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. Whats the difference between still alice the book and still alice the movie. Alec baldwin plays her husband, john, and kristen stewart, kate. Terrifying, yes, but not depressing, and surprisingly beautiful. I was looking forward to seeing harvard and cambridge in the film i went to school in boston and it has. The foundation data on the story still alice still. Jan, 2015 in the book, alice teaches at harvard and the family lives in cambridge. Differences between still alice book vs movie page 1. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the cape, is a celebrated harvard professor at the. Alice howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who. The eponymous title from the book by lisa genova that has been adapted by writerdirectors richard glatzer and wash westmoreland underlines the idea that alice remains alice to the end. On this front, still alice actually provides reassurance. Parents need to know that still alice tracks the frighteningly fast progression of earlyonset alzheimers disease in alice an excellent julianne moore, a columbia university professor. The oscar winner for still alice discusses how her two films at tiff this year freeheld and maggies plan fit into her back catalogue, and urges for increased female visibility in hollywood.
Brain atrophy is the loss of neurons and the connection between them. A linguistics professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with alzheimers disease. 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. After i read still alice, i wanted to stand up and tell a train full of strangers, you have to get this book. Still alice summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. 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. Alice is not only a celebrated professor at the height of her career, but is also a worldrenowned. The film accurately portrays many of the signs across the three stages of alzheimers.
Watching the film is the first time many people get to see closeup what its like to be. Lisa graduated valedictorian from bates college with a degree in. On this front alone, still alice is a beautiful tragedy to behold, moores face and body the canvas for a haunting and ohsohuman tale. Last year i watched the movie still alice and was drawn into the heartbreak of alzheimers and last month i finally read the book. What the film still alice tells us about alzheimers disease. 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. Its about alice, a woman beloved by her family and. Still alice is a 2014 american drama film written and directed by richard glatzer and wash westmoreland45 and based on lisa genovas 2007 bestselling novel of the same name.
Sarah polley s haunting away from her and michael haneke s unflinching amour. In the movie, she teaches at columbia and the family lives in manhattan. Feb 23, 2015 alices husband spends a lot of that time away from alice. In the book, alice teaches at harvard and the family lives in cambridge.
This reallife story about how alice howland, a linguistics professor at columbia, and her family deal with her diagnosis of familial alzheimers disease at age 50, is both heartfelt and powerful. In a cruel twist of fate, the story follows alice from early diagnosis to the point where she is cradling her grandchild and referring to her daughters as the actress and the mother. Still alice has an authentic voice and a pitchperfect tone even as alice loses control of her own words. Still alice is about the life of alice howland, who is stricken with alzheimers disease. Still alice is a remarkable novel which allows the reader to witness the terrifying disease from alice s point of view. Follow me on facebook, twitter, bloglovin, tumblr, goodreads, letterboxd or instagram. With moore as our proxy, raw and open, were with alice on her perilous journey. The movie still alice does not stray far from the book. The flat lighting, the frequent use of maudlin music, a heavy reliance on medium shots and some awkward cutaways for. Still alice has sold over a million copies worldwide and was made into an academy awardwinning film starring julianne moore. 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. The novel is about a woman who suffers earlyonset alzheimers disease.
I was looking forward to seeing harvard and cambridge in the film i went to school in boston and it has its own unique look and feel, very different from nyc. It begins with small hiccups affecting alice s memory or her sense of place then chugs right along into the more severe aspects of the diseasedisorientation, total shortterm memory loss, etc. Still alice is a 2007 novel by lisa genova, set in boston. Movie still alice october 14, 2016 july 6, 2019 last year i watched the movie still alice and was drawn into the heartbreak of alzheimers and last month i finally read the book. Still alice julianne moore, alec baldwin, kristen stewart. 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. The still alice community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. The film also provides an accurate depiction of the difficulties and.
Feb 06, 2015 still alice is a 2014 american drama film written and directed by richard glatzer and wash westmoreland45 and based on lisa genovas 2007 bestselling novel of the same name. But theres controversy surrounding that hopeful ending. Still alice book by lisa genova official publisher page. Still alice, directed by ricard glatzer and wash westmoreland, was adapted by the pair from a novel of the same name by lisa genova. It doesnt matter whether you read the book or watch the movie, it makes an impression you will never forget. Wanting to preserve their characters dignity, they dedramatize the horror, spare us the messiest and most alienating symptoms of alzheimers, allowing. Every 72 seconds another american develops alzheimers disease.
Brunonia barry, new york times bestselling author of the lace reader after i read still alice, i wanted to stand up and tell a train full of strangers, you have to get this book. A blackberry forgotten at dinner, a mysterious item on her todo list and an outoftown conference she forgot to attend all make. Still alice is a novel about alice howland, a cognitive psychology professor at harvard, who finds out at age fifty that she has alzheimers disease. Still alice is a movie that addresses a nightmarish circumstance with calm, compassionate sensitivity. From the symptoms ignored or explained away to diagnosis and acceptance, alice gives us a clue into what it must be like to lose your awareness and identity. Alice howland is only 50 years old when she begins to experience frequent and unusual memory loss. 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. Alice is seen unraveling, a prospect that could be very upsetting for youngermore sensitive viewers. Still alice book by lisa genova official publisher. These discussion questions will help confirm students understanding of the storyline and. Having loved them both, which will come out on top.
It additionally investigates the contrasts between the book and the film that was made dependent on the equivalent name fabulous story of the 50years of age woman. Alice s husband spends a lot of that time away from alice. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Firsttime novelist lisa genova selfpublished still alice before the book was picked up by pocket books. This is a book regarding the reality of early on set alzheimers as told from the vantage point of the patient, alice. For all its strengths, still alice belittles the reallife. Still alice was adapted into an oscarwinning film starring julianne moore, alec baldwin, and kristen stewart.
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. The film stars julianne moore as alice howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed with familial alzheimers disease shortly after her 50th birthday. Alice howland, a 50yearold woman, is a cognitive psychology professor at harvard and is a worldrenowned linguistics expert. In still alice, a professor slides into alzheimers. The story begins with the books path to publication. The multiple awardwinning film, still alice, brings the issue of earlyonset dementia to the forefront. Elevated by a gripping performance from julianne moore, still alice is a heartfelt drama that honors its delicate themes with bravery and 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. 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 is desperate to control her life after her diagnosis.
Still alice tracks the progression of alzheimers disease in the mind and life of a brilliant harvard professor, whose passion and work revolved around language. Alices husband spends a lot of that time away from alice. In fact, the way its filmed beautifully parallels the way the book is written. This deeply affecting film doesnt shy away from its depiction of a tragic and unrelenting condition. It begins with small hiccups affecting alices memory or her sense of place then chugs right along into the more severe aspects of the diseasedisorientation, total shortterm memory loss, etc. Still alice is a remarkable novel which allows the reader to witness the terrifying disease from alices point of view. This book has been made into a movie, but i have not seen the movie.
Still alice shares the struggle of a middleaged professor who is diagnosed with alzheimers disease. The literary agents who said genovas book wouldnt sell are wrong. Jun 18, 2018 still alice is a gripping and terrifying story. This is especially true when comparing still alice to a couple of recent films that have tackled the same territory. Alice howland is a 50yearold professor of psychology at harvard university. She hates that she loses the ability to go places and to. With julianne moore, alec baldwin, kristen stewart, kate bosworth. I mostly listened to the audio read by the author and would highly recommend it. The paper gives a synopsis and definite investigation of the story still alice, composed by lisa genova. But the knowledge she has gained from earning a doctorate in neuroscience and serving as an online columnist for the national alzheimers association, shines throughout this debut, a realistic portrayal of an intelligent, independent woman. The film also provides an accurate depiction of the difficulties and emotions experienced by a person with alzheimers. To watch alice lose her grip on the life she has known is to experience her pain and suffering and confusion. 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.
946 1379 88 458 312 15 1135 661 280 1093 1191 449 1587 926 1381 1419 1169 345 583 1296 196 1629 378 1412 90 763 312 949 680 572 535 722 243 1375 425 906 1220 811 1156 554 640 1355 594 14 5 580 1442