Monday, February 6, 2012

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
336 pages
Published January 2011 by Gallery Books
Source: the publisher

Bob and Sarah Nickerson are working hard to have it all - they and their three children live in the best neighborhood, they drive great cars, they have a home in the mountains. But it all comes at a price. Both work more than 60 hours a week leaving them little time with their children and even less time for each other.Sarah loves her job and is proud of the success she's had in it. Still...

When Sarah wakes up eight days after being in a terrible car accident, everything has changed. Diagnosed with a rare brain disorder called "Left Neglect," Sarah is unable to see and is unaware of anything on her left. She can't walk or dress herself because she doesn't even know she has a left leg or arm. She never finishes a meal because she doesn't see the left side of the plate. She can't read because she can't see the left side of the page or even the left side of the words.
"She has Left Neglect. It's a pretty common condition for patients who've suffered damage to the right-hemisphere, usually from a hemmorhage or stroke. Her brain isn't paying attention to anything on her left. "Left" doesn't exist to her."
After weeks in rehabilitation and intensive therapy, Sarah is sent home where she must continue to train herself to recognize that while she is missing the left of everything now, she may have been missing even more before her accident. Thanks to her condition, Sarah is able to rebuild her estranged relationship with her mother, reconnect with Bob and truly become the parent her children need.

In Left Neglected, Genova addresses a number of medical subjects and relationship concerns. You've heard me complain before about authors trying to tackle too many issues in one book. It rarely works for me and I often find books that do this to be preachy and teachy. Genova manages to avoid that trap for the most part. Other than the Left Neglect, the medical conditions that she introduces are common to many families and it doesn't feel like Genova has tried to work something into the story just because she has something to say. Any household with children and two working parents can identify with much of what Bob and Sarah go through, trying to balance family and career, figuring out whose turn it is to take the children to school.

Genova's characters feel real and her writing highlights the little moments as much as the major ones. Readers will be able to relate to Sarah throughout the book, but certainly more so after her accident as she struggles between doubt and hope for her recovery. The Nickerson family is so real that Genova has even managed, with all of the heavy topics in the book, to work in some humor, lightening the book and helping to make it feel true to life. When I finished this book, I was immediately ready to start Genova's first book, Still Alice. Not wanting to muddy my thoughts on this one, I've tabled that book for a bit. As much as I enjoyed this one, it won't be long before I read pick it up, though. I highly recommend Left Neglected.

13 comments:

  1. I enjoyed Left Neglected but loved Still Alice. I'm curious to read your thoughts after you finish her first novel. Also be sure to look up the author. She sold Still Alice out of the trunk of her car, and she is a DR in brain studies. She has an amazing journey to becoming a bestselling author.

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  2. so glad you liked this one. I loved Still Alice. I was going to read this one too, and for some reason have not, but I am definitely bumping it up to the front of the pile. thanks for a great review.

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  3. I've heard such great things about both of her books. I have Still Alice and have been thinking about this one. Glad to know you enjoyed it! Looking forward to getting to it now.

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  4. I have wanted to read this one for a long time, but never got the chance to grab a copy for myself. I am totally intrigued by this Left Neglect disorder, and I can imagine that it would probably be pretty impossible to live on your own if you had this problem. I am glad that Genova doesn't try to do too much with this one as well, and that just makes me all the more eager to tackle it. Fantastic review today! I need to read this one!

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  5. I read Still Alice and thought it was very well done. Looking forward to trying Left Neglected now. Thanks for the thougtful review.

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  6. This was one of the more interesting books I read last year,. Like you, I thought the humor made what was an intense situation very readable.

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  7. What a great review. This sounds like quite a novel! Now to figure out how to get my paws on a copy myself!

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  8. Another one of those books on my shelf that I've been meaning to read -- loved Still Alice.

    Great review.

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  9. Still Alice broke my heart and had me sobbing for quite some time. It was a very personal story for me at that moment due to my Grandfather's failing mental health. I will be reading Left Neglected this year...excellent review!

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  10. This was such a Boston book for me, too, even though I know much of the setting by name and not 'feel' exactly. I think Genova is wonderful.

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  11. Still Alice had such a deep effect on me because we're dealing with Dave's mom who is now into the advanced stages of early-onset Alzheimer's and, of course, it is genetic, so we face the possibility in Dave.

    Left Neglected sounds like it is the same type of story - very very real, but still readable. Thanks for your review. I'll try to get to this one sooner instead o later.

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  12. I loved Still Alice, but this one just didn't do it for me, for some reason. Still, the illness was very new to me, I was pretty shocked that something like it existed.

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  13. Still Alice was one of the best books I read in 2010, and it's taken a special spot on my favorites list. I can't wait to read this one, and I am happy to read you enjoyed it. Glad to hear Genova can tackle many issues and do something good with it rather than lose her way!

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