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305th out of 594 books
—
1,313 voters
Keeper: One House, Three Generations, and a Journey into Alzheimer's
by
Andrea Gillies (Goodreads Author)
Five years ago, Andrea Gillies— writer, wife, and mother of three—seeing that her husband's parents were struggling to cope, invited them to move in. She and her newly extended family relocated to a big Victorian house on a remote, windswept peninsula in the far north of Scotland, leaving behind their friends and all that was familiar; hoping to find a new life, and new in...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
August 17th 2010
by Broadway
(first published January 1st 2009)
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One of the best books I've read dealing with the caregiving of someone suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia. She tried so very hard and for so long (YEARS!!) to give complete care to her in-laws, but truly, there comes a time when you must admit (for your own mental/emotional stability) you can no longer provide the necessary care. It is never a pleasant realization, but you must set boundaries and limits to protect your own health. I was so glad I had read this book as my own Mother's battle...more
This book upset me. It’s the third book dealing with Alzheimer’s that I’ve read in a row but only one to actually upset me. The first was a novel from the perspective of a woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s, the second was a popular science book; this was a memoir. The first two were good but I read them dispassionately. Keeper, on the other hand, got to me and it’s all credit to the author’s brutal honesty not only about her mother-in-law’s condition and… I’m going to use the word ‘antics’ but...more
I could not take this book after 120 pages. I was so excited to read it, and dug in with a desire to try and wait it out for it to get better.
It didn't. There was example after example of how Nancy (the Alzheimer victim) was affected, and how it affected Nancy's husband and Andrea's family, but that was all it included from the human perspective. Other than that, the book was peppered with theories of the disease, which, while interesting for a bit, brought me back to long neuro psych lectures...more
It didn't. There was example after example of how Nancy (the Alzheimer victim) was affected, and how it affected Nancy's husband and Andrea's family, but that was all it included from the human perspective. Other than that, the book was peppered with theories of the disease, which, while interesting for a bit, brought me back to long neuro psych lectures...more
This is one of the most painful books I've read. Andrea Gillies writes about her in-laws old age and her mother-in-law's falling away from Alzheimer's. Ms. Gillies also writes rather well about the science of the brain and the philosophy of the mind. Her comparisons between the UK system of eldercare and medicine and that of the USA are frustrating and scary. No matter where you live in either country, dementia costs the patient their identity and their family's lose piece of mind, friends and m...more
Five years ago, writer Andrea Gillies moved, with her husband and three children up to a large Victorian mansion on a remote peninsula in the north of Scotland. Along with her family, she took her husband's infirm parents. Leaving behind friends, family and familiarity, Gillies arrived in the windswept area in search of inspiration and the sublime. Andrea's mother-in-law Nancy comes with middle-stage Alzheimer's Disease and Andrea becomes Nancy's carer while also trying to write and run a b'n'b....more
I read this book because Good Reads recommended it since I read Still Alice. It's about a family with three younger children who take in the husband's parents because the mother has Alzheimer's and the father is crippled from falls. Incredibly depressing story, right down to the weather. Throughout the book, the family is waiting to get the parents onto a waiting list to get into a permanent care facility, but wires are crossed and months go by. The mother (with Alzheimer's) becomes abusive--ver...more
Although the author has taken some criticism for revealing so much about a person who has no control of her own life, I think this book needed to be written. Most of us know the word dementia and think we understand the meaning. This book gives you a glimpse into the reality of living with it. It explores the human mind's capacity for memory and self-awareness and what it is like to lose them. We read not only about Nancy's decline but also what it does to her husband, her son and his family. Ne...more
Not for the faint of heart, this book is Andrea Gillies' story of life as a full-time caretaker to her both of her ailing in-laws.
In the retelling, Gillies is painfully honest about her own frustrations, anger and guilt as she (and the entire family) is sucked deeper into the chaos of her Mother-in-law, Nancy's worsening Alzheimer's disease.
For much of the book, she alternates chapters on the science and theory of Alzheimer's with narrative of their day to day challenges. Later, delineations are...more
In the retelling, Gillies is painfully honest about her own frustrations, anger and guilt as she (and the entire family) is sucked deeper into the chaos of her Mother-in-law, Nancy's worsening Alzheimer's disease.
For much of the book, she alternates chapters on the science and theory of Alzheimer's with narrative of their day to day challenges. Later, delineations are...more
Andrea Gillies is an excellent teacher. I learned more about dementia from this book than from anything I have read so far.
I also learned about Andrea's all too human heart. She is an amazing survivor-caretaker. Bravo for all you did for your family, Andrea.
I also wanted to say that the cover art is perfect for the story- the little world surrounding an armchair, with a woman's blurred outline just on the edge of the picture perfectly captures what Andrea described. Nancy became a blur of motio...more
I also learned about Andrea's all too human heart. She is an amazing survivor-caretaker. Bravo for all you did for your family, Andrea.
I also wanted to say that the cover art is perfect for the story- the little world surrounding an armchair, with a woman's blurred outline just on the edge of the picture perfectly captures what Andrea described. Nancy became a blur of motio...more
Taking a break from the YA fantasy I've been reading (TA Barron's Merlin series), was looking for something meatier - and was really pleasantly surprised that this author not only vividly described the painful human experience of living with a loved one who is losing her mind, but also offered a reasonably technical description of the actual pathogenesis and pathology of Alzheimer's and a few other dementias. Having watched from a relatively safe distance one of my own extended family members su...more
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This is a beautifully written memoir about the descent into Alzheimer's Disease. She tells the story of her experience caring for her mother-in-law, Nancy, as well as exploring the nature of memory and existence of self from scientific, philosophical and spiritual perspectives. It's a great read with lots of interesting and useful information in there too. Thought-provoking, scary, and funny.
Actually, now that I've finished the book... I did enjoy reading it but I wish she had talked more about...more
Actually, now that I've finished the book... I did enjoy reading it but I wish she had talked more about...more
One of the best books about Alzheimer's and how it can devestate an entire family. I got a feeling of the day to day life of the caregiver and how it must be so hard to deal with in a home setting. Not only does the author deal with her mother in law who has Alheimer's, her father in law also lives with the family and his frustration at his own limitations is evident. I felt physically and emotionally drained after each chapter. One of the most realistic books about this condition/disease. I adm...more
It's certainly well-written, and the sections on brain science are fascinating, but I think this memoir is exploitative. "Darkly comic" the reviews say, meaning, the author's mother-in-law says and does bizarre, childlike things as her disease progresses, and she gets herself into wacky scrapes like greeting a group of of visitors wearing only her underpants. It would be horrendous enough to have Alzheimer's without having every embarrassment recorded for posterity and sold to a publisher and re...more
A heartbreaker of a memoir. Andrea Gillies documents the last few years in the lives of her inlaws, who she brings to live with her when her mother in law begins to suffer from Alzheimers and her father in law suffers from limited mobility. The story of their deterioration, and the story of her struggle to be a good caretaker, a good parent to her young children, a good wife and an author is starkly and beautifully told. Along with her history is the history of the disease and the treatment that...more
Benim kitapta en beğendiğim yan hastalık hakkında geniş bir yelpazede yapılan araştırmalar.Okuyucu sıkmadan olay örgülerinin arasına bunları katmayı başarmış.Zayıf bulduğum taraf ise başı sonu olmayan kesik kesik anıların kitaba aktarılması hangi zamanda nerede olduğumu şaşırdığım oldu.Paragraflar arasında bütünlük yoktu.Belki de kitabı hastasına bakarken yazdığı için,yada eski günlüklerden derlediği için bilemem.Sonuçta Alzheimer hastası yakını olan her kişiye,özellikle de bu hastaların birinci...more
My grandmother is now in the late stages of Alzheimer's and has been in a home for quite some time now. My dad and aunt were told by the doctors not to take her home and care for her themselves. After reading "Keeper" it's clear to me why the doctors said this. The difficulties of living with and caring for someone with dementia were so clearly stated and so heartbreaking. I do wish there had been more of how the author's children and husband handled things but overall this is an unflinching loo...more
A very good book all in all. The writing is very well done and the subject is very timely. We have a relative who is currently suffering from dementia and the possibility of this being an intimate part of my life drove me to read this one. There are hilarious laugh out loud parts (it is ok to laugh) and there are such sad parts. Sometimes I wonder if it wasn't better when we didn't know all the fancy names for the things that kill us. Well worth the read in my opinion.
This book should be read by anyone who has an aging loved one. Dealing with my Mom's newly-diagnosed dementia, I read this book and got so much insight into the disease. The book gives a real-life account, not just medical advice like most books on the topic. I thank the author for having the courage to write this.. I as a caregiver found this book very helpful and interesting.definitely a book worth reading, and one that is very interesting..
I think if there were a reading list for life, this book should be on it. As a journal, it is fluently written, with almost painful to read honesty.
In addition Gillies presents much research on both the disease and the process of laying down memory as a kingpin of identity.
Alzheimers may lie ahead for our grandparents, our parents and it may also lie ahead for us. Who knows - it is better to be well-informed in advance.
In addition Gillies presents much research on both the disease and the process of laying down memory as a kingpin of identity.
Alzheimers may lie ahead for our grandparents, our parents and it may also lie ahead for us. Who knows - it is better to be well-informed in advance.
Andrea Gillies writes about taking care of her mother-in-law Nancy who has Alzheimer's Disease and her father-in-law Morris who is physically disabled. Andrea and her husband recently bought a house on the Scottish coast to accommodate their three children and her in-laws. This is a an insightful and sometimes heartbreaking story about the horrors of Alzheimer's and the reality of aging.
If I could give this book TEN stars, I would...but unfortunately the most stars are five.
This was a library e-book, BUT, I will visit my local Barnes and Noble and buy this book. Very real story, especially since my father is in the middle stages of Alzheimers...excellent read that I could not put down.
So many pages of this book I felt like I could have written!
This was a library e-book, BUT, I will visit my local Barnes and Noble and buy this book. Very real story, especially since my father is in the middle stages of Alzheimers...excellent read that I could not put down.
So many pages of this book I felt like I could have written!
A nicely written memoir of the author's experiences taking care of her mother-in-law who has Alzheimer's and her aging father-in-law and how the Alzheimer's affects everyone in the family. The author also includes comprehensible information about the disease and its history and origins in the brain, about dementia, and about brain function.
A very raw and honest account of a relative's spiral into Alzheimer's, and the ripple effects this has on the entire family. This is more than a memoir: Gillies has done a lot of research into the disease and its effects, as well as society's responses to it, and the cultural implications of memory or its loss. Excellent read.
It was a bit heavy on medical and technical information, but the story about being a caretaker to her MIL in advanced stages of Alzheimers was very real. Some painful memories of my grandfather came to the surfaced but mainly I am just relieved that he died before he forgot who my grandmother was. He loved her so, even to the end!
The author writes about her journey through caregiving. She, her husband & 3 children, uproot their lives to move to a bigger house in Northern Scotland. This was in order to take in her husbands parents. Mother-in-law, Nancy, was suffering from the middle stages of Alzheimer's, and father-in-law, Morris, had mobility issues which progessed. Very honest account of her feelings of guilt, doubt, anger etc.
This is a grim book to read, particularly if you are coping with a loved one's descent into the hell that is Alzheimer's. But there is a good deal of valuable information here, as well as insight, that I later found helpful as my dad rapidly deteriorated and my mom began to unravel from the stress.
Having experience of a parent with dementia I was very intrigued to read this book. It definitely didn't disappoint and I felt I could relate to a great deal of it. It was very poignant in places but managed to show how this horrible degenerative disease ravages not only the patient but those around them.
I've met Andrea through Twitter and when I had an ugly exerience with a relative with Alzheimers and tweeted about it, Andrea was extremely supportive and helpful. After that I decided to buy the book. I haven't regretted that for a second. It's beautifully written, full of the latest research and very personal. I cannot believe how anybody can do what Andrea did for her mother-in-law. If you know anyone with Alzheimers, this is a good book to read. But it won't cheer you up.
A caregiver's account of her mother-in-law's descent into Alzheimer's and the trials of caring for her and her bedridden husband. Engrossing. Scary. Sad. Well-written and thought-provoking. Informative.
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| Keeper: One House, Three Generations, and..., by Andrea Gillies ISBN 978030771911aved | 1 | 3 | Mar 27, 2012 02:44pm |
I was born in York and went to school there, went to St Andrews University,then worked in theatre publicity and as a journalist and editor. Married another freelance, had three children,and lived in Somerset, Orkney, France. Now separated and living in Edinburgh. Spent 2 years looking after my mother-in-law, who has Alzheimer's, and wrote a diary which became a book: KEEPER, which won the Wellcome...more
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