Still Alice in Crazy Challenge Connection

Mar 16, 2017 Olivermagnus rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, usa, 2017, 2020, fiction

Still Alice is the story of fifty year old Alice Howland who has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Nothing strikes such fear in the hearts of people over fifty than the thought of getting Alzheimer's. Unlike cancer, which now has many treatments and even cures available, there is no cure for Alzheimer's Disease.

When we first meet Alice she and her husband, John, are professors at Harvard University and parents of three adult children. Alice gets mildly concerned when she can' Still Alice is the story of fifty year old Alice Howland who has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Nothing strikes such fear in the hearts of people over fifty than the thought of getting Alzheimer's. Unlike cancer, which now has many treatments and even cures available, there is no cure for Alzheimer's Disease.

When we first meet Alice she and her husband, John, are professors at Harvard University and parents of three adult children. Alice gets mildly concerned when she can't find her Blackberry or forgets she's supposed to meet friends for dinner, but who hasn't experienced something like that. When she's out running her usual path through Harvard one day, all of a sudden she no longer recognizes where she is. That leads her to a doctor who eventually diagnoses her with Alzheimer's.

The story takes place over a fifteen month period where Alice goes from bemused forgetfulness to being introduced to someone and forgetting who they are minutes later. Her family struggles with trying to help her and many of the scenes, like Alice not being able to find the bathroom, are incredibly poignant. Throughout the book there's a running questionnaire that she takes every day, What is Your Name, Where do you Live, etc. A note from Alice at the bottom of the test tells her that once she can no longer answer the questions, it's time to read a document called the “Butterfly” file.

The author does a great job is making us empathize with Alice. She gives us a lot of information/facts about Alzheimer's, but she does it in a way that even the least medically inclined will understand. She does a wonderful job of bringing the challenges and heartbreaks of life with dementia into the spotlight. I especially enjoyed reading it from Alice's point of view. I do believe it's a highly romanticized accounting of what real Alzheimer's families go through. I don't personally know anyone with Alzheimer's but I do believe the care of the patient is much more chaotic than what this book depicts. Nevertheless it's a fiction book and not a clinical example of what a person will be like if they are diagnosed. I found it to be a beautifully written but heartbreaking book. ...more

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Jun 22, 2013 Cecily Black rated it really liked it

This really was both a beautiful and heartbreaking story. I know that my husband does not want to live if he is diagnosed with something like alzheimer's. ("I am my brain and if I can't use it properly then what is the point?") I watched the movie as well and I think they did a pretty good job. Some differences and definitely more insight to the characters thoughts and feelings but still I thought they were both really good. I, however, will pretty much always like the book version more. ...more

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Jun 19, 2013 Linda C rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, favorites

Alice Howland, tenured professor of cognitive psychology at Harvard, begins to notice some memory problems and not the typical kind for people aged 50. When her doctor eliminates some of the basic causes and wants to follow a wait and see approach, she insists on seeing a neurologist. Even so, when she finds she has early-onset Alzheimer’s she is floored. It takes several more tests and another doctor’s visit several months later before she can tell her husband and then her 3 adult children.
The ...more

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May 16, 2015 Joann rated it it was amazing

OMG I cried!
I read this as part of the 2015 Popsugar challenge - Read a book that scares you. With Alzheimer's prevalent in my family it truly scared me, but it was written extremely well. The moment I finished the book, I searched for ways to reduce my risks.

It is amazing how well the author was able to write in the voice of Alice. ...more

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Feb 25, 2015 BookishStitcher rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed-on-podcast

This book is very well written and definitely gives the reader a very real feel into the world so having Alzheimer's. So real in fact that it was hard for me to read. This book at turns made me very sad and upset. It was a very emotional read. I am torn between giving it a 5 star because the book really is well written. I gave it 3 because I didn't really enjoy this book (because of the sad subject), although I think it will stay with me for a very long time. ...more

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