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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

In which I visit a new book group and discuss Still Alice...

One of the goals I had for myself this year was to visit and try out a couple of new book groups - ones that I wasn't leading and were perhaps closer to my home.  Today, I visited a book group at the library that is closest to my house - only a few miles.  I especially was interested in this group as the book for discussion today was Still Alice by Lisa Genova.

I read Still Alice several years ago and it remains one of the most personally meaningful books I have ever read.  I have recommended it over and over, have literally pressed it into the hands of people whose family members have been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

I was so pleased to see that this book had been made into a movie, that Julianne Moore was cast as Alice (good pick, I think), that she was awarded a Golden Globe this past weekend for her performance and that this story will be available to so many more people.  I don't know if I will see it in a theater or not.  I have this vision of myself sobbing, so I will likely wait until I can view it in my own home.

Getting back to the book group, I had a lovely time.  I think we surprised the librarian who was moderating by the number of people who attended.  She asked who liked the book or loved the book and it was virtually everyone there.  Often a discussion lags when all agree.  However, that was not the case.  And I was pleased to just sit by and be a regular member.  I shared a bit of my reading experience and how Still Alice touched my life at a very difficult time.  My go-to analogy of family members and their caretakers experiencing Alzheimer's concerns dark storm clouds and silver linings.  And especially living in the moment with the individual.  You will be surprised by joy when you least expect it.  I promise.

I plan on returning to this book group next month.  We'll be discussing The Good Lord Bird by James McBride.  I'm looking forward to it.  Leaving you with the trailer for Still Alice:


24 comments:

  1. Moore is a great actress. I have a copy of the book but I never read it. It seemed a little too heavy for me at the time. I know, me, heavy. Ha! I normlaly eat heavy books for lunch.

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    1. One day you might pick it up, Ti. It is a serious subject, but it's a good story too. :-)

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  2. I saw a preview for the movie recently and even then got teary-eyed. I later told my husband about the trailer, and how much I do not want to see the movie no matter how good it may be--the book was plenty--and even then I choked up. It was a great book, one I heartily recommend to others. Experiencing it once was enough. It just hits too close to home.

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    1. I understand, Wendy. Totally. I'm just glad that there are stories like these to put faces on the disease. Hugs to you!

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  3. I love that you did this. Brave in a way to walk into a new group with people you don't know. I did love the book, and it helped so much when Tom's father had A.

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    1. I'm going to another one on Friday - mostly because again I've read the book - years ago. Not sure I'd be able to keep up 3 book groups with meeting dates so close together, but we'll see.

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    2. I think it is just great that all these bookish opportunities are there for you. And I'm so interested to hear about them all.

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  4. I read Still Alice a while ago. I made me cry way too much for me to see the movie.

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    1. I understand Carol. I suspect that many will feel this way.

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  5. I was so struck by this book. It was heartbreaking and as I told a friend the other day: it still haunts me.

    I will definitely be seeing the movie. Like you, I don't know if I could handle seeing it in the theater. I expect gallons of tears.

    I'm glad you enjoyed your book group!

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    1. Jennifer, this was definitely a book that I remembered long after reading it.

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  6. I really need to read this one. My husband's grandmother had Alzheimer's and it was heartbreaking for the family. It's amazing how destructive the disease is to someone's mind/memory. So sad.

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    1. Susan, it's a well done story - heartbreaking surely, but realistic I think. It helped me understand the why of some of my Dad's behaviors.

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  7. One of the scary things about aging parents. So far we've been really lucky healthwise, but my uncle who is the same age as my dad (not related by blood) was recently diagnosed with early onset. Sounds like this book had an amazing impact on you.

    Good for you for going to book group! Our library groups meet during the day so they're out for me and sadly the two groups that I was with have no disbanded. I'm not even sure how to find another group! So will you go back for another meeting?

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    1. I will go back for another meeting, Trish. Not sure if I will attend in February, but I do want to read and talk about their March book, THE BOOK THIEF.

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  8. This is still on my TBR stack. I didn't read it mostly because my mom had such a hard time with it, but I do realize my mom and I don't have the same reaction to the subject of Alzheimer's all the time. I just got done with Matthew Thomas'We Are Not Ourselves and there was so much about Alzheimer's in there that was absolutely spot on that I felt like I could be reading about my dad. Have you read that yet?

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    1. I have not read that one yet, but I read a review somewhere and decided it must be about Alzheimer's. Am putting it on my list and thanks! I think you would appreciate STILL ALICE for the same reasons you did WE ARE NOT OURSELVES. It gave me some small understanding of some of my father's behaviors. Big hugs to your family. It is definitely not easy.

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  9. While I'm not a big fan of movie adaptations, I have to say I'm really looking forward to this one. The book was amazing wasn't it? I worked in a nursing home for a while and Alzheimer's is just such an awful disease. Anyway, I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed your book group.

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    1. Thanks, Iliana. Yes, if you worked in a nursing home you have an idea about the quirks of Alzheimer's patients. And they are all different but there are similarities that are so odd and yet understandable in some ways.

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  10. Goodness, I cried reading the book - I'm not sure I could handle the movie either! Although you won't be taken by surprise as I was with the book.

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  11. This sounds like a good book for a book group to read together. A subject that deeply touches a person is good when shared as a group. I'm with you on seeing the movie in the privacy of my own sobbing home.

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  12. This remains one of my all time favorite books. It's a very important topic and reality for so many. I was mesmerized due in part to the manner in which Alice's story was shared. Genova did a fantastic job! I'm looking forward to the movie.

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  13. It's been close to 6 years since I read Still Alice and I continue to think about the characters and the amazing story that Lisa Genova created, truly putting a face on this dreadful disease. I gave the book a perfect 5/5 and I plan to read it again, maybe this coming month. I will see the movie once it arrives in our town and I'm prepared to cry, but I really want to see it. I have a feeling Julianne Moore nails the role and I wouldn't be surprised if she wins the Oscar for Best Actress.

    I'm a bit envious of your book club opportunities. I've helped lead a couple over the years, but it's been quite a while since I was involved in one. I no longer want to be "in charge" but haven't found one I'd like to join. Oh, well. I have plenty to read and can always chat about the books with my coworkers, customers and online book friends. :)

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    1. I, too, could see Julianne Moore winning an Oscar.

      As to book club possibilities, well, there are a lot of retired people who live in this area and I think that book groups abound when that is the case.

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