Jennifer
asked
Lisa Genova:
Hi Lisa- I am a huge fan of your books. Both of my grandfathers had Alzhemier's and Still Alice really helped me to understand what they were going through. Also, I work with children and adults who have Autism so Love Anthony moved me. I am wondering where you get your inspiration from. Especially when writing abut specific disorders/ diseases? Thanks so much! -Jennifer
Lisa Genova
Hi Jennifer. Thank you so much. I'm sorry you lost both grandfathers to Alzheimer's. My grandmother had Alzheimer's, and I had such a hard time staying connected to her. I had sympathy but not empathy. I kept wondering, "What does is feel like to have this from her perspective?" I couldn't get to an answer. Two years after she passed away, I rearranged my life to answer that question. I'm so glad Still Alice was able to help you.
So Still Alice was inspired by my experience with my grandmother. Left Neglected was inspired by curiosity. I'd read about left side neglect, or hemispatial neglect, many times during my training as a neuroscientist, including in a brief chapter of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks. But I couldn't wrap my mind around it. Again, what does it feel like to have this bizarre condition, to walk through a whole world only aware of half of it?
Love Anthony was inspired by my beloved cousin's son, Anthony. He has a twin sister and is the same age as my oldest daughter, and their first few years were spent together. Anthony's autism is quite severe, and at 17 years old, he still doesn't speak. We have examples of what it feels like to live with autism from the Asperger's end of the spectrum--great books by Temple Grandin and John Elder Robison. But what about Anthony's end of the spectrum? I wanted to give a voice to the voiceless. Thank you for all that you do for people with autism.
Inside the O'Brien's was inspired by a desire to raise awareness about Huntington's disease. In February 1993, when I was 22 years old and working as a lab technician in a lab at MGH east in Charlestown, MA, the neuroscientists down the hall started celebrating. They'd just isolated the genetic mutation that causes Huntington's. I remember getting the chills, knowing I'd just witnessed a historic moment in science, and thinking that we'll soon see a cure for this disease. 25 years later, we still have no disease-modifying treatments or cure. I wrote Inside the O'Brien's to raise awareness and a sense of urgency. And I set the story in Charlestown as a nod to those amazing scientist who still work tirelessly, never giving up hope.
Every Note Played was inspired by Richard Glatzer, the co-director of the film Still Alice, who had bulbar ALS. He co-directed Still Alice unable to speak, typing on an iPad. I was so moved by his courage, his generosity, the resilience of his spirit. He died a few days after Julianne Moore received her Oscar for best actress.
Thanks and xo
So Still Alice was inspired by my experience with my grandmother. Left Neglected was inspired by curiosity. I'd read about left side neglect, or hemispatial neglect, many times during my training as a neuroscientist, including in a brief chapter of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks. But I couldn't wrap my mind around it. Again, what does it feel like to have this bizarre condition, to walk through a whole world only aware of half of it?
Love Anthony was inspired by my beloved cousin's son, Anthony. He has a twin sister and is the same age as my oldest daughter, and their first few years were spent together. Anthony's autism is quite severe, and at 17 years old, he still doesn't speak. We have examples of what it feels like to live with autism from the Asperger's end of the spectrum--great books by Temple Grandin and John Elder Robison. But what about Anthony's end of the spectrum? I wanted to give a voice to the voiceless. Thank you for all that you do for people with autism.
Inside the O'Brien's was inspired by a desire to raise awareness about Huntington's disease. In February 1993, when I was 22 years old and working as a lab technician in a lab at MGH east in Charlestown, MA, the neuroscientists down the hall started celebrating. They'd just isolated the genetic mutation that causes Huntington's. I remember getting the chills, knowing I'd just witnessed a historic moment in science, and thinking that we'll soon see a cure for this disease. 25 years later, we still have no disease-modifying treatments or cure. I wrote Inside the O'Brien's to raise awareness and a sense of urgency. And I set the story in Charlestown as a nod to those amazing scientist who still work tirelessly, never giving up hope.
Every Note Played was inspired by Richard Glatzer, the co-director of the film Still Alice, who had bulbar ALS. He co-directed Still Alice unable to speak, typing on an iPad. I was so moved by his courage, his generosity, the resilience of his spirit. He died a few days after Julianne Moore received her Oscar for best actress.
Thanks and xo
More Answered Questions
Stephanie
asked
Lisa Genova:
Have you thought of writing a book about Deaf characters? Although deafness isn't a disease, how it is treated by the medical community (something that needs a cure: cochlear implants) vs the Deaf community (they have a special culture and are not broken) is always interesting. Destigmatizing signing, showing that ASL is its own language, & how manual languages are accessible to the Deaf would be a great service.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more