Book Review

Greeting fellow book bloggers. My review of this book is that it is a very eye opening book. I think the author has had experience in this type of situation, the way she describes how the characters are feeling and how they are reacting is very close to how someone being diagnosed with Early Onset Dementia must be feeling. My two stars would be how she did the narration of Alice’s thoughts and the way her husband reacts to her original diagnosis with denial and disbelief. This is quite a common reaction for partners or family members when someone as young as 50 gets diagnosed with a disease that is mainly associated with older people. The struggle that her husband faced was very heartbreaking and touching to see how much he wanted Alice to be ok and how defeated he was when they realized she wasn’t going to get better. The description of the symptoms, treatments and actions that the doctors and mental health professionals is very accurate as to what they would treat dementia with today. There is no cure for dementia and I think the author makes a strong point that even though there is no cure, there is way to help the person living with dementia continue to lead a full life for as longs as they can. The family dynamics the author showed in the book is also very accurate as often there is disagreements between family members about how to care for the person living with dementia. My wish would be that the author followed through with Alice’s story until she had to be put in an assisted living facility and how important it is to research best home for the person living with dementia. This is a reality that everyone affected by dementia needs to be educated in and aware of. The story ends off with Alice living with her youngest daughter and enjoying her grandchildren although she doesn’t remember their names. Although this can happen it is a rare occasion, more realistically Alice would be put into an assisted living facility when her care got to be too much for the family which will eventually happen. Often times there is so much confusion as where or when to place your loved one that it can feel overwhelming. I think if the author addressed this issue more it would have not only been a good book but possibly a helping hand for other people who are living with dementia and their families. This was a good read, I enjoyed it a lot. I highly recommend this book for families going through dementia and for caregivers and for anyone whose interested in understanding how this mental illness is undefeatable but can be liveable. There is also a movie out about this book too, I haven’t seen it yet, but would like too. Well my fellow book bloggers we have come to the end of our Still Alice adventure, thank you to all who commented, hope you enjoyed your book as much as I enjoyed mine.