Review of Unknowing

[ZCReviews]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Unknowing" by Alice Raynold.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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I’ve researched the symptoms of dozens of illnesses online, like I’m sure most people do, since there are many memes about how everyone uses sites like WebMD and ends up convinced they’re going to die. But honestly, I can’t remember any of the symptoms for the illnesses I’ve looked up. However, Unknowing by Alice Raynold impacted me in a way that simply reading lists of symptoms never did. The book is a compilation of journal entries from an elderly couple named George and Peg that shows the toll Lewy body dementia took on their 60-year marriage when one of them got the illness and how it caused distrust, tension, and frustration for both of them. Because of this story, I’m much more likely to remember the symptoms and recognize if someone has them.

Every story I’ve heard or read about dementia patients comes from caregivers or family members, not the person living with dementia. Since the journal entries are from both George and Peg, I got to see what dementia is like on both sides. I can see why people with dementia think others are keeping secrets from them, being unfair to them, or doing things behind their backs to hurt and embarrass them. I also understand why caregivers have it tough. They have to take on more responsibility in the home, look after their own needs, and still support someone living with dementia.

In the middle of 2016, George wrote in his journal about the way Peg had started acting whenever he drove. He noticed she always had some reason why he shouldn’t leave the house, and if she was in the car with him, she was on edge the entire time. She told him obvious things, like a car was coming or the traffic lights had changed. George didn’t understand her strange behavior and thought that she might have dementia. Something he absolutely dreaded. He also thought that maybe she was just going through a phase.

The way George explained the situation made Peg’s behavior seem dramatic, but what Peg wrote in her journal gave a completely different side of the story. Apparently, George seemed to be losing concentration when he was driving. Sometimes, he would miss their turn, or he would go in the wrong direction as if he forgot where they were headed. She said that he wandered into other lanes a few times and sometimes bumped into things when he was parking. She wondered if it could be because of his hand tremor and his poor eyesight. But she also thought that it was possible he was distracted because he had a lot on his mind. From what they wrote, anyone could tell they were both very worried about the way the other was acting.

George and Peg’s journal entries from 2016 and 2017 showed how easy it can be for people to overlook the early signs of Lewy body dementia. The symptoms seem so ordinary for older folks that it’s easy to dismiss them as nothing serious. For example, having a good memory but struggling with concentration would seem normal. An old person moving slowly or stiffly would just be seen as normal or get mistaken for Parkinson’s disease. Being restless while sleeping is also very common. It’s a little scary because I think if I saw those symptoms in someone else, I would ignore them or second-guess whether they’re worth fussing about. But as time passed for George and Peg, I saw how the dementia progressed from minor symptoms to ones that could no longer be ignored.

I thought the book would mostly stick to George and Peg’s marriage and day-to-day life, but it actually included quite a bit of information about Lewy body dementia. That was great to see since the story does a good job of showing how little most people, including medical professionals, know about it. It shows why misdiagnosis happens a lot and why it’s impossible to get good care for someone if no one realizes they are unwell or thinks they have some other illness. It was so sad and frustrating to see the damage that was done to George and Peg’s marriage and lives because people just didn’t know better. They both suffered in their own way.

All in all, I enjoyed the journal format with the different points of view, and the medical information didn’t slow the story down. The story is eye-opening, and it’s obvious that one of the author’s biggest reasons for sharing it was to raise awareness about Lewy body dementia. I noticed some grammatical errors, and though they weren’t serious enough to affect the rating, I recommend that the author edit the book again to fix them. Besides that, I can’t say there’s anything I didn’t like about the book. So, I give Unknowing a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars.

This would be a great book for people who have a loved one diagnosed with Lewy body dementia or for anyone, including medical professionals, worried about not recognizing the wide range of symptoms of dementia.

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Unknowing
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[Sanjay Vaishnav]

This review of "Unknowing" is both impactful and insightful, highlighting the toll Lewy body dementia takes on a couple’s 60-year marriage. Through the journal entries of George and Peg, the book shows how the illness created distrust, tension, and frustration for both of them. It effectively presents two different perspectives on dementia – from the person living with it and the caregiver – which provides a deeper understanding of the challenges on both sides.

The review emphasizes how the book sheds light on the subtle and often overlooked early signs of Lewy body dementia. It’s easy for symptoms to be dismissed as part of the aging process, but the progression of the disease, as shown through the journal entries, makes it clear how serious and destructive the illness can become. The book is not just a personal story, but also educates readers on the difficulties of diagnosing and treating Lewy body dementia, which is often misdiagnosed.

The journal format enhances the emotional depth of the story, and while there are a few grammatical errors, they don’t detract from the overall impact. The review praises the author’s ability to raise awareness about the illness, and the emotional journey presented is both eye-opening and relatable.

Overall, the book receives a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars, making it highly recommended for anyone with a loved one suffering from Lewy body dementia, as well as medical professionals or individuals who may struggle with recognizing the wide range of symptoms associated with dementia.

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

It seems like a heavy read, this one. Dementia is indeed an illness I am afraid of. Having gaps in your memories is not an easy thing, and I can think when you're an elderly like these two here. I will give this book a read and see how it goes. Thank you for writing this review for us.

[Benita Ogarekpe]

I don’t know if I’m ready to go on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey like this one, but I can’t lie, George and Peg’s story interests me greatly, especially with the way you’ve written it. I guess I’ll have to suck it up and get a read myself, instead of passing up on a good read because I’m scared for the characters.