The Forever Years
By Ronald Anthony  

     When Mickey Sienna, through forgetfulness, sets fire to his kitchen, his children decide that their 90-year-old father should sell his home and enter a nursing home. His youngest son, Jesse, disagrees. Against the advice of his domineering brother and sister he decides to move his father into his house. Jesse feels this will give him an opportunity to become acquainted with his father, and hopes to find a place in his family. He doesn't anticipate his father moving all his knickknacks and much of his furniture into Jesse's house, adding to the clutter.

     Jesse is a 32-year-old freelance writer. He has watched so many people around him who had their hearts broken by love affairs gone wrong. He views his parents' 50 year marriage as an exception. Therefore, he has trouble committing to a relationship with his current girl friend, Marina.

     Mickey is dismayed that Jesse is taking Marina for granted, and sets out to tell him, in frequent installments, about Gina, the great love of his life 50 years before he met Jesse's mother. He hopes that the story of his everlasting love for Gina will change Jesse's feeling about love.

     This is a beautifully written novel about a true love affair between two people that transcends time. It is a tender story which gives true meaning to love. The developing relationship between the elder father set in his ways and the young son also set in his ways is both touching and humorous. The characters are realistically portrayed with their deep emotions and relationships.