The book is written from alices viewpoint, but genova does a good job of showing the affect of alzheimers not only on alice, but how her family john, and their children anna, tom, and lydia struggle with the changes in alice. Alzheimers research handling extreme emotions plus the latest news on alzheimers research and treatment memory preserving your spring 2015 the magazine of health and hope julianne moore, oscarwinning star of the film still alice. Maria carrillo, chief science officer at the alzheimers association, served as scientific consult on still alice. Sixteen questions for the book club reading still alice by lisa genova. Alice, after being diagnosed with early onset alzheimers disease ad loses almost all she had. He struggled to learn how to be with his wife as the alzheimers. Alice is devastated when she s diagnosed with alzheimer s. Alice s story is tender, frightening, and certainly thoughtprovoking, but mostly, its a.
It begins with small hiccups affecting alice s memory or her sense of place then chugs right along into the more severe aspects of the diseasedisorientation, total shortterm memory loss, etc. Because the full, internal experience of alzheimers is an account that fiction alone can deliver, its no surprise that the goto book for caretakers and early stage. Still alice is shockingly accurate people living with. Still alice shares the struggle of a middleaged professor who is diagnosed with alzheimer s disease. Still alice, and the advocacy for alzheimers in fiction. The foundation data on the story still alice still. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. Still alice is a best book club book for discussion, a compelling debut novel about a 50yearold harvard professor s sudden descent into early onset alzheimer s disease. Traditionally, this disease strikes people who are at least in their mid60s. Alice howland is proud of the life she worked so hard to build.
Still alice author and neuroscientist lisa genova explains the symptoms of alzheimers and why she writes about families coping with. If youd like to learn more about alzheimers or help those suffering from the disease, please visit. Still alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50yearold womans sudden descent into early onset alzheimers disease, written by firsttime author lisa genova, who holds a ph. A literary analysis of still alice still alice genova, 2009 is a captivating debut novel about a 50yearold womans sudden decline into early onset alzheimers disease. Nancy stearns bercaw, seven days thoughtful, exploratory, and deeply loving. The film stars julianne moore as alice howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed with familial alzheimer s disease shortly after her 50th birthday. Still alice by lisa genova book club discussion questions.
A linguistics professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with alzheimers disease. Still alice is the story of alice howland, a fifty year old harvard professor who is diagnosed with early onset alzheimers. The film successfully captures the tragedy of the disease, and moores portrayal of alice is riveting, which largely makes up for the films weaknesses. Opinion alzheimers, awareness and still alice the new. Now a major motion picture starring oscar winner julianne moore. Still alice novelist shines spotlight on early onset alzheimers. If you live in the cambridge area, hold your meeting in one of the harvard square cafes. A literary analysis of still alice still alice genova, 2009 is a captivating debut novel about a 50yearold womans sudden decline into early onset alzheimers disease the book is written by first time author lisa genova, who holds a ph. What the film still alice tells us about alzheimers disease. Aug 06, 2018 still alice is the story of alice howland, a fifty year old harvard professor who is diagnosed with early onset alzheimers. With julianne moore, alec baldwin, kristen stewart, kate bosworth. A book about living with alzheimers that gives voice to both caretaker and, insofar as is possible, patient.
Lisa genovas debut novel about a 50yearold woman diagnosed with early onset alzheimers disease follows alice howland over the course of two years, from. Alice is devastated when shes diagnosed with alzheimers. Book club questions for still alice book club babble. She selfpublished her debut novel still alice 2007, about a harvard university professor who suffers early onset alzheimers disease. Still alice shares the struggle of a middleaged professor who is diagnosed with alzheimers disease. With women at the epicenterboth more likely to have alzheimers and more likely to be caring for those with the diseasethe alzheimers association and the women of still alice ask all women to help wipe out alzheimers. Mark warner of alzheimers daily news describes the book as the best portrayal of the alzheimers journey that i have read. Because the book is written from alices perspective, you feel connected to. To write still alice, genova read every book she could find on alzheimers and interviewed neurologists one of whom she shadowed for two days at the massachusetts general hospital memory disorders unit, general practice physicians, research scientists, genetics counselors, and social workers. How did your impressions change after reading the book. Genova wrote her book in 2007 and selfpublished it before simon. A literary analysis of still alice 3068 words pages. The author of still alice on alzheimers and why she writes about. Caring for someone with alzheimers dementia makes such an impact on the carers life that it is common to want to share that experience through a book.
Still alice the book was written by neuroscientist and debut novelist lisa genova who researched her subject matter so well that the book became an alltime bestseller and thrilled. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children, is a. The book is about alice and her not so slow downfall into early onset alzheimer s at the age of 50. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape, is a celebrated harvard professor at the height of her career when she notices a. The title suggests otherwise, of course, and one of the tragedies of alzheimers for the friends and family of the afflicted person is that the sufferer seems present and absent at the same time. What the film still alice tells us about alzheimers. Is my soul and spirit immune to the ravages of alzheimers. Now a major motion picture starring julianne moore, alec baldwin, kate bosworth, and kristen stewart.
Alice howland, a 50yearold woman, is a cognitive psychology professor at harvard and is a worldrenowned linguistics expert. What were your thoughts and impressions of alzheimers disease before reading this book, especially as it would affect a younger person. Still alice novelist shines spotlight on early onset. Alice howland is a harvard professor trying to live in the moment as her memory declines.
Still alice book by lisa genova official publisher. But the knowledge she has gained from earning a doctorate in neuroscience and serving as an online columnist for the national alzheimer s association, shines throughout this debut, a realistic portrayal of an intelligent, independent woman. Alice is a very well respected professor of linguistics at harvard university, traveling all over the globe giving lectures, and her opinion is listened to with respect. These discussion questions will help confirm students understanding of the storyline and. In still alice, a professor slides into alzheimers. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house. People with alzheimers are perceived as zombies, bodies without minds, waiting for valiant researchers to find a cure, walrath explains in the introduction to her book. The book is about alice and her not so slow downfall into early onset alzheimers at the age of 50. The film accurately portrays many of the signs across the three stages of alzheimers. It begins with small hiccups affecting alices memory or her sense of place then chugs right along into the more severe aspects of the diseasedisorientation, total shortterm memory loss, etc.
Alzheimers is deadly, costly and finally getting the blunt discussion it needs. If you live in the cambridge area, hold your meeting in one of the harvard square cafzs. Watching the film is the first time many people get to see closeup what its like to be. The novel is about a woman who suffers earlyonset alzheimers disease. The portrayal of alzheimers disease in still alice. When neuroscientist lisa genova first pitched still alice to literary agents, she was rejected by all of them. How accurate is the portrayal of alzheimers disease in. In lisa genovas debut novel, still alice pocket books, 2009, 50yearold alice howland is at the pinnacle of her careerenjoying acclaim as a distinguished. Feb 23, 2015 still alice novelist shines spotlight on early onset alzheimer s. The film stars julianne moore as alice howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed with familial alzheimers disease shortly after her 50th birthday. But the knowledge she has gained from earning a doctorate in neuroscience and serving as an online columnist for the national alzheimers association, shines throughout this debut, a realistic portrayal of an intelligent, independent woman. Still alice is about the life of alice howland, who is stricken with alzheimers disease.
Still alice book by lisa genova official publisher page. The book is written by first time author lisa genova, who holds a ph. Only after a deceptively innocent slip of the tongue, a shortterm memory loss during a lecture, and a disorientation attack inside the campus will it become. The paper gives a synopsis and definite investigation of the story still alice, composed by lisa genova. Genova does an excellent job of describing what is going on in alice s head as the dementia increases. Still alice starring julianne moore tells the story of alice howland. Neither the book nor the movie provides a definitive answer, but in both we have a succeeding scene in which alice, despite the increasing severity of her alzheimers. Dec 04, 2017 the multiple awardwinning film, still alice, brings the issue of earlyonset dementia to the forefront. Genova excellently portrays the frustration, confusion, and isolation that often accompany the progression of. Apr 14, 2017 neither the book nor the movie provides a definitive answer, but in both we have a succeeding scene in which alice, despite the increasing severity of her alzheimers, takes enormous pleasure in. Firsttime novelist lisa genova selfpublished still alice before the book was picked up by pocket books. She was married to john, a researcher at harvard university. She doesnt tell her family for awhile but finally realizes that she has to tell her husband, john.
Alice is otherwise healthy in every other way up until when she is struck with alzheimers too early in her life. Still alice author and neuroscientist lisa genova explains the symptoms of alzheimers and why she writes about families coping with neurological diseases or. The respected and otherwise healthy linguistics professor, alice howland, is a fiftyyearold mother of three, an accomplished scholar, and a tragic victim of earlyonset alzheimers. Dec 05, 2014 the title suggests otherwise, of course, and one of the tragedies of alzheimers for the friends and family of the afflicted person is that the sufferer seems present and absent at the same time. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape, is a celebrated harvard professor at the height of her career when she. Still alice is a 2014 american independent drama film written and directed by richard glatzer and wash westmoreland and based on lisa genovas bestselling 2007 novel of the same name. Author genova, who holds a phd in neuroscience from harvard, selfpublished still alice in 2007. Feb 10, 2015 still alice author and neuroscientist lisa genova explains the symptoms of alzheimer s and why she writes about families coping with neurological diseases or disorders, which she says are often. It additionally investigates the contrasts between the book and the film that was made dependent on the equivalent name fabulous story of the 50years of age woman. Still alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50yearold woman s sudden descent into early onset alzheimer s disease, written by firsttime author lisa genova, who holds a ph. Genova does an excellent job of describing what is going on in alices head as the dementia increases. The book is written from alice s viewpoint, but genova does a good job of showing the affect of alzheimer s not only on alice, but how her family john, and their children anna, tom, and lydia struggle with the changes in alice. Alec baldwin plays her husband, john, and kristen stewart, kate. Look for lisa genovas latest novel inside the obriens.
I dont have enough experience to comment on its generalizability to all alzheimers patients, but as i watched the film, i constantly made comparisons to my own grandmother with alzheimers and our familys situation. The author of still alice on alzheimers and why she. Dec 17, 2014 alzheimers is deadly, costly and finally getting the blunt discussion it needs. If still alice is a quite direct take on living with dementia, fiona mcfarlanes the night guest 20 and emma healeys elizabeth. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape, is a celebrated harvard professor at the. The harvard university setting plays an important role in still alice. To write still alice, genova read every book she could find on alzheimer s and interviewed neurologists one of whom she shadowed for two days at the massachusetts general hospital memory disorders unit, general practice physicians, research scientists, genetics counselors, and social workers. Genova has stated in a postscript to a later edition of the book that her. Still alice is beautiful, frightening and powerful, and a reminder that alzheimers needs to be addressed now. The magazine of health and hope fisher center for alzheimer. Still alice is a novel about alice howland, a cognitive psychology professor at harvard, who finds out at age fifty that she has alzheimers disease. A linguistics professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with alzheimer s disease. Alzheimers australia the unspoken impact of dementia.
From new york times bestselling author and neuroscientist lisa genova comes the definitiveand illuminatingnovel about alzheimers disease. In still alice, a professor slides into alzheimers the. The book highlights the struggle of living with alzheimers and the rapid progression of the disease. Alice worked at harvard university but as a psychology professor with a focus on linguistics. In lisa genovas extraordinary new york times bestselling novel, an accomplished woman slowly loses her thoughts and memories to alzheimers diseaseonly to discover that each day brings a new way of living and loving. Still alice explores life locked in the mind of a person. While the book is fiction, i believe the authors careful research resulted in a very realistic depiction of younger onset alzheimers. Still alice by lisa genova, the notebook by nicholas sparks, the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean, merci suarez changes g. Still alice is a 2014 american independent drama film written and directed by richard glatzer and wash westmoreland and based on lisa genova s bestselling 2007 novel of the same name.
This reallife story about how alice howland, a linguistics professor at columbia, and her family deal with her diagnosis of familial alzheimers disease at age 50, is both heartfelt and powerful. Lisa genova born november 22, 1970 is an american neuroscientist and author. The respected and otherwise healthy linguistics professor, alice howland, is a fiftyyearold mother of three, an accomplished scholar, and a tragic victim of earlyonset alzheimer s. Heres why our book club loved still alice off the shelf. The multiple awardwinning film, still alice, brings the issue of earlyonset dementia to the forefront. Walrath dared to follow alice down the rabbit hole of the disease and emerged with a courageous depiction of a fascinating world below. Still alice is a 2007 novel by lisa genova, set in boston. On this front, still alice actually provides reassurance. The film also provides an accurate depiction of the difficulties and emotions experienced by a person with alzheimers. If youre not familiar with the novels premise, its about a womans struggle with alzheimers diseaseand shes only 50 years old.
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