Still Alice, by Lisa Genova

Characters

Dr. Alice Howland John – husband – cancer researcher Anna – daughter (Charlie – husband) Tom – son Lydia – younger daughter Alice’s family: Mother and sister killed in auto accident Father – alcoholic or Alzheimer’s Disease Cathy, Mary and Dan – support group Dan – grad student

For Discussion:

NOTE:  Page numbers refer to paperback edition

1. When she accepted the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, she thought about what she really wanted from life and was surprised to see that there was nothing on her list that was job related.  Did that surprise you?   What would be on your list?
2. What was your reaction about Alice’s fixation on Lydia going to college?  Could you understand her reasoning?  Did you think she should give in or continue to offer that option? 
3. What did you think of John’s paying for Lydia’s acting classes without telling Alice?
4. In the chapter “April 2004,” Lydia said she notice something wrong with Alice for about a year, but no one else in the family did.  Why do you think Lydia noticed something was wrong?
5. Discuss Lydia being able to connect with Alice through acting and that Alice was able to understand more through Lydia’s actions than words.
6. In the “June 2004” chapter when Alice and John were consulting with Dr. Davis, the neurologist, the doctor and John had different opinions about which would be the best treatment for Alice, the Amylix trial or IVIg therapy.  What did you think Alice should have done?
7. In the “July 2004” chapter Alice was swimming in the ocean and reflected that, “she might very well not remember this night in the morning, but in this moment, she didn’t feel desperate.  She felt alive and happy.”   What can we learn from this?
8. Alice treasured her mother’s butterfly necklace but stopped saving it for special occasions.  Part of the meaning of the necklace was that, “just because their (the butterflies) lives were short didn’t mean they were tragic” (May 2004 chapter).    What does this idea mean to you?
9. What scene do you still remember?  Here are some of my favorites:

a.       When she sat in her classroom and thought she was the student instead of the professor

b.       Alice not recognizing Lydia as the actress in the play. 

c.       No one sat beside Alice in the department meetings.

d.       During the study presentation at the meeting Alice made a very observant point that helped the student.  But then later she made it again.

10. Consider the dilemma between Alice and John: Alice wants him to take a sabbatical year and stay home with her but John wants to move to New York and take the exciting job offer that he feels he will never get again.  Can you see both sides?  How would you have solved this problem? 
11. Were you able to sympathize with John and understand his point of view?   Could you understand John’s point on page 235 when he said he did not think he would be able to stay home and watch her deteriorate day after day?  
12. Do you think Alice’s sense of self-awareness made a difference in the way she reacted to the disease?  If yes, how?
13. What did you think of the ending?  Is it realistic?  What do you think happens after the novel ends?
14. If there was a chance of a genetic disease in your family, would you want to know if you carried the gene?  Why or why not?
15. Did this novel give you any new insights into Alzheimer’s disease? 
16. Did you like the novel?  What was your reading experience?

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester)of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.   Click on the upper right link.