Turn of Mind

Thrilling

This was my first book by Alice LaPlante and I don't regret giving it a try. The story is fantastic, the characters are very well developed. Can only recommend.

7 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

What a read!!

Having a mother who passed away from dementia, this topic intrigued me and never disappointed. It is certainly a thriller and with the main character's children talking about her in the background, her declining level of awareness, the reader's knowledge of what is going on, I couldn't wait to get back to see what would happen next. At times, I felt as confused as Jennifer, the main character. I cried as I read parts of Jennifer's story, remembering what our family went through as my mother's mind lost its battle with this terrible disease.

What I found at the core of LaPlante's first novel is what my family found, too - love. Somehow, the mind knows, in spite of the cobwebbed memories and great cognitive loss as well as warped friendship/s and well meaning people, love perseveres.

I hope this is the first of many great novels for LaPlante; I look forward to reading more from her. I would recommend to those who want a glimpse into dementia and how this devastating disease takes its toll on not only the individual but on those around her. Book discussions would enjoy the mystery and with the 'Sandwich generation' this should generate much discussion for Baby Boomers for sure!!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

The PERFECT psychological thriller!

I really, really enjoyed Turn of Mind. Alice LaPlante has done a phenomenal job of taking us into the daily life of an intelligent woman stricken with a horrible, horrible disease. We stay with Jennifer as her mind deteriorates, but it is her brief moments of clarity that give us insight into what really happened the day that Amanda was killed. Did Jennifer really murder her oldest, dearest friend, or is someone close to her taking advantage of her Dementia? Alice LaPlante has taken this murder mystery to a whole new level. If you love a good murder mystery, don't let this one pass you by!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!

"Turn of the Mind" is nothing short of amazing. "Something has happened." The first line raises a question that makes it impossible not to have the reader's curiosity peeked and then on to first-person point of view of Dr. Jennifer White, herself, who is a 64 year old retired hand surgeon with a grave problem, actually two grave problems. Her mind is disintegrating with Alzheimer's and Jennifer's best friend, Amanda, who lives three houses down the street, has been murdered .. and four fingers of her hand have been amputated, obviously by the hand of a surgeon. This book is heartbreaking, haunting and chilling. Masterfully written with vivid prose, this storyline is painfully sad, but also totally electrifying. This is a gripping, compelling who-done-it with another major foreground concern, the process of forgetting and the complexity of being aware of yourself disappearing. This is a brilliant piece of work. I'm sure this book will move to bigger and better things.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Very interesting book that I had a hard time putting down. It is

Very interesting book that I had a hard time putting down. It is about a doctor that gets Alzheimer's, the book is written from her point of view. The book hit close to home as I have a close family member suffering from Alzheimer's, it made me feel like I could understand a bit of what she feels. I see a lot of the same behavior from my relative that I saw in the main character of the book. My book club read this and reactions were mixed, but I would definitely recommend this book. I'm going to be recommending it to my family members, I think it would be a good book to read if you have someone you're close to suffering from Alzheimer's. The book is a bit of a mystery also, a "whodunit" situation.

Interesting read.

Not quite sure how I feel about this book or author. She does make you think about dementia and your outlook but felt she left a lot out.

Fabulous

Talented author giving voice to a woman living with dementia
Loved it

A GREAT BOOK FOR YOUNG AND OLD.

PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never wanted to put this down until I finished.

It was a fascinating look into the deteriorating mind of a very intelligent woman. It was as if Alice LaPlante was going through this herself. But, it wasn't a tear-jerker of a book. I recommend it.

Dementia & Murder

This has gotten rave reviews from Editors and Customers as it purportedly lets us into the mind of an Alzheimer's patient as she considers, not only life, but the murder of her best friend. Somehow, I couldn't get into this at all. The first person narration wasn't appealing. Nobody in the book is appealing. The plot is replete with unfaithful spouses and drugs, the usual suspects these days.

The demented protagonist talks a lot about her memory failures, but there is none of the original, witty, perceptive slips that someone with dementia can have. I am the caregiver of an Alzheimer's patient and his logic or illogic is very revealing as to how things in the mind are connected.

One of the best books I have ever read!

This book is achingly haunting. I felt like I became the main character, struggling to understand the world with an increasingly damaged brain. Alice LaPlante deserves every bit of praise and recognition she's received for this book!

Curiously perceptive

Takes you through the muddled landscape of progressive dementia while striving to lay bare events grounded in reality. Masterfully told.

HIGHLY recommended -- I was absolutely fascinated -- odds are you will be too!

I was uncertain how I'd like a novel told from the point of view of a person descending into Alzheimer's, but decided to take a chance. In fact, it was fascinating & poignantly depicted the utter frustration of a woman with a once-excellent mind experience her own deterioration (just as I watch my own aging process take its toll on my own brain -- I used to be a cracker jack speller -- now I can't remember if niece is 'ie' or 'ei'; today's a better day & I know it's the former! The ending had an excellent twist; it came out of nowhere -- but was entirely supported by the details of the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I see it as a good candidate for a book club to choose.

Imaginativeblook into dementia

I enjoyed this read. The last two parts were confusing, but upon reflection it makes sense. Its heartbreakinf reading the treatment the main character recieves while in nursing homes. This was quite a "page turner" if that is allowed while reading on a nook

Wow!

I loved this book. It twisted and turned for the whole story. I was amazed at the references with the Alzheimer's Disease...how right on! I almost found that the author was telling it as her own personal story.
MORE, MORE, MORE!

Intriguing Psychological Thriller

Written from the POV of an accomplished surgeon falling into the darkness of dementia, this is a satisfying thriller that also stays sensitive to the central character's disease.

not recommended in any way

this book should have been written on lovely colored paper - since so many of the pages in this book are half blank - at least it could have been lovely to look at since it was not lovely to read - this book did not even come close in fulfilling the intended story

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Riveting read

My grandmother had alzheimers and this is a wonderful insite into the disease and how a persons mind works, what their perceptions are. It was educational and enlightening. I felt the pain and confusion on both sides. A great book, so insiteful.

Highly recommended

Interesting plot, well written easy read.

An Intelligent skilled Surgeon with Alzheimer's

This is a "who done it?" story with a very interesting twist. The protagonist has Alzheimer's disease. I kept reading to get a view of the life of a person with Alzheimer's. Could a person with this disease do the things she did? It was exciting to imagine she could.