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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Such a let down. As another reader commented, it is frustrating to walk away from a book not having liked or even sympathized with any of the charactars. The "surprise twist" is pretty obvious early on, and overall the book is just depressing. The main charactar didn't care that her husband cheated on her, nor did she care that he stole money. she didn't feel guilty when she cheated on her husband either. Even the caretaker drops in to share that she was a drug addict who sold drugs to children, and her 3yr old grandchild got into her LSD stash. Bad enough, but she didn't take the child to the ER for fear of being caught, and the childs mother didn't either, nor did she have her mother arrested.
No consequences for anyone, except the one woman who wanted the stolen money to be repaid. She was the "judgmental" one, with morals- who is villanified through out the book for wanting them to do the right thing.
No consequences for anyone, except the one woman who wanted the stolen money to be repaid. She was the "judgmental" one, with morals- who is villanified through out the book for wanting them to do the right thing.
Loved reading this book. A different kind of "thriller" for anyone who is afraid of losing their memory. (Aren't we all, after 50?) Scary, but very compelling and impossible to put down until you get to the end.
Alice LaPlante's book about an Alzheimer's patient is an interesting read. Written from the patient's POV the reader is led into a mystery that seems to be unsolvable.
Dr. Jennifer White is an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in hands and her neighbor, and friend, has been found murdered with four fingers missing off her hand. Jennifer is the number one "person of interest" except she has Alzheimer's that is fairly advanced. Is it possible she killed Amanda and can't remember? Jennifer's children and live-in caretaker struggle to keep Jennifer in her home and free from police investigation as she deteriorates. The police are convinced Jennifer isn't as progressed in her disease as she is acting. Her children and caretaker know otherwise. But can Jennifer remember what may have happened with Amanda? Will she remember? And what happens when she does?
Told in Jennifer's voice we are privvy to her disease as it ravages her mind and body and as she time travels her life. We get a detailed glimpse into the mind of someone who has Alzheimer's and it is sad and scary to say the least. It is clear LaPlante did her research into this disease that is no respecter of persons and steals loved ones from their families. Weaved in this look into the mind of Jennifer as Alzheimer's steals her away LaPlante presents a mystery to be solved. It is an intriguing premise to use Alzheimer's as an alibi. The book is written as one long conversation that Jennifer has with the many people who communicate with her. I didn't find it hard to distinguish between her voice and others but I can see how others may. It was a good read, very intriguing and interesting.
Dr. Jennifer White is an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in hands and her neighbor, and friend, has been found murdered with four fingers missing off her hand. Jennifer is the number one "person of interest" except she has Alzheimer's that is fairly advanced. Is it possible she killed Amanda and can't remember? Jennifer's children and live-in caretaker struggle to keep Jennifer in her home and free from police investigation as she deteriorates. The police are convinced Jennifer isn't as progressed in her disease as she is acting. Her children and caretaker know otherwise. But can Jennifer remember what may have happened with Amanda? Will she remember? And what happens when she does?
Told in Jennifer's voice we are privvy to her disease as it ravages her mind and body and as she time travels her life. We get a detailed glimpse into the mind of someone who has Alzheimer's and it is sad and scary to say the least. It is clear LaPlante did her research into this disease that is no respecter of persons and steals loved ones from their families. Weaved in this look into the mind of Jennifer as Alzheimer's steals her away LaPlante presents a mystery to be solved. It is an intriguing premise to use Alzheimer's as an alibi. The book is written as one long conversation that Jennifer has with the many people who communicate with her. I didn't find it hard to distinguish between her voice and others but I can see how others may. It was a good read, very intriguing and interesting.
Fast paced, easy to read, the end left me wanting a little more I guess but that’s solely based on my own book ending style preferences
'Turn of Mind' by Alice LaPlante is so frightening. There is murder, danger, not very nice people, hints of corruption (moral, physical), the place of family and friends and meaningful work in one's life vs. spirituality, vanity and desire, things in one's control and things beyond managing. The miracles of human hands and brains, and the awfulness of these miracles going wrong.
Many reviews use the word 'chilling' in describing this book, and it's never been more aptly applied. Human corruption is explored in so many ways I couldn't believe it was all done in only 300 pages. Yet that corruption was explored in as normal human terms as possible in as banal of a setting as a upper middle-class neighborhood of doctors and lawyers.
The narrator, who is afflicted with Alzheimer's, uncertainly retells how her best friend was murdered three houses down from her own quiet family home. The Alzheimer's disease is the highlighted issue and is incredibly demeaning and gruesome (omg, I hope if I get it I have the nerve to kill myself), but it turns out by the end of the book to be tied for first place of awfulness by the spiritual manifestations of corruption.
Many reviews use the word 'chilling' in describing this book, and it's never been more aptly applied. Human corruption is explored in so many ways I couldn't believe it was all done in only 300 pages. Yet that corruption was explored in as normal human terms as possible in as banal of a setting as a upper middle-class neighborhood of doctors and lawyers.
The narrator, who is afflicted with Alzheimer's, uncertainly retells how her best friend was murdered three houses down from her own quiet family home. The Alzheimer's disease is the highlighted issue and is incredibly demeaning and gruesome (omg, I hope if I get it I have the nerve to kill myself), but it turns out by the end of the book to be tied for first place of awfulness by the spiritual manifestations of corruption.
Uniquely written Turn of Mind was overall an interesting and disturbing story. I wish the author would have focused a little more on the actual crime and a little less on characters memories. I left this book with no great insight or lasting impressions.
I expected a lot from this book because of the stellar reviews everywhere. The first person narrative is excellent, but I felt the murder narrative was unnecessary. And, it was a little long. But, still a worthwhile read, esp. for anyone dealing with Alzheimers.
Three and a half stars. Very well done. The main character, Jennifer, has Alzheimer's; her best friend was murdered and she is the prime suspect. Jennifer is only sometimes aware of her friend's death, and it's not clear in her lucid moments whether she knows what happened. The depiction of Alzheimer's disease was very well done (much better than in Still Alice) and the plot took some interesting twists and turns. My only real problem with this was the friendship between Jennifer and Amanda. Amanda seems like a pretty unlikeable person and a truly awful friend; their relationship is meant to be problematic but I still didn't really buy it. I would have wanted to see more of the good side of things between them because most of what was shown was so bad, I just don't know what was in it for Jennifer. I would still recommend this one though.
The twists at the end kept me interested ... very good suspenseful novel!
I was surprised by the ending. I had gone a different direction. However, as a treatment of someone with Alzheimer's, I preferred Still Alice.