Writing this column, Iām lucky to have many people stop and chat with me about books. By far the most recommended read is Still Alice by Lisa Genova. In fact, while selecting eggs at the grocery store, a reader held onto my cart until she had finished her passionate praise for the book.
The reader wasnāt impressed when I told her that while Still Alice sounded great, I was reluctant to delve into the subject matter ā a womanās rapid descent into early onset Alzheimerās. When Genova released her second novel, Left Neglected, I wasnāt much tempted to read it either.Ā Genova, who has a PhD from Harvard in neuroscience, had again decided to fictionalize brain malfunction.
However, because readers were still stopping me and praising Genovaās superlative writing powers, I vowed to make my way through Left Neglected. Thank goodness I finally listened. Left Neglected is the amazing story of a high-powered career woman and mother, who while talking on the phone gets in a horrific car accident. Sarah Nickersonās skull is caved in so that she sustains brain damage to her right hemisphere.
This damage creates a bizarre condition ā Sarah no longer recognizes anything on the left side of her body. She doesnāt know she has a left hand, arm, foot. She doesnāt know anything exists on the left side of a room. She doesnāt see anything placed on the left side of her plate. Even though she remembers the concept of left and right, when reminded to look left, she canāt find it. Sarah spends months in the hospital trying to relocate left, and learning to re-navigate the world without being aware of left. It is, understandably, a difficult time. She wonders how her husband, her family and co-workers will think of her now that she has this handicap. She wonders if she will ever work again. And, if she doesnāt, how will she pay for all of her ongoing care?
Surprisingly, this is more a fascinating than depressing read. With her great imagination and character sensitivity, Genova is able to show readers exactly what it would be like to live with brain malfunction. Itās a treat to be in the hands of someone so knowledgeable about the human brain, and aside from a few clichĆ©s, to be in the hands a great storyteller.
I was so impressed by Left Neglected, I will go back and give Still Alice a try. Genova has a brand new novel about autism coming out this fall called Love Anthony. She is currently working on a fourth book. I plan to read them all. Otherwise, Iāll count on you to remind me!
Heather Allen is a writer and reader living in Penticton.