This is a story about an older gentleman who gets the diagnosis in his early 70s. The story is told in the first person, and each chapter is told by a member of his family. We hear how is wife, his daughter, and his son are dealing with his Alzheimer's as well as from the patient - Saul - himself. Saul views things very differently than his family does as his starts to lose his ability to function on his own. In the end, his family needs to make hard choices in terms of his care, and they talk about how hard it is to watch their love one no longer recognize them.



This was a good book. It was an incredibly fast read - I finished it in less than 2 days. I found parts of the book humorous - especially when Saul was talking. It was also a "tug at your heartstrings" story, as we can all relate. We are all worried that this could happen to us or our loved ones someday. How hard it would be not to recognize anyone any more, or have them not recognize us. How hard it would be to make the decision to put your loved on in a nursing home because you can no longer safely care for them any more. How guilt - above anything else - is what consumes your days.



I recommend this book. I read "Still Alice" and it was a better book, but this one was a close second. ( )

I know I am very fortunate to know anyone personally with Alzheimer disease. This author though definitely knows what he is talking about as he watched his fathers downward spiral for eight years.

This is narrated by Saul, seventy, who is diagnosed with the disease, his wife of many years who wants to keep him home as long as possible. His grown son, who is not able to forget what he considers his cold upbringing and his sister, Florence who he thought was always the favorite. Also by the doctor who explains how he makes his diagnosis and exactly what is happening to Saul at various stages.

A good hard look at how this disease affects the whole family, told in entries almost like a diary or journal. Parts were funny, Saul does and thinks some amusing things. Poignant, as his wife, Monique is his main caregiver and one sees the extreme stress this causes her. I felt it was told in a distant, somewhat unemotional way but I preferred this. What the characters are going through is heartbreaking enough, I think the distance lets us fill in our own emotions.

Well done, I thought providing a clear understanding of just how hard this disease is on families and the patient themselves. ( )

The devastating effects of Alzheimer's is poignantly told through the eyes of those most affected: the victim, his wife and two children. Each has a voice in the telling of the slow but inevitable failure of his mind. ( )

A special thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC i n exchange for an honest review.

Eric Rill’s AN ABSENT MIND, is a riveting account of one man’s struggle with Alzheimer’s and the emotional journey of his family and those around him.

Saul is a man in his early seventies when this terrible illness strikes. We also hear from the other family member’s perspective and how this horrific disease has touched each life. His wife, Monique; Florence-daughter; and Joey, the son.

With short chapters we hear from the controlling Saul as he feels he is losing his control and slipping away. At times of course your heart goes out to him with the confusion and other times he can be humorous.

As we hear from each family member, his wife is depressed and feels obligated, the daughter is reserved, yet compassionate and worried; and then of course we have the son who is more self-centered and removed.

If you have been around anyone with Alzheimer’s, it is rather scary, as you can only image what is going on in their confused mind. If they could only tell you.
My sister cares for a woman with Alzheimer’s, ninety years old and she can be a real hoot; however, as the day progresses she seems more confused and disoriented.

This was my first book by Eric Rill and his personal journey with his father definitely brought insights to the novel. However, I would not compare this book to Lisa Genova's novels, as have read all her books; and one of my favorite authors -she brings much more emotion and feelings from her characters to her stories.

If you enjoyed this book, would highly recommend Genova’s new upcoming novel Inside the O’Briens , a family’s struggle with HD (Huntington’s Disease)—was fortunate to have read an ARC. With Genova’s books you feel each person’s emotion deeply; whereas with Rill’s did not have the same impact.

However, I would recommend AN ABSENT MIND, as a realistic portrait of a family and how each person is affected by the illness. Rill also includes chapters from a doctor’s perspective with nice research. Look forward to reading more from this author. ( )

I have to say, I really loved this book. I work in geriatrics with people of various stages of dementia, and I cannot say how accurate this portrayal is of a family dealing with the course of Alzheimer's. I have seen every person represented in this book...the person tragically suffering the disease, the devoted spouse going through the disease along side of their partner as well as the detached child that rarely comes in to the devoted child doing what little bit they can to make their parent's life more bearable. What was especially good about this book was the narration by the 'doctor' explaining biologically what is happening to the Alzheimer's patient.
What a great novel for anyone going through this, about to go through this, working with people who go through this, or just the curious. ( )