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The Wide Circumference of Love: A Novel
2018 NAACP Image Award Nominee
An NPR Best Book of 2017
From acclaimed author Marita Golden comes a moving African-American family drama of love and devotion in the face of Alzheimer’s disease.
You just can’t plan for this kind of thing.
Diane Tate certainly hasn’t. She never expected to slowly lose her talented husband to the debilitating effects of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As a respected family court judge, she’s spent her life making tough calls, but when her sixty-eight-year-old husband’s health worsens and Diane is forced to move him into an assisted living facility, it seems her world is spinning out of control.
As Gregory’s memory wavers and fades, Diane and her children must reexamine their connection to the man he once was—and learn to love the man he has become. For Diane’ daughter Lauren, it means honoring her father by following in his footsteps as a successful architect. For her son Sean, it means finding a way to repair the strained relationship with his father before it’s too late. Supporting her children in a changing landscape, Diane remains resolute in her goal to keep her family together—until her husband finds love with another resident of the facility. Suddenly faced with an uncertain future, Diane must choose a new path—and discover her own capacity for love.
An NPR Best Book of 2017
From acclaimed author Marita Golden comes a moving African-American family drama of love and devotion in the face of Alzheimer’s disease.
You just can’t plan for this kind of thing.
Diane Tate certainly hasn’t. She never expected to slowly lose her talented husband to the debilitating effects of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As a respected family court judge, she’s spent her life making tough calls, but when her sixty-eight-year-old husband’s health worsens and Diane is forced to move him into an assisted living facility, it seems her world is spinning out of control.
As Gregory’s memory wavers and fades, Diane and her children must reexamine their connection to the man he once was—and learn to love the man he has become. For Diane’ daughter Lauren, it means honoring her father by following in his footsteps as a successful architect. For her son Sean, it means finding a way to repair the strained relationship with his father before it’s too late. Supporting her children in a changing landscape, Diane remains resolute in her goal to keep her family together—until her husband finds love with another resident of the facility. Suddenly faced with an uncertain future, Diane must choose a new path—and discover her own capacity for love.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2017
396 people are currently reading
3610 people want to read
About the author
Marita Golden
30 books159 followersMarita Golden (born April 28, 1950) is an award-winning novelist, nonfiction writer, distinguished teacher of writing and co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Foundation, a national organization that serves as a resource center for African-American writers.
(from Wikipedia)
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
May 14, 2019
”My goal was not to write ‘about’ Alzheimer’s but to use Alzheimer’s disease as a way to explore the way we live our lives, how we love, create families, survive, and endure.” – Marita Golden
Mission accomplished.
Marita Golden tells a story that held me in thrall. It unfolds boldly, steadily, with a grounded prose that had me absorbing it like a sponge.
Diane and Gregory Tate faced challenges from the beginning. Diane was a lawyer when they met but for all her success, she was caged in by her past. More to the point, by how she felt about herself because of her past. Gregory was in the process of launching his architecture company with his friend Mercer, filled with hope and confidence despite the difficulty of breaking into the small, tight arena of black architects in Washington, D. C. The Tate's relationship was almost over before it began, yet somehow they found their way together.
Eventually, their family expands with the addition of their two children: daughter Lauren decides to pursue a path that follows in her father’s footsteps. Sean struggles to find a place for himself until he determines that his dyslexia doesn’t have to define him. He, too, follows in his father’s footsteps – except he finds his direction via his own construction company, manifesting into reality the plans and dreams that families and companies have for their homes and businesses.
Then Alzheimer’s disease enters their lives – subtly and on stealthy feet at first, then gathering momentum and tightening its grip until the entire family is encompassed in the horror of its possession.
We are also taken back in time and learn the early stories of the younger Diane and Gregory. For me, it created a poignant and touching contrast to the maelstrom of their present lives and I was deeply moved.
This book is one of the most heartbreaking – and inspiring – books I have read this year. It is powerful with love and fear. It is immersive on every level. It is ferocious with inspiration and hope in the face of a monstrous, all-encompassing disease that doctors dread more than cancer.
This is a story that we can all benefit from, whether Alzheimer’s disease has invaded our families or not. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Mission accomplished.
Marita Golden tells a story that held me in thrall. It unfolds boldly, steadily, with a grounded prose that had me absorbing it like a sponge.
Diane and Gregory Tate faced challenges from the beginning. Diane was a lawyer when they met but for all her success, she was caged in by her past. More to the point, by how she felt about herself because of her past. Gregory was in the process of launching his architecture company with his friend Mercer, filled with hope and confidence despite the difficulty of breaking into the small, tight arena of black architects in Washington, D. C. The Tate's relationship was almost over before it began, yet somehow they found their way together.
Eventually, their family expands with the addition of their two children: daughter Lauren decides to pursue a path that follows in her father’s footsteps. Sean struggles to find a place for himself until he determines that his dyslexia doesn’t have to define him. He, too, follows in his father’s footsteps – except he finds his direction via his own construction company, manifesting into reality the plans and dreams that families and companies have for their homes and businesses.
Then Alzheimer’s disease enters their lives – subtly and on stealthy feet at first, then gathering momentum and tightening its grip until the entire family is encompassed in the horror of its possession.
We are also taken back in time and learn the early stories of the younger Diane and Gregory. For me, it created a poignant and touching contrast to the maelstrom of their present lives and I was deeply moved.
This book is one of the most heartbreaking – and inspiring – books I have read this year. It is powerful with love and fear. It is immersive on every level. It is ferocious with inspiration and hope in the face of a monstrous, all-encompassing disease that doctors dread more than cancer.
This is a story that we can all benefit from, whether Alzheimer’s disease has invaded our families or not. I highly recommend it to everyone.
March 30, 2018
Audiobook- narrated by Patricia R. Floyd
“How does anybody know what they’re capable of?”
This was a beautifully written- quickly connecting story. The narrator’s voice and dialect were pleasing - I never wanted to pull away — descriptions were stimulating—and the story was flowing naturally. Such ease...and so real ....it almost didn’t feel like a book at all - it was all too ‘alive’.
I felt like I was living the experiences along with this African-American family. We take the full journey with Diane Tate her husband Gregory - and their adult children. Gregory was only 68 years old when Diane was forced to move Gregory into an assisted living facility.
I no longer know Alzheimer’s from what I’ve read in books - and from a far distance.
When I read “Still Alice” by Lisa Genova in 2009, I was ‘awaken’ to this disease like never before. I’ve read several other books on Alzheimer’s since 2009....
But now it’s getting closer to home - becoming more personal.
I now have friends - who are living with serious signs of decline. I have personal friends who are caretakers for their husbands and mother’s. I love these friends and they are deeply in my thoughts. The least I can do is still keep reading - see if I pick up anything new - hear things in new ways. I did and did: pick up a few new things and heard things in new ways.
The author takes us into our hearts big time....by writing a genuine story of how THIS FAMILY DELT with this disease. We could take a few lessons. Diane’s choices & compassion - for her husband & herself bring tears to my eyes! I want to be HER!!!
This is an incredible intimate story of how everyone in the family is affected......which is always the story - isn’t it? These stories - told well - are worth telling!
I knew I wanted to read this book the minute I saw it — but Jaline’s review ( READ HERS) -super-charged my battery. I immediately downloaded the Audiobook.....and began my journey.
We REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE CAPABLE OF.....
.......I’m hoping I don’t have to face this question too closely
“How does anybody know what they’re capable of?”
This was a beautifully written- quickly connecting story. The narrator’s voice and dialect were pleasing - I never wanted to pull away — descriptions were stimulating—and the story was flowing naturally. Such ease...and so real ....it almost didn’t feel like a book at all - it was all too ‘alive’.
I felt like I was living the experiences along with this African-American family. We take the full journey with Diane Tate her husband Gregory - and their adult children. Gregory was only 68 years old when Diane was forced to move Gregory into an assisted living facility.
I no longer know Alzheimer’s from what I’ve read in books - and from a far distance.
When I read “Still Alice” by Lisa Genova in 2009, I was ‘awaken’ to this disease like never before. I’ve read several other books on Alzheimer’s since 2009....
But now it’s getting closer to home - becoming more personal.
I now have friends - who are living with serious signs of decline. I have personal friends who are caretakers for their husbands and mother’s. I love these friends and they are deeply in my thoughts. The least I can do is still keep reading - see if I pick up anything new - hear things in new ways. I did and did: pick up a few new things and heard things in new ways.
The author takes us into our hearts big time....by writing a genuine story of how THIS FAMILY DELT with this disease. We could take a few lessons. Diane’s choices & compassion - for her husband & herself bring tears to my eyes! I want to be HER!!!
This is an incredible intimate story of how everyone in the family is affected......which is always the story - isn’t it? These stories - told well - are worth telling!
I knew I wanted to read this book the minute I saw it — but Jaline’s review ( READ HERS) -super-charged my battery. I immediately downloaded the Audiobook.....and began my journey.
We REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE CAPABLE OF.....
.......I’m hoping I don’t have to face this question too closely
March 18, 2017
This book opens in 2015, so I was quite excited to experience contemporary literature written by a seasoned author. But the story soon goes back in time to introduce the courtship of the novel's primary couple: Diane and Gregory. With that, Marita takes the opportunity to introduce a topic which is near and dear to her heart: colorism. While Diane, a dark skinned woman, grapples with esteem issues her husband to be, a light skinned man, has seemingly benefited from his gene pool.
As the narrative continues, a rich history of Washington, DC is unveiled. The streets and surrounding cities named are real, and so is the description of the shifting composition of DC itself. The novel generally showcases African Americans as financially stable individuals with very successful careers and a huge imprint on the city.
But in the end, this is a heartbreaking and necessary novel which brings awareness to Alzheimer's disease. It's impact on parenthood, friendships, business relationships and a marriage are all examined in The Wide Circumference of Love.
As the narrative continues, a rich history of Washington, DC is unveiled. The streets and surrounding cities named are real, and so is the description of the shifting composition of DC itself. The novel generally showcases African Americans as financially stable individuals with very successful careers and a huge imprint on the city.
But in the end, this is a heartbreaking and necessary novel which brings awareness to Alzheimer's disease. It's impact on parenthood, friendships, business relationships and a marriage are all examined in The Wide Circumference of Love.
May 17, 2017
I have a special affinity for books about Black families. How mom met dad. What sealed their love. Which obstacles made them stronger or nearly ripped them apart. How their kids grew and took that love and struggle and made a life of their own with it. I love all of that.
"The Wide Circumference of Love" is the story of Diane and Gregory, meeting in 1970s DC, successful in their own right, he an architect from the good side of the tracks, she a lawyer turned judge from a family falling apart at the seams. Their love is strong and unwavering. They have a son who stumbles through life failing at mimicking Gregory's success, while their daughter follows easily in his footsteps to the top of his thriving architecture firm. But in his late 50s, Gregory begins to make small mistakes, and eventually huge embarrassments. Though he resists the diagnosis, the family soon learns he has early onset Alzheimers disease.
My connection to this illness has always been framed by the child taking care of the parent, but this novel focuses on the wife, the dedicated lover, and her pain in losing her first and only true partner to a debilitating illness that will eventually cause her husband to forget who she is. A heartbreaking and devastating place to be for both husband and wife. Alzheimers soon redefines everything they lived, worked and loved for.
Marita Golden writes this story with such a sure and sensitive hand that it's hard not to wonder if she is Diane in real life. I also enjoyed how DC played a huge part in this novel, a character in its own right. Sad subject matter supported by eloquent writing. This was a 4 star read for me.
"The Wide Circumference of Love" is the story of Diane and Gregory, meeting in 1970s DC, successful in their own right, he an architect from the good side of the tracks, she a lawyer turned judge from a family falling apart at the seams. Their love is strong and unwavering. They have a son who stumbles through life failing at mimicking Gregory's success, while their daughter follows easily in his footsteps to the top of his thriving architecture firm. But in his late 50s, Gregory begins to make small mistakes, and eventually huge embarrassments. Though he resists the diagnosis, the family soon learns he has early onset Alzheimers disease.
My connection to this illness has always been framed by the child taking care of the parent, but this novel focuses on the wife, the dedicated lover, and her pain in losing her first and only true partner to a debilitating illness that will eventually cause her husband to forget who she is. A heartbreaking and devastating place to be for both husband and wife. Alzheimers soon redefines everything they lived, worked and loved for.
Marita Golden writes this story with such a sure and sensitive hand that it's hard not to wonder if she is Diane in real life. I also enjoyed how DC played a huge part in this novel, a character in its own right. Sad subject matter supported by eloquent writing. This was a 4 star read for me.
March 18, 2023
This is a story of a family dealing with mental decline of its patriarch, specifically covering the impact on his spouse, and to a lesser extent, the other family members. Gregory, an architect, and Diane, a judge, are a married couple with two adult children. We learn the backstory of how Diane and Gregory met and fell in love. Gregory starts becoming forgetful and declines rapidly. It is a story of relationships and a family in crisis.
I liked the premise. Mental decline in a family member is an important topic. My primary issue with the book is that it appears lightly researched. It uses the terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” as if they are the same (they are not). Diane’s reactions to Gregory’s frustrations are pretty much the opposite of what is recommended, and she would have been informed. I realize this is a book of fiction, so it will not bother some, but it bothered me.
On to the story itself. I think the author does a good job with character development, but the dialogue often feels unrealistic. I think it would have been a stronger story if focused on Diane’s perspective. I liked parts and disliked others, which fits my definition of 3 stars.
I liked the premise. Mental decline in a family member is an important topic. My primary issue with the book is that it appears lightly researched. It uses the terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” as if they are the same (they are not). Diane’s reactions to Gregory’s frustrations are pretty much the opposite of what is recommended, and she would have been informed. I realize this is a book of fiction, so it will not bother some, but it bothered me.
On to the story itself. I think the author does a good job with character development, but the dialogue often feels unrealistic. I think it would have been a stronger story if focused on Diane’s perspective. I liked parts and disliked others, which fits my definition of 3 stars.
April 17, 2017
The collateral damage caused by Alzheimer's disease is the subject of this very good novel. Gregory Tate is a talented architect and along with his partner Mercer they formed the first black architectural team in Washington D.C. Diane Tate is the loving wife of Gregory and when Gregory is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's the disease takes a toll on the Tate's as well as their two children.
It's a honest portrayal of how Alzheimer's disease robs one of their memories and ultimately their mind. Diane as the primary caretaker is front and center as her husband spirals deeper into the disease. Marita Golden has skillfully captured the necessary tools that caretakers must have in the face of a loved one's deterioration. She strikes all the right notes with an idiomatic prose.
The novel is good enough that it can serve as a helpful guide to anyone who may be a caretaker to someone afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. That's high praise for a work of fiction. But it is certainly deserved.
It's a honest portrayal of how Alzheimer's disease robs one of their memories and ultimately their mind. Diane as the primary caretaker is front and center as her husband spirals deeper into the disease. Marita Golden has skillfully captured the necessary tools that caretakers must have in the face of a loved one's deterioration. She strikes all the right notes with an idiomatic prose.
The novel is good enough that it can serve as a helpful guide to anyone who may be a caretaker to someone afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. That's high praise for a work of fiction. But it is certainly deserved.
February 19, 2018
This book heartbreakingly captures the horror that is Alzheimer's disease, from both the point-of-view of the man afflicted with it and his family members, particularly his wife who must come to terms with a new paradigm for living. As difficult as it is for this family, who has the means to afford a facility to look after him, imagine what it's like for families who do not. And yet there is some hope to the story as well.
I'm not really a fan of books that go back and forth in time, and although it was used to good effect here, that slowed the book down for me. Still, it's a solid and important read, and a great book-club choice.
I'm not really a fan of books that go back and forth in time, and although it was used to good effect here, that slowed the book down for me. Still, it's a solid and important read, and a great book-club choice.
April 25, 2017
In The Wide Circumference of Love Marita Golden explores what happens to a family when an admired and loved father becomes unrecognizable because of an illness that strikes quickly and leaves emotional wreckage in it's wake.
The foundation of Diane's and Gregory’s relationship is based on Diane's admiration for Gregory's seemingly 'better' genes because of his fair skin, which she believes will improve life for herself and any potential children that they may have. Golden attaching Gregory's fair skin to his attractiveness for Diane is very well done, especially since his genes also came with the devastating result of Gregory developing Alzheimer's. Colorism in the African American community is touched on, but isn't over done. The focus of the story stayed steadily on the fall out of how Alzheimer's uniquely affects each member of the family
The Wide Circumference of Love is an intriguing look into what 'in sickness and in health' means when the person that you have committed your life to is no longer able to be a functioning partner in any way. How far is far enough to fulfill your obligation as a spouse? Where is the line between selfishness and self-care? How does a spouse accept that the person that they love has moved beyond their ability to care for physically and emotionally?
Golden also explores the dynamics between Gregory and his children. Gregory was able to build an impressive reputation and legacy for himself, but sometimes at the expense of his relationships with his children. I would have liked to have had more of the tension and dynamics of Gregory's relationship with his children, but what was given was enough to let the reader understand the different dynamics between Gregory and his daughter compared to Gregory and his son.
The Wide Circumference of Love is a moving and insightful story focused on the impact of Alzheimer's on an African American family. It's a short book that reads quickly, but still manages to feel complete. This could have very easily been a much longer story that delved a bit deeper into all of the relationships, family and social dynamics, and the impact of Alzheimer's. Although this is a story that centers around the impact of Alzheimer's, it is also a story that is unique to the African American experience. Golden weaves in themes of colorism, class, and social mobility that directly affect this specific African American family as part of the background of this family's Alzheimer's story. Marita Golden was able to make a painful and frustrating challenge for a family relatable in a way that made me wonder what my choices would have been. I will be looking to pick up more stories from Marita Golden in the future.
**I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find me at:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @MonlatReader
Instagram: @readermonica
Facebook: Monica Reeds
The foundation of Diane's and Gregory’s relationship is based on Diane's admiration for Gregory's seemingly 'better' genes because of his fair skin, which she believes will improve life for herself and any potential children that they may have. Golden attaching Gregory's fair skin to his attractiveness for Diane is very well done, especially since his genes also came with the devastating result of Gregory developing Alzheimer's. Colorism in the African American community is touched on, but isn't over done. The focus of the story stayed steadily on the fall out of how Alzheimer's uniquely affects each member of the family
The Wide Circumference of Love is an intriguing look into what 'in sickness and in health' means when the person that you have committed your life to is no longer able to be a functioning partner in any way. How far is far enough to fulfill your obligation as a spouse? Where is the line between selfishness and self-care? How does a spouse accept that the person that they love has moved beyond their ability to care for physically and emotionally?
Golden also explores the dynamics between Gregory and his children. Gregory was able to build an impressive reputation and legacy for himself, but sometimes at the expense of his relationships with his children. I would have liked to have had more of the tension and dynamics of Gregory's relationship with his children, but what was given was enough to let the reader understand the different dynamics between Gregory and his daughter compared to Gregory and his son.
The Wide Circumference of Love is a moving and insightful story focused on the impact of Alzheimer's on an African American family. It's a short book that reads quickly, but still manages to feel complete. This could have very easily been a much longer story that delved a bit deeper into all of the relationships, family and social dynamics, and the impact of Alzheimer's. Although this is a story that centers around the impact of Alzheimer's, it is also a story that is unique to the African American experience. Golden weaves in themes of colorism, class, and social mobility that directly affect this specific African American family as part of the background of this family's Alzheimer's story. Marita Golden was able to make a painful and frustrating challenge for a family relatable in a way that made me wonder what my choices would have been. I will be looking to pick up more stories from Marita Golden in the future.
**I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find me at:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @MonlatReader
Instagram: @readermonica
Facebook: Monica Reeds
July 16, 2024
Although utterly heartbreaking this is the perfect novel for anyone not familiar with Alzheimer's disease. The impact not only on the one inflicted with this horrific disease but also on the family relationships, is well written and described.
The author takes us on the progression and the stages of adjustment for all, and how everyone must re-examine their connection to the man he once was and learn to love the man he has become.
An eye-opener, a love story, but most of all an important novel I won't soon forget.
The author gives us a view of love in its many forms.
Highly Recommended!
The author takes us on the progression and the stages of adjustment for all, and how everyone must re-examine their connection to the man he once was and learn to love the man he has become.
An eye-opener, a love story, but most of all an important novel I won't soon forget.
The author gives us a view of love in its many forms.
Highly Recommended!
July 31, 2017
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. It was recommended to me through Amazon based on other books that I had read recently, and because I'm trying to read books by women and preferably women of color this year, it was an obvious choice. On the whole, I'm not disappointed with this book, but I wasn't always a fan of the writing style. I've read other books with characters and families living with Alzheimer's, and to be honest, I didn't feel as moved this time. Certain parts of the story felt rushed. In the beginning, I was invited into the lives of many characters that ended up to be secondary, and almost never mentioned again. I thought we'd be offered an insight into all character's struggles with this merciless disease, but it ended up being mostly Diane. This was expected, given the topic and her being Gregory's wife, but with such intimate knowledge of the children's thoughts at the beginning, it felt a little off-balance to never get another look inside their lives again. It felt incomplete.
I also wasn't a fan of the way the dialogue was written. At times it felt too clinical when characters talked about Alzheimer's disease itself. But even among each other, it felt impersonal. It didn't sound like how people actually talk. Certain flourishes and embellishments with words made things feel poetic rather than believably casual. I also wonder if the author herself is a poet, because even her descriptions seemed to flow into the lyrical rather than practical. I was ok with that when giving us background of the story. But in the dialogue, it made the characters seem almost mechanical.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I would recommend it to anyone that is experiencing or has experienced the horrors of Alzheimer's in their own life. I can see how this book would be enjoyable to someone who has lived through this experience. I can tell that the author did her research and she gets a lot of things right.
I also wasn't a fan of the way the dialogue was written. At times it felt too clinical when characters talked about Alzheimer's disease itself. But even among each other, it felt impersonal. It didn't sound like how people actually talk. Certain flourishes and embellishments with words made things feel poetic rather than believably casual. I also wonder if the author herself is a poet, because even her descriptions seemed to flow into the lyrical rather than practical. I was ok with that when giving us background of the story. But in the dialogue, it made the characters seem almost mechanical.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I would recommend it to anyone that is experiencing or has experienced the horrors of Alzheimer's in their own life. I can see how this book would be enjoyable to someone who has lived through this experience. I can tell that the author did her research and she gets a lot of things right.
December 17, 2017
I appreciate Marita Golden's work, and feel that this book can reach a broad audience. The Wide Circumference of Love is about lacking love as well as building love and togetherness; about family, and partnership, friendship, and how Alzheimer's disease impacts relationships.
There is nothing new in terms of prose style, and sometimes, characters were SO understanding, articulate, and wise during moments that would leave many of us flustered, speechless, and on our knees, that I felt some skepticism while reading. It is class-based, in that the majority of the characters are highly educated and professionally successful, so their ability to access good information, support, and pay for high-quality care and consider fresh perspectives was uncomplicated.
The Wide Circumference of Love is a positive story that educates and role models how people who care about each other can face the life-altering condition that is Alzheimer's - rather than being in denial and "checking-out." For me, these are the important merits of this book.
There is nothing new in terms of prose style, and sometimes, characters were SO understanding, articulate, and wise during moments that would leave many of us flustered, speechless, and on our knees, that I felt some skepticism while reading. It is class-based, in that the majority of the characters are highly educated and professionally successful, so their ability to access good information, support, and pay for high-quality care and consider fresh perspectives was uncomplicated.
The Wide Circumference of Love is a positive story that educates and role models how people who care about each other can face the life-altering condition that is Alzheimer's - rather than being in denial and "checking-out." For me, these are the important merits of this book.
March 29, 2017
Absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful.
February 19, 2019
Slow paced but powerful story of a prominent black family living in Washington D.C. and dealing with the father's early-onset Alzheimer's. Gregory was one of the first black architects to land large contract jobs in downtown D.C. and he worked hard to build his company's reputation. His wife Diane is a family court judge who has to deadbolt her bedroom door at night against her husband who due to the disease once attacked her out of anger and frustration. Their two children are adults, one an architect, one a contractor. Golden draws you into each family member's life, moving back and forth from Diane and Gregory's pasts before children to Gregory starting to realize his memory is slipping to the present day where Diane has made the difficult choice to have Gregory live in a memory care facility. This book is a slow burn that I couldn't put down. I recommend reading along with "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova, another powerful portrait of early-onset Alzheimer's.
2nd reading: great discussion at the library's book club.
2nd reading: great discussion at the library's book club.
February 22, 2017
The Wide Circumference of Love is a sweet, well constructed examination of a family faced with the devastation of the patriarch's early on-set Alzheimer's disease. Amazingly affectionate, Diane and Gregory find themselves without the golden years future they had envisioned after a lifetime of accomplishment. Their two grown children also have to deal with the reality of their father's increasing memory loss and disintegration into a blackness rendering him unrecognizable. However, the framework plot is not as incisive as it could have been, and the fact that the family is African-American could have held more tension, but it was the overall goodness of these people that had me round this from a 3.5 to 4 star review.
April 28, 2019
So many emotions reading this book. Beautifully written, complex characters whose lives I watched start and stop and start again in the most beautiful and heart-breaking ways. Seeing them all embrace love, sometimes whole and sometimes in brokenness, and learning that there certainly is a wide circumference of love with many textures and layers. Just a beautiful book.
I also love that she's a local author. Wonderful read.
I also love that she's a local author. Wonderful read.
June 4, 2017
A great choice for a Sunday read. Just a solid, well written story about love and the real meaning of family even in the face of crisis. The crisis in this case is Alzheimers and the terrible toll it takes on everyone. This is a subject that hits close to home for me and I found the emotional tone to be spot on. I was enfolded by this story today. Easy to recommend.
July 22, 2018
This book wrecked me.... it absolutely WRECKED me. There are narratives that scratch the surface of the emotions of the characters and those that dive deep and this one almost hit the ocean floor for me. I shed a few tears while reading it. It made me reflect on my greataunt who suffered dementia after a stroke and died not to long ago. It made me reflect on my marriage and my definition of love and to what lengths I would be willing to sacrifice and show that for my husband. (I won't spoil it but the main character basically has to accept in the course of the novel that she is no longer her husband's wife in his eyes and what that means for them both.) It was a hard read but a good one. It will stick with me for a long time.
April 28, 2017
Such a realist story describing a sneaking and life changing illness, Alzheimer's, and how it creeps and takes control of not only the victim but the entire family. The research caused me to shed tears but more importantly it increased my awareness of this illness.
June 5, 2017
It is breathtaking. I devoured it. It is what I've been yearning for in books that I've been reading this year. An instant connection with characters who face their lives head on, stumble and find a path forward. My heart stopped on multiple occasions and tears flowed at the beauty and heartbreak of the life and love of this woman and her family.
This is the story of a family facing Alzheimer's. I have no direct experience with the disease so I cannot judge the accuracy of its portrayal in the book. The author does have passages where Gregory, the husband with Alzheimer's, is written in the first-person narrative and I found them disorienting. Much like I imagine the disease to be. The voice of Diane, his wife, is where we learn the breadth of what he loses to Alzheimer's. The author does not shy away from the fullness of the disease and juxtaposes that against the history between them.
Gregory's journey is inevitable. Diane is the one who has choices and struggles to figure out how to make those choices in a way that respects her, him and their children. Their history leads the way and the conclusion honors their mutual love and growth. It is the foundation of her path forward beyond the final pages of the novel.
Marita Golden has written a beautiful love story. It is also more than a love story. Diane is a dark-skinned black woman at the center of this love story. It is her voice, her experience, her growth to which the reader connects. She is not defined by her husband or her children. She defines who she is and her voice strengthens over the course of the narrative as her decisions become clear to her. It is black and it is feminist and it is the best novel I've read so far this year.
This is the story of a family facing Alzheimer's. I have no direct experience with the disease so I cannot judge the accuracy of its portrayal in the book. The author does have passages where Gregory, the husband with Alzheimer's, is written in the first-person narrative and I found them disorienting. Much like I imagine the disease to be. The voice of Diane, his wife, is where we learn the breadth of what he loses to Alzheimer's. The author does not shy away from the fullness of the disease and juxtaposes that against the history between them.
Gregory's journey is inevitable. Diane is the one who has choices and struggles to figure out how to make those choices in a way that respects her, him and their children. Their history leads the way and the conclusion honors their mutual love and growth. It is the foundation of her path forward beyond the final pages of the novel.
Marita Golden has written a beautiful love story. It is also more than a love story. Diane is a dark-skinned black woman at the center of this love story. It is her voice, her experience, her growth to which the reader connects. She is not defined by her husband or her children. She defines who she is and her voice strengthens over the course of the narrative as her decisions become clear to her. It is black and it is feminist and it is the best novel I've read so far this year.
May 6, 2017
To me, this book could not be any better. Marita Golden's The Wide Circumference of Love gives us a realistic story of a African-American family experiencing Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a major storm to the stability and love of a family. Instead of being mainly about Gregory who has Alzheimer's it more about the tremendous effect on his wife, Diane, his daughter, Lauren and his son, Sean. For each of them there is a before and after. What was their relationship to him before he started having symptoms. What was his life like at work before? What about Diane who totally missed out on having a comfortable childhood?
Racial issues were there but they were not the main focus. I am very impressed with Diane who goes from a child more in hiding from a terrible crime that tore her family apart to a woman who could come to terms with her anger and learn forgiveness and express her understanding. It Diane, Lauren and Sean were real people I would love to have them in my life.
The author's writing is very straightforward and intelligent. I would be very happy to read any of her future books. As a person with family member who had dementia and Alzheimer's she totally portrayed it truthfully and understood the violent pain it causes on spouses and the children of the person having it.
I received this Advanced Reading Copy by making a selection from Amazon Vine books but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in this review. I also posted this review only on sites meant for reading not for selling.
Racial issues were there but they were not the main focus. I am very impressed with Diane who goes from a child more in hiding from a terrible crime that tore her family apart to a woman who could come to terms with her anger and learn forgiveness and express her understanding. It Diane, Lauren and Sean were real people I would love to have them in my life.
The author's writing is very straightforward and intelligent. I would be very happy to read any of her future books. As a person with family member who had dementia and Alzheimer's she totally portrayed it truthfully and understood the violent pain it causes on spouses and the children of the person having it.
I received this Advanced Reading Copy by making a selection from Amazon Vine books but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in this review. I also posted this review only on sites meant for reading not for selling.
September 2, 2017
I loved this book so, I now officially know what a "book hangover" is since it took me (a notoriously fast, often sieve-like reader) several weeks to both read and get over it. Part of the time issue was that the story of a mature, successful, longtime happily-married couple facing the dreaded inevitability of Alzheimer's disease and the beautifully understated way it was written managed to have so many upending and sophisticated emotional triggers for me. It wistfully evoked both the memories of its main characters and my own as well as the obvious contemplation of what would be worse -- to lose those experiences forever or to lose the person you can still see, touch, or talk to that you had them with, because they don't know you at all?
To put it another way, this is not a new story not even because its main characters are African-American, but because of the fact it was so strongly written, made it feel brand new to me.
There were many characters in this book that were wonderfully expounded on particularly the immediate family: Lauren, Sean (a standout I wanted more of), & of course Gregory. But to my mind this is Diane's story and she was such an easily identifiable character for me. Her losses, her grief, her anger, her acceptance and her reinvention were all written in a way that didn't feel forced or contrived just consistently nuanced, poignant, and visceral.
Lastly, the resolutions in this book left me sated and gratified too, which is rare in a book with a story that is often sad. Yet, I can happily say I felt uplifted afterwards. Highly recommend.
To put it another way, this is not a new story not even because its main characters are African-American, but because of the fact it was so strongly written, made it feel brand new to me.
There were many characters in this book that were wonderfully expounded on particularly the immediate family: Lauren, Sean (a standout I wanted more of), & of course Gregory. But to my mind this is Diane's story and she was such an easily identifiable character for me. Her losses, her grief, her anger, her acceptance and her reinvention were all written in a way that didn't feel forced or contrived just consistently nuanced, poignant, and visceral.
Lastly, the resolutions in this book left me sated and gratified too, which is rare in a book with a story that is often sad. Yet, I can happily say I felt uplifted afterwards. Highly recommend.
March 5, 2017
ARC/Literature: Years ago, I saw a segment on CBS Sunday Morning where one of the reporters did a story about his wife with early onset Alzheimer's. His wife was young and thickened after having a full first half of her life. The second half of her life was in a extended care facility losing her memories. One point in the story was about the reporter himself and how he found love again. He never divorced his wife and asked the audience to live in his shoes before judging.
That scenario is part of this book. How do you go on when your partner is only sort of dead. I love the character of Diane, who after a rough childhood, picks herself up to become a District Judge, wife, and mother. Everything is going fine when Alzheimer's hits her husband and developers very quickly. She makes selfish decision without having family meetings simply because she is the one dealing with the problem everyday.
I picked out this book for Black History Month, but it's really not about black and white because family and Alzheimer's see no color. It was a quick read and I liked that the print was larger (I guess the publisher was expecting and older audience). I like the writing as the characters gave their side of the story. There were parts at the beginning that were too muddled together and I couldn't figure out if it was present or past in the story.
That scenario is part of this book. How do you go on when your partner is only sort of dead. I love the character of Diane, who after a rough childhood, picks herself up to become a District Judge, wife, and mother. Everything is going fine when Alzheimer's hits her husband and developers very quickly. She makes selfish decision without having family meetings simply because she is the one dealing with the problem everyday.
I picked out this book for Black History Month, but it's really not about black and white because family and Alzheimer's see no color. It was a quick read and I liked that the print was larger (I guess the publisher was expecting and older audience). I like the writing as the characters gave their side of the story. There were parts at the beginning that were too muddled together and I couldn't figure out if it was present or past in the story.
June 22, 2017
Alzheimer's takes no prisoners. The Wide Circumference of Love is the story of the damage that the disease causes to marriage, father/child relationship, and friendship. Diane and Gregory have been married for decades with two grown children. When Gregory first notices memory loss, he denies the inevitable. As his diagnosis becomes official and necessary measures have to be taken, the reader gets an in depth look at how each character processes the loss of the Gregory they have always known. This novel is told from multiple angles - Lauren (daughter), Sean (son), Gregory (patient), and mostly Diane (wife). I enjoyed Marita Golden's style of writing. Diane reinvents herself in this process and it is a vivid journey as the reader going through this process with her. The Wide Circumference of Love is well done and beautiful. I feel as though I had a peek into the lives of the Tate family during a tumultuous time in their lives. I feel closure in how it ended and well-informed of the characters' future.
July 2, 2017
This book was sad, yet also powerful. The plot follows an affluent African-American family as they deal with the patriarch's, Gregory, recent Alzheimer's diagnosis. Not only do we get to see how the wife, children, and best friend deal with the disease, but we also get to learn the history of their relationship with Gregory, which I think makes the storyline more emotional. All the characters are likable in the story, and it easy to feel empathy for each of them.
Now, to be honest, I have some family history with the disease, which I thought would make me put the book away before finishing, but it did not. At any rate, my experience may have made the storyline that much more touching for me.
Now, to be honest, I have some family history with the disease, which I thought would make me put the book away before finishing, but it did not. At any rate, my experience may have made the storyline that much more touching for me.
May 14, 2019
I went into this book knowing very little about it, but very quickly felt like this book was written for me. The characters (black, middle-class), location (D.C., gentrifying), resonated with me and rhe "happy family,unhappy in its own way" will probably resonate universally. Marita Golden weaves a story of a family adjusting to new normals and the pain and grace that those adjustments require.
I thoroughly appreciated this book and think it would be a worthwhile book to read with one's family as a way to facilitate difficult conversations about health and end of life care.
I thoroughly appreciated this book and think it would be a worthwhile book to read with one's family as a way to facilitate difficult conversations about health and end of life care.
July 4, 2018
Wow. If you have a family member suffering with Alzheimer's, this is one of the most relatable books you will ever read. My grandmother, an intelligent and amazing woman, has this disease. She no longer recognizes us and is in a facility... which hurts. Badly.
Anyway, the writing swept me away from the first page. I am a sucker for a strong black female lead character and I got it in Diane. I just loved every minute of reading this... the heartbreak, the sheer love that radiated off the pages... everything.
Definitely in my top 10 favorite books!
Anyway, the writing swept me away from the first page. I am a sucker for a strong black female lead character and I got it in Diane. I just loved every minute of reading this... the heartbreak, the sheer love that radiated off the pages... everything.
Definitely in my top 10 favorite books!
July 10, 2017
This book was heavy. HEAVY. But it was a really good read. The writing is supberb and draws you in immediately. The content is thought-provoking and stirred up many thoughts for me as I think about dealing with a parental unit with a life-altering disease.
My emotions ran the gamut as I read this book from intrigue to sadness to anger to calm. There were a few times I had to put the book down as it caused my eyes to sweat. Overall, this was an excellent book.
My emotions ran the gamut as I read this book from intrigue to sadness to anger to calm. There were a few times I had to put the book down as it caused my eyes to sweat. Overall, this was an excellent book.
May 19, 2017
Apt title for sure...
September 20, 2024
Such a beautifully written, heart wrenching and awesome read. It made me feel very full to connect with such empathy and humanity and imperfection.
January 20, 2018
Love Does Cover Many and Much
Diane and Gregory come from two vastly different worlds. Gregory from privilege and a loving family; Diane from poverty and a fractured home. Their differences bring them together, but it is their love that binds them to each other. Gregory is an architect; Diane an attorney, then a family court judge. Their daughter Lauren follows in her father's footsteps as an architect, while her brother Sean struggles to find himself as a man and a contractor. As Gregory and Diane begin to wind down their careers, Lauren and Sean's careers are moving forward. Life is good...until Gregory is diagnosed with ear!y onset Alzheimer's. Golden has written a very warm and a very human account of the effect this disease has on the Tate family. It is sad, heartwarming, funny, poignant, and real as each family member navigates the waters of this disease to build a life within it's constraints. It reminds of of the old R&B song, "What You Won't do for Love". A great read.
Diane and Gregory come from two vastly different worlds. Gregory from privilege and a loving family; Diane from poverty and a fractured home. Their differences bring them together, but it is their love that binds them to each other. Gregory is an architect; Diane an attorney, then a family court judge. Their daughter Lauren follows in her father's footsteps as an architect, while her brother Sean struggles to find himself as a man and a contractor. As Gregory and Diane begin to wind down their careers, Lauren and Sean's careers are moving forward. Life is good...until Gregory is diagnosed with ear!y onset Alzheimer's. Golden has written a very warm and a very human account of the effect this disease has on the Tate family. It is sad, heartwarming, funny, poignant, and real as each family member navigates the waters of this disease to build a life within it's constraints. It reminds of of the old R&B song, "What You Won't do for Love". A great read.
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