Details
Rent Still Alice
Author:
Narrator: Lisa Genova
Format: Unabridged-CD, Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published: Jan 2009
Genre: Fiction - General
Retail Price: $19.99
Discs: 7
Synopsis
Lisa Genova's New York Times bestselling debut novel is now available, unabridged, at a new low price.
Fifty-year-old Alice Howland, a Harvard professor of cognitive psychology, is at the top of her game. Her kids are grown, her marriage secure, her career on fire when suddenly, after mere months of forgetfulness, she finds herself in the rapidly downward spiral of early onset Alzheimer's Disease.
With no cure or treatment, Alice struggles to find meaning and purpose in her everyday life as her concept of self gradually slips away, leaving her unable to work, read, take care of herself, recognize her loved ones—even understand that she has a neurodegenerative disease. Without memory or hope, she is forced to live in the moment, which is in turns beautiful, terrifying, and maddening.
Genova uses the successful, articulate, and independent Alice as the perfect vehicle to capture what it feels like to literally lose your mind. You'll admire Alice's strength and resourcefulness even as you cry over her losses. Still Alice brings new understanding for all those affected by this terrible neurological disease.
Reviews
I agree with another reviewer in that listening to this book was so annoying with the author droning on in an expressionless, monotone, soliloquy that I gave up half way through the first CD.
I cannot really review the book itself, as I could barely get through the first disk. It sounded as though it would be a good story, and I was looking forward to listening to it. However, the author was also the reader, and her reading was so bad that I simply couldnt stand it. Ms. Genova may be a very good writer, but she does herself no favor by reading her book. Her monotone, expressionless reading ruined the experience for me.
Still Alice sounds like the autobiography of my friend's mother. I couldn't put it down and thought it was terrifying how such a brilliant mind could be devastated by this disease. It's a quick read but left me paranoid about all of the things I forget on a daily basis... for about a week I found myself asking, is this a sign that I have it too? Yikes. I have tremendous sympathy for anyone battling alzheimer's.