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andrearbooks's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
jgraydee's review against another edition
3.0
Not enough focus/development of characters. Author implied relational issues and resolution between characters, but the book was very focused on disease progression and end-of-life. The balance was off.
chelseatm's review against another edition
4.0
I always feel like I finish reading Lisa Genova's books a better and more empathetic person. I really valued the perspective I gained of what it's like to live with ALS. I thought the characters were interesting the story and it's progression natural.
However, I did find that the characters' interactions with one another were limited and that it was more a story of two people living alongside each other going through their own secular journeys. I would have liked more interaction between them to bring more depth to the story.They seemed more like each other's refrigerator women even though they both had deep and complicated stories unto themselves.
A last note, there was a comparison made that this book is similar to Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Only in the most superficial ways of a woman caring for a sick man is it similar to that. I would say to not get caught up in that comparison as it will colour your interpretation of the story.
I enjoyed this book immensely and was sad to finish it. I highly recommend it.
However, I did find that the characters' interactions with one another were limited and that it was more a story of two people living alongside each other going through their own secular journeys. I would have liked more interaction between them to bring more depth to the story.They seemed more like each other's refrigerator women even though they both had deep and complicated stories unto themselves.
A last note, there was a comparison made that this book is similar to Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Only in the most superficial ways of a woman caring for a sick man is it similar to that. I would say to not get caught up in that comparison as it will colour your interpretation of the story.
I enjoyed this book immensely and was sad to finish it. I highly recommend it.
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.
lurker_stalker'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