leigh_reidelberger's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very difficult read for me. Several of my family members have been diagnosed with some level of dementia. Alzheimers is one of the few things that truly frightens me, and in reading this book, that fear felt more realized as I navigated through Anna's decline. While a terribly sad story, it also manages to weave in hope. Hope and love, really. This is a book that delves into strange territory- what do Alzheimers patients experience? Through it all, despite the loss of memories and physical functionality, we can still love. We can still seek love and know love- and it makes a difference.
afro8921's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting characters and a tightly woven narrative. I really enjoyed each characters' distinct voice. This book made me think about Alzheimer's and dementia in a different way.
eriickamay's review against another edition
3.0
"When you get to my age," he says, his face softening, "you don't waste time with regrets. In the end, you just remember the moments of joy. When all is said and done, those are the things we keep."
alykat_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
This one tugs at the heartstrings for sure. Having early onset dementia or Alzheimer's would be such a difficult thing to go through. The story between Anna and Luke is so bittersweet.
Overall I enjoyed this book. The disjointed timeline between Anna's and Eve's perspectives did make things a little confusing though. Not everything has to be a mystery/suspense and this book could have still packed a powerful emotional punch without that element of mystery.
Spoiler
Maybe my understanding at the end is missing some things but I don't like how the pregnancy/baby situation and Anna 'trying to commit suicide' was never fully resolved/revealed to anyone besides in Anna's lost memories and the reader. I get that she didn't write down or remember that she was only trying to find Luke to tell him about the baby and was happy about the pregnancy but got lost and ended up in the wrong place, but I wish her brother would have found out that was her true intention and that she wasn't actually trying to commit suicide. Him keeping her away from Luke was just heartbreaking.Overall I enjoyed this book. The disjointed timeline between Anna's and Eve's perspectives did make things a little confusing though.
Spoiler
I understand that it was to keep the whole pregnancy thing a mystery and reveal it later on in the novel as Anna's non-suicide suicide attempt, but I just didn't think it worked for this book. I think this book could have been just as powerful, if not more so, had that been revealed from the get go.abeth_parker's review against another edition
3.0
Alzheimer's is a terrible disease, and early-onset Alzheimer's would be a truly devastating diagnosis to receive. This novel is set around a woman in her 30s who is living in a residential care facility due to early-onset Alzheimer's.
It also involves the story of a new employee of the care facility who is facing her own life-changing circumstances. She is a newly single mother who is navigating life along with her young daughter.
There was actually a good bit that I didn't like about this book. The characters were largely undeveloped. I didn't feel a true connection with any of them. The best characters, I thought, were the other residents of the care home. Most of the "moral of the story" is found in their experiences. The best sentence in the book (and part of it is the title) comes from a man who is a resident there along with his wife.
I also would have liked some of the story to be told from the other young resident's POV. He had a different type of dementia. I think it would have added so much to the story to be able to see their romance from his perspective
The main character is presented as a take life by the horns, go your own way person (pre-diagnosis). But, even the parts about her life before her diagnosis, and the earliest days of her symptoms, didn't really portray that. She came across as more selfish and unconcerned about anyone else. I'm all for flawed characters, but I truly didn't like her character at all.
I think that writing a POV that is experiencing Alzheimer's is a pretty risky path to take. I don't pretend to know really anything about Alzheimer's, but some of her story seemed a bit unbelievable. She can't remember the name of the young man she meets at the care facility for the great majority of the book. She can't remember which door goes where in her room. She can't remember what a bed is called, or how to dress herself. But, she keeps a journal in the care facility?? With a detailed (and grammatically correct) letter to herself about the man she meets there?? It seemed very incongruous with how rapidly she's declining (according to everyone else in the book).
Having said that, there were things I liked about the book. I actually enjoyed the story of Eve (the new employee who is a single mother) the most. There are chapters told from her POV, and her daughter's as well. This portion of the novel was a more developed story, and was far more engaging. Honestly, the whole novel seemed like two different novels thrown together. Eve and her daughter's experiences could have been an excellent novel on their own. Just saying.
I also liked that the prevailing theme of the story is that love can't be changed by a diagnosis. Luke and Anna are truly happy to have found one another, even though it was in what could arguably be the worst circumstances.
This novel seems to have a good bit of untapped potential. It skimmed the surface of what could have been an epic love story.
It also involves the story of a new employee of the care facility who is facing her own life-changing circumstances. She is a newly single mother who is navigating life along with her young daughter.
There was actually a good bit that I didn't like about this book. The characters were largely undeveloped. I didn't feel a true connection with any of them. The best characters, I thought, were the other residents of the care home. Most of the "moral of the story" is found in their experiences. The best sentence in the book (and part of it is the title) comes from a man who is a resident there along with his wife.
I also would have liked some of the story to be told from the other young resident's POV. He had a different type of dementia. I think it would have added so much to the story to be able to see their romance from his perspective
The main character is presented as a take life by the horns, go your own way person (pre-diagnosis). But, even the parts about her life before her diagnosis, and the earliest days of her symptoms, didn't really portray that. She came across as more selfish and unconcerned about anyone else. I'm all for flawed characters, but I truly didn't like her character at all.
I think that writing a POV that is experiencing Alzheimer's is a pretty risky path to take. I don't pretend to know really anything about Alzheimer's, but some of her story seemed a bit unbelievable. She can't remember the name of the young man she meets at the care facility for the great majority of the book. She can't remember which door goes where in her room. She can't remember what a bed is called, or how to dress herself. But, she keeps a journal in the care facility?? With a detailed (and grammatically correct) letter to herself about the man she meets there?? It seemed very incongruous with how rapidly she's declining (according to everyone else in the book).
Having said that, there were things I liked about the book. I actually enjoyed the story of Eve (the new employee who is a single mother) the most. There are chapters told from her POV, and her daughter's as well. This portion of the novel was a more developed story, and was far more engaging. Honestly, the whole novel seemed like two different novels thrown together. Eve and her daughter's experiences could have been an excellent novel on their own. Just saying.
I also liked that the prevailing theme of the story is that love can't be changed by a diagnosis. Luke and Anna are truly happy to have found one another, even though it was in what could arguably be the worst circumstances.
This novel seems to have a good bit of untapped potential. It skimmed the surface of what could have been an epic love story.
sbeasla's review against another edition
4.0
I signed up for three buddy reads this month and The Things We Keep was the 2nd book I read with my bookish pals. The harrowing tale of Anna with early-onset Alzheimers reminded me of my grandmother's own personal hell with dementia. Watching the light dim from a brave, beautiful woman who knew four languages, was a card whiz, an ice cream champ, and sarcastic as hell was difficult. We all began to wonder if we had the gene because her diagnosis and rapid progression came as a shock to us all.
In this book, Anna and Luke are together at Rosalind House. They form a relationship, however, forces that be attempt to keep them apart because of their diagnosis. Anna discovers something might be wrong and decides to quit her job, ruin her marriage, and check herself into a facility. Her decision and decline are difficult to read because I can't even imagine losing everything so young and then not being in control of your future. The story is told from multiple POVs as people enter and exit Anna's life as her disease progresses.
In this book, Anna and Luke are together at Rosalind House. They form a relationship, however, forces that be attempt to keep them apart because of their diagnosis. Anna discovers something might be wrong and decides to quit her job, ruin her marriage, and check herself into a facility. Her decision and decline are difficult to read because I can't even imagine losing everything so young and then not being in control of your future. The story is told from multiple POVs as people enter and exit Anna's life as her disease progresses.
paperlove's review against another edition
4.0
Als ich das Buch begonnen hatte, musste ich erst einmal schwer schlucken. Ohne grosse Vorwarnung wird verkündet, dass Anna – die Protagonistin des Buches – mit gerade mal 38 Jahren an Alzheimer erkrankt ist. Wer sich ein bisschen mit der Diagnose auskennt, weiss, dass die Prognose für einen so frühen Ausbruch der Krankheit sehr schlecht ist und die Demenzerkrankung sehr rasch voranschreitet, bis sie letztendlich zum Tod führt. Ein sehr tragisches Schicksal für viele Familien. In diesem Fall angesichts des jungen Alters von Anna, noch sehr viel tragischer, denn eigentlich hätte sie den grossen Teil ihres Lebens noch vor sich gehabt.
Nachdem es in Anwesenheit ihres Neffen beinahe zu einem Unfall gekommen wäre, entschliesst sich Anna in ein Pflegeheim für betreutes Wohnen zu gehen. Die Wahl ist dabei auf das „Rosalind House“ gefallen, nicht zuletzt dadurch, dass es in der Einrichtung neben vielen älteren Bewohnern auch noch einen jungen Mann in Annas Alter gibt.
An dieser Stelle hatte ich erwartet eine Geschichte zu lesen zu kriegen, in der sich Anna und Luke – der besagte „junge Mann“ – allmählich näher kennenlernen und sich ineinander verlieben, um dann zuletzt durch ein dramatisches Ende den Abschied zu finden, der Annas Alzheimererkrankung geschuldet ist. Doch ich habe mich getäuscht!
Die Story erzählt nämlich nicht nur ausschliesslich Annas Geschichte aus ihrer Perspektive, sondern auch die der Köchin Eve, die nach einem eigenen schweren Schicksalsschlag, eine neue Stelle im Rosalind House anfängt und deren Weg sich somit mit dem von Anna kreuzt. Während sich Eves Erzählungen (und die ihrer 7-jährigen Tochter) auf die Gegenwart beziehen, erfährt man in Annas Kapiteln rückblickend, wie es ihr in den letzten Monaten ergangen ist. Dabei kommen so einige erschütternde Details ans Licht, die ich niemals erwartet hätte und mich sehr berührt haben.
Es hat sich beim Lesen herausgestellt, dass nicht das Kennen- und Liebenlernen von Anna und Luke im Vordergrund der Geschichte steht (denn das passiert relativ schnell), sondern vielmehr die tragischen Folgen, die die Liaison mit sich bringt und die Angehörigen auf den Plan ruft.
Das Ende ist schliesslich sehr schön abgerundet und nicht mal halb so dramatisch, wie ich es bei der Thematik anfänglich erwartet hatte. Stattdessen schafft es die Autorin den Leser trotz dem ernsten Thema „Alzheimer“ mit einem guten Gefühl den Buchdeckel zuklappen zu lassen.
Fazit:
Ein kurzweiliger Frauenroman, der einem trotz ernster Thematik und teilweise erschütternden Ereignissen am Schluss ein Lächeln aufs Gesicht zaubern kann. Die Liebesgeschichte rund um Anna und Luke konnte zumindest für einen Moment mein Herz erwärmen. Das Buch kann ich besonders als leichte Sommerlektüre weiterempfehlen.
Nachdem es in Anwesenheit ihres Neffen beinahe zu einem Unfall gekommen wäre, entschliesst sich Anna in ein Pflegeheim für betreutes Wohnen zu gehen. Die Wahl ist dabei auf das „Rosalind House“ gefallen, nicht zuletzt dadurch, dass es in der Einrichtung neben vielen älteren Bewohnern auch noch einen jungen Mann in Annas Alter gibt.
An dieser Stelle hatte ich erwartet eine Geschichte zu lesen zu kriegen, in der sich Anna und Luke – der besagte „junge Mann“ – allmählich näher kennenlernen und sich ineinander verlieben, um dann zuletzt durch ein dramatisches Ende den Abschied zu finden, der Annas Alzheimererkrankung geschuldet ist. Doch ich habe mich getäuscht!
Die Story erzählt nämlich nicht nur ausschliesslich Annas Geschichte aus ihrer Perspektive, sondern auch die der Köchin Eve, die nach einem eigenen schweren Schicksalsschlag, eine neue Stelle im Rosalind House anfängt und deren Weg sich somit mit dem von Anna kreuzt. Während sich Eves Erzählungen (und die ihrer 7-jährigen Tochter) auf die Gegenwart beziehen, erfährt man in Annas Kapiteln rückblickend, wie es ihr in den letzten Monaten ergangen ist. Dabei kommen so einige erschütternde Details ans Licht, die ich niemals erwartet hätte und mich sehr berührt haben.
Es hat sich beim Lesen herausgestellt, dass nicht das Kennen- und Liebenlernen von Anna und Luke im Vordergrund der Geschichte steht (denn das passiert relativ schnell), sondern vielmehr die tragischen Folgen, die die Liaison mit sich bringt und die Angehörigen auf den Plan ruft.
Das Ende ist schliesslich sehr schön abgerundet und nicht mal halb so dramatisch, wie ich es bei der Thematik anfänglich erwartet hatte. Stattdessen schafft es die Autorin den Leser trotz dem ernsten Thema „Alzheimer“ mit einem guten Gefühl den Buchdeckel zuklappen zu lassen.
Fazit:
Ein kurzweiliger Frauenroman, der einem trotz ernster Thematik und teilweise erschütternden Ereignissen am Schluss ein Lächeln aufs Gesicht zaubern kann. Die Liebesgeschichte rund um Anna und Luke konnte zumindest für einen Moment mein Herz erwärmen. Das Buch kann ich besonders als leichte Sommerlektüre weiterempfehlen.
cestdanielle's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an interesting book.
I've never read a book like this before, where one of the main characters (and POVs) is someone with a degenerative brain disease. The story is told from several perspectives: Anna's, Eve's, and Clementine's. These three ladies provide three drastically different outlooks on everything.
Anna is very sharp-witted, even with early-onset Alzheimer's. It's incredibly interesting to see how Hepworth portrayed Anna's illness by switching out common words (e.g. bed) with more descriptive words (e.g. sleeping-bench). She also does this with names, deeming a woman with a Southern accent "Southern Lady," Luke "Young Guy," and a very grumpy but endearing character named Bert (also a resident at the facility) "Baldy." Anna actually admit that it would be a good idea to have herself admitted to a residential care facility called Rosalind House where she ends up falling in love with another patient of early-onset Alzheimer's, Luke. The reason Anna does this is because she saw how her mother who also had Alzheimer's deteriorated and she wanted to avoid that ("beat the bomb" as she calls it). Luke has a different kind of Alzheimer's from Anna, though, which just adds another layer of depth to the story. While Anna cannot retain memories, Luke cannot retain speech. He stutters and struggles to come up with words a lot. The dynamic between Luke and Anna is very sweet despite the fact that Luke doesn't have much of a distinct personality.
Eve is Clementine's mother and widow of a major fraudster named Richard. When Richard's scheme is found out, it rips apart their family and all their lives. With Richard out of the picture, Eve and Clementine struggle to keep their heads above water as Eve works for Rosalind House, the residential care facility where Anna and Luke live. She risks her job and her livelihood to help Luke and Anna realize their dream of being together. It's very heartwarming to see how devoted she becomes to the pair so soon after meeting them. Eve strikes me as the optimistic, hopeless romantic type, but it never comes to the point of being cliche. Another interesting thing to see from Eve's perspective was the change from socialite to outcast (all her friends leave almost immediately after she arrives at the book club Eve herself helped establish and she is accosted in a grocery store simply for being Richard's widow). The way that Eve endures these torments yet still finds a way to remain hopeful and helpful for her daughter is inspiring.
Clementine is having a lot of trouble at school with a mean girl named Miranda. Apparently, it's Miranda's mission in life to point out that Clementine's father was a horrible person and that no one likes her mother, Eve, anymore. It was very sad to see the little girl having to go through that, but she never really lost her spirit throughout the novel. It was also interesting to see the relationship between Eve and the facility's gardener, Angus, through Clementine's eyes. At first, she makes her mother promise never to kiss anyone again when she sees Eve with Angus. As the novel progresses, however, she warms to Angus and admits that she simply wants her mother to be happy. The way that a seven-yer-old girl can be so perceptive and generous even in the face of so much adversity was a very intriguing addition to the story.
All in all, this was a very good book. I finished in two days instead of one simply because I didn't have enough time to finish it the first day. The characters (aside from Luke) were extremely relatable and the story itself was believable as well. It's an inherently sad story with a hopeful twist. I'll definitely be recommending this book to friends and family.
I've never read a book like this before, where one of the main characters (and POVs) is someone with a degenerative brain disease. The story is told from several perspectives: Anna's, Eve's, and Clementine's. These three ladies provide three drastically different outlooks on everything.
Anna is very sharp-witted, even with early-onset Alzheimer's. It's incredibly interesting to see how Hepworth portrayed Anna's illness by switching out common words (e.g. bed) with more descriptive words (e.g. sleeping-bench). She also does this with names, deeming a woman with a Southern accent "Southern Lady," Luke "Young Guy," and a very grumpy but endearing character named Bert (also a resident at the facility) "Baldy." Anna actually admit that it would be a good idea to have herself admitted to a residential care facility called Rosalind House where she ends up falling in love with another patient of early-onset Alzheimer's, Luke. The reason Anna does this is because she saw how her mother who also had Alzheimer's deteriorated and she wanted to avoid that ("beat the bomb" as she calls it). Luke has a different kind of Alzheimer's from Anna, though, which just adds another layer of depth to the story. While Anna cannot retain memories, Luke cannot retain speech. He stutters and struggles to come up with words a lot. The dynamic between Luke and Anna is very sweet despite the fact that Luke doesn't have much of a distinct personality.
Eve is Clementine's mother and widow of a major fraudster named Richard. When Richard's scheme is found out, it rips apart their family and all their lives. With Richard out of the picture, Eve and Clementine struggle to keep their heads above water as Eve works for Rosalind House, the residential care facility where Anna and Luke live. She risks her job and her livelihood to help Luke and Anna realize their dream of being together. It's very heartwarming to see how devoted she becomes to the pair so soon after meeting them. Eve strikes me as the optimistic, hopeless romantic type, but it never comes to the point of being cliche. Another interesting thing to see from Eve's perspective was the change from socialite to outcast (all her friends leave almost immediately after she arrives at the book club Eve herself helped establish and she is accosted in a grocery store simply for being Richard's widow). The way that Eve endures these torments yet still finds a way to remain hopeful and helpful for her daughter is inspiring.
Clementine is having a lot of trouble at school with a mean girl named Miranda. Apparently, it's Miranda's mission in life to point out that Clementine's father was a horrible person and that no one likes her mother, Eve, anymore. It was very sad to see the little girl having to go through that, but she never really lost her spirit throughout the novel. It was also interesting to see the relationship between Eve and the facility's gardener, Angus, through Clementine's eyes. At first, she makes her mother promise never to kiss anyone again when she sees Eve with Angus. As the novel progresses, however, she warms to Angus and admits that she simply wants her mother to be happy. The way that a seven-yer-old girl can be so perceptive and generous even in the face of so much adversity was a very intriguing addition to the story.
All in all, this was a very good book. I finished in two days instead of one simply because I didn't have enough time to finish it the first day. The characters (aside from Luke) were extremely relatable and the story itself was believable as well. It's an inherently sad story with a hopeful twist. I'll definitely be recommending this book to friends and family.