Was it good ? Maybe I just didn’t get it but for me it wasn’t, it did have its moment where I felt slightly less bored but overall I don’t think it was for me.

I absolutely get that the author wanted us to feel and see what was going on through Rose’s head with her alzheimer’s but one can only read so much repetition of the same subjects and same sentences before one get’s bored. Rose’s itself has a character is good, she has a unique personality and is actually funny by moment if we forget the repetitiveness of everything.

The plot of the novel felt incredibly small, I felt like I read a whole bunch of nothing and I was actually relieved when it was over. There’s absolutely nothing going on whatsoever and every character except for our main one feels like the same one repeating because they all feel flat and one dimensional, which for a book this short makes reading it incredibly painful.

I wish I liked this. Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and Simon&Schuster for the arc, I’m, as always, very greatful. Review will be posted closer to publication day.

All The Words We Know, by Bruce Nash, is a cute story of an elderly patient's life and her view of life in a nursing home. Her dementia is evident in her thought process and it is fun to see words that she misuses and the choices she goes through to get to the right word. It is a slow-paced novel, as I guess life is in these homes.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

The publishing industry abhors originality these days, sticking instead to the safe and familiar tropes. One of those is quaint books about old people. Another one are amateur sleuths with some sort of cognitive impediment.
Accordingly, the protagonist of this novel is an old woman who begins to suspect that something might be going wrong in the care facility. Don't expect a Miss Marple sort of sleuthing though, for this lady has Alzheimer and therefore only a rather precarious grasp of all the words she knows.
Thus, she is limited in expressing her suspicions, which creates the entire driving force behind this novel.
It's an intriguing concept, but this is less of an odd detective novel and more of an old person journey, complete with trips down memory lane and navigating the changing modern world (insert a strategically placed trans person of color here to make a point).
It is difficult for people with intact memory to know what it must be like for someone who is losing theirs. The author did a pretty good job of imaging that, down to some clever world play. Interestingly, his protagonist remains remarkably upbeat through it all, wither because she's just that Australian or because it's just that kind of a novel.
The book is too feel-good by design for a lot of poignancy but has a main character likable enough to override that at time. It is a very quick, easily marketable and digestible read, so if you're into that sort of thing, go for it. Thanks Netgalley.

This was a funny book in the vein of Fredrik Backman and the Thursday Murder Club. Rose is a wonderful character and her story is very heartfelt. Don't think about this one too deep- just enjoy it.

This is a story about Rose, an octogenarian and her day-to-day musings of her life in an elderly care home. The reader meets Rose on the day that her friend is found dead in the care-home parking lot, appearing to have jumped from her bedroom window. Rose then decides to embark on a voyage to discover her friend’s murderer. Did I mention that Rose suffers from dementia? So her life musings and subsequent investigation into her friend’s untimely death are often filled with Confucius…or is it confusion? And funnings…er fumblings….that confuse her even more.

Author, Bruce Nash, takes the reader on a journey of word-play and captures the mind of a protagonist that no longer possesses the ability to move smoothly from thought to thought; its peppered with bits of humor and clever word-play. Sounds unique, novel, clever, witty, and just plain fun, doesn’t it? Often it is compared to the brilliance of Fredrik Backman’s characters and plots as well as Richard Osman’s, Thursday Murder Club series. But it’s not…far from it, in fact.

The book starts strong, and I found myself chuckling at Rose’s expressions and word play, but this soon felt very stale and tiresome…and much too kitschy, lacking a plot as well as sound character development…

But perhaps this is what Nash was attempting? She is an octogenarian with rather advanced dementia, after all.

Since this was an ARC when I read it, I stayed with it to the bitter end, but if this was one I chose to read for pleasure, I would have abandoned it about a quarter of the way through. Her musings to which I found myself initially chuckling, soon became tiresome and oppressive.

Thank you to Atria Books via Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love and feel for 80 year old Rose, a dementia patient living in memory care. She jumbles her words, which Bruce Nash handles expertly and some days are better than others but she knows that something is amiss when her scrabble buddy falls from a window and she stops at nothing to figure it out. I loved it...and her.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

This poignant, profound, and hilarious book highly entertained me. I can understand that it will not appeal to all readers. It is narrated from the rambling perspective of an elderly woman living in a senior care home. She has mobility issues and must use a walker. She calls herself Rose but rarely remembers her actual name. Rose is a most unreliable narrator, as her story contains many repetitions, forgotten or confused words, and failure to remember recent and past events.

She lives in a good senior residence but does not participate in the activities which are unknown or forgotten. I was thoroughly engaged in her story as we are of the same age and with mobility problems. If I share her loss of words and memory issues, I don't remember. The people in her residence have single rooms, whereas my residence consists of one and two-bedroom apartments. Rose immensely enjoyed her room. Her window overlooked trees and a park where other residents could only view the car park from their windows. She was forced to move to a less desirable room when someone who could pay more was given her room.

She has frequent visits from her son, who works in finance and whom she adores. They share her account, but she cannot access it. She keeps forgetting her password but won't admit it. Her daughter spends her visits cleaning the bathtub, watering her plants, and praying. The two teenage granddaughters spend their time on their phones.

Rose misses her best friend, who was in a wheelchair. They loved to play Scrabble, and both took pride in cheating. This friend was found dead after falling through her window onto the pavement below. She saw the dead body on the ground but forgets she is dead. There is now an unresponsive man in her friend's room, but attempts to get him to play Scrabble are useless. Among the main characters in charge of the residence are the Care Manager (doctor), whom she calls the 'Scare Manager,' and the Angry Nurse. She loves the 'Nice Boy Who Mops the Floors' and tries to befriend him. He is transgendered, has Aspergers, and has Dyslexia. He transitioned from female to male, and there are no bathrooms that he is allowed to use. When Rose tries to speak with him, he only utters vulgar swear words, but she may have misheard and misinterpreted his remarks. As he seems to be changing back to female, he starts to use Rose's bathroom, which gladdens her.

Another resident Rose likes is 'The Man Who Doesn't Live Here.' He insists he has a comfortable home and a fine car. The man becomes quite troubled as he suspects funds are being stolen from his account. Rose suspects the same thing but forgets her password and cannot check. Her son may be having financial trouble and be embezzling her money. This does not bother her as much as the doctor (Scare Manager) shows signs of increasing prosperity while people are moved to less desirable rooms. Her dead friend told her that money was being laundered in the basement. She also mentioned vampires were carrying out rituals there. What to believe?

Although Rose doesn't know all the recreation available in the building, she is fascinated by the fire stairway next to the elevator, used when the elevator is out of commission. She believes a fire is burning at the bottom of the steep stairs and fears she will fall or be pushed into the fire. She also thinks the Angry Nurse intends to smother her when bringing her new pillows.

She remembers her first marriage and how she deserted her two children for another man and his love. She must beg their forgiveness. The 'Nice Boy' helps them access the internet, and they learn of fraud, embezzlement, and mistreatment, and worse when residents are having difficulty paying. Could it have led to the murder of her friend? One day, Rose demands that her family gather to discuss her account. They are excited to see the parking lot filled with police cars and someone being led away by police. Will their situation improve?
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this entertaining and thought-provoking book by Bruce Nash.. Its publication is due July 01, 2025

I was able to read All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash in one sitting. It was a fun and quick read.

The story is a poignant and engaging tale that brilliantly combines humor and heartache. The story centers around Rose, an octogenarian navigating the murky waters of dementia, who proves that age is just a number when it comes to uncovering the truth. The author's portrayal of Rose is well done; I feel she is a character that will resonate with readers. Her moments of sharpness amid forgetfulness provide both comedic relief and insightful reflections on life, memory, and the relationships that shape us.

The narrative is filled with interesting descriptions of the assisted living facility, providing a glimpse into the lives of its eclectic residents and staff, each with their own stories and secrets. The central mystery of Rose’s investigation into her friend's death adds an interesting layer to the narrative. As she uncovers hidden truths, the plot mixes themes of friendship, loss, and the lies we tell ourselves and others. The story is a good reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.

All the Words We Know will resonate with anyone who has grappled with the bittersweet nature of aging and memory. In conclusion, the story is a good narrative filled with warmth, humor, and a touch of mystery. This novel is definitely a must-read for those who enjoy stories that tug at the heartstrings while showcasing the strength of an unforgettable protagonist.

#NetGalley @AtriaBooks

All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash was a funny, poignant book. Fans of Fredrick Bachman will enjoy this book.

I made it to the 60% point on this book before I put it down. For me, do feel I have read enough to give some feedback at this point. However, please take my rating with a grain of salt.

Now I loved the humor in this one. It was an easy read. I love the protagonist, and I loved the first person narration.

Where it fell short? I felt like I was almost reading the same joke, same line, same chapter almost, every chapter. When there is a lot of repetition and an unreliable narrator, that is a mix I have learned that I do not personally enjoy in books. If this is something that you can see yourself loving, read this one!!

If you enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club, I think you will enjoy this one. It really is a fun read,

Thank you for allowing me to gain access to an ARC copy of this book! I am leaving this review and feedback voluntarily.