Since my first book, Tangles and Plaques: A Mother and Daughter Face Alzheimer’s, is coming out soon (release date is January 31!) and I have numerous events at which I’ll be reading and discussing the book in the coming months, I’ve begun preparing for those events a bit. I’ve chosen which excerpts from the book I might like to read at various events, but I’ve also been thinking about how much is NOT included in the book. About the questions I might be asked during discussion times—including questions for which I might not have answers.
To that end, I’ve created a list of books I DID NOT WRITE about Alzheimer’s, which might serve as resources for those wanting to read/learn more. I’m going to print the list off and give out copies at readings. This is a very short list. If you Google the topic, you’ll find dozens, possibly hundreds of other books and articles. And while you might wonder why I have not read more widely on the subject, all I can see is that I was too busy living the very personal journey with my mother.
Memoirs:
Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Daughter’s Memoir by Martha Stettinius
The Living End: A Memoir of Forgiving and Forgetting by Robert Leleux
Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother, and Me (an illustrated/graphic memoir) by Sarah Leavitt
Novels:
Still Alice by Lisa Genova (movie starring Julianne Moore) “Alice” is a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s….
Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante (New York Times bestseller about a retired orthopedic surgeon suffering from dementia.)
Academic:
Families Caregiving for an Aging America
Follow this link to purchase the report or download a free (PDF) copy of the report:
The books on my short list aren’t included in other lists I found online, like these (for those who want to read more widely):
Top 5 Books on Alzheimer’s Disease
Recommended Reading from the Alzheimer’s Association
Top Alzheimer’s and Dementia Books for Caregivers (from the senior living blog, “A Place For Mom”
Thank you, Susan, for the list and links. Congratulations on the publication in just two days! When it is available, please post order info for those of us who won’t be able to attend any of your scheduled events. Thanks!