On the contrary, they made me sit up and pay attention. hese works of literature didn't soothe or console or lull me with their beauty. More precisely, it's about various literature. During those years, literature was often my most faithful companion, so this is in part a book about literature. I wrote most of it between 20, years when I was living with George but in a zone of deepening silence. It's equally quixotic (though perfectly natural) to hope for a clear diagnoses or for a cure. Since all these diseases are at present incurable, a precise diagnosis finally doesn't matter very much.

When George's dementia was first diagnosed, we were told that it was unclear whether he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In early 2005, my husband, George Edwards, a composer and professor of music at Columbia University, was diagnosed with dementia. *Disclosure: I received this copy from the publisher in a giveaway. But, on the other hand, if given a chance it could also be a great comfort to others going through similar circumstances. The reflections really are very much literature/poetry based. While I greatly appreciated Rachel Hadas' memoir, I must point out that those who don't necessarily enjoy poetry might not be quite as enamored of it as I am. Rachel Hadas is one of gifted souls among us who stayed in touch with her feelings and managed to express them. I think many readers will note a poignant passage or gain new insight while reading, however, the really careful, poetic readers are those who can record how these new insights helped them live amid their stress, inner turmoil, and insidious silence. It is a book penned by a true writer - a true writer coping with a great loss. Rachel Hadas also clearly shows the therapeutic benefits of your own writing and self expression. This is the book you would write if you carefully recording unexpected insights and deeper meanings in what you were reading while experiencing a major life crisis. Strange Relation is a memoir for those of you who love literature and poetry and know it can sustain you through personal trials.

It is the deeply personal account of how one woman tried to keep herself on track and tried to tell the truth about what she was feeling and experiencing. This is not a book full of facts on how to handle your spouse's diagnoses with dementia. It is an honest, achingly personal account of how she turned to literature and poetry, her most faithful companions, to help her endure her husband's deteriorating condition and the deepening silence. Strange Relation by Rachel Hadas is a memoir in which Hadas shares how she managed to cope with the progression of her husband's dementia.