Genova, Lisa - Still Alice ; Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date December 16 2014

[VNerdbooks]

Chapter 5 .........need more kleenex

[K~Terror]

For real....

I've got mixed emotions about John. (view spoiler)[ Alice was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and in a year, the life that she knew and loved, has been turned upside down. She can't perform her job. She can't run. She doesn't want to go out to parties and to dinner with other people because of the pity looks and the uncomfortable feelings of knowing you're forgetting things and creating awkward situations...

John seems to be hiding in his job still... He is still working late and traveling. He even takes a job in another city because it is good for him and what he wants.

I know that her work was important to her before too and maybe their relationship worked for them that way OK.. But I think John needs to quit hiding behind his work and step up and be there for Alice. I didn't think being Alice's running buddy was asking too much - it was something normal and something that was important and helped her - why couldn't he make that a priority for her? I'm sure what he's going through is terrible, watching his whip-smart wife become so forgetful and having trouble with day-to-day activities - but feel like later he will regret not making time for her.

I love her kids!
(hide spoiler)]

[VNerdbooks]

Yeah I know what you mean he (view spoiler)[ seems to "know it all" when he goes to the Drs meetings and suggests everything for her to do, but then when it comes down to the simple things like running with her, he doesn't step up! (hide spoiler)]

[VNerdbooks]

I hate the way (view spoiler)[ her work friends are treating her, it's like she's got some sort of contiguous disease !! (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "For real....

I've got mixed emotions about John...."

(view spoiler)[ There are a few times where he is just beautiful with her, but a lot of the time he doesn't seem able to cope emotionally with what is happening (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

V Audio Nerd wrote: "I hate the way [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ That really demonstrates the stigma around mental illness and these types of diseaase (hide spoiler)]

I was watching an old episode of Nurse Jackie the other day and one of the patients came into the ER in handcuffs. A big naked guy - ex footballer who had early onset alzeimers and had zoned out and taken off all his clothes in public somewhere. I hadn't heard much about it before reading Still Alice.

[VNerdbooks]

No its something that you don't hear a lot about, it's like an embarrassing secret that doesn't get mentioned in public!

[K~Terror]

It's such a heartbreaking illness for everyone in contact with it. I hadn't realized JUST how debilitating it really was. My grandma had it but she was in her 80s... So it seemed sort of more normal - she didn't work and a lot of her "buddies" (golden girls) were in nursing homes... It was just sad for my mom and her siblings when she couldn't remember them..

[VNerdbooks]

I think it is associated with and thought of as something that "old people" get, so when someone young is affected it is something that is really very hard to understand.

[VNerdbooks]

erghh her speech :•(

And the computer ........

such a sad sad book.

[Renee]

V Audio Nerd wrote: "erghh her speech :•(

And the computer ........

such a sad sad book."

I lost count of how many times I started sobbing. And this was the second time I've read it. I really want to see the movie too, but it isn't showing where I live. Long wait for the DVD.....

[VNerdbooks]

I think the movie may be a sob fest!
It won a BAFTA last night, well Julianne Moore did.

[Renee]

Got to see the movie while on holiday! All puffy eyed now.

[VNerdbooks]

Loved it !

[Renee]

I kept thinking .... will happen next and getting all choked up before it even happened. They completely left out her phd student, his letter made me very the most in the book.

I heard someone gasp when they saw she had wet her pants, I was already crying.

[VNerdbooks]

Yeah I knew that bit was coming and filled up, the speech really got me.
Julieanne Moore deserved an Oscar for it I think, she played her really well, still not sure about Kristen Stewart though.

[Renee]

Yeah, she seemed too sulky.