When I became aware of this book I really wanted to read it because it’s subject matter really hits home with me. My grandmother has dementia and as her caretaker, I’m researching everything I can when it comes to dementia and Alzheimer’s.

I really did enjoy this read but I must admit I was looking for more of a telling of her experiences with her mothers Alzheimer’s but this was more of a retelling of her growing up. I did enjoy this touching read but I was expecting more on her mother’s Alzheimer's journey but it was nevertheless a great read of her mother's life. There were some things I totally identified with when she did tell of how her mother is with Alzheimer’s, I definitely saw some of the same signs that my grandmother has. I felt that there was someone out there who knows what I’m going through. Some people can say oh I know its hard but let’s be honest they don’t know how it is unless you are going through it also, while the support is great in theory but no one knows the true day to day struggle and seeing someone you love slip away little by little every day. I try to be strong for her but it's great when I can find someone who truly knows how those emotions are and to be able to read someone else’s journey is comforting.

While this wasn’t completely the read I was expecting it is a rewarding novel to read. It’s a love letter to her to mother and while her mother might not remember her daughter will and to know that her life and her love will never be forgotten is the most wonderful thing anyone could do for a loved one.

This was definitely not what I was expecting as far as a memoir about Alzheimer's, but I really enjoyed it. Marcia Gay Harden's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2011, but the majority of the book is a beautifully written look back on her life with her mother and the impact that she has had on her life and career. She uses her mother's love of flowers and the Japanese flower arranging art of Ikebana to move the reader through the ups and downs of her life as a waitress, then actress, mother and ultimately caregiver.

I really appreciated the focus that is given on her mother as a person rather than on Alzheimer's as a disease. This is a great addition to the handful of books being written by family members on the topic and I'm happy to recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about how memory changes and what dementia looks like for families.

I had some issues while reading it, but nothing that was enough to totally take me out of the narrative.