Prompt Proofing Blog Post: Book Review - Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

    VANCOUVER, BC, March 23, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Left Neglected is the author's second novel, following the success of Still Alice, which dealt with the devastating effect of early onset Alzheimer's on a 50-year old Harvard professor. Left Neglect is a medical condition resulting from a brain injury that leaves the patient completely unaware of the left side of anything: the page of a book, their dinner plate, and, of course, their own body. The victim has no control over the left side of their body and cannot see anything that is positioned to their left. The life-changing effect of this condition on the heroine, Sarah, is empathetically described in Left Neglected, giving us cause to reevaluate our perceptions of handicap and our commitment to life lived in the fast lane.

We are introduced to Sarah as 'superwoman' personified, juggling a high-level 80-hour a week career with marriage and three young children. The opening chapters paint a vivid picture of Sarah's life before the injury that changes everything. Clues to what is likely to happen are scattered freely; apart from the emotional toll wreaked by her crazily demanding lifestyle, Sarah's driving style alone makes her literally an accident waiting to happen. In fact, while I am sure we are supposed to empathize with the Sarah of the early chapters, I actually found myself wanting to shake her for her blatantly appalling driving habits. Talking on one's cell is bad enough but hunting through one's purse, texting, even emailing while driving is so criminally irresponsible - and sometimes with children in the car as well - that my sympathy was seriously depleted. I'm not sure how much this was the author's intention, I'm guessing we are supposed to identify and empathize with Sarah's situation and, to some extent, we do.

Post-accident Sarah deserves our unmitigated sympathy however and Lisa Genova manages to educate her readers on the condition while describing its devastating effects on this busy young mother. We are also gently led on the road to the discovery of Sarah's relationship, or lack thereof, with her own mother, who has been sunk in a 30-year depression since the drowning death of Sarah's younger brother. Her mother's brave attempt to conquer her depression and rally round to support her daughter in her hour of need is one of the most poignant aspects of the novel. Sarah's resilience and refusal to consider herself 'handicapped' are eloquently portrayed in various incidences such as her painfully slow four-block walk to a restaurant because she is too proud to utilize the vacant handicapped parking spot.

The novel does end on a note of hope and the message - that chasing the dragon does not lead to a satisfying and fulfilled life and that we all need to slow down and appreciate what we have - comes over loud and clear. Arguably, the ending works out a little too conveniently but we can permit the author some dramatic license in coordinating events to suit her purpose.

Lisa Genova holds a PhD in neuroscience and her knowledge and understanding of the effects of any kind of brain damage on its victims is apparent throughout. Like Still Alice, Left Neglected is a book to read in one sitting, a serious page-turner. Arguably, it should also be mandatory reading for anyone who thinks that driving to work on a busy highway in the rain provides a perfect opportunity to 'get some work done on the way'!

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