In the summer, alice and john return to their vacation spot and alice has no idea where she is or who she is. Based on lisa genovas novel and directed by richard glatzer and wash westmoreland. Its a testament to the film makers that they did not try to force any type of upbeat ending. Still alice is a 2007 novel by lisa genova, set in boston. Lisa graduated valedictorian from bates college with a degree in. How did your impressions change after reading the book.
Dec 02, 2014 still alice by lisa genova alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape, is a celebrated harvard professor at the height of her career when she notices a forgetfulness creeping into her life. To learn more about still alice or to get in touch with lisa genova, visit. On this front, still alice actually provides reassurance. I am still infatuated, amazed, and heartbroken after the 100minute journey ive just taken. This study guide consists of approximately 48 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of still alice. After a first pass, its time to crack open the script for a deeper analysis and you can do that by creating a scenebyscene breakdown. Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts how to read a screenplay. It makes sure, from the start, that we grasp the irony of alices plight. I loved at the end of the book how alice was still a person, who could love, be the shoulder to cry on, and be there, in the moment which is how i want to live for her family. I was hesitant to read this novel, which has been described as uncannily realistic. Still alice, directed by ricard glatzer and wash westmoreland, was adapted by the pair from a novel of the same name by lisa genova. Jan 16, 2015 still alice is a good film, but it feels as if there was a great film somewhere within, waiting for a better screenplay to find it. The story begins with the books path to publication.
Still alice is a movie that addresses a nightmarish circumstance with calm, compassionate sensitivity. Feb 26, 2015 still alice, directed by ricard glatzer and wash westmoreland, was adapted by the pair from a novel of the same name by lisa genova. I m going to tell all, the entire story, including the ending, and ill look closely at scenes. Still alice has an authentic voice and a pitchperfect tone even as alice loses control of her own words. Still alice is written not from the outside looking in, but from the inside looking out. Still alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50yearold womans sudden descent into early onset alzheimers disease, written by firsttime author lisa genova, who holds a ph. But some of the dialog was clumsy and dry, and though it is obvious that lisa genova has had her agenda to educate people and teach them to be more tolerant and understanding to people with the alzheimers syndrome, there was a bit too much of science and the literary quality of writing is slightly. In still alice, a professor slides into alzheimers.
Any page references refer to a usa edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of pocket books. Still alice is a sombre read about one womans determined fight to maintain her sense of self whilst losing her mind to alzheimers. The book also has one of those an awful hollywood endings, fading out at a happy moment for. The novel is truly moving, and i would describe it as a very insightful and educational read. Book club questions for still alice book club babble. Now a major motion picture starring julianne moore, alec baldwin, kate bosworth, and kristen stewart. From new york times bestselling author and neuroscientist lisa genova comes the definitiveand illuminatingnovel about alzheimers disease. Alice howland, a 50yearold woman, is a cognitive psychology professor at harvard and is a worldrenowned linguistics expert. Alice continues to deteriorate from her alzheimers disease, at a couple of points failing to recognize her children. And we are thrilled to feature lisa genova, author of the book, still alice, in our lead story this spring issue. I do tend to get really annoyed with all these endings when ive spent hours reading a book. The book ends with alice still living a happy life, surrounded by her family, bathed in the warmth of their love, cuddling a grandbaby in her lap. The book also has one of those an awful hollywood endings, fading out at a happy moment for fear of scarring the audience with the true horror of the real endgame.
Lisa genova, the author, is a trained neuroscientist who understands the science behind alzheimers from a clinical point of view, but she also comprehends the personal tragedy that accompanies one losing a loved one who is standing. The message seems to be, shes lost her memory and no longer recognizes her husband or her children, but shes somehow still alice, so its not so bad after all. John says hell hire someone but the children insist that isnt whats best for alice. Still alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50yearold womans sudden descent into early onset alzheimers disease, written by firsttime author lisa genova. Happy endings demon magic book 1 kindle edition by winters, alice. Sixteen questions for the book club reading still alice by lisa genova. Still alice is a 2014 american independent drama film written and directed by richard glatzer and wash westmoreland and based on lisa genovas bestselling 2007 novel of. Still alice remains as polite, as informed, and as cautiously compassionate as the society that it depicts. They dont have much in common, but the two loners end up spending a lot of time together and form an intimate, life.
There are several items in the film that just dont seem to fit. But theres controversy surrounding that hopeful ending. Other aspects of her life are equally storybook perfect. Its about alice, a woman beloved by her family and respected by her colleagues, who in the end, is still. Feb 23, 2015 alices husband spends a lot of that time away from alice. Happy endings demon magic book 1 kindle edition by. My first thought was that i read the whole book expecting to see it through and it just ended.
Still alice book cover in examining disease, we gain wisdom about anatomy and physiology and biology. With a combination of power and grace, julianne moore elevates still alice above its madeforcabletelevision trappings, and delivers one of the more memorable performances of her career. Alice howland is a 50yearold professor of psychology at harvard university. Her suicide attempt by overdose which she set up soon after her diagnosis fails when she is interrupted and drops the pills.
Months later, alice remains in boston with her two daughters, anna and lydia, nearby. In lisa genovas extraordinary new york times bestselling novel, an accomplished woman slowly loses her thoughts and memories to alzheimers diseaseonly to discover that each day brings a new way of living and loving. Still alice movie clip butterfly 2015 kristen stewart, julianne moore movie hd duration. Only after a deceptively innocent slip of the tongue, a shortterm memory loss during a lecture, and a disorientation attack inside the campus will it become. The story begins with the book s path to publication. In examining the person with disease, we gain wisdom about life. Still alice is a good film, but it feels as if there was a great film somewhere within, waiting for a better screenplay to find it.
The lights come up and im still sitting there looking at the screen as name after name rolls up and off the screen. But no one is going to go to still alice with too much hope. Still alice by lisa genova overdrive rakuten overdrive. A scenebyscene breakdown of the script for the movie still alice. Terrifying, yes, but not depressing, and surprisingly beautiful. The film stars julianne moore as alice howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed with familial alzheimers disease shortly after her 50th birthday. Lisa genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from bates college with a degree in biopsychology and has a ph. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading happy endings demon magic book 1. Its a more effective proposition in the movie business to say the earth is. A recently released film, still alice, starring julianne moore. When she receives a diagnosis of earlyonset alzheimers disease, alice and her family find their bonds thoroughly tested. Reviews are supposed to leave movie endings unspoiled. Learn about alzheimers through the interpretation of the film still alice.
John cries as he reads the trial alice was in was unsuccessful and patients declined faster. In 24 months, 49yearold harvard psychology professor alice howland exchanges the role of highachieving teacher, wife and mother of three for that of a disoriented, inarticulate, forgetful shell of her former self. Its about alice, a woman beloved by her family and respected by her colleagues, who in the end, is still alice, not just her disease. What were your thoughts and impressions of alzheimers disease before reading this book, especially as it would affect a younger person. This 54page guide for still alice by lisa genova includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 25 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Acclaimed as the oliver sacks of fiction and the michael crichton of brain science, lisa genova is the new york times bestselling author of still alice, left neglected, love anthony, and inside the obriens. Still alice is a 2014 american independent drama film written and directed by richard glatzer and wash westmoreland and based on lisa genovas bestselling 2007 novel of the same name. Alices husband spends a lot of that time away from alice. The novel is about a woman who suffers earlyonset alzheimers disease. Apr 19, 2009 the novel is truly moving, and i would describe it as a very insightful and educational read. Time passes and alices life becomes a series of struggles as she tries to remember how to function in her daytoday life. The respected and otherwise healthy linguistics professor, alice howland, is a fiftyyearold mother of three, an accomplished scholar, and a tragic victim of earlyonset alzheimers.
After a first pass, its time to crack open the script for a deeper analysis and you can do. Her struggle stay connected to who she once was is frightening. This is no small feat, given the depth and breadth of moores filmography and her consistent ability to produce great work, from playing a porn star in boogie nights to an eccentric artist in. Her youngest daughter is the one that uses this time to get to know her mother, especially since their relationship has always been somewhat strained. May 12, 2015 when she receives a diagnosis of earlyonset alzheimers disease, alice and her family find their bonds thoroughly tested. Still alice by lisa genova alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape, is a celebrated harvard professor at the height of her career when she notices a forgetfulness creeping into her life. The movie still alice does not stray far from the book.
Within the pages of this bestseller she had read as an undergraduate, lisa genova found something more profound than a set of intriguing neurological case. One day she reads a book and her memory returns momentarily. This is the building that houses harvards psychology department and where alices has an office and teaches class. This film is based on lisa genovas new york times bestselling book of the same name. Evaluating still alice mcknights long term care news.
I love genovas writing, and it gets better with left neglected. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on. Alice has a son named tom hunter parrish, but hes barely a character. Still, in continuing the tradition of seeing movies no one else will go see with us, my mother and i saw the film still alice on monday and marveled at the performance of julianne moore.
This is the building that houses harvards psychology department and where alice s has an office and teaches class. Dec 05, 2014 still alice is a movie that addresses a nightmarish circumstance with calm, compassionate sensitivity. May 24, 2015 still alice movie clip butterfly 2015 kristen stewart, julianne moore movie hd duration. In fact, the way its filmed beautifully parallels the way the book is written. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape, is a celebrated harvard professor at the height of her career when she notices a. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape, is a celebrated harvard professor at the height of her career when she. Alec baldwin plays her husband, john, and kristen stewart, kate. Lisa graduated valedictorian from bates college with a degree in biopsychology and holds a phd in neuroscience from harvard university. One of the most affecting endings to a book ive ever read was this tender and moving novel about aristotle, an angry teen with a brother in prison, who meet s dante, a knowitall with an unusual way of looking at the world, at the local swimming pool. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Still alice has sold over a million copies worldwide and was made into an academy awardwinning film starring julianne moore. Ending spoiler for still alice 2014, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more.
52 1228 495 965 1049 1614 383 443 1177 469 874 1577 648 432 502 911 577 1035 203 621 1262 213 860 1540 632 610 1166 1379 1455 483 730 1657 348 771 1390 300 851 1353 176 112