Eric Rill

An Absent Mind begins as Saul, a conventional professional man, gives a drily humorous account of leaving the house one day without his trousers and his subsequent diagnosis with Alzheimer’s.

As the book progresses we also hear from his wife Monique about their more-or-less happy marriage, and from their two children, along with occasional interventions from Saul’s doctor.

The style is conversational, as if the family were participants in a documentary, each recording their own video show more diary, addressing an unspecified listener. There is also, despite the confessional style, the sense that they may be holding something back, or showing themselves in a good light, as they contradict one another. Inevitably Saul’s contributions becomes less vivid and coherent until he is finally unable to speak at all.

There are no great events or stunning twists in this story. There is just the relentless progression of Saul’s illness and the shifting dynamics in his family. It is a subtle and absorbing read.
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I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. show less

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 show more 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. show less

Diary of the gradual descent of a family into Alzheimer's hell, from the diagnosis that affects the householder, a kind of gruff patriarch, up to the final outcome.
Confronted with the disease, each of the four protagonists redefines the relationship with the others, and above all does it Joey, the son, who seems indifferent and focused only on himself, but hides a deep piety.
In fact only Joey lives an evolution throughout the plot, the other characters seem to try to adapt the situation to show more themselves rather to live it fully, and for that the book fails to take off.
Thank Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Diario della progressiva discesa di una famiglia nell'inferno dell'Alzheimer, dalla diagnosi che colpisce il capofamglia, una specie di burbero patriarca, fino all'esito finale.
Confrontandosi con la malattia ciascuno dei quattro protagonisti ridefinisce il rapporto con gli altri, e soprattutto lo fa Joey, il figlio maschio, che pare indifferente e concentrato solo su se stesso, ma nasconde in sé una profonda pietà.
In realtà il solo Joey vive un'evoluzione nel corso della storia, gli altri personaggi sembrano cercare di adattare la situazione a se stessi piuttosto che viverla appieno, e per questo il libro non riesce a decollare.
Ringrazio Lake Union Publishing e Netgalley per avermi concesso una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta. show less

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 show more 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. show less