Reviews

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

mel_keeps_reading's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

justjoel's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sweetbabyray1's review

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

susie_m's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.0

Fascinating story of a woman struggling to come to terms with a neurological disorder after an accident and the new slower paced lifestyle it dictates. Very readable! 

lnbrittain's review

3.0

Not as good as Still Alice, but some parts really rang true from my experience with someone with TBI.

mandyherbet's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

holmstead's review

4.0

This was a great novel. It was very interesting to learn about this condition, something that I had never even been aware existed. From the beginning I instantly liked Sarah. I thought she was smart, funny, intelligent, and a great mom. I also adored Bob. Through all their trials, he was there to support her every step of the way. Sarah's mom brought a new dynamic into the mix of everything and the backstory of Sarah and her family. I tried to put myself in Sarah's position and when you do, it just puts everything into perspective. This story has happiness, grief, humor (really good humor), loss, forgiveness, and love.

It has all the best elements that has now made it one of my favorites. I would suggest this to anyone looking for something that makes you appreciate the little things in life that are the most important...even when life, work, and struggles happen, it makes it easy to forget.

professorplum318's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

shirleytupperfreeman's review

This is written by the neuro-scientist who wrote Still Alice - about the woman professor with early Alzheimers. Left Neglect is a real diagnosis that can happen to people with a brain injury in the right hemisphere. Basically the brain no longer 'sees' the left side. The person only eats from the right side of the plate, can't see people standing to their left (even though they can hear them) and can't use their left leg and arm properly because they don't really know they're there. The story is about a totally type A, high achieving, multi-tasking (I.e. cellphone while driving) woman who has an accident which leaves her with left neglect. I didn't care for the book at first because it kind of rushes through this woman's life and achievements and she's not all that likeable but the author does a wonderful job with the story after the accident. Her descriptions of how Sarah, and her family, adjust to the new normal are quite effective. It makes you think about your priorities.

anniewill's review

2.0

2 1/2 stars.

Felt the ending was a bit rushed and tied up too neatly.

I enjoyed her first novel much more than this one. I found the main character---Sarah--- hard to like. Other reviewers have mentioned how "fully formed" the characters are in this novel, but I didn't find this to be true for me at all.

The final kiss of death, for me, was the recommendation on the back by Jodi Picoult. The book actually read like a Picoult novel to me in a way that her first novel definitely did not.