2013 Books in Review #2: Still Alice

I finished book #2 for the year on January 8th! I read it in only two days, it sucked me in and I couldn't put it down. It was one of my many books I got for Christmas and I'm happy to have read it.

Still Alice is written from the point of view of Alice, a wife, mother of three young adult children, author and Havard professor. At only 50 years old she is diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. She loses her memories and her ability to function as she did, eventually needing quite significant care.

Writing from the point of view of Alice, instead of from the viewpoint of her husband or one of her children brought a quality to the telling that reminded me some of Room (in which the five year old recounts the horrible series of events instead of his mother and in a way makes them easier to read about). She isn't nearly as scared and horrified as her children are, especially as the disease progresses, because the worse it gets, the less aware of it she is and she lacks the context to feel the full despair that she would otherwise feel.

Having watched a loved one go through Alzheimer's disease (though not early onset) I found myself lost in some of my own pain during some of the more challenging scenes. One of her first moments of losing memory of her family involved Alice praising the talent of a young actress, totally unaware that it was her daughter. Moments like that for the family of someone with memory loss are heartbreaking.

All in all the story was woven in a unique way and it is well worth the read. 

Still Alice is Book #2 on my reading list, gives me another letter in my A-Z challenge, and my first book in my Women authors challenge.

Tobias' Books 2013

Goal: To read at least 6 novels with (to) Tobias

Progress (as of January 6th): 0 books read (6 to go)

Books

1.

2013 Pre-1960's Classic Children's Book Challenge

Goal: To read classic children's books with the kids (link)

Progress (as of January 6th): 0 books read (12 to go)

Books

Literature and War Challenge 2013

Goal: To read all 12 of the read along books (link)

Progress (as of January 6th): 1 book read (11 to go)

Books

January. The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers (Review here)

Reading Challenge Update Week #1/52

A whole week has passed so it's time for an update.

I finished one book this week (Yellow Birds). I have two books in progress: Anna Karenina and Harry Potter #2: The Chamber of Secrets (which I am reading with Tobias). I'm just early into both.

So far a good start to my year, on track with my book a week goal :)

Eclectic Readers Challenge 2013

Goal: To read one book from each of twelve categories to expand my reading book box (link to challenge)

Progress (as of January 29th): 2 book read (10 to go)

Books
Translated Fiction: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Historical Mystery:
Romantic Suspense:
Made into a Movie:
New Adult: 
Urban Fantasy:
Dystopian: Freakling by Lana Krumwiede
Memoir:
LGBT:
Action Adventure:
Humour:
Published in 2013:

2013 Books in Review #1: "Yellow Birds"

Less than a week into 2013 and I am done my first book! Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers was the first book in the Literature and War 2013 read along and I picked it up yesterday from the library and couldn't put it down. If I hadn't had to sleep and work I would have been done it in one sitting I am sure. My review can be found below.

Kevin Powers served in Iraq with the US army in 2004 and 2005. The book is written from the point of view of Private Bartle who is serving in Iraq during the same time period as Powers actually served. It weaves between time periods, jumping back and forth between Iraq and then the US after Bartle returns from the war. Every chapter jumps to a different period of time and while this could easily be disjointing, Power has woven a story that flows easily.

I don't normally read books about war, and this was stretching me outside of my normal box. The details are disturbing, and because they are written by someone who has seen first hand the realities of this war, they are graphic at times. I found myself drawn into the story, feeling more than just my own emotions, but also those of the characters.

The connection between Bartle and Murph is complex, and touching. While I knew early on that Murph had died, I didn't see the ending coming until it did, and it added a whole new layer for me to the story and the character. In reading about the thought process in deciding what to do with Murph's body I saw parallels to other decisions where we might guess what might be best for another. Sometimes we are wrong, but the thought process and emotions going into the decision are important and fascinating.

All in all Yellow Birds drew me in far more than I thought it would. I love books where I can identify with the characters. In this book I was in a unique position as I have no personal experience going to war or actively sending a loved one off to war, and yet I felt that Powers made the characters relatable to me even still. It is not surprising to me that he is a poet. His way with words was outstanding.

As far as my 2013 challenges go, this will be book #1 read, #1 for my library challenge, my first letter in my A-Z challenge, and book #1 in the Literature and War challenge.