If you know or care about someone with Alzheimer's Disease,
Island Girl
will either be the best or worse book you've ever read. It will be the best because it gives a funny, real-life accounting of a woman, Rosie, who has early onset Alzheimer's. She also has a pretty messed up family and wants to make everything in her world right before the disease takes over. While your heart breaks for Rosie, she doesn't really give you permission to feel sorry for her, and if you don't have permission from Rosie, there is no point in attempting to do something.
She has her Island that she loves and continues to protest on behalf of. (How dare they put an airport on her island without her approval? The ferry has always been sufficient!)
She is feisty, funny, loveable, cranky and downright rude.
Then there are her daughters. One, Liz, is a messed up alcoholic who Rosie wants to rehabilitate before it's too late. If not, who will take care of Gracie who is just a touch slow? You can assume a happy ending if you'd like, but I make no promises.
They all come with tremendous emotional baggage, not unlike the majority of the people who will read this book. There is poignant interaction and outstanding tangential story lines. The character development is remarkable, there is no doubt you know the characters when you close the book.
For all these reasons and dozens more, I highly recommend Island Girl.
I warned you it may be the worst book you've ever read. It will be the worst for the very same reasons it is the best.
If you're up to it, I suggest you try it. It was well worth the angst.
Reviewed by Debbie Hanson
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