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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Turn of Mind is a stunning fictional debut that I found to be compelling reading. Jennifer White is struggling to remain in the present, as dementia claims who she once was, and is. Once a successful surgeon, she is now in the care of a live in housekeeper and slipping in and out of awareness. When Jennifer's best friend of more than thirty years, Amanda, is murdered, she is the primary suspect, but she remembers nothing of the last time she saw her. As the Alzheimer's progresses, Jennifer recalls her past and reveals her complicated relationship with not only the victim, but also her husband and children. Turn of Mind is much more than a simple mystery, it examines the impact of dementia on an intelligent woman and her family.
The first person narrative is incredibly powerful, allowing the reader to witness Jennifer's tragic decline from the sufferers perspective. It particularly resonated for me because my grandfather, who just recently passed away, was also affected by Alzheimer's and it is such a cruel and difficult disease that affects all involved. Jennifer is not really a likable character. She may have been a great surgeon, but she was not a warm person and perhaps even a poor mother and wife. Yet the creeping loss of her intellect and awareness demands pity and her strength in the face of it earns admiration. LaPlante's portrayal of Jennifer's confusion and fear amidst moments of clarity is realistic (in my experience), and is sympathetically handled. The shifts between lucidity and disorientation, memory and present, are skillfully written and I didn't find it difficult to follow. Near the end of the novel, the narrative changes perspective, demonstrating Jennifer's disassociation from her own life as the disease overwhelms her. It is an unusual, even brave, yet wholly appropriate technique that clearly communicates Jennifer's separation from her her own mind.
The reactions of Jennifer's children also held true for me. Fiona mourns the loss of her mother even while she still lives, despite their complicated relationship. Mark illustrates the frustration that is part of dealing with a relative with Alzheimer's, exaggerated by his own failings. I didn't really like either of them, I thought both their motivations suspect for different reasons throughout the novel - especially their financial greed.
Amanda, the victim, was the least sympathetic character of the lot. Bitter and sly, as shown during Jennifer's memory slips, I wasn't very affected by her death. The mystery of her assailant's identity did add suspense to the novel however and I was unsure as to who was responsible nearly the entire way through.
Turn of Mind is a impressive and original novel that uses an engaging storyline to explore the tragedy of dementia. This is a novel that is sure to linger in your mind beyond the turn of the last page.
The first person narrative is incredibly powerful, allowing the reader to witness Jennifer's tragic decline from the sufferers perspective. It particularly resonated for me because my grandfather, who just recently passed away, was also affected by Alzheimer's and it is such a cruel and difficult disease that affects all involved. Jennifer is not really a likable character. She may have been a great surgeon, but she was not a warm person and perhaps even a poor mother and wife. Yet the creeping loss of her intellect and awareness demands pity and her strength in the face of it earns admiration. LaPlante's portrayal of Jennifer's confusion and fear amidst moments of clarity is realistic (in my experience), and is sympathetically handled. The shifts between lucidity and disorientation, memory and present, are skillfully written and I didn't find it difficult to follow. Near the end of the novel, the narrative changes perspective, demonstrating Jennifer's disassociation from her own life as the disease overwhelms her. It is an unusual, even brave, yet wholly appropriate technique that clearly communicates Jennifer's separation from her her own mind.
The reactions of Jennifer's children also held true for me. Fiona mourns the loss of her mother even while she still lives, despite their complicated relationship. Mark illustrates the frustration that is part of dealing with a relative with Alzheimer's, exaggerated by his own failings. I didn't really like either of them, I thought both their motivations suspect for different reasons throughout the novel - especially their financial greed.
Amanda, the victim, was the least sympathetic character of the lot. Bitter and sly, as shown during Jennifer's memory slips, I wasn't very affected by her death. The mystery of her assailant's identity did add suspense to the novel however and I was unsure as to who was responsible nearly the entire way through.
Turn of Mind is a impressive and original novel that uses an engaging storyline to explore the tragedy of dementia. This is a novel that is sure to linger in your mind beyond the turn of the last page.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tästä tuli viimeinen lukemani kirja vuodelle 2014! Alkuun olin vähän pettynyt, kun oletin, että kirja on enemmän kuvaus Alzheimerin taudista kuin murhamysteeri, mutta pääsin sitten tarinan imuun ja pidin kokonaisuudesta.
Probably 3.5 stars. The reader for the audiobook did a fine job and perhaps saved me from what looks like confusing typefaces in the print edition. The author did a nice job portraying a first-person narrative of someone suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's. But the murder mystery that set the backdrop for the story was relatively predictable and never really helped the novel. I mostly disliked the characters, but this didn't take away from reading about the horror of being inside the head of Jennifer as her mind continued to deteriorate. This should be an interesting book for discussion at my bookclub.
Dr. Jennifer White is only 64 years old, but dementia plagues her. Once a talented hand surgeon, these days the doctor requires constant care. There are days, however, when she does not even recognize her live-in caregiver, Magdalena. Many times she cannot recall her own children, a son named Mark, who is 29 and usually in some sort of trouble, and a daughter named Fiona who is 24 and has to take responsibility for both her ill mother and her wayward brother. Her lifelong friend, Amanda, has turned up dead -- with several fingers removed with surgical precision. A suspenseful mystery that delves into the fading mind of a dementia patient with incredible insight. For my full review, visit http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980691824
This is a beautiful, heartbreaking look at dementia and how it progresses. It does a nice job of showing to some degree how it affects the people in the sick person's life and it's beautifully written. It's also a wonderful murder mystery that you don't get all the answers to until the very last page. It is an emotional read but a very good one.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Turn of Mind was a emotionally draining book about Dr. Jennifer White and her progressive deterioration due to Alzheimer's. It is incredibly well written, but so hard to listen to. So much so that I had to take breaks from it, because how sad I was feeling listening to the story.
If you have (or had) a family member suffering from dementia, this book is not for you. It will bring you much too close how this disease not only destroys the mind of the individual, but breaks the thread between the person and their family and friends.
If you have (or had) a family member suffering from dementia, this book is not for you. It will bring you much too close how this disease not only destroys the mind of the individual, but breaks the thread between the person and their family and friends.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes