Alice howland is a 50yearold professor of psychology at harvard university. When words begin to escape her and she starts becoming lost on her daily jogs. Set in the privileged academic and social climate of new york city cambridge in the novel and the cape, the film recounts several years in the life of alice howland who, as the film. Still alicea story of losing, leaving, forgetting, and, in some ways, findingis the faithful film version of a 2007 novel by the same name by lisa genova. There are so many issues, especially identity and loss, that can provide fodder for discussion and debate. Alice is not only a celebrated professor at the height of her career, but is also a worldrenowned expert in linguistics. Its about alice, a woman beloved by her family and. A friend was traveling with me a few months ago and showed up late to cocktails. Still alice is a 2007 novel by lisa genova, set in boston. It begins with small hiccups affecting alices memory or her sense of place then chugs right along into the more severe aspects of the diseasedisorientation, total shortterm memory loss, etc. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape, is a celebrated harvard professor at the. Denzel washingtons life advice will leave you speechless listen this everyday and change your life duration. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape. Still alice seems designed specifically with book clubs in mind.
Sixteen questions for the book club reading still alice by lisa genova. When the novel opens, alice is unaware of her disease. As alice s memory begins to fade, she daydreams of her mother and sister, who died in a car crash when she was a teenager. Still alice is about how she reacts to her own deteriorationhow she constantly reassesses it and figures out how to cope. The best study guide to still alice on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. After i read still alice, i wanted to stand up and tell a train full of strangers, you have to get this book. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, alice and her family find their bonds tested. Still alice has sold over a million copies worldwide and was made into an academy awardwinning film starring julianne moore. Mar 01, 2018 alices story is a portrait for others with dementia or with loved ones with dementia to see themselves in. I kept saying one more page, one more chapter, until the book was completed.
She has a loving husband, john, and three kids who are extremely caring. What were your thoughts and impressions of alzheimers disease before reading this book, especially as. In case you cannot figure this out, still alice grabbed me from the first page. But theres controversy surrounding that hopeful ending. It turns out, shes suffering from early onset familial alzheimers disease the rating. The still alice community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. A linguistics professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with alzheimers disease. While the story may be set in the wilds of canada, the lessons it imparts. Still alice, by lisa genova, tells the story of a harvard cognitive psychology professor, alice howland, and her descent into earlyonset alzheimers disease. The film also provides an accurate depiction of the difficulties and emotions experienced by a person with alzheimers. The neurologist seems slightly shy, but not shy enough to hinder his ability to deliver a straightforward diagnosis without stammering or stuttering. Alice howland julianne moore is a renowned linguistics professor at columbia university. The question and answer section for still alice is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. As alices memory begins to fade, she daydreams of her mother and sister, who died in a car crash when she was a teenager.
The film stars julianne moore as alice howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed with familial alzheimers disease shortly after her 50th birthday. Still alice is a 2014 american independent drama film written and directed by richard glatzer and wash westmoreland and based on lisa genovas bestselling 2007 novel of the same name. Lisa genovas debut novel about a 50yearold woman diagnosed with early onset alzheimers disease follows alice howland over the course of two years, from. Theres a moment in still alice when julianne moore, looking at herself in the mirror, slathers her face with cream. The foundation data on the story still alice still. Still alice is a 2014 american independent drama film written and directed by richard glatzer and wash westmoreland and based on lisa genovas bestselling 2007 novel of. This quick read summary my life span of a butterfly gives u. Well, in that case you obviously ought to try getting it from this site. Still alice study guide from litcharts the creators of. Every 72 seconds another american develops alzheimers disease. It additionally investigates the contrasts between the book and the film that was made dependent on the equivalent name fabulous story of the 50years of age woman. Alices story is a portrait for others with dementia or with loved ones with dementia to see themselves in.
Alice is a wildly savvy, driven lady, and the novel follows her crumbling into the ailment. Still alice this book was so close to home as my mother had dementia and i wish i had read this story before my mother had died we could have become even closer by my understanding a little more of what she was experiencing please lisa continue writing your brilliant stories but let narrators like the brilliant kate rudd do so much more. Alice howland is a renowned linguistics professor at columbia university. This is a file in pdf format which was thoroughly checked free from any errors, it is a full version of a digital release. Despite these negative thoughts regarding this unique novel, i consider this work to be a wonderful celebration of the complexities and the brilliance of the human mind. Still alice is about a womens journey coming to an abrupt end. The story begins with the books path to publication. Alice s eldest daughter, anna, and son, tom, take a genetic test to find out if they will develop the disease. Piles it on, not to cleanse or beautify, but to erase. Alice s younger daughter lydia, an aspiring actress, decides not to be tested. Alice howland alice, the hero, is a regarded harvard intellectual brain science educator who is determined at fifty to have earlybeginning alzheimers malady. Genova selfpublished her first novel, still alice, in 2007.
It turns out, shes suffering from early onset familial alzheimers disease. Shes a university professor but when alice approaches her 50th birthday, she starts to notice changes in her ability to remember. Book club questions for still alice book club babble. Alices disease brought their relationship back on track. The novel is about a woman who suffers earlyonset alzheimers disease. She doesnt always do it with quiet dignity, which is refreshing. Still alice by lisa genova heart breaking, and frightening are the two words that spring to mind instantly when i think about still alice by lisa genova. Alice howland, a 50yearold woman, is a cognitive psychology professor at harvard and is a worldrenowned linguistics expert. Still alice study guide from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Still alice is a novel about alice howland, a cognitive psychology professor at harvard, who finds out at age fifty that she has alzheimers disease. She adores her work, yet she cherishes her family more, and a great part of the pressure both inside and outside of her. Oct 03, 2011 alice s disease brought their relationship back on track.
The film also provides an accurate depiction of the difficulties and. The literary agents who said genovas book wouldnt sell are wrong. What were your thoughts and impressions of alzheimers disease before reading this book, especially as it would affect a younger person. The author of still alice on alzheimers and why she writes about disease duration. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. The paper gives a synopsis and definite investigation of the story still alice, composed by lisa genova. In august 2004, alice deals with the knowledge that her mother and sister have been dead for years. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy.
Still alice alice has great respect for her colleagues and is devastated when she is advised to give up her teaching position. Still alice serves as evidence for promoting a personcentered approach to researching dementia and caring for those with it a holistic approach seeing the whole person and not just their illness. I am still alive does require readers to suspend belief when a convenient plot twist appears, but those instances are outweighed by the sheer volume of factual detail the author offers on things like how to build a weatherresistant shelter and hunt and fish for food. When words begin to escape her and she starts becoming lost on her daily jogs, alice must come facetoface with a devastating diagnosis. Still alice is an inside look on how those with alzheimers disease and those related to anyone with the disease, and how it affects.
An interactive data visualization of still alices plot and themes. Alice howland says at one point in still alice, a line adapted from the book by author lisa genova. Still alice, starring julianne moore, chronicles a distinguished linguistic professors descent into the depths of alzheimers. Still alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50yearold womans sudden descent into early onset alzheimers disease, written by firsttime author lisa genova, who holds a ph. Still alice serves as evidence for promoting a personcentered approach to researching dementia and caring for those with it a holistic approach seeing the whole person and not. Beyond the book club circuit, those curious about this insidious disease will. The film successfully captures the tragedy of the disease, and moores portrayal of alice is riveting, which largely makes up for the films weaknesses. To us it still looks beautiful, but to this woman whos a professor and celebrated linguist, losing words and hence her. Still alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50yearold womans. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. This book is about a harvard university professor who get diagnosed with early onset alzheimers at the age of 50. The fact that lisa genova, the author of the book still alice, is a phd in neurophysiology undoubtedly added authenticity. Alice howland, a linguistics professor at columbia university, celebrates her 50th birthday with her physician husband john and their.
This study guide consists of approximately 48 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of still alice. Alices eldest daughter, anna, and son, tom, take a genetic test to find out if they will develop the disease. The film accurately portrays many of the signs across the three stages of alzheimers. Alices younger daughter lydia, an aspiring actress, decides not to be tested. Still alice is fantastic book for book clubs, teens interested in reading adult books dealing with specific issues and for those interested in realistic fiction. Terrifying, yes, but not depressing, and surprisingly beautiful. I kept reading knowing i was not going to get much done until i finished it.