Given to me by my mum, after I mentioned I was going to buy a copy for a friend.
I finished reading it this morning and I cried!
I found it very interesting being told as it is, by the person with early onset Alzheimers.

Thanks so much for checking out my wish list. Really appreciated. You likely know that my mother was similarly afflicted for more years than were pleasant for her or the family.
Wasn't the UnConvention barbecue last night fun? Great gathering, lovely bookcrossers, and books, books, books.

I put off reading this book although I treasured the thought that Wombles had brought it to Sydney for me. I knew that reading it would be an emotional ride and it most certainly was.
I would like to have read something like this when Mother first started showing signs of dementia; I wish I'd then had insights that would have enabled me to react very differently towards her and much more patiently. Her medicos would never put a diagnosis on her condition and were very reluctant to discuss her situation at all.
For fifty-year old Alice Howland though, with her background as a professor at Harvard with a doctorate in psychology, a research interest in linguistics and around twenty-five years teaching cognitive psychology, she knew enough to realize that her occasional episodes of forgetfulness were unlikely to be simply a result of menopause.
Once she received a confirmed diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease she knew all too well what her life would become and the risks for her children.
I've looked for on-line words about this book and the following extract says it so well.

"This tragic but beautifully written book takes us along on her journey from her accomplished self to the person she will become, one who needs constant care, has lost most of her memories and her way of life." (Reviewed by Ksparkler)

I'm going to start a book circle for this book as it should be shared and savoured. Thanks so much Wombles.

I've finally got this bookring into operation and will be posting the book off to MarcieNZ tomorrow.
This is how it will work. Yes, some rules but simple ones.

1- Someone will send you a pm asking for your address.
2- Journal the book when it arrives so we know it has travelled safely.
3- Put the book on top of your Mt TBR but under any rings or rays that have recently arrived.
4- Read the book (take your time and enjoy the book, don't feel rushed to finish it but remember others are waiting) One month is a good time-fame.
5- When the end is in sight, check the book's journal and PM the next person to get their address
6- Finish the book, make another journal entry and let everyone know what you thought of the book; reading others' entries is part of the fun and enjoyment of bookrings.
7- Send the book to the next person on the list (please use the cheapest shipping method available), make release notes (Controlled Release) or journal entry to let everyone know that it's in the mail.
8- If you can't receive the book when it comes to your turn, contact me and PM the next person on the list to let us know, so that the book can continue its journey.
9- Participants have been included more or less according to order of signing BUT with some cognizance of geographic restraints and people's shipping preferences.
10- If anyone else asks to join it will be subject to the wishes already expressed.

PARTICIPANTS

MarcieNZ NZ (Book has arrived)
Edwardstreet NZ
KiwiinEngland UK
Katisha50 UK (arrived here 7th May 2011)
Footymadgill UK (in post to Footymadgill 17 Dec 2011)
Inver UK (Received by Inver 20 Dec 2011)
Spoiled Rotten USA (Asked to be skipped as now has own copy)
iwillrejoice USA (Arrived 21 Feb 2012)
Piper79 (Received by Piper 21 March 2012)
Valpete USA (at end )

Back to me please

I'm so pleased that there is this interest.

Posted this book off today at the Silverstream Post Office to MarcieNZ on the first leg of the book Circle.

The book arrived today, thank you Sherlockfan and Wombles. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Expression of interest received from Piper79 who can be added in the USA part of the circle. I've also made a slight shuffle of order to rationalise moves between continents. Must be rational at all costs!

Awesome story! Great idea to show the progress of the disease in someone who is not yet 50 and still has a full life. Difficult to read at times but well worth it.

Its a nice way to show how to communicate with Alzheimers sufferers in real life.

Thanks for sharing the book and starting the bookring, Sherlockfan.

Posted to Edwardstreet today.

arrived in my letter box, a wonderful surpise after a tough day- will read and post along to the next recipient

On its way as soon as KIE sends me her address which I have mislaid.I read this in one sitting last night and thoroughly enjoyed. I have been one of the contributors to a new dementia guideline for our District Health Boards. This is avery good addition to the literature and I will be sure to have it added to the reading list in the guideline.
Found it the best self published book I have ever read.
Dear Reader. Thank you for picking up this book! Please make a journal entry here to let me know that this book has found a good home with you. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (its free). If you join, please consider indicating that Edwardstreet referred you. I hope you enjoy the book. You can make another journal entry with your comments when you’ve finished reading. Whenever you’re ready to send it on its way, make a journal entry if you are giving or sending this book to a known person, or release notes if you are leaving it "in the wild" again for anyone to catch. Then watch its journey. You’ll be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. It’s confidential (you’re known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), and spam-free.
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Arrived just before Easter, thank you Edwardstreet for sending it to the other side of the world.

I greatly enjoyed this book, I didn't realise it was selfpublished until I read the other journal entries.

A number of scenes created in the book will stay with me; the three children arguing when Alice is trying to find out the time of Lydia's play, when Alice is asked at the end to critic Lydia's reading of a play passage.

Posted to the next person on the ring. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

Thanks, KiwiinEngland, this arrived during the week. I've a couple of other books to read before this, but am looking forward to getting into it.

Well, I have to apologise for keeping this so long. I had completely forgotten that it is a ring book.

It is a very well told and moving story. If you want to read the real-life story of someone with early-onset AD, I recommend Christine Bryden's Dancing with Dementia. It's available on Google books.

It'll be moving again shortly.

Posting to Footymadgill today.

Picked up from the post office today. I fear I may not start it until after the New Year what with Christmas in the way ;-) Will read and post on as soon as possible.

A great read. The book told is from the point of view of an Alzheimers sufferer rather than a family member or caregiver. It provides a great insight into the horrible, destructive nature of the disease.

I have pmed next in list and will send on as soon as I have the address.

Sent on to the next person in the ring. Thanks for sharing!

Received today thanks. I just know this is going to be a sensitive read for me as my dad had dementia, but it will be interesting to read it from a sufferer's point of view I'm sure.

What a wonderful book. Very well written and very touching. Had me shed a tear on more than one occasion. Alice is Harvard professor, married with three grown up children and a busy life. She starts to become forgetful, but dismisses it. An event takes her by surprise when one day on route home from work she gets lost and can't remember the way back to the house. She is disturbed by this and begins to wonder if there is something more to the forgetfulness. She is finally diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She is only 50 years old. How could this happen to her. She has to tell her family and re-evaluate her career and family relationships.

This is a touching story of they cope and how they deal with the inevitable progress of this horrible disease that steals away your very living. I related to this book with some sadness, given my dad had dementia and passed away. It helped answer questions we asked before and probably had prior to his diagnosis too.

Thank you Lisa Genova for this touching read from the view point of a sufferer rather than a carer. The most touching chapter for me was March 2005.

*******************

Waiting for address from next reader.

Sending it winging its way to the USA to 'iwillrejoice'......enjoy!

Received in today's mail - thank you! I have about half of 2 other books to finish first, but will get to this ASAP. :-)

Such a sad, compelling story...

I have PM'd Piper79 for her address, & will send it on as soon as I hear back.

Thanks for sharing!

Released to Piper79 in South Carolina as next up in this book ring. Enjoy!

This book arrived in the mail today. I only have one day off, so I will try to start tonight. I'm looking forward to reading this book! I am a nurse and often deal with patients who have this disease...

I finished this book last week. It was heartbreaking, but a fast read. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I thought a lot about her "attempt" and how she had a smart, but flawed plan.
I will pm Valpete and try to get this book off again by the end of the week.
Thanks for sharing this book!

This book is on her way to Valpete

Wow, this book has been on quite a journey. I am glad that I'm last on the list as I do have many books (rings/rays) ahead of this one. Please have patience...I promise I will get to it.

I'm sorry I kept this book so long; however, I am glad to have read it. I am approaching the age where some of my friends are beginning to show the signs of dementia, which is of course, very troubling.

I thought it depicted very realistically the decline that an Alzheimer's patient experiences. I particularly liked the letter Alice wrote herself and also the tribute paid to her by one of her students, Dan Maloney.

I will try to find a new home for this excellent book.

I'm returning this book to Sherlockfan, as she requested. Thanks for starting this Ray!

Excellent book!