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parklandmom's review against another edition
4.25
4.25 stars and read via Kindle e-book. Read in August 2023.
I got this book to fulfill a 2023 reading challenge. I needed a book that was published in 2000 or before. I wanted to read something new so I went on a search. I had read a short story or novella by this author earlier this year. When I found this one, I discovered that this was her first book which was later made into a movie. It was written in the mid 90s.
This book’s synopsis stood out for me because of aphasia, dementia, and Alzheimer’s being present in my husband’s and my families. That made it a little emotionally and mentally difficult to read but I still finished it quickly. I had to periodically take little breaks.
The book got better as it went along. It felt a little simplistic early on. The sudden introduction to Julia halfway through was a little jarring. I was admittedly uncomfortable with the friendship and attraction with Julia. Yet I know that Alzheimer’s feels like a death. I was relieved that the story took a turn to honouring a covenant. The ending felt a little rushed. I wish that part happened in the second book, which I will read.
It taught me to less judgmental of those who move onto other relationships, though I’m still wholeheartedly against moving on when you’re still married. It is disrespectful under any and all circumstances. It helped me to see the depth of the pain and loneliness caused by Alzheimer’s. As was said in the book, it is like a death every time you see them and eventually there is nothing there from them anymore.
Where the author really shone was showing the utter devastation of Alzheimer’s. It’s not clean or sensical and there is no manual. Things are always changing back and forth, up and down. Eventually they become a shell and don’t know anyone at all. It is a beast of a disease physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically—for the patient AND the ones who love them.
The author showed the gamut of emotions and struggles by the husband, the kids, friends, family, neighbours, etc. I teared up many times. She did the same for Julia and her boys with the aftermath of losing her husband/their dad. It’s an incredibly tough road to walk.
The Church and the community need to come alongside these hurting people as the Bible instructs. We cannot just ignore them because we don’t know what to say or how to act. Nothing we say or do changes their circumstances. However we can help them to feel connected and cared for. People just need people to sit in the ashes with them, take them for coffee, and simply be WITH them.
There are lots of good life lessons in this book.
I got this book to fulfill a 2023 reading challenge. I needed a book that was published in 2000 or before. I wanted to read something new so I went on a search. I had read a short story or novella by this author earlier this year. When I found this one, I discovered that this was her first book which was later made into a movie. It was written in the mid 90s.
This book’s synopsis stood out for me because of aphasia, dementia, and Alzheimer’s being present in my husband’s and my families. That made it a little emotionally and mentally difficult to read but I still finished it quickly. I had to periodically take little breaks.
The book got better as it went along. It felt a little simplistic early on. The sudden introduction to Julia halfway through was a little jarring. I was admittedly uncomfortable with the friendship and attraction with Julia. Yet I know that Alzheimer’s feels like a death. I was relieved that the story took a turn to honouring a covenant. The ending felt a little rushed. I wish that part happened in the second book, which I will read.
It taught me to less judgmental of those who move onto other relationships, though I’m still wholeheartedly against moving on when you’re still married. It is disrespectful under any and all circumstances. It helped me to see the depth of the pain and loneliness caused by Alzheimer’s. As was said in the book, it is like a death every time you see them and eventually there is nothing there from them anymore.
Where the author really shone was showing the utter devastation of Alzheimer’s. It’s not clean or sensical and there is no manual. Things are always changing back and forth, up and down. Eventually they become a shell and don’t know anyone at all. It is a beast of a disease physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically—for the patient AND the ones who love them.
The author showed the gamut of emotions and struggles by the husband, the kids, friends, family, neighbours, etc. I teared up many times. She did the same for Julia and her boys with the aftermath of losing her husband/their dad. It’s an incredibly tough road to walk.
The Church and the community need to come alongside these hurting people as the Bible instructs. We cannot just ignore them because we don’t know what to say or how to act. Nothing we say or do changes their circumstances. However we can help them to feel connected and cared for. People just need people to sit in the ashes with them, take them for coffee, and simply be WITH them.
There are lots of good life lessons in this book.
daisey4's review against another edition
4.0
Have tissues ready! Realistic struggles of a horrible disease.
mom2triplets04's review against another edition
5.0
This book is about a woman who at the age of 47 becomes diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. The story is told by the husband. I cried in the middle of the book and when I read the very ending it left me in tears. Finally a book I could not put down and what an amazing love story.
cordiallybarbara's review against another edition
4.0
On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, A Vow to Cherish by Deborah Raney is Rose Water Shortbread Cookies. These dense cookies hold their shape and yet have the ability to crumble at a touch. And mingled with the familiar flavor of butter and sugar twines the timeless rose.
Ellen and Jake Brighton have it all: a happy marriage, children to be proud of, and the approaching golden years of an empty nest. When Ellen begins to place sticks of butter in Jake's underwear drawer, they try to laugh it off. But, they both know something is not right. As Alzheimer's draws Ellen away from Jake, will he hold to his marriage vows?
A friend recommended this book to me as one of her favorites of Deborah Raney's. Although the writing style (third person) of this book is not my favorite and a surprise character entered mid-book (shoving me right out of the story for a few minutes), I found myself enjoying the story. I suddenly had a whole new perspective of what my grandmother lost when my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. By the time I remembered him, he was a shell of a human. As I read about Ellen and Jake, tears often filmed my eyes as I considered my own grandparents. I lived through this story, and I can now voice on my own (vicarious experience) that Alzheimer's is terribly unfair.
Although I compared this book to a delicious cookie, this was no fluffy read. This story offered substance and a perspective I could never get on my own. I recommend it.
Ellen and Jake Brighton have it all: a happy marriage, children to be proud of, and the approaching golden years of an empty nest. When Ellen begins to place sticks of butter in Jake's underwear drawer, they try to laugh it off. But, they both know something is not right. As Alzheimer's draws Ellen away from Jake, will he hold to his marriage vows?
A friend recommended this book to me as one of her favorites of Deborah Raney's. Although the writing style (third person) of this book is not my favorite and a surprise character entered mid-book (shoving me right out of the story for a few minutes), I found myself enjoying the story. I suddenly had a whole new perspective of what my grandmother lost when my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. By the time I remembered him, he was a shell of a human. As I read about Ellen and Jake, tears often filmed my eyes as I considered my own grandparents. I lived through this story, and I can now voice on my own (vicarious experience) that Alzheimer's is terribly unfair.
Although I compared this book to a delicious cookie, this was no fluffy read. This story offered substance and a perspective I could never get on my own. I recommend it.