Book and movie of the month
Exploring caring relationships in literature
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry , by Rachel Joyce
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a heart-warming and moving novel that explores love , loss and redemption with sensitivity and compassion .
The story follows the journey of Harold Fry , a retiree who decides to walk across England to visit his friend , Queenie , who is dying of cancer . Along the way he reflects on his life and the mistakes he has made , while also dealing with the challenges of being a caregiver for his wife , Maureen , who is struggling with depression .
The novel is beautifully written and expertly weaves together the different plot threads , creating a rich narrative that is both engaging and emotional . The character of Harold is particularly compelling as he confronts his past and comes to terms with his present .
The carer element of the novel is also expertly handled , with the struggles and rewards of being a caregiver are portrayed in a realistic and compassionate way . The character of Maureen is particularly authentic , and her struggles with depression and the impact it has on her relationship with Harold are portrayed with sensitivity and insight .
The novel also explores the broader aspect of being a carer and the challenges people caring for a loved one face on a daily basis .
Exploring caring relationships in film
Still Alice , written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland
Still Alice is a 2014 American drama film based on the 2007 novel by Lisa Genova . A moving and thought-provoking film , Still Alice explores the challenges of caring for a family member with Alzheimer ’ s . It stars Julianne Moore as Alice Howland , a renowned linguistics professor at Columbia University who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer ’ s disease .
The movie portrays Alice ’ s struggle with the disease and her family ’ s reaction to her condition in a very realistic way . Alice ’ s husband , John Howland ( played by Alec Baldwin ), is initially in denial about Alice ’ s diagnosis , while her three grown children , Anna ( Kate Bosworth ), Tom ( Hunter Parrish ) and Lydia ( Kristen Stewart ) each react in their own unique way .
The movie shows how the disease impacts Alice ’ s life and how it affects her family members as well . Alice ’ s once brilliant mind begins to deteriorate and she struggles to remember even the most basic things , such as where she put her phone or how to get home . She becomes increasingly isolated from her family and friends , and eventually must give up her job at Columbia .
Throughout the movie , we see the toll that caring for Alice takes on her family members . John struggles to balance his career with caring for Alice , while Anna and Tom are forced to confront their own fears about the disease . Lydia , who has always felt like the black sheep of the family , becomes closer to Alice as her disease progresses .
The acting in the movie is superb , and Julianne Moore ’ s performance is particularly moving . She portrays Alice with great sensitivity and grace , capturing the frustration , fear and sadness that come with the disease . The movie is a touching reminder of the importance of family , love , and compassion in the face of adversity – and a must-see for anyone seeking to understand more about the challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer ’ s or any other type of dementia .
24 | The Caring Way