Customer Reviews

Devil's Dance

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4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(1)
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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.

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

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.