Lisa's Reviews > Last Things: A Graphic Memoir of Loss and Love

Once I started this story I couldn't put it down. You may read this in one sitting. ALS- what a horrible, horrible disease! (also: Every Note Played by Lisa Genova) Symptoms appear for Harvey when they are in Rome on their year of sabbatical and he goes to the doctor when he gets home but it takes a while to get the diagnosis. He immediately goes into denial. Told by his wife, it goes into the detail of decisions that need to be made, how quickly they come, and how she has to balance the needs of their three young boys and her writing career during this ordeal. The pictures are gut-wrenching but really help tell the story and express the feelings of the people involved. Harvey thinks he will be able to continue teaching (he is a univerity professor) and writing his book. He imagines himself as Stephen Hawking, living for years with little change and being able to communicate with a computer. Instead the disease progresses quickly and devastatingly. The worst part is his emotional change, how he cuts everyone off and won't talk about what is happening or plan for the future. He shuts out his family, makes poor decisions and doesn't plan a legacy. His Jewish faith however is a big part of his story. I felt it was a bit disjointed in describing the progression, like I couldn't tell how serious it was, for example he was still able to walk, did not need the wheelchair right away and was talking about teaching, yet he could not swallow or breathe but maybe that's how it was. I also was overcome by feelings for those boys, ages 5-14, who all had different needs and levels of understanding. Lastly, I couldn't help but think how lucky they were to have good insurance, be able to afford in-home nurses, send the boys to Mexico on vacation, etc. They did not lose their home and were not devastated financially. Excellent story.