October 20, 2008
Neuroscientist and debut novelist Genova mines years of experience in her field to craft a realistic portrait of early onset Alzheimer's disease. Alice Howland has a career not unlike Genova's—she's an esteemed psychology professor at Harvard, living a comfortable life in Cambridge with her husband, John, arguing about the usual (making quality time together, their daughter's move to L.A.) when the first symptoms of Alzheimer's begin to emerge. First, Alice can't find her Blackberry, then she becomes hopelessly disoriented in her own town. Alice is shocked to be diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's (she had suspected a brain tumor or menopause), after which her life begins steadily to unravel. She loses track of rooms in her home, resigns from Harvard and eventually cannot recognize her own children. The brutal facts of Alzheimer's are heartbreaking, and it's impossible not to feel for Alice and her loved ones, but Genova's prose style is clumsy and her dialogue heavy-handed. This novel will appeal to those dealing with the disease and may prove helpful, but beyond the heartbreaking record of illness there's little here to remember.
November 15, 2008
In ahighly readableform of bibliotherapy, first-time novelist Genova, who holds a doctorate in neuroscience, meticulously traces the downward spiral of a woman suffering from early-onset Alzheimers disease. In September of 2003, 50-year-old Alice Howland leads a very busy, productive life as a psychology professor at Harvard, the spouse of abiology professor, and the mother of two growndaughters. But a series of memory problems, ranging from forgetting where she put her Blackberry to becoming disoriented on her daily run, sends her to the doctor.She learns that she is suffering from Alzheimers, and the subsequent months and years see a steady decline in her abilities. By September of 2005, theaccomplished professionalcan barely remember her own daughters names. Still Alice, however, is far from bleak as it depicts both the unalterable course ofthe disease and the various ways family members can cope with it. Clearly explaining the testing, treatment options, and symptoms ofthe diseasewithin the context of an absorbing family drama, Genova has written an ideal primer for anyone touched by Alzheimers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)