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There are currently 17 member reviews
for The Things We Keep
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Cheryl S. (Brockport, NY)
So young
What a good read...My mother was diagnosed with dementia, but she was in her 70's, so I can just imagine the devastation of being diagnosed at such a young age. It also had to be hard being placed in a facility with much older clientele. I often think as I get closer to my mother's age whether or not it will happen to me. I also feel that this book will be a good discussion for book clubs.
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Beth P. (Rensselaer, NY)
Heartfelt book on a heart rendering subject --The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
It's so difficult to talk about Alzheimer's Disease, especially early onset Alzheimer's. But Sally Hepworth has written a beautiful account of two young people with the disease and the things that they want to hold on to the most. Another character enters their lives and makes a huge impact on them as well as untangling the feelings that she holds most dear. For anyone who has been touched by this cruel disease, this book is a gift. I have read many books lately that have so many characters that I have to keep a written list! Thank you Sally Hepworth for keeping it simple. Just a few unforgettable people that will touch your heart. I have read her first book, The Secrets of Midwives, and also recommend it. I will eagerly await her next book!
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Kathryn K. (Oceanside, CA)
Great Book Cub Selection
the things we keep, by Sally Hepworth is such good book! The story is about two women who find their lives dramatically changed by events way beyond their control. The reader finds them both in the same setting, with neither of them happy. With wisdom, candor and humor Hepworth spins what could be a tough read, into one that is wonderful! The tome she crafts catches the reader's heart.
Hepworth develops characters (one of which is the setting) that I couldn't resist caring about. And a few I found to be ignorant and very nasty! In telling the story, the author handles the tough issues with care. And shows a better side to the traumas she deals with. It will be a great book club choice, with lots to talk about. This book will wind up in the " favorites" section in my library. Thanks Sally Hepworth, I love your new book!
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Cam G. (Murrells Inlet, SC)
Bittersweet novel
When I was 38 I worried about a lot of things, but never did I ever think of getting "younger" onset Alzheimer's Disease at that time. Today, I am 30 years older, and every time I forget a word or misplace something, it is on my mind...am I getting "it"? But to read about Anna and Luke who were in the prime of their lives is just sad and terrifying. While The Things We Keep is certainly bittersweet, it was written with much compassion and love. This is a great book!
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Cindy J. (Hastings, NY)
the things we keep
I really enjoyed this book and think it would make a great selection for a book group. This book has a lot of topics to discuss including love, family, rights, etc. I also think people that liked the author's other book The Secrets of Midwives will enjoy this book.
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Helen S. (Sun City, AZ)
Love and Memories
Sally Hepworth's new novel The Things We Keep tells the story of the heart-breaking illness of Alzheimer's and dementia which has afflicted a young woman and a young man. The author poignantly describes how the patients' families and friends suffer as they witness the mental deterioration of their loved ones as the disease progresses. Hepworth writes with compassion and understanding of the impact of this cruel disease on all who know and love the patients.
Hepworth ambitiously weaves together the heart-wrenching stories of her characters who by chance or choice live or work at Rosalind House, a small residential assisted living facility. At times, I thought that the plot seemed too complicated with the story of the cook and her young daughter vying for my attention and detracting me from the plight of the Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Nevertheless, the power of love in saving memories pulsed throughout the novel, gripping my attention to the very end.
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Sheila B. (Danvers, MA)
A Thoughtful Life
I've always believed that we go through certain life experiences to prepare us for something that is coming down the road...whether to help ourselves or another person. In The Things We Keep, which is told from multi character perspectives, Eve's life experience brings her to work at an assisted living facility so she can advocate for a woman (Anna) with early onset Alzheimer's Disease who is only in her late 30's. The different voices, and the reality of Anna's decline, is very realistic. And yet the story is not depressing or frightening. Life happens in countless different experiences, one experience preparing us for the next.
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