Dad's Not All There Any More: A comic about dementia

by Alex Demetris

"Louie what?"John's dad, Pete, was already diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when he began to have some very strange experiences, not least of which was the little red-haired girl who followed him around the house. Eventually diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), his hallucinations and other symptoms became more frequent and intense, and Pete moved into a care home.Based on his family's experience of his father's LBD, Alex Demetris' comic explores with tenderness and humour one of the most common yet often unheard of types of dementia; what it is, its symptoms, living in a care home and the impact on people living with the condition and their families.

Genres: Graphic Novels

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2015

Reviews

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a comic introducing people to Parkinson's with Lewy Body Dementia, the second most common form of dementia, after Alzheimer's, but not heard of by many people until the unfortunate death of Robin Williams, whom it was disclosed had been suffering from the disease. A Lewy Body diagnosis cannot be confirmed until an autopsy is done on the brain.

This was a very personal read for me as my Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's and we had inquired about LBD and been assured he didn't have it but this Christmas (about a week ago) his diagnoses was officially changed to Parkinson's with Lewy Body Dementia.

The comic is very straightforward and factual, not touchy-feely, which I appreciated. It introduces you to this progressive, aggressive disease then shows what you can expect. It shows a small family (husband, wife, and son) dealing lovingly and sensibly with how this neurological disease ravishes both the body and the mind. The book shows the father always being treated with dignity and respect and that we must always remember that it is the disease, not the person, causing the unpleasantness. I really enjoyed the art as well and felt it carried the same tones of dignity.

While this short book does not go into comparing Alzheimers and Lewis Body very much, it does manage to show the difference. Lewy Body sufferers don't regress instead memory varies from extremes day to day, and they may be very much aware of their hallucinations. In fact, they can often tell you about them in vivid detail. Both are severely debilitating but overall they present very distinctly.

This is a short book that manages to give a large dose of information for those looking for an introduction. It is a personal story and touching but not over-emotional which I appreciated as it was just the right amount that I could take at this stage in my own journey. A good start if you want an introduction to the disease or are ready to hear other people's experiences.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Dad's Not All There Anymore' is a personal comic by Alex Demetris documenting dementia. It's a raw tale, but I think it has the power to be helpful to others in the same circumstances.

The story follows John on a visit to see his father Peter who is living in a care facility. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that Peter has Parkinsons and a condition called lewy body dementia. This causes him to have hallucinations. We also see his condition as it deteriorated to the point where he is now in this place.

The tone of the book is sad, but not in a overwhelming or hopeless way. It's the way family deal with long term illnesses. There are funny moments in Pete's story as he sees things or forgets his Parkinsons medicine when he goes to the pub. I was drawn in by the subject and the cover art and I was really impressed by this work. The art style is good and the story is thoughtful and moving.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Singing Dragon, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through this quick read, I learned that some types of dementia cause visual hallucinations...

[Ida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice little comic book about John’s dad Pete who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease couple years ago. Then, later, when he started to develop other symptoms, Peter got diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia (LDB). Soon enough his hallucinations and other symptoms became too intense, and Peter had to move into a care home.

Before I read this book I had never heard about this type of Dementia. However, I did not have a need to google it as this book explained it perfectly on a basic level. Story itself was simple, moving and not overwhelming.

Dad’s not there anymore features everyday characters, just like you and me, and how we deal with situations when our loved one is facing life’s challenges.

I received a review copy from publisher through Netgalley for honest opinion.

[Jennie Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the look of this comic, the illustrations have a clear style, and touches of red for the hallucinations, in an otherwise green colour scheme, give an other-worldly quality which suits the subject. They remind me of the little girl in the red coat in Schindler's List, or Don't Look Now.

The tone of the comic is interesting. It's a very personal story but told without any sentimentality. There is a good mix of humour, factual information and reflection. There's not really much of a story, the narrator's dad is diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and becomes more unwell as the comic progresses - but it's a good snapshot of life with dementia and worth a read.

[Woodrós · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book was vitally important for me, because it made me feel less alone with what my family went through with my wonderful, loving late grandmother. It was well done, it's just short (the product of a master's program.) It left me wanting more, and wanting to find a way to harness my own experiences and to seek out other stories. My gratitude goes out to Alex Demetris.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking.