SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW BY WENDY MITCHELL — BOOK REVIEW PUBLISHED BY BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING ON 7th MARCH 2019
A Richard & Judy Book Club Pick 2019
A MEMOIR LIKE NO OTHER!
How do you build a life when all that you know is changing?
How do you conceive of love when you can no longer recognise those who mean the most to you?
A phenomenal memoir — the first of its kind — Somebody I Used to Know is both a heart-rending tribute to the woman Wendy Mitchell once was and a brave affirmation of the woman dementia has seen her become.
Wendy Mitchell spent twenty years as a non-clinical team leader in the NHS before being diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia in July 2014 at the age of fifty-eight. Shocked by the lack of awareness about the disease, both in the community and in hospitals, she vowed to spend her time raising awareness about dementia and encouraging others to see there is life after a diagnosis. She is now an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society. She has two daughters and lives in Yorkshire.
WHAT DID I THINK?
This was one of the best books I have ever read and if you know anyone with this soul-destroying illness I would suggest that you read this book. Not only is it informative, with so many ideas to help the person or indeed the carer but this was written with so much emotion. Wendy Mitchell is an extremely brave lady who you cannot help but admire. I knew nothing about dementia before reading this so some things shock you but it also gives you hope and with a bit of determination you can carry on, particularly the early stages. It took me two days to read this as it draws you in so much, moving house I found her to be so brave to even take on that change. So many good ideas to make life that little bit easier, with some being so simple.
Dementia is so scary but this would give you a little bit of hope and to make the most of the time you still have all your brain. I love the way her writing is the last to go as I am sure many writers would indeed hope for that. I cannot imagine not being able to write as that occupies so much of my day and as for travelling in London sometimes that is not easy for anyone. When you read a book like this it opens you up to things you know nothing about so you are a little bit prepared if it enters your world. I would recommend this book to everyone as a little knowledge goes a long way.
Wendy also writes a blog about her life and how it changed plus the things that occur in her day to day life. It is very good, you can follow it on WordPress the link is below.
AUTHOR LINKS: BLOG/WEBSITE ALZHEIMERS
Originally published at https://karensworld-writer.co.uk on July26, 2020.
