Old Friends, a book by Tracy Kidder

Old Friends, a book by Tracy Kidder

I read this book in 1994.

Tracy chronicles the events of people for a full year, setting is Linda Manor, a "new" nursing home in Western Massachusetts.  The 2 main residents that Tracy "shadows" are Lou Freed and Joe Torchio, Lou is the elder of the 2 by about 20 years, he's in his 90's and a widower, Joe is in his 70's, his wife lives nearby.  Lou and Joe, from very diverse cultural backgrounds, become friends due to their unusual circumstances of becoming room-mates.

Tracy's gift of writing takes the reader right into Lou and Joe's lives so well, that "you" feel their joys, sorrows, frustrations, distrusts and silliness, as if you were in the room with them.

I really enjoyed this story and the writing.