Carl H. Klaus (1932–2022)

When Carl Klaus determined there were very few memoirs by folks in their eighties, he decided to write his own. THE NINTH DECADE (2021) is that book. Retired from teaching at the University of Iowa and widowed for many years, Klaus lives alone in a large house cluttered with the debris and memories of forty-five years of living there. He has a new love in Jackie, who is, initially, still very busy with her real estate company. Both over eighty, they maintain their own homes, meeting for meals and weekends, and also taking trips together. Klaus's story begins sometime after his 80th birthday and is told in six-month installments which take us into his 88th year. Along the way, he sees many old friends die. He himself has a plethora of health problems - lymphoma, enlarged prostate, an abdominal hernia, high blood pressure, kidney and heart problems, memory loss (with medical specialists for each) - but he feels lucky to be alive, and tries to exercise and eat healthy. He still delights in vegetable gardening and cooking. He visits his 90 year-old brother in California, and attends family reunions and grandchildren's weddings. His companion, Jackie, finally retires, but develops painful sciatica, then breast cancer and must undergo chemo and radiation treatment. Yet they enjoy a last trip to a favorite remote area in Minnesota on the shore of Lake Superior. They experience lockdown under Covid. Lonely, he gets a cat. His lymphoma returns in his 88th year, at which time, although he is being treated with the newest drugs, his last wishes having been officially noted, he concludes his octogenarian journal with, "What will be will be."

There are no terribly deep thoughts or feelings written here. Klaus came from a generation not given to sentimentality or maudlin displays. He tried to stay upbeat and just record the realities of extreme old age, both the ups and the downs, and in this he succeeds admirably, giving one much to think about. His last entry covered the period of March through August 2020. The book was published the following year. Carl Klaus died in February 2022. He was not quite 90.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir BOOKLOVER… (lisätietoja)

Throughout the book, Klaus exhibits passion and deep knowledge for the essay form; he brings considerable understanding, and is willing to show his own weaknesses - which lays at the heart of much modern essay writing. Occassionally, I think he over-quotes, which feels less about showing off, more padding, almost needing to justify my the form is worthwhile. My favourite chapter is the re-reading of Orwell's "A Hanging"; the weakest "A Self for All Seasons" (which might well be the impact of coming so late in the book). All in all, an excellent series of perspectives in a much-maligned literate form.… (lisätietoja)

I looked forward to reading this book but was a bit disappointed in reading it. I wanted very much to like the author and his take on the retirement process, but it seemed like he dithered and fussed so much over the "should I or shouldn't I" and "do I really want to do this" struggle in his own mind, that it began to wear thin, to seem redundant. He also seemed peevish and indecisive about the issue of keeping an office at the university as an emeritus prof. And his financial situation was also picked over a bit too thoroughly, until a certain air of smugness seemed to prevail, with numerous references to his very comfortable pension and health benefits through TIAA-CREF, as well as to what sounded like a very luxurious life style, with gourmand tastes and fine wines often cited, lunches in fine restaurants. Then there is the vacation trip he takes with his wife soon after his retirement takes effect. Lotsa money involved, or so it seemed. Finally Klaus seemed to come across as a little too self-involved, too "all-about-me-ish," something even his wife commented on, as she apparently reads his various entries in the journal. Not that he really changed his ways.

Klaus writes well - no surprise as he taught English at Iowa for decades. I just kept wishing there'd been a bit more personal stuff here, that it had been more of a memoir. But maybe I wouldn't have wished for that if I had read his previous two books, which I haven't. I suspect there may be more of his life in those books. Klaus is obviously an avid gardener, which he apparently wrote at lenght about in his other books. Having a "brown thumb" and little interest in gardening, I'm not sure I'd want to read the earlier books.

The truth is, this is probably a painfully honest and accurate account of the very things one does consider upon retiring from a long and cherished career. I keep a daily journal myself, and I'm sure I would come across as small-minded and peevish when I write of certain things. It's the nature of a journal/diary - it's "private." I liked that Klaus is a Doris Grumbach fan. Me too. I wish he would have talked a little more about books. I mean he is - or was - and English teacher. He must have liked books, right? Oh, well ... My late father, a dedicated gardener his whole life, would probably have enjoyed his thoughts on plants, gardening and food.

You can probably tell my feelings are very mixed on this book. I liked it sometimes - when I was not liking it. So let's say 3 and half stars, okay? (One of these days I'll have to figure out how to put that half-star symbol in my ratings.)… (lisätietoja)