Customer Reviews

Shades of Grace

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

To many people, the thought of losing control is terrifying. It is the basis of many phobias, from fear of flying to claustrophia. So imagine how it must feel for a strong, vibrant, very controlling professional woman--a successful columnist, renowned speaker, revered mother, grandmother, and friend--to know that she is inexorably succumbing to a disease that will leave her completely helpless.

That terror, faced by a woman in her prime who slowly suspects that she is suffering from Alzheimers Disease, is what is so finely captured in this book. The early symptoms, resultant anger and denial, fearful acceptance, and slow decline of Grace Dorian, a nationally famous advice columnist, is described in heartbreaking detail, first from her point of view, and then from the points of view of each of her subsequent caretakers, from her daughter Francine, who has always been eclipsed by her powerful mother's shadow, to Francine's daughter Sophia, a troubled young woman with problems of her own, to Father Jim, a priest and childhood friend who is Grace's closest friend and confidante.

There are many subplots as well, of course, and they could be considered the usual standard romance-novel fare except that the over-riding reality of Grace's illness and her family's response to it rings so true that it makes everything else in the novel interesting and believable.

Therefore, timid Francine, forced to ghostwrite her mother's syndicated columns, gains strength and insight. Handsome young doctor Davis Marcoux, who is compassion itself when it comes to treating Grace, provides a love interest for one of the main characters. Troubled Sophie, who idolizes her grandmother, is forced to grow up overnight. Father Jim, devastated by his close friend's interest, must finally reveal a terrible secret.

It sounds trite and contrived, but "Shades of Grace" is written with such compassion and humanity, such earnest honesty, that it is impossible to put down until the last heart-wrenching page. It is easy to identify with the characters, particularly Grace in the early stages of the disease, as she jeopardizes her life in her absolute need for denial. And for Francine, who must switch roles with her formerly domineering mother. And for Sophia, who must overcome her inner horror at her mother's and grandmother's role reversals.

I am not going to tell you that this is a fun, day-at-the-beach read. But it is well worth picking up, and in my opinion, remains in the top 5 of Delinsky's ouvre. Her later novels may be more sophisticated, but none equals the sheer heart of "Shades of Grace."

SHADES OF GRACE is the most powerful, engrossing, and cathartic of the 25 novels I've read in Delinsky's collection.

What a courageous way for an author to begin this story, from the viewpoint of a mind in early stages of Alzheimer's. With courage to carry a torch into the darkest corners of trauma, Delinsky treats soulful issues with such grace and compassion that the reader is entertained simultaneous to receiving a handbook for survival through catastrophe. Her logo should be a cornucopia spilling from a sunrise.

Holding wounding memories of loved ones who suffered from Alzheimer's, I was hesitant to pick up this book. But, knowing that this author treats gut wrenching issues with gentle grace, yet without the slightest denial of the rigors of reality, I decided to take a dive.

While I admired the technique of opening the story from the mental processes of Grace in her early struggles with Alzheimer's, as I began reading, I wondered if it might be ineffectively arrogant for an author to attempt to describe, from the deteriorating character's thoughts, a mental process of such complex nuance, which the author hadn't directly experienced herself. I was concerned that something so raw as a mind losing itself in a particular pattern would come across as a poor "best guess" riddled with wrong assumptions of cause and effect.

I was not disappointed in any way in this real and poignant, special work of fiction. It was an emotionally satisfying, enlightening journey. The irony of Grace being an "Ann Landers" type of syndicated columnist was dealt with flawlessly, exposing elegantly how knowledge and practice of a precisely prescribed book of "Manners" can become a wasteland of emptiness when one is forcibly exposed to a more raw and honest guide to genuine courtesy and compassion.

Who cares which fork is appropriate when the hand has forgotten where the mouth is. As SHADES OF GRACE evolves, a gentle blossoming occurs in a true family's caring about that vulnerable hand.

Shades of Grace tells the story of a woman battling with Alzheimer's disease. It shows a lot of her point of view, the first times that she notices something is wrong, the panic in not remembering where are you or what you are doing. It also shows how her family is affected.

Overall it is very good. The facts and feelings about the disease seem to be very accurate. Recommended!

Grace is 61 years old and at the onset of Alzheimer's. She is an advice columnist (like Dear Abby) with a strong following and a succesful career. Her daughter and grand-daughter live with her in a big house and start noticing a change in her which they find hard to accept.

The novel takes us through what each family member goes through, in dealing with this illness. Grace, writing things down so she doesn't forget, and trying to keep others from noticing her diminishing capacity. The same for her daughter, who has to start writing the column for her and keeping her Mom from making public appearances so that she doesn't embarrass herself, and so that the media and her audience won't have to know what is happening to her. It was a very moving part of the book when she does make one public appearance and forgets words which make it noticeable to all that something is going on.

The entire novel engages the reader emotionally, and gives us a personal insight into dealing with this problem. In true Delinsky fashion, you feel a connection with the characters in her story that you don't forget long after you finish the book. I bought copies for 2 loved ones that are in similar situations, and one for myself, to remind me of how the affected person is feeling, so I will know how to deal with it if I ever have to go through it. It is not a reference book, but there's plenty to learn here just the same. It is a wonderful story of family love, unity, support and strength, and for romance readers, there is some of that too.

Barbara Delinsky knows how to tie it all together to make reading a wonderful experience. She is one of my favorite authors. I look forward to each of her books.

This is my second book by this author and I can't wait to read more. I couldn't put it down. I connected with all the characters and really cared about them. I didn't want the story to end.

There are some detailed reviews of this book, so I will be brief. This is only the 2nd Delinsky book I have read and I have become a fan of her intelligent portrayals of some very controversial subjects. This book is written primarily from Francine's perspective and follows her journey from the meek assistant in the shadow of her famous mother to becoming the strength of the family. She struggles to accept her mother's deteriorating health and desperately wants to find out the secrets of Grace's early years.

I am not certain if the description and details of Alzheimer's disease are accurate, but they are emotionally touching and surely seemed realistic! This story is not totally about Grace's failing mind. The issues brought to light in this book establish a great sense of love and strong family unity. There is a wonderful and sizzling romantic interest for Francine. I would not hesitate to recommend this novel to others or to read it again.

Shades of Grace deals with the heartbreaking issue of a parent who developes Alzheimer's Disease. Despite how depressing that sounds, this is a sensitive and inspiring story of the lives that are changed by this tragic disease and how love and strength is gained from their struggle. You will cheer for them

Who would have thought a story about someone diagnosised with dementia would be this good. Definately worth reading. Have the tissues close. It is a bit sad!

A very popular, famous columnist, who is followed everyday by millions of readers, sees herself being the centre of a terrible problem: she suffers of Alzheimer disease.

That's how this loving book by Barbara Delinsky begins. I like Delinsky's books because they always take me to a world that is not less real as our own, but that are at least less problematic. It's the kind of book where you see yourself bein portraited to a place where love, compassion and true feelings really happen.

Of course, this woman, as well as her family, suffers a lot. But as it's the kind of book where you suffer, suffer, suffer and suffer but everything gets okay at the end, don't worry! After the fire, comes the rain. So, SHADOWS OF GRACE it's a good entertainment for the ones who like the genre. It's a soft, loving and adorable piece. Tea?

Marco Aurelio.

I read this book about a year ago. It was one of the first ones that I read from this author. I laughed and I cried. How this book made me cry. It is a very touching close to home book. After reading Shades of Grace, I have continued to read books by this author. Shades of Grace continues to be one of my favorite all around books.