When people think of dementia, they think about people in their 80s & 90s who have lived full lives with many happy memories.
This is not true. This story is the real truth. It’s eye opening, & every so often you need to remind yourself that this is someone’s life.

This was a difficult book for me to read, so I review it with mixed emotions. It shares the effects of young-onset dementia and how it affects not only the person but all surrounding people. I think we all have a fear of getting dementia and that's why my emotions are mixed because it is hard to read about something you fear yourself. Having said that, if you want a true account of what it is really like to have and live with someone or care for someone with dementia, then this is the book for you.

This is an important, heartbreakingly sad and difficult book to read. Not to mention terrifying. For those who, like me, have dementia running in the family, perhaps even more so. The thought that you're losing cognitive skills with nothing to be done is, well, what can I say. With such difficult subject matter, the couple still manage to do a good job telling their story and in a way, giving advice to those in a similar situation.

Four Umbrellas is the story of a couple as they watch helplessly as the husband declines due to early onset Alzheimer's disease. In addition to the heartbreaking pain, they deal with the search for a true diagnosis, and preparing for the wife to be caregiver and caretaker of the couple's household. This made me think of another book I received from NetGalley. In Case You Get Hit By A Bus, to help families get affairs in order before it is needed.

Thank you to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

With dementia being one of my ultimate fears, this book was a blend of emotions for me. As I started reading, I was afraid of the effects Tony’s story would have on me, and yet I ended the book feeling an overall sense of empathy and hope. This book is an honest and open account of the effects of young-onset dementia on not only the individual diagnosed, but also the friends, family and caregivers surrounding that individual. The significant barriers that Wanless and Hutton faced in their efforts to secure a diagnosis and support (medical and financial) were daunting and humbling. As a mental health nurse, I take away many nuggets of wisdom that will influence my practice going forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 60%, therefore not rating it on Goodreads (I'll leave an empty rating, although I must rate here)

How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley

Been trying to read this for more than a couple months now, but I just can't keep going. I picked it back up again yesterday and realized I'm just putting myself through sheer dread. The book is good, but if you have a fear of having dementia in old age (which I have, as it turns out...), maybe don't pick this up. It very realistically and truthfully describes the experiences of both the caregiver and the person with the problems, so it's just chilling to the bone, really. It's well written, but... It may trigger some people. And that's the reason I'm not finishing it - yesterday I realized that that's nearly another half of the book that I'd have to read in constant dread. I would honestly rather not, although I feel bad abandoning it.

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

Four Umbrellas is a beautifully written and important book. It is good for people who know or have lost someone to Alzheimer's and those who don't. We learn, along with the main characters that Alzheimer's isn't something that only affects old people. We follow them on their journey, from the first signs, getting a diagnosis to balancing being a carer.

This was an interesting, thought-provoking, and educating premise. The execution was a little rough, which I would've probably put off to an inexperienced writer, had it not been for the fact that she had written other books, so I wonder if the personal nature of the content made the writing much more difficult than having some distance. She's correct that I can't imagine going through it with a spouse, though I watched my Grandmother deal with it (and I was not her caretaker, nor did I have expectations of her as a partner) and it definitely got me thinking a lot about when Alzheimer's begins - I know we saw that with my Grandma, there were a few years where we sort of felt unease at things that she was doing and saying, but she could still pass the tests or carry on conversations with visitors that you didn't know contained false truth without knowing much about what was actually going on in her life. She wasn't diagnosed yet when she couldn't learn my newborn daughter's name. Or when she started thinking people had been in and done things in her apartment. I think this sort of story is important to share so that people are aware of symptoms and the time it takes before someone is changed far enough to get a diagnosis - she mentions how her previously sharp, clever husband tested "average" and so was considered "fine" when average was a decline for him.

I won't be finishing this book. It wasn't bad, but it was very slow and dry and not what I was expecting. My best to the authors.

This is a heartbreaking story to tell. June and Tony have a good life. They are both writers and Tony writes for a financial paper. He is adept in a few languages, has an engineering background and is brilliant in math. When he starts losing items and finds them in odd spots, experiences a loss of interest June attributes it to a mini stroke and they spend years trying to get a diagnosis.

The story is not written in a chronological order and June's recall at times doesn't seem reliable as to when events occurred. It is written from her perspective with emails from Tony interspersed giving his side of the story. Overall, I didn't feel emotion as I was reading. Having dealt with dementia when I took care of my dad in my home I am aware of the level of fear, frustration and exhaustion it takes and I never got that impression. It all seemed very dry and matter of fact. At times I felt like I was reading the notes made in preparation for writing the book and not the book itself.

Overall it was an important story to tell. I think it will be helpful to anyone who is facing the task of being a caregiver.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dundurn Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to the author, Dundurn Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heartbreaking account of the slow loss of a loved one to Alzheimer's Disease. Having had some exposure to the topic, I was eager to read this book written by a wife and husband together. Jane has her own background of family disposition toward dementia and becomes her husband's caregiver, as Tony, an articulate, intelligent and experienced journalist becomes confused, forgetful and at times very angry. Thank you to both for their honesty and openness, giving us a true and unflinching look at what this process is like from both sides. Jane gives some excellent advice to those in her situation, and Tony helps us to better understand how difficult it is to cope with the loss of oneself..

Honestly, this is my nightmare and there's no way to prevent it. My fear has always been either taking care of (that sounds awful) someone or developing a cognitive disorder. This book was heartbreaking and June is my hero. This book has details you just wouldn't think about until you are going through this. I have already recommended this book to several people.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher for the opportunity read and review this book.

"Four Umbrellas" gives an incredibly honest and heartbreaking look at the impact of Alzheimer's Disease on a patient: a patient's spouse; their marriage; and their community.

I applaud both of the authors for being so vulnerable in this book. Jane - for being so open about her journey; and for revealing all the administrative work behind her husband's diagnosis that people never even think about. And Tony - for allowing his story to be told; and for letting himself to be shown through different perspectives.

While this is certainly not a happy fairy tale, I believe this is still very much worth a read. The sad truth is that many of us will have to deal with Alzheimer's Disease - and "Four Umbrellas" lays out exactly what this looks like.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for giving me the chance to learn from this book.