What if the dreaded world of Alzheimer's was also a world of emotional discovery? Eugenia Zukerman's poetry and simple prose, both heartbreaking and ultimately inspirational, ushers the reader into her world as she unflinchingly examines familial loyalties, moments from her past and present, and the need to face an uncertain future due to the diagnosis of a condition that she truly hopes "will remain unnamed." Flutist, writer, artistic director of major music series, television journalist, educator and internet entrepreneur, Zukerman addresses her "lapses and losses" as she confronts and deals with a future under the shadow of her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Touching, honest, and fearlessly heartfelt, Like Falling Through a Cloud recounts Zukerman's discovery, consultations, and diagnosis, all while navigating the death of her 103-year-old mother, a performance at the Kennedy Center, and the consolidation of her life via a full-time move to upstate New York. As she finds strength in family love, self-examination, and the enduring power of creating music, Zukerman teaches us the importance of living in the now, while accepting that what comes next may remain a mystery.
Like Falling Through a Cloud
A Lyrical Memoir of Coping with Forgetfulness, Confusion, and a Dreaded Diagnosis
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
November 6, 2019 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781732491267
- File size: 71417 KB
- Duration: 02:28:47
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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September 30, 2019
In her moving debut memoir, Zukerman, a flutist and former arts correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning, tells of her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Writing in a mix of verse and prose, she begins with a poem as she realizes her memory is becoming increasing faulty (“Sometimes/when I wake up/it’s dark/where am I?”), then tells of meeting with her neurologist, who also diagnoses her with anxiety. Subsequent chapters examine therapist visits, ruminations about drug and clinical trials, and her mother’s death at 103. Zukerman, now in her 70s, writes of how her memory loss has affected her life with her husband, and their eventual move to upstate New York, where the disease progresses (“So this is how it begins/ The caretaking,/ the endless helping my once independent wife,” she believes her husband must be thinking). “I’ve got a shiner where my brain used to be—it’s become more and more troubling to me,” she says plaintively, easily eliciting empathy from readers. While the unorthodox narrative structure can distract at times, it doesn’t detract from the work’s power. Zukerman’s unflinching memoir in verse will most appeal to those dealing with this common yet complex illness.
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