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rylee_the_captain_krane's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Another emotional through-the-wringer story, full of information but also an awful lot of humanity.
In the same vein as Still Alice, Genova gives another dehumanising condition a human face, and takes the reader on a journey from the early days when disbelief won't allow the reality to be accepted, to the full-on nightmare of a person becoming crushed and taken away a piece at a time.
You may not like Richard very much as a person - a world-famous pianist, divorced from his wife and estranged from his daughter, but as you see him being slowly debilitated by motor neurone disease, losing first his fingers... it's hard not to see our common ground rather than what marks us all as different.
In a slightly inexplicable move, Richard's ex-wife Karina, comes back into his life after she hears the news. Karina is the more sympathetic of the two initially, but Genova allows the two to tell us the story of Richard's degeneration.
I had trouble pausing and putting the book down. I felt totally engrossed and caught up in Richard's life, and the marriage of Karina and the pianist who favoured his instrument and career over his family.
Hard-hitting, upsetting but impossible to forget. It takes you every step of the way, with a few scenes and doesn't skimp on the indignities of Richard's condition.
Very moving, well worth reading.
In the same vein as Still Alice, Genova gives another dehumanising condition a human face, and takes the reader on a journey from the early days when disbelief won't allow the reality to be accepted, to the full-on nightmare of a person becoming crushed and taken away a piece at a time.
You may not like Richard very much as a person - a world-famous pianist, divorced from his wife and estranged from his daughter, but as you see him being slowly debilitated by motor neurone disease, losing first his fingers... it's hard not to see our common ground rather than what marks us all as different.
In a slightly inexplicable move, Richard's ex-wife Karina, comes back into his life after she hears the news. Karina is the more sympathetic of the two initially, but Genova allows the two to tell us the story of Richard's degeneration.
I had trouble pausing and putting the book down. I felt totally engrossed and caught up in Richard's life, and the marriage of Karina and the pianist who favoured his instrument and career over his family.
Hard-hitting, upsetting but impossible to forget. It takes you every step of the way, with a few scenes and doesn't skimp on the indignities of Richard's condition.
Very moving, well worth reading.
cr4nkyp4nts's review against another edition
5.0
As soon as I saw Every Note Played, I knew I had to read it. The author's writing style lends itself perfectly for capturing the heartbreak and devastation involved when dealing with quickly progressing, degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS. She lets the reader get to know the characters involved slowly and without pulling so hard on our heartstrings that we end up a big sobbing mess and having missed the changes in the individuals and their relationships.
I honestly don't know how this book could have been better. The two narrators also did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life.
I highly recommend this book, as well as Still Alice.
I honestly don't know how this book could have been better. The two narrators also did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life.
I highly recommend this book, as well as Still Alice.
pam2375's review against another edition
5.0
I love love love Lisa Genova! This is the story of a very successful concert pianist that has been diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and his slow and painful deterioration.
This is a book that I was not able to put down. It is wonderfully written and painfully real. Have your tissues ready, because you are going to need them.
My thanks to netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for this advanced readers copy.
This is a book that I was not able to put down. It is wonderfully written and painfully real. Have your tissues ready, because you are going to need them.
My thanks to netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for this advanced readers copy.
jesslolsen's review against another edition
4.0
The best way I can reference this book is a cross between Tuesdays with Morrie and Me Before You.
This was a beautifully written book. It gave a deep insight into how one person might experience the disease, but there was also the family story which makes it different to Tuesday’s with Morrie.
Reading a book like this makes it so hard to believe that voluntary euthanasia is still not legal in Australia (except for Canberra with extremely tight, almost unattainable requirements)
I get that the relationship portrayed between Katrina and Richard was complex with years of hurt and betrayal behind it, but I wish there had been a bigger resolution to those issues. I felt like the apologies between Richard and his ex wife and daughter was left too late, I couldn’t relate to that because that would be the first thing I’d take care of! Even before a wheelchair or voice aid etc
This was a beautifully written book. It gave a deep insight into how one person might experience the disease, but there was also the family story which makes it different to Tuesday’s with Morrie.
Reading a book like this makes it so hard to believe that voluntary euthanasia is still not legal in Australia (except for Canberra with extremely tight, almost unattainable requirements)
I get that the relationship portrayed between Katrina and Richard was complex with years of hurt and betrayal behind it, but I wish there had been a bigger resolution to those issues. I felt like the apologies between Richard and his ex wife and daughter was left too late, I couldn’t relate to that because that would be the first thing I’d take care of! Even before a wheelchair or voice aid etc
marmasu1's review against another edition
Very sad. You know the ending almost right away. Predictable. Not. Great story line behind all of the medical facts.
kaceyp14's review against another edition
2.0
Not much character development. The whole thing felt rushed.
alidottie's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so real. It is intense. When I was first told to read Still Alice many years ago, I remember it being recommended that I not read it right before bed. This book effected me the way Still Alice must have effected that library patron! It haunted me throughout the day and sometimes at night. I wish I could have read it faster!
ALS is seriously depressing. I am so surprised that Stephen Hawking lived as long as he did with it! My heart goes out to all those whose life it has touched.
Genova is so good at what she does. If you care about learning what it is like to live with difficult health challenges, she is the author to turn to.
ALS is seriously depressing. I am so surprised that Stephen Hawking lived as long as he did with it! My heart goes out to all those whose life it has touched.
Genova is so good at what she does. If you care about learning what it is like to live with difficult health challenges, she is the author to turn to.
colleengeedrumm's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this books about ALS - at times hard to read, but so good. Get tissues ready! This talented author tackles disease like no one else. Highly recommend and her call to "put empathy in to action" campaign.
But where was Richard's thought process at the end? We definitely hear from Karina.
But where was Richard's thought process at the end? We definitely hear from Karina.