Left audiobook

How could a beautiful trip to Spain with her husband turn so terrible? Fay Agarra is stunned when her husband Paul, a New York City judge, disappears leaving her alone on the streets of Spain. Paul would never just leave her like that. He is not that kind of man. After Paul is found by the police, he claims it was a misunderstanding. However, once they return home, Paul’s personality changes.Fay fears that there is something terribly wrong with her husband. Fay tries to get help for Paul, but he denies he needs any. To get away from her fears, Fay builds a fantasy world for herself where everything is perfect.This is a heartwarming, sad tale which takes a very realistic look into the world of dementia. My heart broke for Fay and Paul. Fay becomes Paul’s caregiver and their lives are changed forever. There are no magical cures.I could certainly understand Fay’s need to escape into a fantasy world, but her fantasies kind of took me out of the story during those chapters. I wanted to know what the doctors were doing for Paul and how the couple was adjusting.Overall, it’s a well-written love story and a quick read. The characters are all well-rounded and realistic. The only part I thought was a bit slow were the fantasy chapters, but the topic and characters all felt true-to-life to me.

Okay. You may think I'm cheating because I'm reviewing a book that I wrote. Understandable. But, hear me out. The truth is, this novel was shaped and sharpened by an amazing editor, Carrie Feron. Without her, my book would only be three or four stars. :) LEFT is a personal story about a woman who develops a fantasy life to cope with her husband's descent into dementia. I had the words, the feelings, the heartbreak, the joy. Carrie had the eye, the shape, the fictional structure. She turned this tale into a five-star read.If you like love stories and their rollercoaster journeys, this book is for you. And, as one reviewer wrote, "You'll meet the most well-rounded canine character I have every encountered, as real on the page as her human counterparts."LEFT was inspired by real events. And a real dog. But, it is a work of fiction that aspires to make you think as much as feel.

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.   Fay Agarra has the perfect life. She lives in a New York City with her husband, respected New York judge, Paul Agarra. Fay's perfect life slowly begins crumbling when her 'go to guy' suffers an explainable episode on their dream vacation. Where other books such as, ' Still Alice' gives us a look inside the mind of those suffering from dementia,' Left' gives us a view of what it is to be the care giver of a dementia sufferer. Alzheimer disease is one of the most heartbreaking disease to witness. Loved ones have to witness not only the physical demise but also the mental deterioration of a once sharp and vital person. 'Left' is told from Fay's point of view.  In heartbreaking detail we realize how she uses fantasy to cope with her life situation. While, at times, Fay does come across as self-absorbed and even selfish, I remind myself that this is Fay's story. 'Left' represents her inner thoughts and feelings and is an accurate example of how many caregivers feel.An accurate portrayal of the caregivers feelings, emotions, and coping mechanisms is a vital part of this book.A book that idealizes the caregivers and love ones does little to support those who are actually going through similar situations. I really loved the relationship that Fay had with her dog, Lola. This story exemplifies how a pets love can give us love and support that we often can not get anywhere else.  'Some days were calm. Almost normal. Other days felt like I was living in the middle of an icy lake.'  An important part of the story is that Fay hadn't worked through her mother's death years earlier. It becomes apparent that a lot of what Fay is feeling about Paul's illness has to do with her mother's death from lung cancer.Fay must also struggle with 'outing' Paul's mental decline, realizing this will end his career and could overturn convictions. As a side note as a migraine sufferer myself I thought the author's description of migraine's is some of the best I've ever seen described. '...the dark tentacles of a migraine wrapped themselves around a vein in my temple and squeezed. A sucker on the back of its pointed tips attached its self to the back of my eye and pulsed like a festering sore.' I enjoyed this story immensely. The story is well constructed and the prose is beautiful. The story is even more impactful and heartbreaking when you find out the story is inspired by the author's own husbands battle with dementia. While some readers might find Fay's behavior and thoughts as problematic, I think this gives the reader a sense of what Fay is going though. 'Left: A Love Story' is definitely a must read for those that would like an inside look at a caregivers point of view on dementia. I do want to point out that there is a small discrepancy in the story that put me off a little. Near the end of the book Fay says her father died when she was in high school, from a car accident. This contradicts earlier in the book when her father walks her down the aisle on her wedding day (after she graduated from college).SaveSaveThis review was originally posted on The Book return...

I am a nurse and I have cared for Alzheimer’s patients and comforted family members who are in a type of shock,even though they are hearing the diagnosis they knew was coming but praying against any hope that it would not.This is a book that doesn’t pull any punches. Paul is a respected judge in Manhattan. His wife begins to notice small changes in personality that become more and more distinct over time. A trip to Spain opens her consciousness to what she is dealing with. She copes, for awhile, by entering a fantasy world to escape the reality she can’t bear to face. When her fantasy world collapses in a terrible confrontation, she has to face reality in a harrowing way.Through it all, there is a sweetly stubborn dog named Lola, whom, despite her diva-like behavior, adds just the gentlest comic relief to dry your tears between chapters.I loved this book...I will never forget this book and am grateful of how it reminded me of both the patients and their families I cared for. Thank you, Mary Hogan, thank you.

This book took me a bit to get into it, but it's a REALLY light read that's a lot shorter than it seems, since the print is very large and all chapters start on the right page. Parts of this story really hit home, since I've had some family members have cognitive issues as they got older. I even learned a couple things about motor function being more connected to cognitive function than I'd realized. If you're looking for a REALLY quick read (under 2 hours for most people, I'd guess) about coping with a loved one heading into dementia, this is a good choice.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for this free review copy!*I thoroughly enjoyed and was deeply touched by this story of a younger wife coping with her husband's descent into early dementia. Left is a very fast read and my heart aches for anyone caring for their parent or spouse in these conditions.

Fay is too kind. I would’ve left Paul the moment he left me stranded in Spain…….

It started as a dream vacation in Spain, with Fay and Paul Agarra enjoying all the delights of a European holiday. A respected New York City judge, Paul has always been the man Fay can rely on, no matter what. When he inexplicably disappears from a Barcelona street corner, Fay knows something is terribly wrong. Once reunited, Paul shrugs off the episode as a simple misunderstanding—but Fay suspects her almost perfect life has taken a dark and sudden turn.Soon there are more signs that Paul is beginning to change. Bouts of forgetfulness lead to mistakes in the courtroom. Simple tasks cause unexplainable outbursts of anger. Fay’s worst suspicions are realized when she learns her husband—her rock, her love, her everything—is succumbing to the ravages of dementia. As her husband transforms before her very eyes, Fay copes with her fears by retreating into a fantasy life filled with promise instead of pain. In Fay’s invented world, she imagines herself living a glamorous life free from heartache, with a handsome neighbor she barely knows rescuing her from a future she can’t accept. My Thoughts: From the beginning of Left: A Love Story, we alternate between fantasy and reality. Fay’s comfortable and predictable life is changing, and she takes flights of fancy, mostly involving a beautiful apartment building nearby, where she goes to watch and imagine a perfect life within its gorgeous walls.The experiences on their trip to Spain were terrifying to Fay, especially since the husband she had always counted on suddenly turned different. Seemingly uncaring. Afterwards, she realizes that nothing would ever be the same again.However, she has trouble getting Paul’s doctor, his son, or even his legal assistant to listen when she expresses her concerns. Feeling dismissed and isolated, her daily walks take her more often to the “fantasy building.”How did a traumatic event change everything forever? Why did others finally acknowledge her concerns, but act as if she were derelict in her duty not to have noticed sooner? I really disliked Paul’s primary physician and his son. But soon, they all went on with their lives…and Fay is left to deal with her new reality. A sad and poignant story, this one earned 4.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher, Wm Morrow, via LibraryThing, for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.Mary Hogan is a new author for me. She has written a passionate novel about a happily married couple of 22 years who find themselves coping with the husband's dementia. He is a prominent judge, over 20 years older than his wife, and has always been there for her. She's an artist and is overcome with his condition so creates a fantasy world to escape which adds a lot to the story line. Their dog, Lola, is prominent throughout the novel.Since I have done volunteer work with patients suffering from dementia. I have knowledge of how this ravaging disease affects not only the patients, but their caregivers also. I found this author did a great job of describing the path of decline for the judge and his wife's reactions to various situations. It's a very difficult situation for both.

Wow! What an impressive story about the life and the marriage of a couple (their second marriage), the first signs of him getting Alzheimer's, interference of previous family (his) and of course consequences, money problems, loneliness ....Really an unforgettable and an outstanding story.Unfortunately I didn't like the style of writing (disjointed, especially in the beginning), really struggled and almost gave up. Luckily I didn't. I really liked the dog in this book and Mary Hogan says she was a real dog.Not a book for everyone's taste.

This is truly a love story and by that I mean one that is the epitome of an unselfish love. A love that will test the bonds of any relationship, but especially one of a marriage between a younger woman and an older man. Fay and Paul had what seemed like the perfect life, but something went wrong on their dream vacation in Spain.I could understand how Fay felt when Paul failed to meet her as planned. her anger was real but as time passed, she began to see more and frightening changes in him. I think the author told a sad and delicate story in way that made me understand what they were going through.. The slow build up to the diagnosis and Fay finally reaching out to family and friends is heartbreaking, because people want to make excuses for what Paul is experiencing. I think I would feel terribly alone in that situation but I suppose I would understand how they would react to such news.It seemed natural that Fay would want to escape reality any time she could, although she never let it interfere with taking care of her husband as bet as she could. Her fantasy world became one that I enjoyed as much as she did. It was harmless and kind of interesting. I actually think that lent a bit of realism and added a touch of humor to the situation.Overall, I think the plot and the writing were both lovely and informative at the same time. I cared more about Paul than I thought I would and it’s because the author wrote his character so well. This isn’t the type of book that I typically read but it sounded so good that I wanted to read something outside of my comfort zone and I’m glad that I did. I found out at the end of the book that Ms. Hogan dedicated this to her father who died of Alzheimer’s disease, which made this story much more poignant to me. This is a quick read and one that I recommend to others looking for a beautifully written novel.I received a copy from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Goodreads for the free ARC of this book. ***POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*** Fay and her husband, Paul, a New York district judge, lead a pretty normal life. She is an artist who spends her days creating pieces of art and taking care of their dog, Lola. Until they take a dream vacation to Spain, and Paul leaves her stranded at a gas station. Her loving, trusting, 'rock' husband has forgotten her. He starts to forget other things as well and then his behavior becomes belligerent and somewhat mean. She doesn't even bother to cook his favorite, home made meals, she just orders food in. As a mental escape, Fay develops a fantasy world in which she envisions the striking young man she keeps seeing in the beautiful and historic building she falls in love with, as 'Blake', a surgeon, who is trying to save the world. It is this escape that allows Fay some sense of joy from the home life that she is trying desperately to cope with. There is no doubt that Fay loves her husband. Left is indeed a love story. What happens when that love is no longer reciprocated? Can you deal with seeing the person that you have loved for decades turn into a shell of their former self? This book is thought provoking, loving, and sad.....

I received Left as part of a Goodreads giveaway.Faith "Fay" Agarra lives an idyllic life in New York City with her husband Paul, more than two decades her senior. Married 22 years, the couple is happy and successful, until a trip to Spain uncovers a startling and painful truth: Paul is suffering from the early stages of dementia. As Paul's condition worsens and Fay's alarm and exhaustion grows, she half-disappears into a fantasy life free from the emotional turmoil she faces on a daily basis.This was a really well-written story, simple and poignant. I didn't love Fay at first, but she's just so well-drawn, and really reminded me of myself in many ways. She's a bit impatient and uncharitable, particularly towards people she doesn't like, but at the same time, those she loves, she loves fiercely and unconditionally. Left doesn't try to do or be more than it is--it's a tale of dementia's long goodbye, and the mental turmoil it can take on both the victim and his or her caregivers. With an ever-aging Baby Boomer generation, it's a story we're going to see written across many families in the next decade or two, and one represents a powerful touchstone for those family members who take on the caregiver role.

LEFT A LOVE STORY by Mary Hogan is the rare must read book for everyone—male or female, young, middle aged or old. While told as a fiction, the subject matter—a loved one’s descent into dementia, is something that will touch all of us at one time or another. It will be a family member, a close friend, a co-worker or their family member, a neighbour and even ourselves. It doesn’t suddenly steal our minds and connections to each other. It is insidious, moving so slowly that you may not even be sure it is happening. Such is Fay and Paul’s story. He a brilliant jurist, she a loving and devoted wife who has made him her world. Fay describes Paul as her “there kind of guy” and when he is seemingly suddenly no longer there, her world verges on crumbling. Hogan’s depiction of Fay takes her from a seemingly simple housewife and builds her into a strong woman, capable of taking care of her own. She learns when to ask for help—and how to make it happen. She is an amazing character that shows how we all can find that special kind of inner strength to cope with the worst life can throw at us.

I won an Uncorrected Proof of Left: A Love Story by Mary Hogan from Goodreads.Anyone who has been a caretaker of a loved one who is ill will quickly identify with the protagonist in Mary Hogan's novel, Left: A Love Story. When Fat Agarra's husband, Paul, begins showing signs of dementia, she is, at first, herself confused. As she reached out to others, she feels rebuffed and isolated until, when disaster strikes, she feels blamed.Soon, Fay's only way to get through each day is to imagine herself living another life. But, will that imagined life erase all the good of her reality?My Uncorrected Proof, unfortunately, contained several pages upon which whole strips did not print, making it difficult to read those pages, and yet the story is so engaging that I happily worked through those blank sections.Mary Hogan's novel, Left: A Love Story is a beautiful, insightful, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, yet always moving story that stirs readers to wonder what is left when a loved one's mind is gone.

After a startling beginning, this story came together so eloquently. A beautiful couple madly in love with lots of lovely experiences and memories vacation in Europe where the unbelievable occurs. At the end of the vacation, Paul drops his wife at a cafe so she can use the washroom. They plan to meet up after he circles back with the car only he does not return . When they are reunited by the police , he is simply sitting at the airport with no real explanation . From there, changes in his personality, depression and hints of dementia begin to surface but no one from his grown children, his family physician, his co workers to his ex wife believe her . An unfortunate accident forces everyone to admit that Paul is no longer himself. This is an eye opening look into the heartache of dementia .