Goodbye Vitamin by Rachel Khong

Rachel’s father was suffering from Alzheimer’s and his condition caused him to lose his teaching job as History professor. She moves back to be with her family, at the time of her breakup with her boyfriend. There were many undercurrents in the family; her demented father’s past affair long time ago, Linus, her younger brother, had left home because of the father’s drinking problem, and Rachel’s mother who was divorced with her father but still staying under one roof.

The story of the Rachel’s relationship with her father was unfolded through letters and notes her father wrote to her while she was little. A deep love for his first child was the saving grace in her relationship with her father despite his earlier failures as husband in the family.

Linus had refused to be part of the family until he also broke up with his girlfriend. He returned home as his father’s condition worsened. The result was a family which healed together even as the mental faculties of the father broke down.

In between, the faithful Theo who was the father’s ex-student, began a love interest with Rachel as he cared for his former mentor.

The second half of the story were notes from Rachel to her father, the things they did and said to each other. There was  a reversal from the story telling perspective. Each note to her father was a way of updating what happened between the two of them.

Rachel’s family came to grips with the father’s condition and ditched vitamins which were supposed to stop the progression of his sickness. They were able to accept the situation and manage it as a family.

Lovely storytelling, fast moving even with some woven sub-plots in between.