Still Alice is by far one of the best books that I’ve read. It stays in your heart and will never leave again. The book is about Alice, mother of 3 , wife, professor at Harvard University, proud of what she has accomplished and then …. Alzheimers.
All of a sudden her life turns upside down and so is her familys life. The fact that you read the book from Alices point of view makes is so much more … real, emotionel, sad, and beautiful. There is so much love in the book, that eventhough is it about her Alzheimers diagnose, and sometimes they reveal their sadness, anger, frustration over the fact that there is nothing to do to prevent the illness to slowly take away the mother, the wife, the ambitious professor that they all know so well and love.
The fact that Alice is only 50 years when she gets the diagnose just makes it more heartbreaking. So young and still have plenty to offer her students at the university, life with her husband, becoming a grandmother, enjoying the fruits of her labour.
It’s about a year ago that I read the book and 2 years since I saw the film, I still when I see the cover of the book, catch myself in looking out of the window and think about how short and fragile our lifes are. How important love and family are to a person. Why we should seize the day and do what makes us happy. Smile to the person who serves you your coffee, enjoy the break that you get when stuck in the morning traffic.
It is so vividly and realistic written that I tend to believe that it is a real story. Each one of us can become an Alice or one in our family can become an Alice, and this book can help us understand the illness and what happens to the family affected.
Thank you Lisa Genova for writing an unforgetable book.