Scan barcode
snikkidee's review
4.0
Characters: 5 stars. It's amazing how she gets into the heads of someone who has such a different perspective
Originality: 5 stars.
Plot: 2.5 stars. The story is more about character development. Nothing revolutionary happens in the plot.
Writing style: 4 stars. I just couldn't get behind the dream sequences.
Not as good as Still Alice, imo, but still good. I'll continue to read her books.
Originality: 5 stars.
Plot: 2.5 stars. The story is more about character development. Nothing revolutionary happens in the plot.
Writing style: 4 stars. I just couldn't get behind the dream sequences.
Not as good as Still Alice, imo, but still good. I'll continue to read her books.
peaknit's review
4.0
Another great book by this author. It makes you realize what you have when you feel like life is too hard.
kyliea32's review
5.0
This was another fascinating read from Lisa Genova, and the second book I've read of hers. What I enjoyed most was that Lisa wrote it from the first person narrative of the main character Sarah as she experiences how her stroke affects everyday life and it's challenges. It's written in a way that readers can get a pretty accurate understanding of the challenges involved with overcoming Left Neglect, specifically the unawareness involved.
abbywebb's review
4.0
Not as awesome as her first novel, Still Alice, but I'm glad Genova decided to write about something a little less mainstream. I had a patient with left neglect (albeit not as high functioning as Sarah) - it was nice to hear about this disorder from the patient's perspective.
alicebme's review
4.0
Book club. This specific combo of fiction and neuroscience is right up my alley. Also, the mother/daughter bits are spot on.
caitlinh311's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Such a well writing and thought provoking book. It really makes you think about what you have, and what you can lose in an instant. What is important, and what isn’t.
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
lastpaige111's review
5.0
Genova's voice is lyrical, and she explores the interiority of her protagonist without losing momentum. She also blends so many important topics into her heroine's very personal journey. I was afraid to read Still Alice before, as my mom had Alzheimer's. Now, I believe I am going to try it.
tiggerser's review
5.0
I loved this book! Sarah is a hard charging business woman who multi-tasks every minute of her life. She has a car accident that produces a traumatic brain injury causing left neglect. Her therapy and recovery makes you realize all the things you take for granted and what you would miss without knowledge of left. Sarah is smart, clever, and hard on herself during recovery, but as the story progresses she learns to accept herself in her new state. She needs assistance during recovery so her estranged mother comes to the rescue in the firm if super grandma and overly helpful/annoying mother. As Sarah eases up in herself, she finds room to love her mother and see their life together from a new perspective. You will laugh at some of the recovery things like sex, putting on pants, and applying makeup. The author makes light of the tragedy as all families coping with something massive, scary, and new would. Lisa Genova dies not patronize her readers by making light of a severe condition. She exposes some horrible but real truths, but also offers enough inspiration and hope through unusual sources of help for handicapped. I believe this book was well thought out and researched and would gladly read another along similar lines.
book_concierge's review
3.0
Digital Audiobook narrated by Sarah Paulson
A high-powered, “Type A” professional woman is excellent at her job and at juggling the demands of her children, her husband and her career. That is right up until the moment that she suffers a major brain injury in an auto accident and wakes with “left neglect.” This is a real neurological condition brought on by stroke or trauma, that results in the patient’s inability to recognize anything on the left. Patients suffering hemispacial neglect can see, walk, talk, but their brains ignore any signals from the left.
As she has done for other neurological disorders, Genova crafts a compelling story that educates and entertains. I felt Sarah’s frustrations as she worked with occupational therapists to try to regain some of her lost functionality. I empathized with her inability to let go of the high expectations she set for herself. Her relationships with her husband, her mother, her children were all greatly affected by her changed circumstances. Something as “simple” as getting a Coke from the fridge became a complicated, frustrating and possibly dangerous adventure. I applaud Genova (and Sarah) for finding a little humor in some of these situations.
I know a person with some aspects of this (result of a stroke). His stroke was several years ago, and he has long since stopped any physical or occupational therapy. His wife (and now the caretakers at the assisted living facility he calls home) turns his plate around for him or he’ll eat only what is on the right side, totally ignoring the left side of the plate. When she was still alive, his wife frequently reminded him to use his left hand. Reading this book has helped me understand a bit more about his condition.
That being said, I thought the book was interesting and informative, but not as compelling as some of her other works.
Sarah Paulson did a fine job performing the audiobook. She has good pacing and enough skill as a voice artist to different the various characters. I particularly liked how she voiced Sarah and her mother; the emotions behind their words really came out in her performance.
A high-powered, “Type A” professional woman is excellent at her job and at juggling the demands of her children, her husband and her career. That is right up until the moment that she suffers a major brain injury in an auto accident and wakes with “left neglect.” This is a real neurological condition brought on by stroke or trauma, that results in the patient’s inability to recognize anything on the left. Patients suffering hemispacial neglect can see, walk, talk, but their brains ignore any signals from the left.
As she has done for other neurological disorders, Genova crafts a compelling story that educates and entertains. I felt Sarah’s frustrations as she worked with occupational therapists to try to regain some of her lost functionality. I empathized with her inability to let go of the high expectations she set for herself. Her relationships with her husband, her mother, her children were all greatly affected by her changed circumstances. Something as “simple” as getting a Coke from the fridge became a complicated, frustrating and possibly dangerous adventure. I applaud Genova (and Sarah) for finding a little humor in some of these situations.
I know a person with some aspects of this (result of a stroke). His stroke was several years ago, and he has long since stopped any physical or occupational therapy. His wife (and now the caretakers at the assisted living facility he calls home) turns his plate around for him or he’ll eat only what is on the right side, totally ignoring the left side of the plate. When she was still alive, his wife frequently reminded him to use his left hand. Reading this book has helped me understand a bit more about his condition.
That being said, I thought the book was interesting and informative, but not as compelling as some of her other works.
Sarah Paulson did a fine job performing the audiobook. She has good pacing and enough skill as a voice artist to different the various characters. I particularly liked how she voiced Sarah and her mother; the emotions behind their words really came out in her performance.
msmoxiemae's review
1.0
I'm making my way through this book for a book club. I'll admit, I'm doing some major scanning. I don't know if it's the simplistic writing or the single-minded and arrogant main character, but I do not like this book. I can't identify with any of the main character's qualities - normally this can be overcome with good writing and insight, two things this book lacks. I'm longing for some perspective from the other characters - please get me out of Sarah's head. Oh, and you only need to mention Harvard once for a reader to get the picture.
Finished. The last few chapters were the most interesting of all of them. The writing was still too simple and the insights felt forced but they at least held my attention.
Finished. The last few chapters were the most interesting of all of them. The writing was still too simple and the insights felt forced but they at least held my attention.