Customer Reviews

Mind Slash Matter

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This is a unique entry into the world of mystery thrillers. The hero is a 2-time Oscar-winning screenwriter (Rush Lightbody) who is now a shell of his former self due to Alzheimers. However, he is able to function due to a wonderful computer that he pre-programmed before the Alzheimers set in that interacts with him by way of speakers, microphones, videocameras and pagers. Thus, Rush Lightbody is able to convince the outside world that he is still okay by way of a series prompts and firm instructions that come from the computer.

At times, it is reminiscent of Peter Sellers' movie 'Being There' in that the people Lightbody interacts with over-interpret his incorrect responses as exceedingly wise responses. Often funny, often sad, this book causes the reader to enter the mind of an Alzheimers victim and get a taste of that alternate reality. It never degrades Alzheimers victims or goes for the cheap jokes.

The technology is a bit dated, due to the book having been written in 1995, the author was merely guessing as to the nature of computer technology in the future. Cell phones have basically replaced pagers and at one point Lightbody re-programs the computer in just a few minutes - an impossibilty, as is Artificial Intelligence thus far. However, suspend the techno-geek part of your personality and this is a wonderful book on tape experience.

Rene Auberjonois (From TV's 'Benson' and he played Odo on 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine') does an absolutely wonderful job of reading this novel. He does several characters perfectly, including an aging blonde-bombshell B-Movie actress - his characterization of her was so good that I had to pick up the box and see if there was an actress playing her part. Wonderful job! Seriously, one of the best jobs of reading a book on tape that I've heard (and if you are a frequent listener of books on tape, you know that there are some real bad ones out there!)

This is a typically beautiful, mesmerising read from one of the most gracious men ever to walk the planet.

The concept of this book is so original! Just when you thought that there could be no new heroes, along comes one with Alzheimer's! How the author manages to pull this off is amazingly clever. It's funny, sad, suspensful, and keeps you riveted to your cassette player. I find myself wanting to read more by this superb author!