[Review] Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publishing Date: Jan. 4, 2011
322 Pages
Format: paperback, purchased
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads rating: 3 stars

Synopsis 

From Lisa Genova—whose novel Still Alice is soon to be a major motion picture starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth, and Kristen Stewart—comes this New York Times bestselling novel of resilience in the face of a devastating diagnosis. A vibrant mother in her thirties learns what matters most in life when a car crash leaves her with a traumatic brain disorder called "left neglect."

Sarah Nickerson, like any other working mom, is busy trying to have it all. One morning while racing to work and distracted by her cell phone, she looks away from the road for one second too long. In that blink of an eye, all the rapidly moving parts of her over-scheduled life come to a screeching halt. After a brain injury steals her awareness of everything on her left side, Sarah must retrain her mind to perceive the world as a whole. In so doing, she also learns how to pay attention to the people and parts of her life that matter most. 

In this powerful and poignant New York Times bestseller, Lisa Genova explores what can happen when we are forced to change our perception of everything around us. Left Neglected is an unforgettable story about finding abundance in the most difficult of circumstances, learning to pay attention to the details, and nourishing what truly matters.

My Review

For those of you who follow or have read posts on my blog, you probably know that I'm a big fan of Lisa Genova's work. I really loved Still Alice and Inside the O'Briens was another great work as well.  I knew when I saw this one on the shelf that I had to grab a copy. I love how she takes this very real, very scary disorder, and creates a captivating book. I love learning about these disorders, but it also makes me very sad for those that have to endure these difficulties. I can't imagine not being able to see or use anything on the left (or right) side of your body. It's a crazy concept to me and I've never heard of anything like it. 

The characters in this book are really sympathetic too. All Sarah wants is to go back to her normal life that she's used to. But after the accident, she has to learn that she can't pick up where she left off. It's sad to watch her struggle through the daily tasks of walking, eating everything on her plate, using both hands, etc. And her husband is really great to her. Sure, they struggle with her new disorder and it's something they both have to cope with, but he does everything he can to make things easier, including covering their house with florescent tape to help her see things easier. 

The title of this book is very creative and the storyline is incredibly original. If you're looking good medical-type book, this is one I'd recommend. If you're not sure about the medical language and aspects of the book, don't let it scare you away! It's truly a good book and very eye-opening. 

Stacking the Shelves 8.1.15

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews. Its all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, whether physical or virtual books. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course, ebooks! Tynga posts this meme on Saturdays, but you can post on any day that works best for you! Check out the guidelines by visiting Tynga's blog! 

Another great week in books for me! Although I didn't buy much, I'm really looking forward to these! 

Bought

Falling for Max by Shannon Stacey

Kowalski Family #9

I've only read one book by Shannon Stacey, and that was part of the Kowalski series as well, and I really enjoyed it. They seem to be light-hearted romances, which are always my go-to if I'm not sure what to read. 

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

I've read Still Alice and Inside the O'Briens by Genova and absolutely loved them! (You can see my reviews by clicking on the titles) She writes about really important issues and the stories are phenomenal. So I knew right when I saw this one that I HAD to pick it up! 

The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer 

I've seen this book around on the clearance shelf a few times while at my local used book store, but never picked it up. Then I saw it again at the library and they were selling it for 50 cents. I couldn't really pass it up. Plus the storyline really intrigues me and it's set in Wisconsin. (my state, which never happens!)

Library

Torch by Cheryl Strayed

This is for August's book club! A few friends of mine (who are also in book club) really liked Wild by Cheryl Strayed, so they wanted to try this one next. I'm excited to start it soon! 

[review] Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publishing Date: April 7, 2015
352 Pages
Format: ebook, ARC
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis 

From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova comes a powerful new novel that does for Huntington’s Disease what her debut Still Alice did for Alzheimer’s.

Joe O’Brien is a forty-four-year-old police officer from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts. A devoted husband, proud father of four children in their twenties, and respected officer, Joe begins experiencing bouts of disorganized thinking, uncharacteristic temper outbursts, and strange, involuntary movements. He initially attributes these episodes to the stress of his job, but as these symptoms worsen, he agrees to see a neurologist and is handed a diagnosis that will change his and his family’s lives forever: Huntington’s Disease.

Huntington’s is a lethal neurodegenerative disease with no treatment and no cure. Each of Joe’s four children has a 50 percent chance of inheriting their father’s disease, and a simple blood test can reveal their genetic fate. While watching her potential future in her father’s escalating symptoms, twenty-one-year-old daughter Katie struggles with the questions this test imposes on her young adult life. Does she want to know? What if she’s gene positive? Can she live with the constant anxiety of not knowing?

As Joe’s symptoms worsen and he’s eventually stripped of his badge and more, Joe struggles to maintain hope and a sense of purpose, while Katie and her siblings must find the courage to either live a life “at risk” or learn their fate.

Praised for writing that “explores the resilience of the human spirit” (The San Francisco Chronicle), Lisa Genova has once again delivered a novel as powerful and unforgettable as the human insights at its core.

My Review 

I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. 

Just like Still Alice, this book completely drew me in. Genova takes on another serious, but taboo, neurological disease. Huntington's Disease affects roughly 30,000 people in the united states. It doesn't sound like a lot compared to many of the other disease in this world, like breast cancer and Alzheimer's. But nevertheless, it's incredibly serious and deadly. But no one wants to talk about it. 

Genova introduces us to the O'Briens; Joe, his wife Ruth, and their four children: JJ, Meghan, Katie and Patrick. When Joe finds out he has HD, his children are left with the choice of finding out whether they are gene positive or gene negative. JJ and Meghan find out, but Katie and Patrick don't. The book takes us through finding out Joe has HD, to watching his disease slowly take over his body. And throughout this, Katie struggles with whether she wants to find out if she's HD gene positive or negative. 

I really liked how this book went back and forth between Katie and Joe's perspective. We watch Joe struggle with his growing symptoms and learning how to cope. And Katie struggles with her decision to find out about her future. The entire family copes with the disease so differently and I think it really shows how this disease can affect so many different people in different ways. No one is the same and the disease doesn't necessarily affect people the same. 

Genova is definitely a new favorite author of mine. I loved Still Alice and Inside the O'Briens lived up to my expectations. I can't wait to read her other work and I continue to recommend her books to my friends. I can't say enough good things about the awareness she is bringing to these terrible diseases.