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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'A novel of love undaunted by obstacles, from the bestselling author of The Secrets of Midwives.
'Rosalind House might not be the first place you'd expect to find new love and renewal, but within the walls of this assisted living facility two women have their lives changed forever.
'Anna Forster, in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease at only thirty-eight years of age, knows that her twin, Jack, has chosen Rosalind House because another young resident, Luke, lives there. As if, Anna muses, a little companionship will soften the unfairness of her fate.
'Eve Bennett also comes to Rosalind house reluctantly. Once a pampered, wealthy wife, she is now cooking and cleaning to make ends meet.
'Both women are facing futures they didn't expect. With only unreliable memories to guide them, they have no choice but to lean on and trust something more powerful. Something closer to the heart.' (Publication summary)
Notes
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Dedication:
For everyone touched by dementia,
especially for Pat Hanrahan
who will never be forgotten.
Affiliation Notes
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Writing Disability in Australia
Type of disability Early onset Alzheimer's disease. Type of character Primary Point of view First person.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Large print.
- Sound recording.
Works about this Work
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“Sometimers, Alzheimer’s? I Love That! That’s Definitely Me” : Readers’ Responses to Fictional Dementia Narratives
2023
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Gerontologist , 10 vol. 63 no. 2023; (p. 1610–1618)'This article presents findings from an interdisciplinary project which invited readers to experience the impact of dementia via fictional characters’ narratives. Combining methods from critical gerontology and literary linguistics—a field that examines the language of literature—we undertook an empirical reader response study of dementia fiction. We constructed a large corpus of dementia fiction; selecting 12 extracts, each containing first-hand, focalized accounts of fictional characters’ experiences of living with dementia. Readers (31) were purposively sampled for 4 separate reading groups—student social workers (9); general public (9); family carers (6); and people with dementia (7). Over 6 weeks they engaged in separate, facilitated, on-line group discussions of extracts. Discussions were independently coded using ATLAS.ti.
'Although readers from all 4 groups reported that fictional characters drew them into the internal life of someone with dementia, some carers questioned whether fictional characters’ experiences were plausible. Readers with dementia recognized themselves in the extracts; viewing fictional characters as eloquent envoys of their lived experiences of diagnosis, social isolation, loss of language, and use of humor.
'Fictional characters offer an entry point for understanding contrasts in caregiver and care-receiver experiences of dementia. Fictional characters are potentially useful for moving dementia narratives beyond monstrous cultural metaphors and onto a disability-based rights agenda.' (Publication abstract)
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Review : The Things We Keep
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Good Reading , March 2016;
— Review of The Things We Keep 2015 single work novel -
Big Issues in Aussie Batch
2016
single work
column
— Appears in: The West Australian , 23 February 2016; (p. 7) 'Chic-lit authors range from health battles to the environment, writes Stephanie Pegler.' -
The Things We Keep
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Brisbane News , 27 January - 2 February 2016; (p. 25)
— Review of The Things We Keep 2015 single work novel -
Non-Fiction
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 13 February 2016; (p. 19)
— Review of The Things We Keep 2015 single work novel
-
Love in the Face of Loss Novel Approach
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The West Australian , 29 December 2015; (p. 6)
— Review of The Things We Keep 2015 single work novel -
Non-Fiction
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 13 February 2016; (p. 19)
— Review of The Things We Keep 2015 single work novel -
The Things We Keep
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Brisbane News , 27 January - 2 February 2016; (p. 25)
— Review of The Things We Keep 2015 single work novel -
Review : The Things We Keep
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Good Reading , March 2016;
— Review of The Things We Keep 2015 single work novel -
Big Issues in Aussie Batch
2016
single work
column
— Appears in: The West Australian , 23 February 2016; (p. 7) 'Chic-lit authors range from health battles to the environment, writes Stephanie Pegler.' -
“Sometimers, Alzheimer’s? I Love That! That’s Definitely Me” : Readers’ Responses to Fictional Dementia Narratives
2023
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Gerontologist , 10 vol. 63 no. 2023; (p. 1610–1618)'This article presents findings from an interdisciplinary project which invited readers to experience the impact of dementia via fictional characters’ narratives. Combining methods from critical gerontology and literary linguistics—a field that examines the language of literature—we undertook an empirical reader response study of dementia fiction. We constructed a large corpus of dementia fiction; selecting 12 extracts, each containing first-hand, focalized accounts of fictional characters’ experiences of living with dementia. Readers (31) were purposively sampled for 4 separate reading groups—student social workers (9); general public (9); family carers (6); and people with dementia (7). Over 6 weeks they engaged in separate, facilitated, on-line group discussions of extracts. Discussions were independently coded using ATLAS.ti.
'Although readers from all 4 groups reported that fictional characters drew them into the internal life of someone with dementia, some carers questioned whether fictional characters’ experiences were plausible. Readers with dementia recognized themselves in the extracts; viewing fictional characters as eloquent envoys of their lived experiences of diagnosis, social isolation, loss of language, and use of humor.
'Fictional characters offer an entry point for understanding contrasts in caregiver and care-receiver experiences of dementia. Fictional characters are potentially useful for moving dementia narratives beyond monstrous cultural metaphors and onto a disability-based rights agenda.' (Publication abstract)