Marianne Perry's Blog - Posts Tagged "adhd"
Left Neglect by Lisa Genova
Who are you when...?
Left Neglect by Lisa Genova
Set in Boston and Vermont over the course of approximately one year, Left Neglect is the story of 37 year old Sarah Nickerson, a career driven married mother of three who suffers a brain injury as a result of a cell phone distraction while driving.
As a doctor explains in Chapter 8,"She has Left Neglect. It's a pretty common condition for patients who've suffered damage to the right-hemisphere, usually from a hemorrhage or stroke. Her brain isn't paying attention to anything on her left. Left doesn't exist to her."
The novel outlines Sarah's rehabilitation both in the hospital/clinic and at home and the impact her altered condition has on family dynamics. Genova guides the reader through Sarah's re-evaluation of goals, attitudes and priorities. Sarah's estranged three decades relationship with her mother is explored given she becomes the primary caregiver. Also, the accidental drowning of her 3 year old brother, Nate when she a child and the impact her mother endured. The effect Sarah's inability to work creates for her husband, Bob, as he absorbs full financial responsibility is well-depicted as is the adaptation forced by her young son's diagnosis with ADHD.
The chapters focusing on Sarah's struggles are vivid and poignant. Genova uses humor to humanize Sarah and Bob's tensions as they sort out their "new" 10-year old marriage. The parallels between Sarah's trying to relearn basic tasks such as reading a newspaper and Charlie, her ADHD son, attempting to employ strategies to improve his school tasks serves a clever tool helping us understand the severity of Left Neglect.
The book, however, tends to lose focus when Genova shifts into backstory and, as a result, interest wanes. The ending, too, seems tidy, unrealistic and unsatisfactory.
Genova merits praises for the medical and support information she provides in the Author's Note as well as the excellent Readers Group Guide.
Left Neglect is a good read.
Marianne Perry
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca (less)
Left Neglect by Lisa Genova
Set in Boston and Vermont over the course of approximately one year, Left Neglect is the story of 37 year old Sarah Nickerson, a career driven married mother of three who suffers a brain injury as a result of a cell phone distraction while driving.
As a doctor explains in Chapter 8,"She has Left Neglect. It's a pretty common condition for patients who've suffered damage to the right-hemisphere, usually from a hemorrhage or stroke. Her brain isn't paying attention to anything on her left. Left doesn't exist to her."
The novel outlines Sarah's rehabilitation both in the hospital/clinic and at home and the impact her altered condition has on family dynamics. Genova guides the reader through Sarah's re-evaluation of goals, attitudes and priorities. Sarah's estranged three decades relationship with her mother is explored given she becomes the primary caregiver. Also, the accidental drowning of her 3 year old brother, Nate when she a child and the impact her mother endured. The effect Sarah's inability to work creates for her husband, Bob, as he absorbs full financial responsibility is well-depicted as is the adaptation forced by her young son's diagnosis with ADHD.
The chapters focusing on Sarah's struggles are vivid and poignant. Genova uses humor to humanize Sarah and Bob's tensions as they sort out their "new" 10-year old marriage. The parallels between Sarah's trying to relearn basic tasks such as reading a newspaper and Charlie, her ADHD son, attempting to employ strategies to improve his school tasks serves a clever tool helping us understand the severity of Left Neglect.
The book, however, tends to lose focus when Genova shifts into backstory and, as a result, interest wanes. The ending, too, seems tidy, unrealistic and unsatisfactory.
Genova merits praises for the medical and support information she provides in the Author's Note as well as the excellent Readers Group Guide.
Left Neglect is a good read.
Marianne Perry
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca (less)
