I began this Throwback Thursday meme as a way to share some of my old favorites as well as sharing books that I’m FINALLY getting around to reading that were published months or years ago. You know, the ones waiting patiently on my TBR list while I continue to pile more titles on top of them:)! I like that these older books are usually much easier than new releases to get a hold of at libraries and elsewhere.
My Pick This Week is….
Published April 2015 by Gallery Books
Joe O’Brien is a forty-four-year-old police officer from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts. A devoted husband, proud father of four children in their twenties, and respected officer, Joe begins experiencing bouts of disorganized thinking, uncharacteristic temper outbursts, and strange, involuntary movements. He initially attributes these episodes to the stress of his job, but as these symptoms worsen, he agrees to see a neurologist and is handed a diagnosis that will change his and his family’s lives forever: Huntington’s Disease
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Can you say perfect discussion book?! This book would make an excellent book club pick as it presents so many interesting discussion topics. It’s the story of the O’Brien family and the devastating consequences of Huntington’s Disease. I have to say I hadn’t heard of Huntington’s before reading this and man, what a devastating diagnosis this would be. I know many people may think they don’t want to read a book about illness and disease but this story is SO much more than that and in the hands of Lisa Genova it’s nothing short of brilliant.
We get to know the entire O’Brien family, Joe, his wife and all 4 of his kids. One day they’re a typical family and the next they learn that Joe has Huntington’s and not only will he die early but he will lose everything that makes him Joe before his death. As Huntington’s is hereditary, each of his 4 kids has a 50% chance of having the gene. They each grapple with the decision of having the genetic test to find out…they each have to answer the question of whether they’d rather live not knowing and wondering if each ache and pain and incidence of forgetfulness is the start of the disease or find out and know for sure that their lives will be cut short and they will suffer tremendously before death. The best part of Lisa Genova’s writing is the fact that she brings these characters to life, we know them, we like them and our hearts break for them. I couldn’t stop reading to find out who would decide to get tested and then what their results would be. As much as I loved this book, I do have to say I was a little mad at the author when I got to the end but after discussing the ending with a couple friends I felt better. If you’re interested in a well paced, character driven read I hope you’ll give this a try
HAPPY READING!
More Throwback Thursday Picks Around the Blogosphere…
Jill at Jill’s Book Cafe
Deanna at DeesRadReads and Reviews
Amanda at Literary Weaponry
Susan at Susan Loves Books
Cathy at What Cathy Read Next
Lynne at Fictionophile
Annie at The Misstery
Amy at Novel Gossip
Diana at A Haven for Booklovers
Mischenko at Read Rant Rock and Roll
Laurie at Cozy Nook Books
Ann Marie at LItWitWineDine
Laura at Snazzy Books
Awesome pick Renee! I cannot wait to get back to my TBT posts in the New Year. I have decided to call 2017 a write off lol
Thanks Sam! You’ve been missed, I can’t wait for you to return to TBT and regular blogging. You still had a great reading year!!
Great pick. As you know, I also loved Inside the O’Briens. Such a horrific disease and the genetic aspect makes it even more so. It truly is a perfect book for book club discussions.
Thanks Susie, I think her books not only have great writing but lead to the best discussions as well. They’re well rounded!
What an interesting sounding book. Thanks for making it a throwback Thursday so I could hear about it.
My pleasure, I hope you decide it’s one you’d like to try
I want to read this book! Do u happen to have a hard copy I can borrow?
I don’t, I actually grabbed this at the library so hopefully you can get ahold of one. I think you’ll like it!
Oh wow. That’s sounds like a heavy but excellent read. Just your review is incredibly though provoking.
Thanks, I hope I’ve tempted you to read it:)
I think so 😉
I’ve been meaning to read this for so long. I’ll have to push it off the list! Great choice. 😊
That should’ve said I’m going to push it up the list not off the list. I really should check before I hit “Post comment”.
Haha, I do that all the time. I think this is one you’ll like Deanna! It’s so well written with great characters
I really enjoyed Still Alice by Lisa Genova although it was a tough read at times and I’m guessing this one was the same. She really seems to do her research to get all the details right.
My Throwback Thursday book this week was The Snow Child: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/2017/12/14/throwback-thursday-the-snow-child-by-eowyn-ivey/
Yes, very tough at time and of course like with Still Alice I did cry at times. Her level of research is so outstanding but she weaves it in so well that you don’t realize it until you’ve finished
This looks like one I would love! Added. 🙂
Great choice! My husband and I listened to the audio version of this on a 15 hour round trip to Vegas. We both enjoyed it 😊
Thanks Tina!
That’s an awesome review, would love to read a book by Lisa Genova some time.
Thanks, this would be a great first choice if you haven’t read her yet
A little mad… that loooks like a sad ending, definitely haha
Haha, I won’t give anything away but I will say that’s not why I was mad…do I have you intrigued?🤔
YES hahaha
Great choice. This sounds like a wonderful character-driven story and I like what you said about it being great for discussion. Hopefully, I can get my book club to give it a try.
Oh I hope so, there’s so much to discuss and not everyone will agree which always makes a fun book club discussion