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What Members Thought
Moving and compassionate...I wanted to know more about Alice...I grew to love her and found myself cheering her on!
This was written beautifully and from the mind of one who has early-onset Alzheimer's. Wow, I was taken back and couldn't put this one down. Very realistic and informative as well as moving.
The family portrayed was so real that I had to remind myself that it was Fiction. The author did a wonderful job getting into the mind of someone with this disease and her presentation of the cli ...more
This was written beautifully and from the mind of one who has early-onset Alzheimer's. Wow, I was taken back and couldn't put this one down. Very realistic and informative as well as moving.
The family portrayed was so real that I had to remind myself that it was Fiction. The author did a wonderful job getting into the mind of someone with this disease and her presentation of the cli ...more
Powerful! I became so caught up in Alice's story, her diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's at age 50 and her struggle to retain some sense of self, that I was easily consumed by the emotions of it. By the end of the book, I was choking back tears. The use of Alice as the narrator was pure genius to convey just what a nightmare this woman's life becomes. It being a work of fiction was the farthest thought from my mind, as the terror of it seemed only too real, and, indeed, it reflects the fear we
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This is a sensitive and optimistic narrative about a Harvard professor who is a victim of early onset Alzheimer's disease. It is certainly a timely topic, though at first I felt some trepidation about even thinking about it. The author, much like the title character, is a Dr. of neuroscience at Harvard, and well informed on her topic.
She shows great insight into the changing mental state of Alice as well as describing some of the same events from the perspective of those who observe Alice, incl ...more
She shows great insight into the changing mental state of Alice as well as describing some of the same events from the perspective of those who observe Alice, incl ...more
Wow. Told from the point of view of a Harvard professor with early onset Alzheimers, we experience the progression of the disease along with her. At some points heartbreaking and sad but with an overall feeling of hopefulness; Alice is still Alice even though she has Alzheimers. The other members of the family make mistakes and are fearful, but then they adjust and cope. The author does an excellent job of showing, not telling. For instance, there is a point when John (Alice's husband) is sittin
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Jul 25, 2009
Kathleen Hagen
added it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
2009-audio-books,
2009-fiction
Still Alice, by Lisa Genova, narrated by the author, produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
Alice Howland has just turned 50. She has a very successful life as a cognitive psychologist and an expertise in linguistics. She is world famous and is known for her phenomenal memory. Then, she suddenly notices that she is forgetting things, first just words at inappropriate times, but soon other things. She believes at first it’s just memory problems due to menopause, but the ...more
Alice Howland has just turned 50. She has a very successful life as a cognitive psychologist and an expertise in linguistics. She is world famous and is known for her phenomenal memory. Then, she suddenly notices that she is forgetting things, first just words at inappropriate times, but soon other things. She believes at first it’s just memory problems due to menopause, but the ...more
Lisa Genova delivers a very powerful and beautiful first novel. Still Alice, though not a memoir, it has those qualities that draw you into believing this is someone’s life. The viewpoint is from Alice, a 50 year old tenured professor of Psychology at Harvard University, whose life work is figuring out how the brain processes language. With her self-worth strongly identified with her career, a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease sends shock waves through her psyche and those of her husb
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I was a little bit reluctant to read this book, in that it was an "assignment" from my mother-in-law (as a family member on my husband's side has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's). I am generally resistant to someone - anyone - telling me I *must* do something. But then a friend (Kim) mentioned how much she enjoyed it and how touching it was, so I picked it up again. I now see those with failing minds in a whole new light. I felt such compassion for Alice, which in turn gave me compassion for my
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Imagine you are a 50-year old Harvard college professor diagnosed with Early Onset Alzeimer's Disease. This is a jarring, disturbing story everyone I know ought to force themselves to read. It would be great for a book club discussion.
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I can't say enough "good" about this book. Written from the viewpoint of a 50 year woman with Alzheimer's disease, it take you on her roller coaster decline. This was a disturbing book in the fact that I now seem to doubt every moment of forgetfulness I ever have. It will stay with me a long time.
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Amazing book. My father-in-law has late onset Alzheimers, so this book hit home to me. Even without that connection I recommend this book to anyone. Alice really came alive for me and I wish her peace.
A haunting portrayal of early-onset Alzheimer's written by a Harvard PhD in neuroscience. The novel takes one into the mind of the main character, a female Harvard professor, as she lives through the very first signs of the disease through to her significant disability.
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Fabulous. Intelligent and emotionally provoking. Helped me to connect with the emotional journey and raw experience of an Alzheimer's sojourner.
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One of my favorite books this year!
Compelling read.
It was a very touching story. It is very scary to read, but very good considering my project in advancing AD therapy. The author wasn't exactly correct in her Q&A at the end of the book in describing the progression of the disease by omitting the crucial role of metal ions in amyloid beta aggregation. Alice's story is very important to tell, but otherwise I did not find innovation in story telling.
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This is my newest favorite book!From a literary point of view it is nothing special but from an emotional impact perspective it is very powerful. Alice is a Harvard professor who has just been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. You feel her loss and confusion and the science is very straight forward. Raises great questions about heredity and genetic testing. Read it!
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Terrifying and heartbreaking but hard to put down. I hope and pray that researchers find something to at least slow down the progression of this disease, if not cure it. I'm looking forward to seeing this movie, though I know it will be tough to watch.
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