Such care and empathy in this story, and I love the author’s notes and acknowledgments.
I was constantly reflecting on how much the author must have knSuch care and empathy in this story, and I love the author’s notes and acknowledgments.
I was constantly reflecting on how much the author must have known about music, as so many scenes used music to convey very serious thoughts and feelings. This was so enjoyable, I love music, cannot play it, but appreciate the ups and downs and the colours and moods it can represent. And for music to be reflected on the condition called ALS to show the reader what this must be like, I found this extraordinarily moving.
Richard, an early forties man and accomplished pianist, has just been given the diagnosis. Initially thinking this may be one of the many ailments struck by pianists, he hoped in blind way, it was something small, something treatable when he suffered symptoms affecting his arms and hands. He was a relatively young and healthy man living out his full creative potential.
This was not to be.
Richard was used to the high life, touring the world, and playing in amazing concert halls. He was the ultimate player, and he had many dalliances and many women falling at his feet. His live was changing inexplicably.
He also had an ex-wife and college aged daughter who was not aware of his diagnosis. This was surprising, but when we begin to learn more about his fractured relationships, and that of his own family of origin this becomes clearer.
Richard’s ex wife, Karina, was also a pianist, and her talent was shown throughout this story, and her role as Richard’s carer as he was losing his life was heartbreaking and loving. Their daughter also began to get to know her father again, as well, just at the time Richard’s body is becoming rapidly paralysed. Karina loved Jazz piano, and Richard never understood this passion. There is a constant undercurrent of dissatisfaction between this former married couple, and the commitment shown by Karina is palpable, but very hard on her. I love how she knows what music to play for Richard, and when to play.
As a neuroscientist, this author has again tackled a subject that she knows, but as stated in her acknowledgements cited the many friends she had made along the way, and the organisations that supports this illness and the hard work so many people put into this. One of these dear friends started an organisation to raise funds and awareness, and that also, another friend with a different form of ALS, Richard Glatzer, wrote and co-directed the film Still Alice. With one finger on an iPad. She had never heard his voice. Hearing her talk of these special people was heart wrenching. She was changed by these people she loved.
A very well written story, thoughtful and eye opening. I am grateful for my good health and that of my family, but books such as this will always open my eyes. And this is necessary.
This author has a way of showing the wider population who would not normally know much about health conditions that take lives away, but who also shows how people get on with the hands they are dealt, still showing strength, courage, and tenacity. The final section made me sit and think for minutes as I stopped my car. I loved the audio version of this. This is why I am a reader.
This was a lovely book, with a very sad theme. My take on this is that the thread of the story is the butterfly, and the hum of Harper’s heart – or atThis was a lovely book, with a very sad theme. My take on this is that the thread of the story is the butterfly, and the hum of Harper’s heart – or at least the way she feels this to be. She has a special relationship with her heart. Harper has Down Syndrome, but in such a truly term of endearment, she calls this the Up Syndrome. She is highly functioning and has a complex repertoire, and even writes beautifully in the story which is her life, her own memoirs written in a note pad given to her by her father.
Harper’s sister is Marlowe, a character I failed to bond with, a 25 year old living abroad in England, where she is studying and is very successful in the field of a rare butterfly. Her sister’s congenital heart condition is worsening and she is summonsed home but is so intent on fixing her sister this takes a turn for the worst. She is relentless in this and not at all listening to her sister.
The turn of phrase ‘Stepmonster’ always made me giggle, this woman was never able to take the place of their beautiful mum.
This family lost their mother and wife a few years previously, and Marlowe does not wish to lose another family member. The writing is exquisite, and through the alternating viewpoints between these sisters who love each other very much, we see both grief and acceptance from both women.
Harper steals every scene she is in, she is loving and smart, precocious and well spoken. This book is a special one, but I was not captured in my heart the way I should have been. Harper is a lovely character, and she certainly captures the heart of everyone she crosses paths with. Also, of extreme joy and happiness is her partner, Louis, a funny and sweet soul who also has Down Syndrome. They are a beautiful pair to watch.
This is the author’s debut, so I am now very keen to keep an eye out for more from her. ...more
“I just really need it to be a love story. You know? I really, really need it to be that.” “I know,” she says. “Because if it isn’t a love story, t“I just really need it to be a love story. You know? I really, really need it to be that.” “I know,” she says. “Because if it isn’t a love story, then what is it?” I look to her glassy eyes, her face of wide-open empathy. “It’s my life,” I say. “This has been my whole life.”
These lines that made an impression on me, gave me pause. I listened to the audio version, and last night on finishing the book, the author and narrator were interviewed on their experience. This was very interesting. They talked about the pop culture references; a book and play came up as part of the influence on the author. Of course, social media plays a part in this, as does all the other awful themes associated with Lolita and its ilk.
The author shows her knowledge when referencing many literature sources of this theme, from Lolita and prior which made this a cleverly written, if not very hard to read at times, important story.
This book would not be for everyone, it is very hard watching a young girl named Vanessa who is suffering and has suffered trauma her whole life since the terrible teacher crossed her path at age 15 apportion blame and guilt for abuse. She always carried it, in very stage of the novel, although she did not see this directly.
It makes the love drain out of me and what’s left behind probably shouldn’t be there in the first place – shame and fear, a voice urging me to run.So many times she is close to conceding the teacher’s part, but for years does not.
He’s confident though, that it’ll all blow over. He keeps using that phrase, blow over, like this is some bad weather, a cloud cover that will eventually burn off.He uses words to charm, manipulate and deceive. Comparing her hair to the colour of a maple leaf.
When referring to girls her own age and the appalling treatment by boys she pondered He was so careful with me... Being subjected to that kind of humiliation would have been scary, not what Strane did to me. Strane who sunk to his knees before me, who told me I was the love of his life.
I gave up on Lolita, I read a hundred pages or so as it was just too hard a slog, but I am glad I persisted with this one. Despite how smart she was, the reader just wants her to be ok and to understand she was not the cause.
It was known between the two he liked young girls, he would describe their young arms and their body directly to her, they talked about it. She witnessed him taking a groupn of young students, mostly girls, on a field trip.
Vanessa couldn’t get away from her past, forming a closeness to a college teacher, who himself ended up marring a student. Then, there was the school where this all began.
Administration erred on the side of the teacher, inviting Vanessa’s peers in a Q&A style affair to question HER, after she admitted to the school it was all lies, that she had made it up. I wonder who pressured her to do that? Such murky waters!
Is it hopeful for Vanessa come stories end? It’s such a loaded question. The words grief, joy and disbelief were there on the last page.
A well written book, for readers to go into eyes wide open....more
I stumbled across this on audio, and relised a friend had recommended it so I borrowed it on a whim thinkiing it would be sweet. It was fine, nothing I stumbled across this on audio, and relised a friend had recommended it so I borrowed it on a whim thinkiing it would be sweet. It was fine, nothing exciting and would suite a romance reader looking for something every easy to read, or perhaps to break up a more serious reading period.
Laurie and Jack have a very to and fro frienship, they lock eyes from a distance and this is instant electricity form Laurie. We don't know too much about Jack's experience, as Laurie is the enamoured one, and searches for him continually. For convuluted reasons, this ends up being protracted over 10 years. It includes times of marriage, break up, loss of friendship and changes of careers. A lot of pining, what if's and pretending to be happy with their lot. Oh, and a lot of girlfriend's who meant nothing to Jack, he was a bit of a guy who always needed to have a woman.
There was nothing wrong with it, but I wasn't captured or enthralled and didn't look forward to listening to it again. I didn't enjoy the male narrator, the female was ok.
I listened to this on the Libby app, via my local library at 1.65 speed. ...more
What a lovely book to come across! With thanks to my friend Kelli for recommending this book, as I don’t always love receiving requests having almost What a lovely book to come across! With thanks to my friend Kelli for recommending this book, as I don’t always love receiving requests having almost 2000 on my list of books to be read. I suggested this for purchase, my public library being awesome added it straight away. Happy to help my fellow library patrons.
Love is enticing, love is intoxicating and love sometimes occurs at the wrong time. Most of all I found love to be cyclical here. That may sound clinical, but the cycle of love, marriage, pregnancy, child rearing and the love between friends did go round and round here.
James loves Louisa, a beautiful poet, but Louisa is engaged to his best friend. It’s angsty, it’s messy, it’s sad watching James agonise over everything. This is a lovely cycle of love, angst, dreaming, loss and a continuance of life.
I let go of the doorknob and ran to her. Then I kissed her once, twice, and again for good measure and left before I could change my mind. Bad enough that I had ruined everything. Worse that I was tempted to do it again immediately.
There is simply nothing to be done but accept and endure. Not necessarily in that order.
I cried at the end, it is quite a short book so I do recommend it – a rewarding little dose of love and loss, but also a love that lives on....more
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