'Love Anthony' is a novel that explores autism through a 10-year-old boy and early on-set Alzheimer's through a 50-year-old woman. (Simon & Schuster)
Neuroscientst and novelist Lisa Genova tell us how she came to write Love Anthony, a heartbreaking and beautiful novel which shapes how we see those with autism through the prism of a 10-year-old boy.
"I did nothing, and I experienced simply being - the blue sky, the warm sun, the cool air, the hot decking and Anthony next to me.
"I did nothing, and I experienced simply being - the blue sky, the warm sun, the cool air, the hot decking and Anthony next to me.
At some point, I looked over at him, and he had the biggest smile stretched across his face. God, his smile makes me so happy. And so there we were, the two of us lying on the deck together, smiling at the sky.But Lisa Genova couldn't draw on her scientific background to write her latest book ... because there isn't a neuroscience textbook on the subject. Nevertheless she has received stellar reviews for Love Anthony, an exploration of autism that revolves around a 10-year-old boy.
And then the sun moved on, and our square turned to shade. Anthony sat up and shot me a sideways glance and a pleased grin that I swear said, Wasn't that AWESOME, Mom? Didn't you have the best time looking up at the sky with me?
And then he screeched and flapped his hands and ran into the house.
Yes, it was, Anthony. It was one of the best times I've ever had".
Excerpt from the fictional character Olivia writing about a special moment shared with her autistic son in the novel, Love Anthony. Lisa Genova relied on her years as a neuroscientist to write her breakthrough novel, Still Alice. It told the story of early on-set Alzheimer's, through the experiences of a 50-year-old woman.
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