Reviews of A Cup of Tea on the Commode
5 stars. “Really detailed story about Porro. I appreciated how he crafted this memoir. I enjoyed his story-telling and felt like I was part of his family at times.”
— Kelly Pramberger, for Goodreads
“I found A Cup of Tea on the Commode very moving. I like the writing style – the humour highlights Genevieve’s stoic sense of fun. It is an inspirational story that bravely tells it like it is. I must confess, it brought me to tears, but then it also made me laugh. Good combination.”
— Dr. Sharon Ager Wray, PhD in Sociology
“A Cup of Tea on the Commode is a beautiful tribute to Genevieve Porro. As a reader, I felt like I got to know her as a person—she is funny, endearing, sensitive, and I laughed many times throughout. I love the narrator’s tone of voice is unique, humorous, definitive, and conversational. It speaks to the readers. Mark doesn’t shy away from expressing all emotions he felt as he took care of his mother, and it is very endearing. There are many touching stories in the manuscript, and many that will resonate with readers on an emotional level.”
— Allison Itterly, Acquisitions Editor
“This is a humorous account about Mark Steven Porro and his family’s story from his siblings to his parents, to the suicides in his family. It all makes for a mostly humorous but at times a sad tale and how in a time where people are only looking for what makes them happy, this man gave up everything to move back across the country to tend to his dying mother. It really is touching, heartwarming, and so worth reading. I am so glad I read it. I almost didn’t due to the title but was curious enough to read the summary and OMG, I’m glad I did.”
— Janalyn Prude for NetGalley
“In his own words, ‘Dedication is not my problem….’ Mark proves that beyond a doubt in this lovingly emotional dedication to (not only) his mother but his whole family and his life. Having a frighteningly similar experience with my own mother (albeit not as “hands on” as Mark) I couldn’t imagine the tale told better than here in this book.”
— Larry Thomas, The Soup Nazi from Seinfeld
“I always believe that the impact of a book is measured by the lingering thoughts and reflections that remain afterwards. And A Cup of Tea on The Commode scores highly in this respect.”
— Paul Jeremaes, Co-author of Enter Your Flow, an Interactive Journey Toward Fulfillment and Happiness in Your Work Life.
“This book, A Cup of Tea on The Commode, had me clutching it until done!”
— Nancy May, host of Doing It Best with Eldercare Success podcast
5 stars. “This book was like sitting down at the kitchen table and sharing troubles with and old friend. Having parents is common, Taking care of them with all the intimate details involved is not. Mark Steven Porro shared all the victories and defeats, sorrows and disappointments along with making you giggle at some of the sillier exchanges between he and his mother. This book helps us to appreciate the tremendous effort that goes into caregiving and why we should all look to help lighten caregiver’s emotional and physical load when we can… It’s a keeper.”
— Laurie Mosey (Librarian), NetGalley
“There are few topics more universally uncomfortable than death. While today’s headlines offer no shortage of untimely tragedy, there’s little attention paid to caregivers, something that more and more adults become when their aging parents approach the end. It’s a role that author Mark Steven Porro knows all too well. With A CUP OF TEA ON THE COMMODE, Porro offers readers a beautifully written, poignant, and often humorous memoir chronicling his journey of caring for his 90-year-old mother in the final years of her life.
The book opens with ‘The Call’ Porro received back in 2011 from his brother Michael, informing him that their mother had shut down and hospice was on the way. In response, Mark dropped everything and returned to his childhood home in New Jersey. From there, Mark begins to navigate the challenges of caring for his aging mother. Along the way, he encounters long-dormant memories, unsettling family secrets, and eventually learns the true meaning of unconditional love. Through a series of heartwarming, funny, and occasionally heartbreaking anecdotes, Porro outlines his journey of growth and self-discovery as he struggles (and eventually learns) to balance his unexpected role as a caregiver with his own goals and relationships.
A CUP OF TEA ON THE COMMODE offers an honest, intimate portrayal of the realities of eldercare. Porro often struggles with guilt, exhaustion, and the undeniable emotional fallout that comes from putting his life (one he was thoroughly enjoying) on hold. In doing so, he captures the complicated mix of love, duty, and sacrifice that anyone who has cared for a loved one will recognize. To his credit, Porro doesn’t shy away from the messy, exhausting, and often undignified aspects of caring for an aging parent: ‘Seeing Mom naked the first time, though uncomfortable, was something I had to get over quickly. There was work to do.’
Despite the often grim subtext, A CUP OF TEA ON THE COMMODE is a surprisingly uplifting read. Key to this is Porro’s often self-effacing tone. Lines like “Hi, I’m single, fifty-five, and live with my mother,” and “Drawing on my experience growing up with three sisters—I learned a lot more than how to put the toilet seat down—I took special care dolling Mom up on the day of the wedding” highlight Porro’s ability to find the humor in even the most challenging situations. This coupled with his candid take on, well, everything often makes the journey through his mother’s final years feel like a shared experience. Ultimately, A CUP OF TEA ON THE COMMODE is a testament to the resilient strength of family bonds and the power of unconditional love. It’s also a must-read for anyone in the midst of their own caregiving journey, regardless of the stage.
Chronicling a son’s devotion to his mother in her final years, Mark Steven Porro’s A CUP OF TEA ON THE COMMODE is a heartwarming, humorous, and poignant memoir that offers a touching and relatable account of caregiving that will resonate with readers on a deep emotional level.”
— James Weiskittel for IndieReader