This book was very moving and chilling in it's story. It is taken from the viewpoint of Alice which is an approach that I've never read before. I've read other stories that deal with this horrendous disease but always from the spouse, caretaker's or family members points of view. I cried through out the book as Alice's frustration and fear of what was happening was tangible through the words. Her having to slowly let go of life as she knows it and loves it as the disease quickly progresses is truly heart breaking. It is so well written in it's attempt to show the reader what a person going through this disease might go through and feel. It describes the disease, it's consequences and progression so well yet never gets bogged down in super scientific terminology so even someone like myself easy was able to understand what Alice was experiencing. The author herself has a Ph.D in neuroscience from Harvard and is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer's Association so the story rang very true in it's descriptions. She also mentions several areas of drug testing within the scope of the story that was interesting.
I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say I especially liked the progression of Alice and Lydia's (the actress daughter) relationship in the story. It was moving to have privy to the change even though they are fictional characters. The story ended in a way I was not expecting at all.
I saw this book mentioned on Faith's website, she highly recommended it, and I was also interested when I saw that Julianne Moore had won the academy award for her portrayal of Alice in the film. I determined to read the book first so that I could get the author's original intents and story rather than Hollywood's version and I'm so glad I did. It was heart breaking, beautifully written, sensitive, intelligent, compassionate and informative. I, also, highly recommend this book to everyone. It will change how you view and relate to someone going through Alzheimers and/or Dementia.
Rating: 10/10
Reading Challenge Goals Met: A book a friend recommended, A book that scares me, A book that made me cry, A book by an author I've never read before, A book that became a movie
4 comments:
I have seen the movie ! One of the bests I have ever seen ! So touching !
This is the second mention of this book I've seen lately, and thanks for your review. I've a friend who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a couple of years ago. When I spoke with him last Christmas, he said so humbly, "I just go where God takes me."
i plan on seeing the movie as soon as it is on netflix! and guess what! i met Lisa Genova in downtown chatham at a book signing! sadly, i didnt have my camera with me as we had been biking and hiking and daves smartphone battery needed to be charged! lol. she was such a sweet girl! we talked briefly about my mom and the alzheimers. im reading Left Neglected which is awesome! i had no idea that was a physical issue from a brain injury!!
This sounds like a compelling book. I don't know if you follow Sandy at Jesus and Dark Chocolate, but her husband was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's a few years ago. It's a heartbreaking disease.
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