A review by omgitswinnie
Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey
4.0
Maud is an 82 year old grandmother with dementia who is adamant that her best friend Elizabeth is missing. She tells her daughter, who doesn't take her seriously. She tells Elizabeth's son, who also doesn't take her seriously. She decides to take matters into her own hands to track down Elizabeth, because if no one else is going to find her, she will.
The author has cleverly given the reader a deep insight into how the brain works with dementia, and the frustrations to not only the sufferer, but also their family and friends and those around them. Including the need to write down reminders everywhere, the forgetfulness that leads to making repeat mistakes or repeating a question asked moments before, the struggle to remember specific words and the difficulty to fully express yourself.
The format of the book jumps from present to past in flashbacks that Maud's brain takes her to when something in her present reminds her of something from the past. Within these flashbacks, the reader is given subtle hints that will add together to solve a 70 year old mystery in Maud's past.
The book can be a little confusing at times, due to the protagonist's dementia, but really this just adds to the suspense in the book and the realness of the disease that so many people are living with.
Fantastic book, really recommend.
The author has cleverly given the reader a deep insight into how the brain works with dementia, and the frustrations to not only the sufferer, but also their family and friends and those around them. Including the need to write down reminders everywhere, the forgetfulness that leads to making repeat mistakes or repeating a question asked moments before, the struggle to remember specific words and the difficulty to fully express yourself.
The format of the book jumps from present to past in flashbacks that Maud's brain takes her to when something in her present reminds her of something from the past. Within these flashbacks, the reader is given subtle hints that will add together to solve a 70 year old mystery in Maud's past.
The book can be a little confusing at times, due to the protagonist's dementia, but really this just adds to the suspense in the book and the realness of the disease that so many people are living with.
Fantastic book, really recommend.