Lisa Genova really knows how to tug at your heart strings, while also tackling the reality of crippling diseases. In this story Richard is an egotistical piano player, he has traveled the world, getting acclaim from everyone. He however failed to keep his marriage in tact, cheating on his wife.

His wife Karina is just getting her life back, and is glad to be rid of her ex-husband. She raised her daughter who is now in college and feeling like an empty nester. When she hears of her exes diagnosis of ALS she just doesn't believe it.

The disease progresses rapidly and Karina takes him back, to be his caregiver. Richard's thoughts during his decline are heartbreaking, wanting to seek forgiveness but also holding on to all his reasons for cheating makes him hard to connect with Karina. All the things left unsaid is hard to overcome. So poignant, and devastating from both sides.

Lisa Genova always tackles the tough issues. Alzheimer’s. Autism. Huntington’s Disease. This time it’s ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. But this one doesn’t go for the obvious sympathy vote. Richard is a concert pianist and is losing the one thing he loves, which is the piano. But he’s also a prick. Divorced from his wife, estranged from his college aged daughter. He’s on top of the world as far as his profession, but once the symptoms of ALS start, he’s forced to see how empty his life is.

You’re quickly shown how hard and fast this disease is. Things we take for granted become first difficult and then impossible. My head spun taking it all in and I was just reading about it, not experiencing it. As his ex-wife, Karina, thinks, this isn’t something you wish on your worst enemy.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Richard and Karina. In addition to the story being about ALS, it’s also about the equation of relationships - who has the power, who is giving more, who is or is not communicating. “They never talked about any of it. The were complicit in their mutual silence.” I’ve known divorced couples that “reunited” when one became ill and the other became a caretaker. I'm not sure if it shows that the initial love still lurks somewhere underneath the hate. Or what. I really don’t know if I could do it.

My father has needed nurses after breaking his hip two years ago. So, I have come to see how special the people are that fill those roles. As Richard finds, the health aide quickly becomes so much more - “equal parts brother, doctor, parent and friend”.

As Richard deteriorates and Karina has to do more and more, Genova does a great job of exploring all her emotions. At times, the book can feel dry but at other times, the emotions explode all over the page. The book reminds you there are no do overs. Time lost is lost. But there can be forgiveness.

Not as good as Still Alice, but still very well done.

My thanks to netgalley and Scout Press for an advance copy of this book.

The death of Stephen Hawking brings ALS even more to the forefront. What a serendipitous time for this new novel by Lisa Genova, Neuroscientist and author to help us understand the disease that ultimately took one of the most brilliant scientists, authors, researchers on the planet.
But there are more people than just Stephen Hawking with this disease. Every day, people are struck with new symptoms and struggle with taking the next step or the next bite or the next breath. Every Note Played talks of one of these people.
I won't say much about this book because I want people to read it, cover to cover. Savor and enjoy and learn. However, I will admit that it brought me to tears on more than one occaision (and I am not a crier) and just like Still Alice, Left Neglected, Love Anthony, Lisa's skills as a novelist shine through her brilliance as a neuroscientist.
I do find something curious... I think I mentioned this in the review for The O'Brien's... when it's the men that are afflicted, the family-- including the wife-- seem to rally around and commit to sticking things out, no matter how tough they get. When it is the women that are afflicted, the men become shells of themselves and cower in the shadow of the disease. I feel like these books are as based on real life as possible, but I wonder if this is a common theme in chronic or terminal illness.
Grab this one, then take some time and really dig into it.

This was a very emotional read not only for the tough subject matter, but because it was somewhat personal. My maternal grandmother had ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and this brought back painful memories and sadness at knowing what she endured. But I’m glad I read it because it is a beautifully written story, as was Still Alice, and also because more people need to be made aware of this horrible disease. Of course it awakened fears I’ve had about genetics and if I or another loved one will one day suffer at the hands of ALS. I pray that those dedicated to finding a cure are successful not only for myself and my family but for mankind.

Lisa Genova has done it again! In Still Alice, she wrote movingly about a professor who in mid-life develops Alzheimer's disease and we experience the progression of that memory-stealing disease through her eyes.

In this her latest book, the disease Genova takes on is ALS, ironically in the news again this week with the death of physicist Steven Hawking. In her story, the man who learns he has ALS is a classic pianist by the name of Richard Evans and the first blow he suffers is the use of his right hand, so devastating for a pianist. Again we experience the progression of this dread disease through Richard's experiences.

This is also a very touching story about the dynamics of family relationships when life-changing disease strikes, the story alternately told by Richard and his ex-wife Karina, who it ironically falls to to take care of Richard as his health fails. His career took its toll on their marriage and their family but there are other secrets that drove them apart: can they forgive each other and themselves before it is too late? And will Richard be able to repair his relationship with his only child Grace, who feels he loved piano more than he ever loved her?

I learned so much from this book: about ALS and caregivers, about Polish holiday traditions (I may bake a poppyseed roll for Easter!) and I enjoyed listening to the various classic piano pieces while reading the story, courtesy of youtube.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for granting me the privilege of reading an arc of this new book for an honest review. And thanks to Lisa Genova for suggesting ways to contribute in the pursuit of a cure for ALS.

I always enjoy how this author looks into neurological diseases from the perspectives of the patient as well as the families. She goes into such heartwrenching detail from both sides. There's always a twist too, and in this one, his ex-wife ends up becoming his caregiver. How the disease process helps them both to heal their hearts is a great read in and of itself. As the book nears the tragic end, it's hard to put down, but the ending is perfect.

I've been waiting for this book to come out. I knew the book was about ALS and I knew I would better understand this disease once I read the book. 

What a horrible disease. I hope that scientists are able to find a cure for this disease. 

We get to see from a patients view point what it is like to loose the function of our body, piece by piece. We take so much for granted, walking, talking, swallowing, and even breathing. We hear Richard's thoughts on what is happening to him and how it makes him feel. We also get a glimpse into the mindset of a caregiver as we hear Karina's perspective.

Though this is a work of fiction I feel as if Richard and Karina are real people. I feel such empathy for them. I am glad that Karina was able to take him into her home and care for him during his final months. It forced them to come to terms with their failed marriage and face their own demons. In the end they each found forgiveness and peace.

A powerful story, not for the faint of heart.

I got this book as an ARC with the understanding that I would read and review it.

Lisa Genova is known for her raw, compelling, and bittersweet depictions of life gone awry due to illness/disability. Every Note Played is her latest, and it falls in the same vein.

Richard is an accomplished and world-renowned pianist. Karina is Richard's estranged ex-wife, a pianist herself who put her dreams and hopes on the back burner to raise their child, Grace. At the pinnacle of his career, Richard notices that his right arm doesn't work as well anymore. After some denial, this symptom leads to a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The book follows Richard's struggle to carve out a life, and death, of honor amidst the ravages of ALS, and does so admirably. What sets this book apart is that it also shows the very real (and at times ugly) process of grief, loss, and anger that those who love and care about someone with a fatal disease experience.

At times, the book felt a little rushed, but I think it may have been intentional, as Richard (as well Karina and Grace) rapidly progress through ALS to its ultimate result. A good read. Have tissues handy.

You probably have heard of Lisa Genova because of her excellent book turned movie Still Alice. What you might not know is that she has so many other great books, all dealing with different neurological issues such as Huntington's Disease, Autism, and in the case of this newest book, ALS. Every Note Played is a book full of emotion and hard truth. Not everyone that has a degenerative disease was a great person before their diagnosis, and I appreciate that Genova takes us through Richard's internal struggle of dealing with the past that now haunts him as his imminent death weighs on his mind. We see Richard from the beginning of his disease and watch it progress and get to be in his head to see how he is feeling about it all. Another aspect I really appreciated about this book was the focus on the primary care giver. It is never easy to be the care giver for someone so ill, so it was interesting to follow Karina's journey as well. Every Note Played is another great book from Lisa Genova. I hope that this one is given the Still Alice treatment and that we get to see it come alive on the big screen some day as well.

4.5 STARS - After hearing of Stephen Hawking's death yesterday, a brilliant man who lived with ALS for decades, I decided to post my review of Every Note Played, which focuses on talented pianist who suffers from ALS.

In Every Note Played, Lisa Genova once again explores the emotions and issues surrounding a neurological disorder. This time, she focuses Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and chronic neurodegenerative disease that gradually paralyzes a person, leaving them with mental acuity but trapped within their bodies until eventually they are unable to breathe.

Genova, a former neuroscientist, educates her readers on the disease and debunks some myths but readers won't feel overloaded with information. The facts are blended well within a story about a fractured family and readers will come away with a better understanding and sympathy for those who live with this disease and see the toll the disease has on the family as a whole.

Genova has lost friends to this disease and her connections to her characters and the issues are evident. This is an emotional read about family, loss, making amends and regret. Keep the Kleenex box handy for this read. I dare you not to tear up as you witness this once proud, professional pianist lose everything he 'thought' was important to him as he battles this currently incurable disease.

Currently there is no cure but to help create awareness and fund research for a much needed cure, Genova provides ways readers can help and get involved.

Disclaimer: This Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This was a wonderful book. The author’s descriptions and explanations of ALS left me inspired to learn more about this dreadful disease. Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me this ARC, and thank you to Lisa Genova for sharing her knowledge in such an inspirational way. So glad that I had the opportunity to read Every Note Played.

Shortly before writing this review I learned Stephen Hawking had died. That the famous scientist and 55 year ALS survivor died mere days before Every Note Played is published is a bittersweet irony that will likely increase interest in the book. Not that it's needed...even without Mr. Hawking's passing Every Note Played is destined to vault to the top of the best sellers list the day it hits bookstores. Like its "older sibling" Still Alice, Every Note Played pulls back the curtain on a devastating illness (here it is ALS, Still Alice followed a 50 year old professor diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's) and pulls no punches in describing the brutality it bestows on those afflicted with it. That author Lisa Genova has a PhD in neuroscience lends credibility and a "real life" tone to her novels without making them sound like a medical school textbook. Her masterful blending of medical terminology and raw emotion makes Every Note Played a joy to read despite the grim plot. The characters in Every Note Played earn our sympathy and scorn-years of secrets and resentments between world renowned pianist Richard and his long suffering (ex) wife Karina simmer even as Richard's body abandons him to the disease. When he is no longer able to care for himself, Karina moves Richard back into the home they shared before their divorce. But Karina is unprepared for the depth of care Richard needs, and she is buried under a mountain of guilt over a long held secret she kept from him. With Richard in denial of what his future holds, their lives become a "dance" of anger, regret, guilt and forgiveness that is exquisite in its clumsiness-how many ex's would wipe the ass of a man who had cheated on them repeatedly? Every Note Played is a beautiful tribute to every person suffering from this terrible disease. It is brilliant from beginning to end, even though we know the end is going to come much sooner for Richard than it did for Stephen Hawking. May he rest in peace.

Thanks to the publisher, Gallery/Scout Press, via NetGalley, for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've read nearly all of Lisa Genova's novels and she never ceases to amaze me. She has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and uses that knowledge to write wonderful books that entertain and educate us about neurological diseases and disorders. This novel tackles ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It's a devastating, debilitating disease that gradually takes away all muscle control in the body.

Ms. Genova is a talented fiction novelist and includes interesting characters and plots. Her characters are always well-developed, the pacing is perfect, and even though there is not a lot of action, the interest is always there as we learn about the disease. I knew next to nothing about ALS but now I understand just how ravaging this disease can be. It not only destroys the victims but affects all those who are near and dear to them because of the extensive care needed.

This novel is heart-wrenching and just plan sad but Ms. Genova's storytelling is very skillful and you find yourself wanting to find out more as the disease progresses. 5 tearful Stars.

I love love love Lisa Genova! This is the story of a very successful concert pianist that has been diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and his slow and painful deterioration.

This is a book that I was not able to put down. It is wonderfully written and painfully real. Have your tissues ready, because you are going to need them.

My thanks to netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for this advanced readers copy.

I've read every title Lisa Genova has ever written. Her work is rich and deep. It is always layered with relationship and complications, grief and hope. Every Note Played was no exception. Richard is a famed pianist who has cheated his family out of a husband and father, in order to chase his dreams. He has isolated himself from everyone that cares for him, when he is diagnosed with ALS. The story follows his relationship with his estranged ex-wife as she accidentally becomes his caregiver. The story is sad. But it is important. My favorite thing about Lisa Genova's work is that she puts a lens of humanity on disability and illness. This is so important because we don't often get to interact with someone with ALS. But her stories, they help facilitate understanding and compassion for those around us.

You know when you read one novel by an author and then don't read his or her new book because you know it can't live up to that first one you read? That's exactly what happened with Still Alice and Every Note Played. Once I read Still Alice, I knew I couldn't read any of Genova's other novels right away because I felt so deeply attached to that storyline and her characters. The opposite happened when I read Every Note Played. While I could argue that Genova has found her niche and her latest doesn't deter from that, I think that niche has done her a disservice. Where Still Alice was full of "heart", Every Note Played reads very clinically. While her books are never classically uplifting, there's still a sense of hope and an emotional connection to her characters. Sadly, I didn't feel attached to Richard, an all-star classical pianist who gets ALS, his ex-wife Karina who ends up being one of his caretakers, and their college-age daughter Grace. My advice? Wait for Genova's next one.

This book was basically Still Alice in reverse--a pianist losing control of his body instead of a professor losing control of her mind. I was intrigued to learn in the acknowledgments that one of the directors of Still Alice had ALS. The detailed, blunt picture of this disease was poignant and touching. The story of Richard and Karina's marriage could be frustrating at times--they both sucked at relationships a lot and couldn't just communicate simple things to each other. But I loved the progression they both had at the end and thought the book was beautiful overall.

So many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and Lisa Genova for another amazing book - my heart is still ravaged.

This is the story of Richard, a famous concert pianist, who develops ALS. For a man whose life is his fingers, the loss is unimaginable. His ex-wife, Karina, is an accomplished pianist in her own right. However, she blames Richard for the loss of their marriage, her career as a jazz pianist, and the fact that she is stuck. Grace is their daughter in college, whose relationship with Richard suffered because his first love was his piano.

You make think you know about ALS but when you read this book, you'll see how very little you know about the sad realities of this disease. Lisa Genova is a neuroscientist and this book is meticulously written and researched as all her books are. There is no sugar-coating of the toll this disease takes on everyone around.

However, the personal relationships between these characters makes this story shine. Just as Still Alice showed us the world of Alzheimer's, Every Note Played will make you feel differently about ALS.

Do not wait to read this book - preorder it now before it comes out next week.

Good portrayal of the suffering of ALS. I need to leave a 50 word review and don't like to write negative reviews. I'll simply say, it wasn't my favorite book.

Lisa Genova’s “Every Note Played” was a hard read for me. Having watched someone deteriorate from a disease as ugly as ALS brings back memories that are difficult . That said Lisa Genova has a fluidity in her writing that does make parts of the book quite enjoyable. When she describes Richards connection to classical piano you feel his connection to the music. Karinas connection to Jazz is similarly described. Both evoke a different response.on the surface but underneath there is a profound love of their respect choice in music. This is an unshared love.

This unshared love is but part of their problems. Richard puts his playing career ahead of everything else. Karina becomes the victim of the marriage. Always feeling that Richard has forced decisions upon her. This ultimately leads to their divorce.

With the sudden onset of ALS Richard lives in denial about how this will change his life.Richards. ALS brings out the further feelings of victimization as Karina sees only one option, taking care of Richard. Richards denial and rapid deterioration brings out Karinas anger and hatred towards him. The theme of Richards self absorbtion and Karinas victimization is played out qute well. Lisa Genovas description of this disease is pretty spot on.. The characters remain true to themselves throughout the book.

What I didn’t get was much development of the characters. There is no growth in empathy of Karina towards Richard. His reflections of the pain he has caused in their marriage is an internal process. He never develops this into an actual conversation. Everything is left unspoken.by both. Karinas anger and hatred just fuels more thoughts of being a victim of Richards.

I did enjoy “Every Note Played” but was left wanting more.