THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE, SO FAR
My Mother, Alzheimer's, and Me: A Novel
M.A. Harper
$24.00NOW $12 hardcover
- 256 pages
- 1-892514-97-4
- Fiction
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A comic novel about Alzheimer`s from the author of For the Love of Robert E. Lee
“A deeply human, hysterically funny novel.”—B&N Discover Great New Writers
the book
In The Worst Day of My Life, So Far, acclaimed novelist M.A. Harper takes us into the complex mind of Jeanne Roth, a middle age woman confronting the challenges of taking care of her mother who suffers with Alzheimers. As the woman she always considered her heroine becomes helpless, Jeanne is forced to turn to a new person for inspiration, herself.
In always seeking to emulate her mother, Velma, Jeanne`s intelligence and wisecrack humor have gone unnoticed, resting in the shadow of her mother`s undeniable Southern charm and beauty. Witnessing her mother`s deterioration first-hand, Jeanne realizes that heroes aren`t born; they are made. Always an expert at analyzing others while neglecting herself, a series of traumas including her failed marriage and almost getting raped force her to reflect on her motives and goals in life; learning to stop pointing the finger at others, to free herself from worry, and to give herself more credit.
The Worst Day of My Life, So Far is in one sense a timeless story of a woman`s journey toward self-discovery and confidence. At the same time, through the eyes of the tragedy of Alzheimer`s, it is a timely legend, one that shows us that there are no dead ends in life, only long roads, often without the end in sight. Fairy tale is shattered and reality becomes an often overdue slap in the face. Through Jeanne, Harper helps us come to terms with thoughts and worries we may have, but are too proud to admit. We`re reminded that although we`re conscious of our daily routine, we may be out of touch with reality, causing us to question the truth, if there is one at all.
the author
M.A. Harper lives in New Orleans and is the author of For the Love of Robert E. Lee. She is currently working on a Southern ghost story, to be published by Hill Street Press on Halloween, 2003.
the praise
"A deeply human, hysterically funny novel. . . . Harper's story of how one woman comes to terms with her mother's impending death makes for an extraordinarily engrossing and moving read."—B&N Discover Great New Writers
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