In Love by Amy Bloom
What's It About?
"Buoyant and entrancing ... A story pulsing with raw life." — Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Hom
“Prepare yourself to be heartbroken, expanded, unsettled, and filled with hope.” — Michael Cunningham, author of A Home at the End of the World
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In Love (Random House) by Amy Bloom hits all the right notes when it comes to revealing and evoking authentic and true emotions. The author beautifully articulates her story of love, passionate and imperfect, and her personal emotional challenges and struggles. She shares what she has experienced and learned during her quest for answers while on life’s journey before and during her husband’s early-onset Alzheimer’s symptoms, diagnosis, progression and his life changing decision.
Odd behaviors, strange occurrences and inconsistent decision-making over several years finally lead to a doctor’s visit that uncovered the truth. The shocking, but not so shocking, diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s was confirmed when Brian went for bloodwork and an MRI … and everything changed for Amy and Brian from that day forward. Brian was adamant about his choice not to live with a debilitating and progressive disease and asked Amy to research his options.
Battling her emotions but knowing she was going to abide by his wishes, Amy gives us an account of the options she pursued on behalf of her husband, the mental exams Brian was taxed with in order to reach a diagnosis, her emotional rollercoaster and his steadfastness when it came to how his life would conclude, even during the times where he was physically lost, emotionally detached and irrationally short-tempered. His unsettling symptoms were exhibited yet his love and appreciation for Amy and his decision to end his life by his own free will never wavered.
I love Amy’s writing, and I cried for all that was lost. Brian made an almost impossible and difficult decision, and Amy honored it by loving and supporting him … I see that as a beautiful gift they gave each other. I highly recommend this memoir.
