Devil's Dance [Paperback]

Richard R. Karlen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

"If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me:/I had it from my father."
William Shakespeare, "Henry VIII"

Harry Stone's life is falling apart. At age forty-four, an English professor, he begins to dress in black and white and ride motorcycles in the night. After getting one of his students pregnant, he is forced to resign from the University. Unable to tolerate his strange, sometimes cruel behavior, his wife, Sandy, throws him out of the house. His younger brother Roger, an internist, is puzzled by his actions until he discovers that Harry is suffering from HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE, a rare genetic condition which he, himself is at risk to develop. Narrated by Roger, Devil's Dance is ultimately the story of brothers locked in a love-hate relationship under the shadow of this deadly illness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Although the characters in DEVIL'S DANCE are fictitious, the devastating effects HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE has on its victims and their families are not. The Huntington's Disease Society of America thanks Dr. Karlen for supporting us in our mission to h families through education and research." -- Karen Johnson, President, Huntington's Disease Society of America/NJ Chapter

"DEVIL'S DANCE hits home for anyone connected with Huntington's Disease. It also serves as an accurate account for the uninitiated of the havoc the illness wreaks. Finally, DEVIL'S DANCE functions as an exciting, intriguing, suspense-crime novel, a real page-turner." -- Hugh Sherry, Huntington's caregiver and parent of two at risk children

"In DEVIL'S DANCE, Richard Karlen offers a vivid and compelling window in the experience of Hungtington's Disease, and the tragic impact such an illness can have on a family." -- Musa Mayer, author of ADVANCED BREAST CANCER: A Guide to living with Metastatic Disease

From the Author

I first became aware of HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE (HD) in the mid 1980's, when a close friend, who was at risk for HD, began to behave uncharacteristically. He was alternately seen as being "stressed out, "depressed", "phobic." I witnessed over the course of several years the unhappy effects that his bizarre behavior had upon his family, until a definite diagnosis was finally confirmed. While it was this experience that led me to write DEVIL'S DANCE, it should be noted that DEVIL'S DANCE is not biographical, and that the story and characters in this book are fictitious and should not be considered representative of HD victims and their families.

The action of DEVIL'S DANCE takes place in the early 1980's. Since it wasn't until 1983 when there was an initial genetic breakthrough in the discovery of a DNA marker near the Huntington gene, and in 1993 when the gene, itself, was discovered, it is not unfair to state that DEVIL'S DANCE is in a very real sense an historical novel. Today, not only can a diagnosis be made with HD quickly, and with little margin of error, but with the advent of new drugs and a better understanding of the disease, there has been considerable progress in treatment. We see HD patients living longer and with an improved quality of life than existed previously, and it is not unreasonable to believe that one day a cure will be found for this terrible illness. Hopefully, DEVIL'S DANCE will bring to the public a greater awareness of HD, and thus be of some assistance in hastening that day.

Product Details

• Paperback: 281 pages
• Publisher: Ironbound Pr (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966083105
• ISBN-13: 978-0966083101
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,701,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fictional look at a complex disease, August 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Devil's Dance (Paperback)

Devil's Dance is a well written book with an interestingplot. For those who know HD, it is a hard book to read in manyways. For those who have never heard about this disease, I hope Karlen's portrayal brings you to a point of compassion for those who daily struggle with it.

Readers of Devil's Dance quickly learn that the disease affects everyone in the family, even those who do not have the gene.

As a member of a Huntington's family, I must caution readers that the time frame of Karlen's book is when there was no gene test readily available. There have been significant advances such as the discovery of the gene, effective counseling, and new medications to help with the symptoms.

The other word of caution is this. In the book, Harry Stone displays certain symptoms that are not seen in every Huntington's sufferer. It is important to understand that while there are general symptoms that can happen during the course of the disease, not every symptom is suffered by every person. While there is still no cure, many people today are able to live long, fulfilling lives even after they become symptomatic.

My thanks go out to Dr. Karlen for creating an awareness of Huntington's Disease to the general public.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching... wonderfully written...extreme gentleness, February 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Devil's Dance (Paperback)

After reading Devils dance, I now have a broader sense of the many lives this devastating sickness effects, not only the victim but those who love and know them... Thank you RRK

2.0 out of 5 stars Lacking, November 1, 2007

By 

JOAN M KIND (Thornton, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Devil's Dance (Paperback)

The book gives a generally correct picture of Huntington's disease and how it affects all members of a family. However, as another reviewer has pointed out, some of the information is dated. It also covers the secrecy that many families practice, which may partially explain why some people say they had no idea the disease was in their family. Otherwise, the book doesn't have much to offer. The writing is stilted and definitely needs an editor. The story line is trite and at times unbelievable. The protagonist is a whiner who does not generate much sympathy. He seems to be caught in adolescence, still trying to find his identity. Works of fiction with a particular disease as the focal point must be very hard to write. Perhaps writers should stop trying.