Still Alice in Reading with Style

May 10, 2012 Karen Michele Burns rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-5-star-books

A few years ago, the American Library Association’s Midwinter Conference was in Seattle and I had a chance to attend (I was a high school librarian before retirement). Lisa Genova spoke at the conference and it was fascinating to hear her knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease and encouraging to hear about some of the progress being made toward fighting the condition. I had read the book before the conference and it was a 5 star read for me, but I did not review it at the time, so the details are not ...more

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Mar 27, 2015 Jayme(theghostreader) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library-books-read, 5-star-books, hfu2015ba

I thought this book was well researched. I got into the story. I learned more about Alzheimer's. I thought the author did a good job of telling the story of what a person with Alzheimer's goes through and what it is like for the person and their families. I could sympathize with the character of Alice. I saw the distinct stages she was going through and I have a better awareness of what Alzheimer's is. I was proud of Alice in the preliminary steps she took to help her remember because she knew o ...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Bucket rated it really liked it

Shelves: psychology, life-and-death, women, reviewed, tragedy, literary, unreliable-narrator, science, identity, language

My cousin recommended this book to me as our 61-year-old aunt has early-onset Alzheimer's. For me, it was so helpful (and frightening) to experience the perspective of Alice herself, the one actually experiencing the disease. I agree with Genova that having this perspective was worth the sacrifice of the thoughts and feelings of Alice's family, as well as the lack of clarity towards the end when Alice's condition has very much deteriorated.

The book confirms what I suspected, that a person with ...more

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Oct 20, 2009 Juniper rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-books, owned

I rate this novel 4 Stars.

I received this book for Christmas 2008. Shortly into the New Year of 2009 my 69 year old father experienced some very serious health problems. In late February, 2009 he was diagnosed with an illness called 'Parkinson's Plus' ~ the lucky pluses (on top of Parkinson's disease) being Lewy Body Dementia. Needless to say I was not hugely motivated to read a book about early on-set Alzheimer's, since we were living through our own personal experience. I left the book until l I rate this novel 4 Stars.

I received this book for Christmas 2008. Shortly into the New Year of 2009 my 69 year old father experienced some very serious health problems. In late February, 2009 he was diagnosed with an illness called 'Parkinson's Plus' ~ the lucky pluses (on top of Parkinson's disease) being Lewy Body Dementia. Needless to say I was not hugely motivated to read a book about early on-set Alzheimer's, since we were living through our own personal experience. I left the book until late April 2009 when, after the urging of a good friend, I finally picked it up. I don't really know what I completely expected, but Genova's educational and career backgrounds lead me to hope for an unique perspective on going through a diagnosis like this and then deciding 'now what?'. I know I was wishing for a story that wasn't dark and dreary.

I am so glad I finally did read this Still Alice. Alice's awareness of what was happening to her was well written and I really felt as though I was in her head, going through the worry too. I sometimes wondered if that much clarity/recognition is often experienced by patients at the initial on-set of Alzheimer's, but I had no trouble allowing fictional latitude and the fact that Alice's and Genova's backgrounds allow for more awareness on a day-to-day basis. The relationship between Alice and her husband gave interesting insight and this was the only area where I wished for a bit more detail.

The book deals with a serious and sad disease but it did not bring me down and, in fact, I found it hopeful. I appreciated the way Alice took charge of things and hoped that her 'deal with it' attitude caught on with a lot of readers and encouraged people to be pro-active in their approach to health concerns.

When I finished the book I circulated it out to my family and friends.Six months later my book is still out-and-about, and the story is being appreciated by everyone who has read it. For me the book gave me a small amount of personal hope and comfort at a difficult time.

~ My reviews are, generally, never this personal, but I could think of no other way to write a review of this book. Sorry! ~

14 april 14: edited to add:
you know, this book never made it back to me. it made the rounds through a friend's workplace (in a hospital) and was read and loved by pretty much everyone in whose hands it landed. but it got very beat up in the process and eventually fell apart. ...more

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Feb 04, 2015 Sandra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, winter-challenge-2014-2015, books-read-in-2015, goodreads-giveaways

I first read this book shortly after its release in 2007 as part of a reading challenge and loved it. As with Lisa Genova’s novel ‘Left Neglected’, the story of Alice has stayed with me all these years. So when I received a copy of ‘Still Alice’ through a giveaway, I was more than happy to read it again and share my thoughts of it with you in the hopes that you will pick up this book and read it too.

Alice Howland is a well respected and very successful cognitive psychology professor at Harvard. I first read this book shortly after its release in 2007 as part of a reading challenge and loved it. As with Lisa Genova’s novel ‘Left Neglected’, the story of Alice has stayed with me all these years. So when I received a copy of ‘Still Alice’ through a giveaway, I was more than happy to read it again and share my thoughts of it with you in the hopes that you will pick up this book and read it too.

Alice Howland is a well respected and very successful cognitive psychology professor at Harvard. At 50, she is happily married to John, a successful academic in his own right, and is the mother to three grown children, Anna, Tom and Lydia. After several instances of disorientation and forgetfulness, she seeks out medical help and is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Although afraid of losing her self-awareness and that which makes her ‘Alice,’ and powerless in the face of this incurable disease, Alice is determined to live life on her terms, with courage and dignity.

There are a number of books, both fiction and non-fiction, available out there that give the reader wonderful insight into the emotional and physical struggles of caregivers on the front lines, dealing day in and day out with the destruction that Alzheimer’s wields on their loved ones. Their courage and strength is admirable and I take my hat off to them. In the case of ‘Still Alice’ however, Lisa Genova has taken a different road, choosing to examine the perspective of the Alzheimer’s victim. Told entirely in Alice’s voice, using her memories and perception of her present situation, the reader has a sense of taking this journey with her.

As the novel progresses so does Alice’s dementia, and her once sharp, intelligent mind and exceptional memory become increasingly unreliable, muddled and distorted. Her frustration when she forgets a word, or can’t find her keys makes us cringe and think about that time when we couldn’t find our phone or couldn’t remember that word on the tip of our tongue. Our heart breaks for her as she slowly gives up the things she loves, like writing, reading and running, because we love these things too. We cry when she forgets the ones she loves because we can’t fathom a life in which we don’t recognise or remember our spouse or children.

Alzheimer’s disease destroys the essence of what makes us who we are: memories, knowledge, experiences, feelings and the relationships we have with friends and loved ones. This is what defines us. Through Alice’s story, Lisa Genova has brought these issues together and written a powerful novel about love, courage and the human spirit.

I absolutely recommend this wonderful novel and give it 5/5 stars.
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Nov 19, 2010 Cindie rated it really liked it

Shelves: winter-reading-challenge-2010-2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 22, 2011 Kim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star, audio, alzheimer-autism, new-england, 1000books

4.5 stars - I really enjoyed the story line and the writing, but this is one book where listening to the audio version detracted from my enjoyment somewhat.

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