Una Vida: A Fable of Music and the Mind

by Nicolas M. Bazán

In Dr. Nicolas Bazan's brilliant first novel, neuroscientist Alvaro Cruz finds himself haunted by a recurring dream of a banjo player in an elusive cornfield that leads him on a personal quest to uncover the mysterious past of a New Orleans street singer known as Una Vida. Stricken with Alzheimer's, Una Vida can only offer tantalizing clues about her past through her mesmerizing vocals, incredible recollection of jazz lyrics, and the occasional verbal revisiting of a fascinating life that's fading quickly and forever into the recess of her mind. As Cruz searches for Una Vida's true identity, he learns profound lessons about the human psyche, the nature of memory and himself.

218 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2008

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly interesting book about Alzheimer’s. A good read.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Says it is a novel, but seems from the biography it must be real in terms of this neuropsychiatrist moved from being just a scientist to involving his self with the wandering/lost mind of a person with Alzheimers. Using music to reach people and his making a real life discovery with the primary character.