The Story of Fogetting, Stefan Merril Block

Yet “The Story of Forgetting” is as true to the anguish of these questions as it is ablaze with love and vitality. In the end, without false optimism, Mr. Block taps into the life force that gives Seth a human, heart-wrenching answer.

“The Story of Forgetting” is a fresh, beguiling novel in what is sure to be the rapidly expanding genre of Alzheimer’s literature. As medicine alters life expectancy and genetic testing for the disease predicts destiny, these subjects invite new attention. In addition to looking toward the future Mr. Block has also done prodigious homework. Among the notable sources he cites: “My Father’s Brain” by Jonathan Franzen; “Elegy for Iris” by John Bayley; “The Bear Came Over the Mountain,” the Alice Munro story adapted for the screen as “Away From Her”; “The Forgetting” by David Shenk; and “Losing My Mind: An Intimate Look at Life with Alzheimer’s,” a wrenching memoir by Thomas DeBaggio. “The Story of Forgetting” remembers them all.

I just finished this book today (16/11/08).  Made a difficult subject very easy to read, despite alot of convolution; technical stuff, story telling, and parallel plot.  Pretty good for a first novel.