Still Alice

by Christine Mary Dunford (Adaptor), Lisa Genova

Alice Howland is a university professor at the height of her career when she is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Fiercely independent, with a husband and two children, Alice strives to make sense of her changing world as her memory begins to fail. This heartbreaking and hopeful adaptation of the award-winning book by Lisa Genova puts Alice onstage with Herself, providing the audience with an extraordinary window into the experience of living with dementia.

Genres: Fiction, Plays, Book Club

84 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2018

Reviews

[Tara D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and it is STILL with me.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still Alice is a book that you can’t put down. I love the author’s unique writing strategy. It’s a combination of first-person perspective and third-person’s narrative, which lets readers know how Alice experiences the progression of Alzheimer’s, from a linguistic professor to a patient who quickly loses memories about not only her career but also her family, and how she copes with the cognitive decline and memory losses as her disease worsens. I think the author intentionally chose to tell the story from Alice’s point of view so that we can feel her confusion and frustrations, and terror right along with her. Although this choice forces us to lose what’s going on inside the thoughts of her husband and the other characters, we get an insider’s perspective into the mind of someone slipping further and further into Alzheimer’s. My favorite scene in the book is the speech Alice delivers at the Dementia Care Conference, which moved me to tears. I also like the name, for even in the end, she is still the brave and remarkable woman, Alice. Compared with the adapted movie, I'm 100% sure that the book is much better.

[Steve Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

At points this book is so uplifting and empowering, and others it’s excruciatingly sad. Written by a Harvard doctor in neuroscience, this is a brilliant insight into living and functioning with Alzheimer’s from the inside.

Really well written - great book.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down, and really hits home if you know someone with Alzheimer's.

[Pam McQuade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book!

[Ramona Greco · Rating 3 out of 5]

*SPOILER ALERT* I liked this book up until the end. It was all wrapped up too artificially perfectly with Alice's daughter's caring for her. Quite a stretch to think this would be possible: 1) one daughter is also a new mom of twins (busy, tired, already stretched thin) 2) Alice's symptoms like emptying cabinets, frantically looking for a misplaced item and angry, verbal outbursts seemed to no longer be an issue with the new living arrangement. 3) Terrible relationship with one of the daughters before Alice became ill now all is forgiven because of the diagnosis?
When Alice's husband expressed concern about the daughters taking on the burden of caring for Alice the reply was, "She's not a burden, she's our mother." Give me a break. I like happy endings but this was an eye-roll for me.

[jodi watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from the medical perspective of alzheimers -- the first 1/2 read too much like a documentary for me -- I enjoyed the latter 1/2 much more. I felt this book did a nice job on relaying what the brain must be thinking when it is plagued by dementia and alzheimers... gave me a broader appreciation for the complexity of the disease and the care giver of those involved.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO NOT listen to the final quarter of this book while you are outdoors. To say that it pulls at the heartstrings would be the grossest of understatements! Truly a very moving and frighteningly plausible depiction of a brilliant woman descending into the grip of AD.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Genova is a master storyteller and this book is a must read.

STILL ALICE meticulously researched and gloriously plotted.

I cannot imagine how I would feel if I was Alice in this tale, but author Lisa Genova has done exactly that.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anyone has ever doubted the devastation caused by this disease, then this is the book to read. The author enables the reader to feel and be Alice. The writing style is engaging. The story is sad, but the book is one of a kind.

[Claudia Staude · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly powerful depiction of early onset dementia. We walk beside Alice as she descends deeper and deeper into the throes of Alzheimers. Beautiful dialogue by and simple settings keep the focus tightly on Alice.

[Mariana Freitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esse livro é tão bom, que o título, por si, consegue carregar a potência da estória que apresenta: Still Alice é o desobramento do que resiste.

[Aimee Bowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that you keep on your shelf to lend out and read again.

[dailyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful and thought provoking. What part of ourselves is truly us and never lost even after the outer shell of ourselves diminishes?

[Susan Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting! The author gives us a glimpse, through Alice's eyes, of what it's like to have Alzheimers Disease. Beautifully written!!!

[Jen Rozon-man · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one of my favorite Lisa Genova books! Educational, heart-wrenching, and inspiring. A must-read!

[Michael Devereaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

a sweet and simple adaptation of this story. I don't think they needed to combine certain aspects of the plot but it was still good. Onto the book!

[behsforensics]

2020: NSDA Duo Finalist

[CAROL · Rating 2 out of 5]

very interesting story of early onset Alzheimers. NOT very well written, however. Short sentences, while I liked the story, it could have been much better.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good informative book on Alzheimer’s disease. Heart wrenching story about the patient and each family member.

This book helped me navigate through a family members Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. Better Understanding from the perspective of the sufferer.

[Maya Mihajlovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the book before the movie and I cried!! So well written and the movie didn’t do it justice

[Julie Durham · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing look into Alzheimer's/dementia. It was difficult to read but I would highly recommend spending the time to read it. Chances are someone you live will deal with similar memory loss.