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Allison's Gambit
When Allison began to care for her mother with Alzheimer’s, she started to ask some difficult questions. At what point is a life no longer worth living? Would dementia be in her future too?
Worried that her mother’s fate may be her own, Allison comes up with an unusual approach to try and control her own demise: start smoking. After all, she would rather die of cancer or a lung infection than the way her mother did—unable to recognize her own family, to take care of herself, or even speak. The tough part will be getting her family and friends on board with her new perspective.
Full of compassion for both Alzheimer’s victims and those it affects—caregivers, family, and loved ones—Allison’s Gambit brings a taboo topic to the forefront and asks us all—what would we do?
Worried that her mother’s fate may be her own, Allison comes up with an unusual approach to try and control her own demise: start smoking. After all, she would rather die of cancer or a lung infection than the way her mother did—unable to recognize her own family, to take care of herself, or even speak. The tough part will be getting her family and friends on board with her new perspective.
Full of compassion for both Alzheimer’s victims and those it affects—caregivers, family, and loved ones—Allison’s Gambit brings a taboo topic to the forefront and asks us all—what would we do?
316 pages, Paperback
Published October 12, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 20, 2021
This started off so well, but I just couldn’t finish it and stopped reading at 45%.
Essentially this book started well, I liked the hook, would you sooner die swiftly with all your faculties or risk losing your memory and dying among your jumbled up memories? I could tell the author has medical training, I’m a doctor myself and there were many shared insights into families and health related issues that you gather over the years of experience so I felt like this was really going to carry me away as a story.
But it started to feel more like a memoir than fiction. The story just didn’t move forward at all and really just stalled. There was plenty of back story but it didn’t feel relevant as it came at the expense of moving forward.
At part 2 there was a shift in narrative, suddenly we move to Nancy who we know dies, and it’s told in the 3rd person. This really jarred me as a reader and spoiled what was already a very slow paced book.
Overall I felt the writing style had great potential but I needed much more by way of a plot for a fictional novel.
Essentially this book started well, I liked the hook, would you sooner die swiftly with all your faculties or risk losing your memory and dying among your jumbled up memories? I could tell the author has medical training, I’m a doctor myself and there were many shared insights into families and health related issues that you gather over the years of experience so I felt like this was really going to carry me away as a story.
But it started to feel more like a memoir than fiction. The story just didn’t move forward at all and really just stalled. There was plenty of back story but it didn’t feel relevant as it came at the expense of moving forward.
At part 2 there was a shift in narrative, suddenly we move to Nancy who we know dies, and it’s told in the 3rd person. This really jarred me as a reader and spoiled what was already a very slow paced book.
Overall I felt the writing style had great potential but I needed much more by way of a plot for a fictional novel.
January 29, 2022
It was written in first person and felt like a memoir. As a story of fiction it just didn’t work that well for me.
August 28, 2021
I enjoyed this. I do feel it started a bit slow. It took a bit to really get in to it. It seemed to jump around a bit. It made me think a lot about death and the caregivers around us. The idea was whether you would want to die a slow death with people having to care for you, or if there was a way to decide to die a quick/peaceful death. Overall I really felt for the main character and what she went through as a caregiver.
Thank you Netgalley and circuit breaker books for the chance to read this book.
Thank you Netgalley and circuit breaker books for the chance to read this book.
November 7, 2021
My original impression with this book was that it was a memoir and initially I enjoyed the book. C.A. Price covers many issues plagued by Americans today when it comes to healthcare. The last thought you should have is how to care for our elderly parents, let alone caring for the terminally ill. Allison, the daughter of two sickly parents, her father passed away from COPD. and her mother Nancy"s was just diagnosis with alzheimer's disease,.
One of the statements written by Price that interested me, "her father died, but her mother suffered.", seemed relative concerning Alzheimer"s disease, which is a cruel disorder.
The book is broken into three parts, and the opening chapters covered the slow deterioration that occurred after Nancy's initial diagnosis and the situation became real when Allison needed to fill one of her mother's prescriptions and the copay was much higher than expected. What do you do when an extra $500 was not in the budget, and this is a valid discussion, which is why I was convinced this was a work of nonfiction.
My attention was still with the book and at this point and its many relative arguments that the author made. I loved the example of spending $1600 on pharmaceuticals or $15 on condoms, both protect you from HIV. The entire chapter was both interesting and just a little humorous. It's in part two where the book fell apart for me. I preferred the novel as a work of nonfiction, plus I enjoyed the author's voice, it sounded scholarly, without sounding dense.
If the entire book held together as well as the first part, this would have easily been a four star rating, but unfortunately, for me the book was a two out of five stars. Thank you to NetGalley, C..A. Price, and the publisher for the privilege of reading this ARC in return I've written an honest review.
One of the statements written by Price that interested me, "her father died, but her mother suffered.", seemed relative concerning Alzheimer"s disease, which is a cruel disorder.
The book is broken into three parts, and the opening chapters covered the slow deterioration that occurred after Nancy's initial diagnosis and the situation became real when Allison needed to fill one of her mother's prescriptions and the copay was much higher than expected. What do you do when an extra $500 was not in the budget, and this is a valid discussion, which is why I was convinced this was a work of nonfiction.
My attention was still with the book and at this point and its many relative arguments that the author made. I loved the example of spending $1600 on pharmaceuticals or $15 on condoms, both protect you from HIV. The entire chapter was both interesting and just a little humorous. It's in part two where the book fell apart for me. I preferred the novel as a work of nonfiction, plus I enjoyed the author's voice, it sounded scholarly, without sounding dense.
If the entire book held together as well as the first part, this would have easily been a four star rating, but unfortunately, for me the book was a two out of five stars. Thank you to NetGalley, C..A. Price, and the publisher for the privilege of reading this ARC in return I've written an honest review.
February 21, 2022
I specifically wanted to read this book as the topic at hand relates to a very close family member. I wanted to read about how Allison dealt with her mother's dementia, what impact it had on her personally; her family; her marriage; her time; her work; her friendships.
It was an interesting read with many parts that I could relate to.
I didn't read about the author until the end - was rather surprised to see that this was in fact not totally non-fiction but more a collection about patients and caregivers, condensed by the doctor into a mother and daughter story - explained a lot about the ""How?"' of a few chapters - how did she know that etc.
A worthwhile read that I think every family member of a dementia sufferer needs to read. It leaves one with a lot of thoughts. Especially when it comes to elderly cost of care - nursing homes (frail cares here in South Africa) and medicine costs.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.
It was an interesting read with many parts that I could relate to.
I didn't read about the author until the end - was rather surprised to see that this was in fact not totally non-fiction but more a collection about patients and caregivers, condensed by the doctor into a mother and daughter story - explained a lot about the ""How?"' of a few chapters - how did she know that etc.
A worthwhile read that I think every family member of a dementia sufferer needs to read. It leaves one with a lot of thoughts. Especially when it comes to elderly cost of care - nursing homes (frail cares here in South Africa) and medicine costs.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.
September 15, 2021
A really intriguing look into the caregiver/patient relationship--especially when that patient is your own mother. How would taking care of a parent dying of Alzheimer's affect your own views on the world, and on life and death? It certainly changes Allison's view of things, and it's a very well-written account of this new life philosophy she develops, written by a doctor who has seen similar cases himself.
October 21, 2021
I so appreciated how this book brought taboo topics into the light. It re-installed humanity to the experience of sickness which so many of us face, personally or interpersonally. It probably had something to do with the author being a doctor in practice :) This was a delightful and super accessible fiction read. Would definitely recommend to those serving in the truly invaluable role of caregiving - which is all of us, at some point or the other.
December 30, 2021
Poignant, humanistic, snd authentic it was interesting to see how Allison came to her “gambit”.
I was a caretaker for my father with dementia and this book rang true with the emotions I felt. It’s helping me process the constant guilt I felt and it’s helping me to let it go.
Reading it, I felt understood and I’ve already shared this book with others caregiving for patients with memory care issues. Thank you C. A. Price. It’s lovely to know that there are doctors like him in our world.
I was a caretaker for my father with dementia and this book rang true with the emotions I felt. It’s helping me process the constant guilt I felt and it’s helping me to let it go.
Reading it, I felt understood and I’ve already shared this book with others caregiving for patients with memory care issues. Thank you C. A. Price. It’s lovely to know that there are doctors like him in our world.
October 20, 2021
An excellent example of how real life can spark fiction and how fiction can be used to help people in real life, Allison's Gambit was written by a doctor who had a patient who decided to take up smoking as a way to control her death after her mother had alzheimer's. Sensitive, poignant and highly readable. Recommended.
September 11, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Overall, the story was quite good and did investigate some interesting topics.
Unfortunately the pacing was extremely slow which took away from the enjoyment a lot, with some of the detail feeling unnecessary.
Overall, the story was quite good and did investigate some interesting topics.
Unfortunately the pacing was extremely slow which took away from the enjoyment a lot, with some of the detail feeling unnecessary.
October 20, 2021
Allison's Gambit is extremely relevant for anyone dealing with dementia in their own families. Though sad at times, the book is also really enjoyable, refreshing and comforting. I highly recommend checking this one out.
November 3, 2021
I received an eARC from Netgalley.
This book has a really interesting premise. Allison's mother has Alzheimers. The novel tells the story of the experience of her mother's diagnosis and deterioration and the decision Allison makes that she does not want to die like that. She'd rather die an early, quick death.
I don't know from experience, but it seems like the novel gives a good, realistic portrayal of dealing with a relative with this disease. It is a sad book. And really makes you think.
This book has a really interesting premise. Allison's mother has Alzheimers. The novel tells the story of the experience of her mother's diagnosis and deterioration and the decision Allison makes that she does not want to die like that. She'd rather die an early, quick death.
I don't know from experience, but it seems like the novel gives a good, realistic portrayal of dealing with a relative with this disease. It is a sad book. And really makes you think.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews