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  • Still Alice

  • By: Lisa Genova
  • Narrated by: Lisa Genova
  • Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (7,082 ratings)

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Still Alice

By: Lisa Genova
Narrated by: Lisa Genova
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Editorial reviews

The heart-wrenching tale of 50-year-old Alice Howland and her early onset Alzheimer's diagnosis is narrated eloquently by author Lisa Genova. Alice, a successful linguistics professor at Harvard, is married to John, an equally esteemed Harvard professor, and together they have three grown children. Her biggest worry in life is her youngest daughter's move to L.A. to pursue acting until Alice starts forgetting things. It begins innocuously enough: misplacing her BlackBerry, missing unimportant appointments on her to-do list, searching her mind for tip-of-the-tongue phrases. But when she goes on her familiar daily run through Cambridge, and becomes disoriented just one mile from home, Alice knows something is terribly wrong.

A battery of tests and multiple doctor visits later, her worst nightmare is confirmed she is in the first stages of early onset Alzheimer's disease. Told from Alice's perspective, it's a frighteningly keen insight to the slow deterioration of a debilitating disease. Every nuance of pain, frustration, fear, and sorrow is captured in Genova's voice and she expertly utilizes the pregnant pause, and short, choppy sentences to convey the confusion and pain of Howland's thoughts during testing and diagnosis.

Genova's slight Boston accent lends authenticity to the story, and she doesn't oversell the emotion behind the words. Her transitions between character dialogue are smooth and subtle, but she so embodies the main character Alice, it's hard to remember that it is Genova, and not Howland herself, telling her story. Knowing its being read exactly as it was intended by the author creates an even stronger connection to the work. Equally present is the devastating effect this illness has on Alice's husband, children, and coworkers. And while there's obviously no happy ending in sight, Genova still manages to paint a story of hope, reminding listeners that even in the midst of great loss and suffering, love remains. Colleen Oakley

Publisher's summary

What if every memory you've ever had will be erased from your mind, and you have no choice but to carry on...powerless to stop it?

Alice Howland is proud of the life she worked so hard to build. At 50 years old, she's a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard and a world-renowned expert in linguistics with a successful husband and three grown children. When she begins to grow disoriented and forgetful, a tragic diagnosis changes her life - and her relationship with her family and the world - forever.

At once beautiful and terrifying, this extraordinary debut novel by Lisa Genova is a moving and vivid depiction of life with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease that is as compelling as A Beautiful Mind and as unforgettable as Ordinary People.

©2009 Lisa Genova (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"After I read Still Alice, I wanted to stand up and tell a train full of strangers, 'You have to get this book.'" ( Boston Globe)
"With grace and compassion, Lisa Genova writes about the enormous white emptiness created by Alzheimer's." ( The Improper Bostonian)
"A masterpiece that will touch lives in ways none of us can even imagine." ( Alzheimer's Daily News)

What listeners say about Still Alice

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,469
  • 4 Stars
    1,983
  • 3 Stars
    507
  • 2 Stars
    80
  • 1 Stars
    43
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,068
  • 4 Stars
    1,484
  • 3 Stars
    807
  • 2 Stars
    357
  • 1 Stars
    246
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,238
  • 4 Stars
    1,342
  • 3 Stars
    308
  • 2 Stars
    48
  • 1 Stars
    28

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous Book!

Loved this book so much. I have listened to this book listened multiple times. Well done!!! Hoping for more from this author.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great story

interesting story, listened to it pretty much straight through. the narration could have been much better though. delivered very dry with no emotion. very flat delivery. no pauses where there should have been.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth a listen, more worth a read

Amazing and brilliantly written story. I was caught up with bouts of laughter, anger, intrigue, and sadness. However, the monotone voice of the author/reader was distracting and doesn't lend credence to the strong emotions undoubtedly being felt by listeners. Overall worth the listen, but I think I would have more enjoyed reading it myself.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Sad but informative and poignant

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because it tells a story many of us will experience with someone close to us or ourselves and it tells it from a different point of view.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Alice because it was mainly her story and her changes and realizations, and then lack of realizations formed the plot.

Which character – as performed by Lisa Genova – was your favorite?

Alice

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved when Alice wanted to take part in her family's conversation but couldn't respond quickly enough to participate.

Any additional comments?

A really good read even though very sad.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best Book ever!

What made the experience of listening to Still Alice the most enjoyable?

The telling of the story in the first person was brilliant. It made all the difference.

What other book might you compare Still Alice to and why?

Not sure - it's unlike anything else I've read lately.

Have you listened to any of Lisa Genova’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No - this was my first.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Don't want to be a spoiler, but it was in a particular exchange as she was in noticeable decline between her & her husband about future plans. . . .

Any additional comments?

The book was beautifully written and made you connect with each of the characters in a very personal way. The way the author tells the story makes the listener feel that this could be happening to any one of us, and this is how it might feel. It's heartbreaking since you can identify with Alice's understanding that she's losing her grip on everything that she knows and loves. Riveting.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read...

This book is a must read for those with Alzheimer's in their lives. Awesomely written. Narration was top notch.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Please. Don't let authors read their own books.

What made the experience of listening to Still Alice the most enjoyable?

A fascinating book, heartbreaking without being depressing. I learned so much about Alzheimer's.

What did you like best about this story?

The author was obviously very knowledgeable about this subject. Her descriptions of Alice's slow decline and how she realized that she was declining, were so terrifying, it almost made the book seem like a thriller. The book was informative without being dry.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Lisa Genova is a neurophysicist, an author and an Alzheimer's specialist. But she isn't an actress. Her voice is tinny and immature, she pauses at awkward moments and often lacks inflection, and I couldn't help but wonder how much better this experience could have been if read by an experienced actress.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thought provoking

Wow. Just thinking about this experience is heartbreaking... I can't imagine knowing I was losing my ability to think in the ways I always have.

The main character is a psychology professor that is diagnosed with early onset alzheimers disease. This book explores her experience as her diagnosis affects her life. Sad, yet heartwarming... meaningful, realistic... and thought provoking.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing

listen to this while at work. Had to bite my lip to keep from crying. Amazing Story and a great performance

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

awesome

i loved it..i am having yckgckhclcjj gktitktlhnxlhcgjlvjcljvpjvljvlhckh khclhckhckhcohckgckclhcohcouckhxkgclhclucxkhcocoucckhkycljcljlhlufzjgxuFyfckhcoucxjtxkhfkhxkyxkhxkh kyxjn ghljckgxhkckhc ycgkxhxkgx gjlvvlv hyt jyfv hjyf end

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