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Where the Light Gets in: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again by Kimberly Williams-Paisley
happylilkt's review against another edition
3.0
As I approach 40 the reality of parents and in-laws aging looms. We all want our parents to thrive even as they age, yet dementia is a real possibility facing individuals and their families. Williams-Paisley shares her mother's experience from first symptoms to diagnosis to further degeneration. All of these stages come with a kind of loss that needs to be grieved (by all parties) and issues such as important conversations before parents lose their lucidity, the burdens of caregiving, and revising expectations are all addressed.
resemblesrage's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
aelane23's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. A sad, beautiful, poignant book. I listened to it, and Williams-Paisley is a wonderful narrator.
jennycip1's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. What a beautiful story. This book was actually recommended to me by my therapist because my mom also suffers from early onset frontal lobe dementia and I have found it hard to relate to stories about loss. This type of grief is nothing like I have ever experienced. I was only 17 when she was first diagnosed so I feel robbed of that time with my mom. I never got to know “old mom”. With my mom still being alive and suffering with this disease I have felt guilty for grieving her when she is still physically with us.
It felt like Kim went into my brain and into my feelings and wrote them down on paper. All of the roadblocks, emotions, and feelings I have felt all were validated while reading Kim’s story.
It felt like Kim went into my brain and into my feelings and wrote them down on paper. All of the roadblocks, emotions, and feelings I have felt all were validated while reading Kim’s story.
goldenlife's review against another edition
5.0
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in” (Leonard Cohen)
Kimberly Williams-Paisley shared beautifully about the very real struggle of having a loved one with dementia, it must have been difficult and cathartic to write. It is so important for others in her shoes to know they aren’t alone, I’m grateful for her bravery.
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in” (Leonard Cohen)
Kimberly Williams-Paisley shared beautifully about the very real struggle of having a loved one with dementia, it must have been difficult and cathartic to write. It is so important for others in her shoes to know they aren’t alone, I’m grateful for her bravery.
rochellemc95's review against another edition
5.0
This book is different to anything I’ve read but I’m so glad I picked it up. This was a raw and honest book. The writer takes us through a journey showing the heartbreaking pain of her mother who has PPA a form dementia. I loved how honest Kim was about the impact her mothers health was having on the family she didn’t hold back and gave an unfiltered version of illness and loss. Would recommend, eye opening book.
vll295's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book by country music star, Brad Paisley’s wife-Kimberly. In this book she recalls the impact that her mother had on her life and raises awareness about dementia that she had. I enjoyed the book because it was a very real story about a hard situation. I appreciated her honesty and the information that she shared throughout the book.
susanthebookbag's review
4.0
Where the Light Gets In is a very touching, emotional story of a family deeply affected by a very rare form of dementia. Dementia and Alzheimer's are illnesses that are a part of so many families now. Almost everyone has been touched by them in some way. I personally had two family member who had Alzheimer's. It's tough seeing loved ones go through such decline.
The author shares with us the thoughts, emotions, and ups and downs she went through as her mother starts to decline, when they finally get a diagnosis, and as she learns to deal with and accept the way her mother's life is changing. I just love this line—"I need to see her as she is, instead of how I want her to be." as it could be a lesson to all families who find themselves going through this.
It was both heartbreaking and reassuring to read of another family's struggle as I realized that I was not alone and that other people are going through the same fears and doubts as a loved one is slowly being lost to us.
The author shares with us the thoughts, emotions, and ups and downs she went through as her mother starts to decline, when they finally get a diagnosis, and as she learns to deal with and accept the way her mother's life is changing. I just love this line—"I need to see her as she is, instead of how I want her to be." as it could be a lesson to all families who find themselves going through this.
It was both heartbreaking and reassuring to read of another family's struggle as I realized that I was not alone and that other people are going through the same fears and doubts as a loved one is slowly being lost to us.