“I’ve been so focused on what’s horrible and unfair and terrifying about my condition that I hadn’t acknowledged what is positive about my condition, as if the positive had been sitting quietly by itself on the far edge of the left side of my condition, there but completely ignored. I can’t copy a whole cat. But I can recognize it, name it, know what one sounds and feels like, and I can copy most of it, enough for anyone who looks at it to know what I’ve drawn. I am lucky.”
- Left Neglected, Lisa Genova
Another book by Lisa Genova! After reading Still Alice, I couldn't wait to get my hands on another one of Lisa's books.
The story centers on Sarah Nickerson, a successful woman who leads a fast-passed and stressful life. Wife and mother of three, working about eighty hours a week. Until that all changes. She gets into a car crash and suffers from a brain damage condition called Left Neglect. It was a very interesting twist to an other-wise average plot. Left Neglect is a disease I had never heard of, but I'm certainly more educated on it now. Basically, the brain ignores all information from the left. She will put makeup on only the right side of her face, but think she put it everywhere.
I really enjoyed this book, because her condition wasn't always the focus in the story. There's also a significant "side-plot" as a result of her accident. The book was honestly wonderfully written. It was engaging and we related to Sarah, even if we've never heard of Left Neglect. She is like every other American, but by the end ... well, I won't say!
I also like Lisa's book because I learn more about different diseases. I find diseases are so interesting, as weird as that may seem. So, these books are perfect, however, they are never written in a boring or text-book style. It's written like every other story, but it includes something that we can take out of the story. She makes the disease a painful reality, and I can say that you put the book back on the shelf a different person. They are just wonderful.
The characters in the book were all lovable as well. It's fun to see how some characters restore relationships, change their course and start over. I find the book adequately demonstrated true love in a family. Sarah's mother halts her own life to help Sarah with her kids, her husband also makes some sacrifices for Sarah, and unlike many stories, he still loves her with her disease and he doesn't love her less. We see that and we feel that on every page of this book.
Truly, this book is one that you'll fall in love with. I can't wait to read more of Lisa's books.
