Still Alice

By Lisa Genova

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“My yesterdays are disappearing, and my tomorrows are uncertain, so what do I live for? I live for each day. I live in the moment.”

Still Alice by Lisa Genova is a story about Alzheimer’s. Alice Howland is a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard. At fifty years of age, she has a successful career, a husband and family. One day she begins to lose things. One of these things is her memory. Still Alice is a story depicting the unraveling of a life as the result of early onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

The characters and interaction felt true to life, so much so that I found myself irritated at various family members at times, just as if a friend were telling me about these family situations.

I admire Genova’s writing. A tremendous amount of information is given in this novel and it never sounded like an information dump. The facts are interwoven and do not distract from the story but enhance it.

This is a book that makes you think about what you would do in a similar situation, brings attention to the issue, and tugs at the heart. The situations and characters felt real. If there were any lags in the story they were not enough for me to pay any mind to.

While I wouldn’t say it was an easy read due to the oh-too-real issue of Alzheimer’s, the storytelling was easy to follow, well done, thought provoking, and engaging. This was a book I could read straight through. It had just the right amount of emotion for me, not so much as to overwhelm, but enough to propel the story. It is quite beautiful and sad at the same time.

A good book for discussion and simply a good read.

Recommended.

I listened to the audiobook read by the author. This was more of a reading than a performance, but was adequate and well done.

Issues of Concern

Nothing other than what you would expect for the subject matter, explores the issue of Alzheimer’s, Illness, a couple instances of profanity (completely within the flow of the story and a realistic reaction to story events), family dynamics during stressful times.

Reading Guide for Still Alice by Lisa Genova from Simon and Shuster.

Author Lisa Genova on ‘Still Alice’ becoming a Movie

Lisa Genova’s Author Website

Did you read Still Alice? What did you think? Have you read any books similar to Still Alice? Leave a comment below. I want to hear from you!

Linked up at

Literacy Musing Mondays, The Book Nook, Cozy Reading Spot

© 2015, Donna Stone. All rights reserved.