View source for Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante

{{infobox1
|title=Turn of Mind
|author=Alice LaPlante
|reviewer=Louise Laurie
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary=A powerful book about a once-professional woman. Jennifer, now in the first stages of Alzheimer's.  The death of her long-term friend, Amanda invites unwelcome attention and intrusion into Jennifer's family's private grief over her illness.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=320
|publisher=Harvill Secker
|date=July 2011
|isbn=978-1846554636
|cover=009955366X
|aznuk=009955366X
|aznus=0802119778
}}

This is a beautifully-presented book with its eye-catching front cover and poetic title.  Jennifer has had a busy and fulfilling professional life as a well-respected medical surgeon.  Until now.  She's gradually losing bits of her mind to Alzheimer's.  Her family is supportive and keep popping in on a regular basis plus there's now a live-in carer, Magdalena, so that daily life and daily chores are just about covered.
 
Someone in the family has had the inventive idea of things being written down in a sort of journal so that Jennifer can make sense of her life - now, in her lucid periods.  Until one day when everything changes when a local newspaper declares  ''Elderly Chicago Woman Found Dead, Mutilated.''  This woman just happens to be Amanda, long-term friend and confidant.
 
But due to Jennifer's illness, she often can't remember ''if'' she had breakfast, never mind ''what'' she had.  So, as a routine police investigation commences, so do the problems in trying to get straight answers to straight questions from Jennifer.  Not easy.  Okay, so her family can help so far but at the end of the day, she must answer these questions herself.  One such question may be - Where were you on the day that Amanda died?  To which Jennifer's answer might be - Amanda, she's dead, she can't be ...  And of course if the same question is asked again, there may be a completely different answer.  It's an uphill struggle for all concerned.  The local police department is tested (for their patience) again and again.
 
LaPlante displays an elegant, intelligent and often witty style.  It's a pleasure to read.  I have lots and lots of favourites lines and bits of sentences, too numerous to mention but I want to give you a taster.  This is from Jennifer's ongoing diary as she describes what it's like living with this dreadful illness.  ''This half state.  Life in the shadows'' and ''A legend in my own mind.''  Sad and poignant words I thought.  She often forgets that she has a son (Mark) and a daughter (Fiona) and that her husband is deceased.  She needs constant reminding of these important facts and still she forgets.
 
These painful episodes are skilfully told by LaPlante, mainly in the form of diary entries or in conversation.  The conversations Jennifer embarks upon are sad, granted but they are absolute treasures and can often be funny (unintentional of course).  So yes, I did smile to myself several times, such is the talent of LaPlante.  But there's no getting away from the fact that much of the sadness of the deterioration of a brilliant mind like Jennifer's is highlighted throughout this book again and again.  She can hold long, in-depth medical conversations and then have to be reminded who she's speaking to.  She'll mix up her son (alive) with her husband (dead) and so on.  And as the situation worsens Jennifer's mind takes her back to her own childhood.
 
I appreciate that some of the material in this book may be a little uncomfortable or too near the bone for some - perhaps people who are caring for someone with this disease but I would respectfully encourage the reading of this book.  At times it can be almost uplifting.  
 
Jennifer is a woman who is fighting this illness - this dreadful nightmarish illness, with dignity, gusto, charm and a good dose of humour.  When asked by a doctor during one of her medical check-ups - ''What day is it'' she replies crisply ''Don't insult me.''  But does she know the answer?  The doctor has his/her work cut out with Jennifer, that's for sure. This is a beautifully-written book with a dark mystery at its heart ... and I wasn't expecting this particular ending either.  Recommended.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.  We also have a review of [[Half Moon Bay by Alice LaPlante]].
 
If this book appeals then you might like to try [[Remember Remember by Hazel McHaffie]].

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