Left Neglected

By: Lisa Genova

Narrated by: Sarah Paulson

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Sarah Nickerson is like any other career-driven supermom in Welmont, the affluent Boston suburb where she leads a hectic but charmed life with her husband Bob, faithful nanny, and three children—Lucy, Charlie, and nine-month-old Linus.

Between recruiting the best and brightest minds as the vice president of human resources at Berkley Consulting; shuttling the kids to soccer, day care, and piano lessons; convincing her son’s teacher that he may not, in fact, have ADD; and making it home in time for dinner, it’s a wonder this over-scheduled, over-achieving Harvard graduate has time to breathe.

A self-confessed balloon about to burst, Sarah miraculously manages every minute of her life like an air traffic controller. Until one fateful day, while driving to work and trying to make a phone call, she looks away from the road for one second too long. In the blink of an eye, all the rapidly moving parts of her jam-packed life come to a screeching halt.

A traumatic brain injury completely erases the left side of her world, and for once, Sarah relinquishes control to those around her, including her formerly absent mother. Without the ability to even floss her own teeth, she struggles to find answers about her past and her uncertain future.

Now, as she wills herself to regain her independence and heal, Sarah must learn that her real destiny—her new, true life—may in fact lie far from the world of conference calls and spreadsheets. And that a happiness and peace greater than all the success in the world is close within reach, if only she slows down long enough to notice.

©2011 Lisa Genova (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Imagine your too busy, over scheduled, Type A life coming to a screeching halt. That is what happens in Lisa Genova's timely new novel, Left Neglected. As her protagonist, Sarah Nickerson, works her way through a devastating brain injury and back into that hectic life, she is forced to re-evaluate what really matters. I dare any reader to not do the same in their own lives after reading this book." (Ann Hood)

"Devastating and hopeful, haunting and familiar, Left Neglected is a triumph of insight and empathy." (Stefan Merrill Block, international best-selling author of The Story of Forgetting and The Storm at the Door)

“Once again, Lisa Genova goes where few authors dare, and mines a compelling and beautifully written story about finding peace, wisdom and human connection. While Sarah Nickerson’s condition is rare, her journey is universal. “ (Lynn Kiele Bonasia, author of Summer Shift)

Not cookie cutter

So often a book with a story of this kind goes so far in one direction (negative or falsely positive) in a way that seems overly dramatic and unrealistic. As a parent of a child with a disability, I found it beautifully realistic in the sense that you can acknowledge what isn’t present while appreciating every good thing even more...maybe even because of the disability. Disability aside, there is much to be appreciated in this story.

Uncanny true representation of left neglect

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

As weird as living on mars

Any additional comments?

I suffered stroke and experienced left neglect. Sara's experience was exactly mine

Everything by this author is excellent

Loved this story - I thought it may just be one of those stories that teaches you a lesson about not working too hard, you'll miss time with the kids, kind of the cliched stories that are out there. But this was a true journey that was so well written that I was sad when it ended. I also loved Sarah Paulson as the narrator. The only book I didn't like the narration on was Still Alice, which was narrated by the author.Love Anthony, her other book, was narrated by Debra Messing, and she did an excellent job also.

Uplifting and Educational

Loved it! Highly recommend for those who want to learn more about individuals encountering a life change through disability and overcoming it to have a very fulfilling life even though different than before.

A definite read.

Who knew? Left neglected? A real diagnosis. You meet a lovely woman, trying to do it all, makes a BIG mistake, like all of us, and her life is changed forever. Intense, interesting and compelling. Couldn't stop listening. A definite read.

Excellent story and narration!

This was a very well constructed, fascinating story. I highly recommended it. If you liked Still Alice, you will like this too.

I learned so much

Very very interesting book. My son had a traumatic brain injury 13 years ago but his was very different. Perhaps that's why I loved this book!

My Favorite Genova So Far

I thought Still Alice would be hard to beat, but I was wrong. The main character will resonate with working mothers everywhere.

Another great book by Lisa Genova!

After reading Still Alice and listening to Remember, I became hooked on Lisa Genova’s books. Left Neglected was outstanding! As a neuroscientist and author, Lisa Genova is able to weave a fictional story while teaching the reader about living with real neurological diseases or conditions. I highly recommend her books, and hope that she continues to write more.

Well produced, annoying story

What did you like best about Left Neglected? What did you like least?

The characters were believable, but not likable. It is hard to feel for the protagonist when she is and her husband lie to each other, lie to their kids and lie to themselves. The heavy handed religious epiphany was over the top and if I wasn't in a book club, would have quit the book at that point.

Would you ever listen to anything by Lisa Genova again?

No. Lisa is not a very good storyteller. Her characters are two dimensional, fitting the plot like puzzle pieces rather than coming alive with personalities.

What about Sarah Paulson’s performance did you like?

She delivers at a good pace, easy to listen to, good enunciation.

Do you think Left Neglected needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Never.