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Showing posts with label Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia. Show all posts
Monday, November 02, 2020
Recursion Another Stunning Mind-Boggler of a Read from a Sci-Fi Master
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"There are so few things in our existence we can count on to give us a sense of permanence, of the ground beneath our feet. People fail us. Our bodies fail us. We fail ourselves ... But what do you cling to, moment to moment, if memories can simply change. What, then, is real? And if the answer is nothing, where does that leave us?" (46)
A strange, horrifying phenomenon is sweeping across the nation. Authorities have dubbed it False Memory Syndrome (FMS). No one quite understands the devastating affliction, which swamps the sufferer with memories they don't recognize or understand, leading to disorientation, confusion, terror, and madness. It's contagious—and deadly.
New York City policeman Barry Sutton has seen too much FMS violence and death. He's determined to stop it. But how?
Neuroscientist Helena Smith has been hired by Marcus Slade, an inventor worth billions, to create a technology capable of preserving people's most precious memories. Haunted by her mother's rapidly progressing Alzheimer's, Helena works tirelessly in a secret lab off the coast of California to make the technology a reality before it's too late to save her mom.
As FMS becomes more widespread and dangerous, Barry becomes increasingly desperate. When he meets Helena, he realizes it's up to the two of them to save humanity. As the world around them crumbles and unmakes itself, the two are swept up in a frantic race against time that's becoming more impossible to win with every passing second ...
I'm not a big sci-fi reader, but I am a huge Blake Crouch fan. Dark Matter—which was one of my favorite reads of 2017—absolutely blew my mind, so I was all in for Crouch's newest, Recursion. While I didn't end up loving it quite as much as Dark Matter, I still found Recursion to be a stunning, mind-spinner of a read. The novel is tense, exciting, suspenseful, and thought-provoking. Barry and Helen are both brave, sympathetic characters, whom I cared about easily. I whipped through Recursion fast and furious, needing to know what happens next and if our heroes would ultimately be successful. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this one. If you dig complex, intriguing sci-fi puzzles wrapped in a pulse-pounding, adrenaline rush of a story, then this is the book for you.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Dark Matter by Blake Crouch)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, blood/gore, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Recursion with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Hopeful MG Novel Provides Boost for Kids With Messy Life Situations
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Everything in Kate Mitchell's life falls apart when her dad, who's suffering from severe depression, moves out. The 11-year-old hasn't heard from him in months. Before he took off, the family loved to make music together—Kate would sing while she and her father both played the guitar and her mother tickled the ivories. Now, the music is gone. Although Kate has tried to sing and strum, she just can't. Not anymore. 
At least Kate has her BFF to help her through. Now that Sofia is hanging out with another girl, though, Kate feels more alone than ever before. Add to that the fact that her paternal grandma, whose dementia is getting worse every day, has moved in with Kate and her mom, and her life feels like it's spiraling way, way out of control. When her grandma tries to help by spilling the secret of everyday magic, Kate is skeptical. As she puts the principles into practice, however, amazing things do start to happen. Can Kate hocus pocus her life back together? Can she bring her dad and Sofia back? Anything is possible with a sprinkle of everyday magic, right?
The Three Rules of Everyday Magic, a debut novel by Amanda Rawson Hill, is a sweet, hopeful story about forgiveness, kindness, and finding one's inner strength. The tale doesn't come to a neat, tidy end (spoiler alert!), which helps the book stay authentic. Still, it's an empowering novel that will give children with difficult challenges and messy life situations a bit of a lift. While its plot seems a little meandering and unfocused, overall I enjoyed The Three Rules of Everyday Magic.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of lots of novels, but no specific titles are coming to mind. Help!)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter (parental abandonment, depression, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of The Three Rules of Everyday Magic from the generous folks at Boyds Mills Press via those on The Whitney Awards Committee to facilitate contest judging. Thank you!
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Clean Historical Romance a Fun, Entertaining Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Savage Wells, Wyoming Territory, might be a small, quiet settlement, but the town is growing fast and its anxious mayor fears trouble is just around the corner. He needs a tough, dedicated sheriff to keep the peace. Offering an unusually high salary should lure in the right man for the job.
Legendary lawman Cade O'Brien is certain that man is him. Assuming his reputation will have proceeded him, he expects to waltz right in and take the position, no contest. He's shocked when he spies other applicants—one of whom is a woman. Cade never expected to have to prove himself capable but after a decade of bloody battles with violent criminals, he'll do anything for the easy tranquility Savage Wells offers.
Paisley Bell knows it's unusual for a woman to want to be sheriff, but the truth is she's been doing the job for months, even if the former sheriff took all the credit for her hard work. She may not have a chance against someone as infamous as Cade O'Brien, but Paisley will not back down. Not only does she need the money to care for her ill father, she knows and loves Savage Wells like no one else. No one can do the job as well as Paisley and she won't back down until the position is hers.
While Cade and Paisley vie for the job, they have to contend with quirky townspeople, the return of Paisley's ex-fiancé, a threat to the town bank, and most troublesome of all—their growing attraction for one another. With so much at stake, who will win and who will lose?
The Sheriffs of Savage Wells by Sarah M. Eden is a fun historical romance filled with likable characters, lively banter, and an entertaining storyline. Sweet and clean, it has a swoony love story at its center that can be savored by readers of all ages. At 336 pages, the novel is a good 100 pages longer than it needs to be, which bugs a little. Still, despite the book's unneeded length and the subplot that is too thin to justify it, overall I enjoyed this funny, upbeat romance. If you're looking for an uplifting read to make you smile, look no further. You just found it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of its sequel, Healing Hearts by Sarah M. Eden as well as other proper romances by the same author)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild violence
To the FTC, with love: I bought an e-copy of The Sheriffs of Savage Wells from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, April 13, 2018
Despite Appealing Vibe, LDS Rom-Com Fizzles
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Svetlana "Lana" Huish can't wait to spend the summer on Nantucket Island painting under the indulgent eyes of two of the most influential art patrons in the world. Being selected to participate in their exclusive mentoring program is a great honor and an unparalleled opportunity to make a name for herself as an artist. More than one successful career has been launched because of the program—the 22-year-old Yale grad wants hers to be one of them.
Upon arrival in Nantucket, Lana's shocked to discover she won't be studying on the East Coast at all. Instead, she finds herself in the tiny backwoods town of Bluegill, Idaho, where she'll spend six weeks being tutored by an elderly cowboy who specializes in Western art. Although Lana is immediately attracted to Walt, LeVan Hitchpost's handsome grandson, she's a little worried about the artist himself. It's clear LeVan is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. If her mentor can barely remember his own name, how is he supposed to teach her all he knows about art?
Despite her initial misgivings, Lana soon becomes charmed by LeVan, a mischievous old man whose mind is a lot sharper than he lets on. She's also completely smitten with Walt. Although the two appear to have little in common, Lana's drawn to the compassionate, hard-working farmer. He might not return her feelings, but she can't seem to control hers. As Lana tries to attract Walt's attention and works feverishly to help an ailing LeVan finish the masterpiece he's frantically trying to complete before Alzheimer's steals the rest of his mind, tension boils over in out-of-the-way Bluegill, Idaho. The tranquil summer Lana had envisioned has suddenly become anything but ...
Even though its premise is more than a little far-fetched, Brush With Love by Lisa McKendrick is a fun, captivating New Adult romance. Not only did I enjoy its rustic setting, but I liked the novel's upbeat voice and style. Yes, the story feels more YA than NA, but its bubbly, buoyant rom-com vibe definitely appeals. The characters are similarly likable, although LeVan's duplicitous actions seem cruel and inconsistent with his general nature. Plot is not this novel's strength as the story line meanders here, there, and everywhere, trying to cover too much territory, and getting more improbable as it chugs along. Chapter 23, in particular, threw me completely. It's so abrupt and unemotional and cheesy that I read it over a few times thinking it had to be a dream sequence! It isn't. Honestly, I couldn't feel any chemistry between Lana and Walt, so their romance seems insta-lovey and melodramatic. To top it all off, my copy of Brush With Love (which might possibly be an advanced reader version?) is chock-full of typos and other copy editing errors. In the end, then, I came away from this novel disappointed. The book has tons of potential; it just feels to me like this a draft of a novel, not the polished, complete story it should be.
(Readalikes: The style reminds me of LDS rom-com novels by Melanie Jacobson, Jenny Proctor, and Julie Wright)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for (non-graphic) references to sex and mild innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of Brush With Love from the generous folks at Bonneville Books via those on The Whitney Awards Committee. Thank you!
Friday, December 30, 2016
Sprinkles of Magical Realism Make MG Coming-of-Age Story Unique
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The last place 12-year-old Carol wants to spend her summer vacation is on an isolated sheep ranch in the New Mexico desert. While her friends are lounging by the pool, she'll be sweating to death as she helps care for an elderly stranger with dementia. Yes, Serge is her grandfather, but it's not like she's ever met him before. Unfortunately, there's nothing she can do to change her pathetic situation—her stressed-out parents need Carol's help to clean up and sell the ranch so they can move Grandpa Serge into a care home.
Carol doesn't take most of what Serge says seriously. His mind is going, right? So, why does it sting so much when he admonishes her not to spit on her Mexican heritage? And why do his crazy stories about a healing tree and magic bees strike such a chord with her? Grandpa Serge has no idea what he's talking about. Or does he?
As Carol learns to appreciate the things that matter most, she'll come to some surprising conclusions about herself, her family, and a desolate ranch that's filled with more possibility than she ever could have imagined.
Hour of the Bees, a debut novel by Lindsay Eager, tells a compelling coming-of-age story about roots, relationships, and redemption. Its blend of magical realism and plain ole realism makes it unique. Carol's voice seems authentically twelve, in all of its whiny/whimsical glory. The tale does get preachy and overly sentimental, especially toward the end. It also has a very far-fetched finale that kind of soured the story for me. Overall, though, Hour of the Bees makes for an enjoyable read with some important messages. Be warned, though: the heavy subject matter might be a tad much for more sensitive middle grade readers.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of The Time of the Butterflies by Kimberley Griffiths Little)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scary scenes/scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Hour of the Bees from the generous folks at Candlewick Press. Thank you!
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Newest Bell Elkins Mystery Taut, Compelling, and Atmospheric
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Sorrow Road, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Bell Elkins mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Like Belfa "Bell" Elkins, Darlene Strayer grew up in Appalachia, went to law school, and now works in the profession. Unlike Bell, Darlene is well-known and makes good money as a federal prosecutor in northern Virginia. Despite her lofty status, the high-powered lawyer has come to ask for Bell's help. Darlene's 89-year-old father, a patient at a local care home for people with Alzheimer's, has died. Although the care center's staff insists Harmon perished of natural causes, Darlene is not convinced. In the weeks before his death, Darlene's father was trying to communicate something urgent to his daughter. She believes Harmon was killed to prevent him from divulging the secrets locked away in his damaged mind.
Bell is not wholly persuaded by Darlene's pleas. Then, the lawyer is killed in a freak accident and other patients at the care center die under suspicious circumstances. Bell can't ignore the case any longer. Something sinister is definitely going on. How and why did Harmon Strayer die? Is the care center trying to cover up its own incompetence? Or did the old man's secrets go deeper than anyone could have imagined? As Bell looks into the situation, she discovers a tragic story of three boyhood pals and the dark secret they've been keeping for more than 50 years. How far will someone go to keep it buried forever?
I've enjoyed every installment of Julia Keller's Bell Elkins series. Sorrow Road, the fifth book, is no exception. Like its predecessors, the novel is atmospheric, bringing the complicated glory of Applachia to vivid life. The serial characters continue to intrigue me, as do the new ones we meet in Sorrow Road. Plotwise, the story remains taut and compelling throughout. The back-and-forth in time gives the tale an extra layer of depth, a device that I always find immensely appealing. Although Sorrow Road (like Keller's other mysteries) isn't exactly a happy story, it is a hopeful one. Not surprisingly, I enjoyed Keller's newest addition to the Bell Elkins series. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment, Fast Falls the Night, which comes out in August 2017 (not soon enough, in my humble opinion).
(Readalikes: Other books in the Bell Elkins series, including A Killing in the Hills; Bitter River; Summer of the Dead; Last Ragged Breath; and Fast Falls the Night)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Sorrow Road from the generous folks at Minotaur Books (a division of St. Martin's Press/Macmillan). Thank you!
Thursday, May 05, 2016
Unhurried Psychological Thriller Complex, Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Maud Horsham knows something's wrong with her memory. The 82-year-old often can't recall the names of everyday items. She goes to the store and forgets why she's there. Even the notes she leaves for herself make little sense anymore. There is one thing, however, that Maud is sure of: Elizabeth Markham—her neighbor and only real friend—is missing. Positive that something sinister has happened to Elizabeth, Maud pleads for help from the police, her daughter, even Elizabeth's temperamental son. All to no avail. No one takes an old woman with dementia seriously.
It's not the first time Maud's world has been rocked by the sudden disappearance of someone she loves. In 1946, her older sister vanished without a trace. As the two disappearances become entangled in Maud's mind, she grows even more confused. The answers to both mysteries are inside her head somewhere—if only she can remember.
Determined to figure out what happened to her friend, Maud mines her fractured memories, discovering in them some very disturbing truths. Can she hold on to her discoveries long enough to save Elizabeth? What about her sister? Will Maud be the one to save the missing women? Or will the secrets of the past remain hidden inside the recesses of a cloudy memory that is slowly, slowly slipping away ...
Elizabeth Is Missing, a debut novel by English author Emma Healey, is a complex psychological thriller. A quiet, unhurried one, yes, but also a twisty, riveting mystery. While the story offers plenty of suspense and intrigue, the most compelling thing about Elizabeth Is Missing is the terrifying issue at its heart—memory loss. Healey, whose grandmother suffers from dementia, brings the horror of the disease to life in such a vivid, heartbreaking way that it's impossible not to empathize with Maud and all of her real-life counterparts. Although it tells a sad, scary tale, I enjoyed this compelling, well-crafted debut novel. If you like a puzzling, mind-bending story, give this one a go. It's definitely worth the read.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs plus milder expletives)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
It's a Disease Novel, So, Yeah ...
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Nora Glass is more Martha Stewart than Martha Stewart. The 44-year-old loves nothing more than reigning over her clean, orderly universe with precision and pride. Her domestic supremacy has earned her legions of fans who turn to her syndicated newspaper column not just for household hints, but also for advice on weathering storms like divorce and single motherhood with grace—things at which Nora excels. So what if her angelic daughter has morphed into a sullen teenager, whose words wound her mother daily? Ellie's antics make Nora's readers laugh just as much as they did when she was a toddler. So what if Ellie hates that total strangers know all the intimate details of her life? Nora's ability to mine their everyday experience for nuggets of publishing gold is what pays the bills.
When Nora receives a devastating diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease (EOAD), she feels her tidy world start to crumble. Losing time, words and memories of things she did just moments ago terrifies her. She can't stand what the disease is doing to her—taking away from her. Knowing that EOAD is almost guaranteed to kill her within a few years doesn't make things any easier. Nora can't stand the thought of 16-year-old Ellie, who has already been abandoned by her father, losing her mother as well. Although Nora's fraternal twin, Mariana, promises to be there for both of them, that doesn't provide much comfort. Marianna can barely take care of herself.
As the symptoms of Nora's disease grow progressively worse, she must learn to let go—of control over her life, of grudges long-held, of perceptions that don't ring true, and of emotions she's always bottled up. With all of it stripped away, Nora will have to put her trust in the very people she's had to care for all her life. People who might fail. People who might let her down. People who will help her see that, sometimes, everything you need is right in front of you—if only you can remember to look.
Disease novels are always a hard sell for me. I'm sure they're not easy to write either—somehow you have to make them touching, but not sappy; affecting, but not melodramatic; realistic, but not depressing. Original, especially surprising, disease novels are tricky to pull off (one of the reasons John Green's The Fault in Our Stars is so popular). Considering all this, I didn't expect a whole lot out of Splinters of Light by Rachael Herron. And that's pretty much what I got. A character-driven story, the novel focuses on the relationships between the three Glass women—Nora, Ellie, and Mariana—and how they evolve in the face of Nora's illness. Plotwise, there are small conflicts (Ellie's older boyfriend, Mariana's inability to commit to a relationship, Nora's romance with her neighbor, etc.), but mostly it's all about Nora's suffering. I'm not going to lie: I got tired of Nora's wallowing. In fact, I didn't find any of the characters that likable. They depressed me, the lot of them. Herron writes well, it's true, but, overall, I just didn't find this overly-long novel that enjoyable.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little of Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson and a teensy bit of Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord as well as almost every book I've ever read about someone dying of cancer)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, sexual content, and depictions of underage drinking and illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Splinters of Light from the generous folks at Penguin. Thank you!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Another Tender Tale From An Author Who Always Knows Just How to Touch My Heart
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lucy Emery should be excited about her new home on the shore of a beautiful New Hampshire lake. She's never lived by the water before. It's a lovely spot, but the 12-year-old's nervous about starting over in a new place. She's not looking forward to a long, friendless summer, let alone beginning school without knowing a soul. It doesn't help that her mom's busy working and her dad, a famous nature photographer who promised her lots of father/daughter adventures in New Hampshire, is already off on another out-of-state assignment.
When she discovers that her dad's judging a children's photography contest, Lucy thinks she may have found the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone—not only will the photo scavenger hunt fill up her empty summer days, but maybe, she can use her pictures to convince her dad to pay more attention to his daughter. With the help of her new friend, Nate, Lucy goes in search of photo-worthy vistas. As she shoots the lakeside with its sparkling waters, towering mountains, and endangered loons, she finds not just beauty, but also a terrible truth. Revealing it could destroy the only friendship she's got. Does Lucy dare tell Nate what she knows? How will the knowledge affect his family? And what about the photography contest? If Lucy doesn't win, how will she keep her own relationships intact? As Lucy battles with herself over what to do, she'll discover even more startling truths—about friendship, family and, ultimately, about herself.
Cynthia Lord has a knack for creating tender, uplifting stories about kids grappling with everyday challenges. Her newest, Half a Chance, is no exception. As in her other books, Lord populates this one with likable characters who earn both our sympathy and our admiration. She moves them around in a rich, atmospheric setting while putting them through their paces. It's difficult not to care about the outcome of a tale with such a richness of people and place. I definitely cared. Half a Chance isn't my favorite Lord book (that would be Rules), but it's still a lovely, poignant story by a writer whose books never fail to touch my heart.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of any. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Half a Chance from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!
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