Review: Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Posted by on February 10, 2010 10 Comments
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Genre:  General Fiction
Trade-size Paperback
293 pages
ISBN:  978-1439102817
My Rating:  5 stars
Meets my 2010 Reading Challenges:
Synopsis:
Still Alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman’s sudden descent into early onset Alzheimer’s disease, written by first-time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph. D in neuroscience from Harvard University.
Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the Cape, is a celebrated Harvard professor at the height of her career wen she notices a forgetfulness creeping into her life. As confusion starts to cloud her thinking and her memory begins to fail her, she receives a devastating diagnosis: early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Fiercely independent, Alice struggles to maintain her lifestyle and live in the moment, even as her sense of self is being stripped away. In turns heartbreaking, inspiring and terrifying, Still Alice captures in remarkable detail what’s it’s like to literally lose your mind…

Reminiscent of A Beautiful Mind, Ordinary People and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Still Alice packs a powerful emotional punch and marks the arrival of a strong new voice in fiction.

My Thoughts:

This is one of the most incredible books I have ever read.  It is going into my top 10 all-time favorites.  It is the story of 50 year old Alice Howland, a cognitive psychology professor and researcher at Harvard, who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.  The story is told from Alice’s perspective as she progresses through the disease.  It is sad and heartbreaking, but also a beautiful story of familial relationships.  We see the effect of the disease on Alice’s husband and three children, the most striking of which is between her and her somewhat estranged daughter, Lydia.  Once you start it, you will not be able to put it down.  It is wonderfully written and highly engaging.  I immediately gave the book to my sister-in-law to read (my mom is next!).  I cannot rave about this book enough!!  Wonderful story.

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Comments

  1. Diane says:
    February 10, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    I loved this story as well; great review.

    Reply
  2. Connie says:
    February 10, 2010 at 10:05 pm

    The very thought of Alzheimers gives me a panic attack so I've put off reading it, but this review is really giving me second thoughts. Damn!

    Reply
  3. MarceJ says:
    February 11, 2010 at 1:03 am

    As you know I agree, GREAT GREAT GREAT. Very nice review Jennifer.I have only recently realised it is one of my all time favourites also and I will totally read again.

    Reply
  4. Christine says:
    February 12, 2010 at 1:29 pm

    I just got this book in the mail, and I am soooo looking forward to it after your comments.

    Reply
  5. Jennifer (Crazy-for- says:
    December 24, 2010 at 3:56 am

    I loved, loved, loved this book! I just got an ARC of her next book and can't wait to read it! Definitely let me know what you think of this one!!!

    Reply
  6. Jennifer (Crazy-for-Books) says:
    December 24, 2010 at 3:56 am

    I loved, loved, loved this book! I just got an ARC of her next book and can't wait to read it! Definitely let me know what you think of this one!!!

    Reply
  7. teresasreadingcorner says:
    December 24, 2010 at 3:56 am

    I think this is the one that I was looking for. I have a friend in her 50's that has early onset Alzheimer's. We do the Memory Walk with her and her family each year. I wish I had figured it out sooner, I would have featured it when we did the walk in September. I'll be picking this one up.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 2010 Challenge: Reading From My Shelves Project says:
    August 29, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    [...] Still Alice by Lisa Genova (PBS Swap Game) [...]

    Reply
  2. February Wrap-up! says:
    August 29, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    [...] Still Alice by Lisa Genova (5+/5) [...]

    Reply
  3. Review & Blog Tour: The Truth About Delilah Blue by Tish Cohen says:
    September 20, 2011 at 11:18 am

    [...] to read about his descent into early-onset Alzheimer’s.  It reminded me of the book Still Alice by Lisa Genova.  It’s heartbreaking and I really felt for him.  He is a bit of a quirky character; [...]

    Reply

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