Ask Lisa Genova! discussion

I read Still Alice when it first came out and was blown away by the book. Your writing is the kind of writing that makes me feel like I should give up the dream of writing.Still Alice was an amazing book, and for a debut novel....I know I could never write the way you do.
Even after all this time the character of Alice is still so bold in my mind, and with as many books as I read characters tend to fade over time.

What do you do to develop your characters? What are some of the tools you use to make them so real, and so human? Alice was so complex, and so vulnerable, and strong. I'd love your advice.

I agree with Heather. Your characters stay in the readers mind long after they have read the book. I have shared with many friends about the characters in your book. Some would even go to say that they can't finish reading the books because the characters are so real, they can not handle it. What's your angle?

I agree with these comments. The minute I finished Still Alice I sent out a mass email recommending it and the word I used was "haunting". I could not get Alice out of my head! I've read Left Neglected and loved it too. I can't wait to read whatever comes next.

Heather wrote: "I read Still Alice when it first came out and was blown away by the book. Your writing is the kind of writing that makes me feel like I should give up the dream of writing.Still Alice was an amazin..."

Hi Heather, Cindy, and Sandy,

Wow, thanks so much! In terms of character development--I begin with a lot of research, and the best research is always outside of the textbooks, talking to real people who live with Alzheimer's or Left Neglect. I also use a lot of the tools I learned when I studied acting--you're always telling the truth under imaginary circumstances, raise the stakes as high as possible whenever possible, what do people want from each other, what happens if they don't get it, how are people changed by what happens. Read Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. Heather, keep writing! Best wishes!

Dear Lisa --

Thanks for answering so many questions for us! I seem to have run across a number of authors recently, so I've been contemplating writing a book as well. You elected to write about what you know -- neuroscience. What I know is intellectual property law and optimism, which don't really go together. ;--). I'll take a look at Ms. Goldberg's book. But I'm wondering -- do you feel like the most effective books are written by someone who already knows about a particular subject and then researches more and writes about it? Or are great books also written by those who do not have a background in tne subject and do even more research?

Hi Christen,

I think you need a passionate curiosity but not a prior knowledge. I actually knew very little about Alzheimer's and almost nothing about Neglect before I began the research for each book. But I WANTED to understand these conditions as much as possible, and fortunately for me, my background gave me the credibility I needed to walk through all the doors I knocked on.

A great example for you is Geraldine Brooks. I recently heard her speak at the Martha's Vineyard Book Festival, and she was talking about her most recent book, CALEB'S CROSSING. It's about the first Native American to go to Harvard in the 1600's (!). She didn't know anything about this subject prior to writing this book; she wasn't an expert on Harvard history or Native American history. But she loves history, and she was captivated by this man's story. She described her process as following the threads of fact and truth as far as you can, and then leaping off into fiction from there.

Still Alice is one of my absolute favorite books. I read it after my mother died from breast cancer, and it gave me new insights into and understanding of the brain metastasis-induced dementia she suffered from. I especially enjoyed your narration of the audio version.

I loved reading about Alice, the changes she goes through as her disease progresses, and her changing relationships with her children and others. I had a more difficult time with John; he was a less likeable character. Initially he seemed to deny Alice's Alzheimer's, then there were a few ways that he connected emotionally (the DVD player and DVDs), but he became more and more distant, using science and his lab. as an escape. I thought he was understandably fighting his own internal battle, but I guess I just didn't like his choices. "One last sabbatical year together. She wouldn't trade that in for anything. Apparently, he would." Other people have asked about character development, but I'm wondering specifically how you researched and wrote John. Is he based upon single-minded scientists that you have worked with? Did you interview care-takers to accurately portray their difficulties and struggles?

I love your books, with the perfect balance of scientific explanation and information, and heart and emotion. I can't wait to read Love Anthony. Thank you for your wonderful books!

Hi b,

I agree that John is not a very likeable person as seen in his response to Alice's changes, but I think he's very realistic. He seems to love the Alice he knows, the Alice he married, the adored professional and researcher in her field. After he researches the disease and possible treatments, he's at a loss and he doesn't have much sympathy for the woman ravaged by the disease by the time he thinks about moving to NYC. It's probably best for all that he leaves, taking his intolerance with him--who would want someone like that around any way? The rest of the family rise to the situation and put together a plan that works. Alice misses John and may question his love, and that is sad but realistic. He also doesn't feel he should give up this once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity for a number of reasons. He's mourning Alice's mental death already, and perhaps his new career will help him mourn her later on when his presence wouldn't matter--namely upon her death. Whatever his reasons, it's clear that he has a less than tolerant and loving response to her continuing decline. We wish this weren't the case. But he changes as much as Alice does, and I see some reason to sympathize with him.

b wrote: "Still Alice is one of my absolute favorite books. I read it after my mother died from breast cancer, and it gave me new insights into and understanding of the brain metastasis-induced dementia she ..."

Lisa wrote: "Hi Christen,

I think you need a passionate curiosity but not a prior knowledge. I actually knew very little about Alzheimer's and almost nothing about Neglect before I began the research for each..."

Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for having this discussion group! I have read both Still Alice and Left Neglected and have enjoyed them immensely. Thank you for taking such hard topics and making them 'tangible' so to speak.
My question for you is about the voices you choose for Alice and Sarah. To me Alice, read like a memoir, I kept forgetting that she was fictional. And Sarah, read more like a true fictional character, someone that I was looking at from afar. Was this your intent? Could you explain a little bit about your choice in voice?
Thank you again for your great books and the time you have given us with this discussion group!
Stacy

Stacy wrote: "Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for having this discussion group! I have read both Still Alice and Left Neglected and have enjoyed them immensely. Thank you for taking su..."

Hi Stacy,

LEFT NEGLECTED was written in the first person, which was a challenging choice once she got in her accident and was only aware of the right side of everything. But I thought it was a necessary choice because I wanted the reader to experience what Sarah felt with intimacy and immediacy, and I wanted you to experience her internal struggles and emotional journey firsthand. I'm sorry that this didn't seem to work for you. Both books were written with the intent of giving you the experience of these neurological conditions from the inside out.

Lisa,
Thank you for your insight on my question. I didn't mean to imply that it didn't work for me, only that I noticed a difference. In fact, I thought both were very effective. Walking in Alice's shoes impacted me one way, and watching Sarah impacted me in another. You truly have a gift for writing about what goes on in someones head!
Thank you again for your time and your wonderful novels,
Stacy