Still Alice

Still Alice
Author	Lisa Genova
Language	English
Publisher	Simon & Schuster
ISBN	978-1-4391-0281-7
Pages	292

Still Alice is a novel by Lisa Genova, first published in 2007. The book is a poignant exploration of the impact of Alzheimer's disease on the life of a Harvard University professor, Alice Howland, and her family. The novel is notable for its detailed and empathetic portrayal of the cognitive decline associated with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Plot Summary

The story follows Alice Howland, a 50-year-old cognitive psychology professor at Harvard University, who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. As Alice's memory deteriorates, she struggles to maintain her sense of self and her relationships with her family, including her husband, John, and their three children, Anna, Tom, and Lydia.

Alice's journey is marked by her attempts to cope with the progressive loss of her cognitive abilities, her efforts to maintain her professional identity, and her family's varied responses to her condition. The novel provides a deeply personal look at the challenges faced by individuals with Alzheimer's and their loved ones.

Themes

• Identity and Memory: The novel explores the relationship between memory and identity, questioning what remains of a person when memories fade.
• Family Dynamics: It examines how a family copes with the diagnosis of a loved one, highlighting themes of support, denial, and acceptance.
• The Stigma of Alzheimer's: The book addresses societal perceptions of Alzheimer's disease and the stigma associated with cognitive decline.

Reception

Still Alice received critical acclaim for its sensitive and realistic portrayal of Alzheimer's disease. It was praised for raising awareness about the condition and for its emotional depth. The novel was a New York Times bestseller and won several awards, including the 2008 Brontë Prize for Fiction.

Adaptations

In 2014, Still Alice was adapted into a film directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, starring Julianne Moore as Alice Howland. Moore's performance was widely acclaimed, earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Impact

Still Alice has been influential in increasing public awareness of Alzheimer's disease, particularly early-onset Alzheimer's. It has been used in educational settings to help students and professionals understand the personal impact of the disease.

Also see

• Alzheimer's disease
• Cognitive psychology
• Harvard University
• Julianne Moore
• Lisa Genova