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One Hundred Names for Love: A Stroke, a Marriage, and the Language of Healing

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One Hundred Names for Love: A Stroke, a Marriage, and the Language of Healing Cover

ISBN13: 9780393072419
ISBN10: 039307241x
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Everyone who cherishes the gift of language will cherish Diane Ackerman's narrative masterpiece, an exquisitely written love story and medical miracle story, one that combines science, inspiration, wisdom, and heart.

One day Ackerman's husband, Paul West, an exceptionally gifted wordsmith and intellectual, suffered a terrible stroke. When he regained awareness he was afflicted with aphasia--loss of language--and could utter only a single syllable: "mem." The standard therapies yielded little result but frustration. Diane soon found, however, that by harnessing their deep knowledge of each other and her scientific understanding of language and the brain she could guide Paul back to the world of words. This triumphant book is both a humane and revealing addition to the medical literature on stroke and aphasia and an exquisitely written love story: a magnificent addition to literature, period.

Review:

"Two phrasemakers and longtime married partners had to relearn a shared, intimate conversation post-stroke as Ackerman narrates in her touching latest work. Paul West, Ackerman's 75-year-old British husband (she is 18 years younger), was a retired English professor and the author of 50-plus books, survivor of diabetes and a pacemaker, when he was struck by a massive stroke that left 'a small wasteland' in his brain, especially in the key language areas. For literary minds like West and Ackerman, his inability to formulate language (reduced to repeating numbly the sounds 'mem, mem, mem' in anger and confusion) was a shock to them both: 'o be so godlike, and yet so fragile,' his wife writes in despair. Her memoir of this terrible time, first in the hospital, then at home, records the small victories in his speech making and numerous frustrating setbacks; she even took it upon herself to make up humorous but challenging exercises for him to do, Mad Libs — style. Contrary to the bleak prognosis, West gradually made progress, while their journey makes for goofy, pun-happy reading, a little like overhearing lovers coo to each other. (Apr.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright PWyxz LLC)

Synopsis:

"Diane Ackerman's most enjoyable, intimate, and heartrending work yet."--Atul Gawande

Synopsis:

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize
Finalist for the National Book Circle Critics Award

"Diane Ackerman's most enjoyable, intimate, and heartrending work yet."--Atul Gawande
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About the Author

Diane Ackerman is the acclaimed author of A Natural History of the Senses, the bestselling The Zookeeper's Wife, Dawn Light, One Hundred Names for Love, and many other books. She lives in Ithaca, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
Sara Sugihara, January 28, 2012 (view all comments by Sara Sugihara)
A brilliant, sad, moving, wonderful, funny book about a devastating stroke and the way the author's husband came back to her and to life. I cried.
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ace davis, January 1, 2012 (view all comments by ace davis)
This book speaks most eloquently of the power and the cost of hanging in with someone in most difficult and ambiguous circumstances. Fortunately, her sweetie makes a most impressive recovery, in part because of not believing dire prognoses and aggressively pursuing rehab. Just the list of pet names at the end is worth the whole book
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N, September 23, 2011 (view all comments by N)
Fascinating book! Diane Ackerman's usual wonderful writing -- this time about her husband's stroke, aphasia and recovery. Lots of laughter, touching moments in a marriage and remarkable insight into the way the brain works. A truly amazing book!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780393072419
Author:
Ackerman, Diane
Publisher:
W. W. Norton & Company
Subject:
Medical
Subject:
Biography/Medical
Subject:
Biography - General
Publication Date:
20110431
Binding:
HARDCOVER
Language:
English
Pages:
322
Dimensions:
9.25000 x 6.12500 in
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Related Subjects

Biography » General
Biography » Medical
Featured Titles » Spirituality and Wellness
Health and Self-Help » Health and Medicine » General
Health and Self-Help » Health and Medicine » General Medicine
Health and Self-Help » Health and Medicine » Heart Care and Stroke
Health and Self-Help » Health and Medicine » Medical Biographies
Health and Self-Help » Psychology » General

One Hundred Names for Love: A Stroke, a Marriage, and the Language of Healing New Hardcover
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$26.95 In Stock
Product details 322 pages W. W. Norton & Company - English 9780393072419 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Two phrasemakers and longtime married partners had to relearn a shared, intimate conversation post-stroke as Ackerman narrates in her touching latest work. Paul West, Ackerman's 75-year-old British husband (she is 18 years younger), was a retired English professor and the author of 50-plus books, survivor of diabetes and a pacemaker, when he was struck by a massive stroke that left 'a small wasteland' in his brain, especially in the key language areas. For literary minds like West and Ackerman, his inability to formulate language (reduced to repeating numbly the sounds 'mem, mem, mem' in anger and confusion) was a shock to them both: 'o be so godlike, and yet so fragile,' his wife writes in despair. Her memoir of this terrible time, first in the hospital, then at home, records the small victories in his speech making and numerous frustrating setbacks; she even took it upon herself to make up humorous but challenging exercises for him to do, Mad Libs — style. Contrary to the bleak prognosis, West gradually made progress, while their journey makes for goofy, pun-happy reading, a little like overhearing lovers coo to each other. (Apr.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright PWyxz LLC)
"Synopsis" by , "Diane Ackerman's most enjoyable, intimate, and heartrending work yet."--Atul Gawande
"Synopsis" by , Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize
Finalist for the National Book Circle Critics Award

"Diane Ackerman's most enjoyable, intimate, and heartrending work yet."--Atul Gawande
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