Author Lisa Genova
Country America
Genre Fiction
Publication Date July 2007
Pages 292
Still Alice is a beautifully written story of a fifty year old Harvard professor whose life turns topsy turvy as she is detected with early onset Alziemers disease. The erstwhile busy, formidably intelligent and confident Alice, married to a Harvard scientist, with three grown up children finds it hard to come to terms with the new forgetful, dependent and struggling Alice. Through the course of the book, Lisa intimately and empathetically pursues Alice's journey from her regrets and frustrations to finally accepting and embracing her current reality.
Alice's struggle with the erosion of her long cherished identity is in a way the central theme of the book. It's unbelievably real and relatable and that's precisely what makes it intimidating to the reader. During the course of our lives, we start attaching varying elements to identify ourselves - like a high profile career, being a professor, being a sky diver etc; and the thought that one day, at the drop of a hat, this could be taken away from us is indeed scary. It's like not being able to identify oneself all of a sudden!
Lisa's skill at conveying a delicate and mature story with passion and empathy is unparalleled. Also, the subtlety with which a lot of connotations are delivered add a unique zing to the book. The fact that the narrator starts addressing John (Alice's husband) as 'the man who owned the house'; Lydia (the youngest daughter) as 'the actress' are interesting twists and a true reflection of how with the progress of Alziemers disease; Alice's recollection of everything (including her immediate family) starts diminishing. The purposeful repetition of a few scenarios in the narrative (from Alice's perspective) is another telling reflection of her progressing disease.
All in all, a book that makes you cry, in my view, leaves a special place in your heart. And that is exactly what 'Still Alice' has done to me. It made me cry, it made me reflect and it has indeed left an indelible impression on my heart!
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