Sample
  • Still Alice

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

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Still Alice

By: Lisa Genova
Narrated by: Lisa Genova
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.74

Buy for $18.74

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Depressing

Good story, real-like life events associated with Alzheimer's disease. Sad and depressing. Kept my interest. Few F-bombs.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Moving!

What a wonderful story that details the dementia journey and the impact on the families. I can hardly wait to see it brought to life on screen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Exceeded expectations!

Although sad and haunting, this was a beautiful story of family-tragedy and triumph. I would recommend it to anyone!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Enjoyed the story but not the storytelling

This was a really good book but I wish that I'd read it rather than listened to it. I enjoyed the way that my hometown was described and I really felt that I got to know Alice and her family. I'd have liked a little bit more character development but I was okay with how the book was. The biggest problem that I had with this book was the way that it was read. I admire the author for trying but she should have let someone else take over that part. It was difficult to tell which character she was speaking for, the scentences ran into each other and stopped abruptly. I will read more of her books but not listen to them.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

A must read.

This was a touching and loving story. It was a great read. And absolute must for anybody dealing with Alzheimer's or dementia in their family.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Opened my eyes up about Alzheimer's

I loved this book it definitely opened my eye up about Alzheimer's disease. It makes realize how precious the mind is.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Gripping and compelling

Fabulously woven and developed story. Listened in one stint on a long flight. Loved how connected to the family I got towards the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Emotional and engaging throughout

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

Yes - I instantly connected with the characters in this book and could really see myself in these situations. It was so refreshing and to hear about this disease from the patients perspective. Even though I know the author is just imagining what it's like it feels very real.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Still Alice?

Her speech at the end was very moving and inspiring

Which scene was your favorite?

The speech

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Essential for anyone experiencing Alzheimer's

I listened to this book with a sense of foreboding and dread. My mother had dementia in her later years and this was just too real. I cannot imagine how awful it must be for a family whose Alzheimer's sufferer is young and still in the full bloom of a demanding career.

I do wish the book had been read by a professional actor instead of the author, as the sameness of vocal intonation from one person to another made it hard to tell which character was speaking. On the other hand, I am in awe of the person who imagined this story and did such a fine job of writing it down.

Please share this book with families of persons with Alzheimer's disease. It is helpful to know how the disease works, and that there is still a living spirit inside the fog.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Well wriitten

Wow, this is a very well written book, the author's reading made it so real! Now I truly can say I feel what these poor people are going thru, all of them, the patients and their families! I will recommend it to anyone asking for a good book! So informational, so well written! Had me interested until the end!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!