Thursday, August 9, 2012

Still Alice and The Postmortal



Still Alice was a great read for me!  It was also emotionally draining because as I was reading it was as if I was right there!  At the end of the book, I read this is what the author wanted the readers to feel.  She did a great job.  I can't wait to read more of her books.

I must say, a few times I thought that the worst was going to happen, especially when she put the kettle on the stove. When she didn't burn down the house and die, I felt relieved.  A few times, I got upset at the husband because I thought that he did not care what was happening to Alice and he was being selfish.  But, I thought about it and realized that he was trying to process and handle the situation the best way that he knew how.  He still had to live.  Thank goodness for her children and their support!  I think that the story would have been different if she didn't have them to stand up for her when she couldn't for herself against her husband wanting to move her.  Am I correct in assuming that she did not move to New York, but John did and came back ever so often?  I hope that she writes a Still Alice, Part II.  I would like to know how long did she live and/or did they find a medicine that cured her or at least she didn't get worse through the years.  I am also glad the author did not have John having an affair or divorcing Alice. 

There was a preacher on the news several months ago that said a spouse should be allowed to divorce a spouse who has Alzheimer.  I suspect he said that because stats show that more women than men get this disease.  What do you guys think?  Should a spouse, man or woman, be allowed to divorce a spouse just because of Alzheimer.   If you think it is o.k., do you also think that the spouse should still be financially responsible and help the family with the spouse as long as he/she lives?


The Postmortal was interesting to me up until John's (another John) girlfriend got killed.  This was sad.  It appeared that everyone that he cared about was dying.  If he lived for many years, this means that he will carry and remember all of this sadness for a l-o-n-g time.  This could happen unless he started to have memory loss and forget all or most of the sadness.  I like the way the author showed the positive and negative sides of being able to live longer.  It is making me think about things that I normally wouldn't think about.  As much as I have read, it looks as if John started out as a nice guy.  As time passes and tragedy continues to happen to and around him, he becomes more and more bitter.  I am looking forward to seeing what happens at the end.  This is why I am not reading your blogs and commenting on them.  I hope to finish this novel and What are Old People For before summer is over so that I can comment on some of your blogs.

1 comment:

  1. Malinda,

    You raise an interesting point: divorce and ALZ. This is one my spouse and I have "discussed" rather heatedly when a friend of mine's husband suffered a TBI. He became childlike and in the end violent, plus abusive. She divorced him. I supported her. My husband said, "in sickness and in health". I said, "not in abuse". ALZ persons may become abusive. Where is the line drawn? Is ALZ different than this TBI person? Ideas folks....

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