Love Anthony - Lisa Genova

He died, and for a long time after that worst of all mornings, she replayed his death in her mind, unleashing the massive sorrow that still clings to those images, consuming her in a tsunami of devastated grief every day. She thought she would do this forever. Her grief was her daily duty, her misery a humble tribute to her son."

Love Anthony - Lisa Genova

I get excited whenever I notice a book by Lisa Genova on the shelves of a book store... I get even more excited when it's a good price. Although I heard of this book by Genova before, it had never really piqued my interest. Until, well, I found a good deal on it that I really just couldn't refuse. I don't regret the decision, and if I had to go back and buy the book full price I'd go in a heartbeat.

This was actually quite different from the previous three books I've read by Lisa Genova. In Still Alice, Left Neglected, and Inside the O'Brien's, Genova told the story from the perspective of the person with whatever condition she focused on. She got inside the character's head to reveal what the affected person was really experiencing from the inside out. In Love Anthony, the story centers on the mother of Anthony, an autistic boy. We know from the very beginning of the book (it's in the description on the back cover, no spoilers.) that Anthony died at a very young age. I was at first a little disappointed, I wanted to get inside Anthony's head, but I wasn't disappointed after actually reading the book.

For the entire story, Olivia, Anthony's mother, is plagued by the question of why. Why was Anthony given to her? Why for such a short period of time? What was his purpose? These are questions we ponder after any death of a loved one, but especially when death happens at a young age. However, Lisa's books always leave me feeling at peace by the ending. In short, this book did not fail me.

I loved reading this book. It was wonderfully written, Genova did a phenomenal job telling Anthony's story. Also, after reading any one of her books, I feel as though I better understand the condition she deals with. The same is true about this novel. Although a fictional story, I believe I've really learned something about autism and those affected by it 

I applaud Genova and her writings. I have yet to read one of her books that I don't enjoy, and I doubt I ever will. She is an intelligent author, capable of understanding the topics she writes about. This is a good read for any generation.