Book Commentary: “Left Neglected” by Lisa Genova

“Live life to the fullest.”

“Live each day like it’s your last.”

“Live well. Laugh often. Live much.”

We’ve all heard these sayings and have seen them circulated on those inspirational quote websites. Hopefully, many of us try to follow them every day as we go on about our daily lives.

Then, for a few of us, it happens.

Something will inevitably happen to remind us how precious life is. Like a diagnosis of a terminal illness. Or a funeral. Or in Sarah Nickerson’s case, a car accident that results in brain damage, preventing her from (in her opinion) functioning like a normal human being.

As a high powered Vice-President of HR at a major consulting firm, Ms. Nickerson seemed to have it all: a great home in an upper-class neighbourhood, a supportive husband, 3 wonderful kids, and thriving career. Life for her was fast-paced, busy, yet she seemed very happy to have accomplished everything she had set her mind to.

Then in the blink of an eye, her life changed.

A car accident that damaged part of her brain, which resulted in what’s called “Left Neglect”. An actual condition, Left Neglect made everything in the world on Sarah’s left side (of her body) completely invisible. The story continues with her struggle to cope and adapt to her condition. Her sheer determination to readjust and re-train her brain and body is very admirable.

I read this book because I very much enjoyed Lisa Genova’s first book, Still Alice. The story of Left Neglected is just as compelling as Ms. Genova’s debut novel, and reminds us as readers just how precious life is, and how we can sometimes take life for granted.

We all know this, yet let’s say it again:

Let’s all live life to the fullest and be thankful for all we have. It can all be taken away in the blink of an eye.

We need reminders of this every once in a while – and this book does just that.

Excuse me while I go hug my children and tell them how much I love them. 🙂

Book Commentary: “Still Alice” by Lisa Genova

About 5 years ago, I was part of an awesome book club. It was with about 6 of my sexiest girlfriends, mostly single, living out the “Carrie Bradshaw” years of their lives. (I myself, had a small child at home at the time, so I was living vicariously through them!)  Our book club met once a month, rotating venues, mostly at the hottest restaurants in town. So, the book club revolved mostly around fantastic food, wine, girl talk….and truthfully, never about the books we said we would read.

This is what happened to Lisa Genova’s “Still Alice.”  We had put it down on our reading list, as all of us had heard that it was an amazing book that we just HAD to read.  We talked about reading it. We even had copies in our LV handbags. But who had the time to read?

A few weeks ago, I happened to be perusing the big box book store near my house, and they are STILL selling this book as a bestseller, 7 years after its publication in 2007. Guess no time better than now to pick it up and take a read.

It’s a captivating story about a Harvard Linguistics Professor who realizes that slowly, she is developing Alzheimer’s Disease. The story, as narrated by the main character Alice, captivated me from the start. Not only because the disease has been present in my own family, but because Ms. Genova creatively grips you, and pulls you into the story in such a way that you actually feel the deterioration that Alice feels. I was held until the very end of the book. I even passed the book on to my mother, who tells me she too isn’t very productive these days because she can’t put the book down.

Why did it take me 7 years to read this?  I’ll have to connect with my former book club girls to see if they ever ended up reading this book, and certainly recommend it if they haven’t.  I’m confident enough to say that ‘Still Alice” is now one of my favourites and one of the best I’ve read in a long time.  I’m now looking forward to read Ms. Genova’s other works, “Left Neglected” and her latest, “Love Anthony.”

Sorry for being late, Ms. Genova – but I’m now a big fan!