Cover Image: Somebody I Used to Know

Somebody I Used to Know

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Member Reviews

Surprisingly moving and eye-opening; like many, I had 'written off' dementia as a done deal, but never considered or appreciated the nuance, the slow creep into life, the ways of living and dealing with it, and all that can be achieved while doing so. It was really eye-opening and accessible.

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Beautiful novel, a great summer read.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

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This is an inspiring read, a memoir written by Wendy Mitchell who was diagnosed with dementia at the early age of fifty-eight.

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I think that the students in our school library need to hear lots of diverse voices and read stories and lives of many different kinds of people and experiences. When I inherited the library it was an incredibly sanitised space with only 'school readers' and project books on 'the railways' etc. Buying in books that will appeal to the whole range of our readers with diverse voices, eclectic and fascinating subject matter, and topics that will intrigue and fascinate them was incredibly important to me.
This is a book that I think our senior readers will enjoy very much indeed - not just because it's well written with an arresting voice that will really keep them reading and about a fascinating topic - but it's also a book that doesn't feel worthy or improving, it doesn't scream 'school library and treats them like young reading adults who have the right to explore a range of modern diverse reads that will grip and intrigue them and ensure that reading isn't something that they are just forced to do for their English project - this was a solid ten out of ten for me and I'm hoping that our students are as gripped and caught up in it as I was. It was one that I stayed up far too late reading and one that I'll be recommending to the staff as well as our senior students - thank you so much for the chance to read and review; I really loved it and can't wait to discuss it wth some of our seniors once they've read it too!

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An extraordinary book. Wish I had read this sooner. It provides a great insight into the world somebody is living in once they are diagnosed with Dementia. A truly inspiring read.

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I laughed and cried and did everything in between, I highly emotional book about someone’s decline into dementia, heartbreaking in places to read (my Nan suffered from it and it was devastated) but a beautifully honest and gut wrenching read too, light hearted in places and devastatingly dark in others I found it a wonderful novel.

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Somebody That I Used to Know is an excellent memoir on Wendy Mitchell’s experiences with early onset dementia. Wendy is a brilliant writer, and her ability to articulate her experience and educate others can only be admired. This book has helped to allay my own fears as Wendy provides honest insight, dispels myths, and explains how she has adapted her life.

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I devoured this book! what an inspirational read.

Wendy was diagnosed with dementia at the young age of fifty-eight. Wendy is an inspirational to all and I found this book truly thought provoking and a great insight into this awful disease.

Highly recommend.

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Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this magnificent book, I feel it is the best book or should I say memoir that I have ever read. So much information written with emotion, Wendy truly is an inspirational woman. If you have no knowledge of dementia this will still be a great book to read and if you do have some then I am sure you will find things to help. I have reviewed everywhere for you.

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This is a genuinely inspiring book that gives hope where there doesn't seem to be any chance of it. Early-onset dementia much be something that is dreaded more than anything and Wendy tells us how it affects her with amazing clarity and honesty. Her clear memories of times long-gone are fascinating as is her awareness that she can't function as she used to but is unable to do anything about it. Her bravery in standing up in front of people to educate and inform them is astonishing. It would have been so much easier for her to live a quiet life at home but she has gone out there for all the sufferers and potential sufferers and I applaud her. Essential reading for all of us.

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A subject so close to my heart. This book gave insight into dementia and was very positive heart warming way. My grandma is in the advanced stages of vascular dementia and though this period is challenging and heartbreaking we have had many many lighthearted silly moments since her diagnosis. Thank you to the author for sharing her personal experiences.

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4,5 Stars

Wendy is experiencing small changes in her daily life that are getting more and more, and after several months and some tests she gets the diagnosis of early-onset dementia. This surprises her, since she is only in her 50s and her good memory has always been one of her assets at work.

In the following chapters Wendy gives more examples of how her daily life changed and how she adapts her routine. Most days are normal as before, but you never know when the clouds will come. Or when she isn't able to concentrate on a simple phone call, do multitasking at work or why she cannot make a right turn with the car or bike anymore.

But Wendy does not want to "suffer" from dementia, she just wants to live with it. And so she gets involved with the Alzheimer society, takes courses, gives interviews, participates in a pharmaceutical study, meets Julianne Moore at the premiere of "Still Alice", starts writing a blog - and this book!

I found it very interesting when Wendy describes her early symptoms, and that dementia is not only about memory loss but involves other changes as well. She is also incredibly determined to keep her job and living independently as long as possible. This is a very strong woman who refuses to give up, and I really admire her for that.

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I thought I would feel sad reading this book. What I didn’t expect was to find it so uplifting and inspirational. I found that It gave me so much insight into a person going through early onset dementia. It made me understand about their daily struggles and It made me look at everything in a different light. I loved Wendy’s approach to dealing with dementia, the systems that she put into place and her determination.

It will change your perceptions on dementia and give you greater understanding. A must read

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I laughed and cried and did everything in between, I highly emotional book about someone’s decline into dementia, heartbreaking in places to read (my Nan suffered from it and it was devastated) but a beautifully honest and gut wrenching read too, light hearted in places and devastatingly dark in others I found it a wonderful novel.

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An incredible insight into early onset dementia, both I found it both worryti8ngn but inspirational as she does her best to help with research into this awful disease

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A lucid, candid and gallant portrayal of what the early stages of dementia feel like, this memoir, with its humour and its sense of resilience, demonstrates how the diagnosis of dementia is not a clear line that a person crosses; they are no different than they were the day before.

Wendy Mitchell is brave, challenging assumptions and ignorance about the condition. Usually the experience of someone living with dementia is lost; known only partially even to their loved ones. The miracle of this work is that it managed to capture the experience, and hold it up for the rest of us to see. Nothing is more frightening than dementia, says Mitchell - and yet, every day, she chooses to face her fears head on. An inspiring read.

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What an incredible book. Inspriing and heart breaking in equal measure. I laughed and I cried. What Wendy has shared is an honest and accurate insight into a disease that affects so many people on so many levels. Her brave and determined attitude to make the most of the situation and her choice to share it with the world to me is profound. I know that I am now beter able to communicate with and process my feelings around my family who have been suffereing with and caring for the relatives who have/had dementia. I feel both honoured and humbled to have been able to read Wendys book.

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Three and a half star rating.
This is the documentation of someone’s decline into dementia. Someone, being Wendy, who had been feeling something wasn’t quite right for a while but carried on regardless, until a series of falls forced her to seek medical help. She writes of her struggles, her methods of coping with every setback, interspersed with letters to her old, lost self. It’s enlightening, uplifting but ultimately depressing as we all know this is something that can never be cured no matter what you do or how much you try. It teaches you to make the most of everything as no one knows what’s lurking around the corner, also to treat people living with this awful disease with respect and always enter their world because it’s impossible for the further advanced ones to enter ours.

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A profound and powerful rumination on memory, Somebody I Used to Know charts Wendy Mitchell's heartbreaking journey with early-onset dementia. It is a stark and honest read, and one that will continue to shed on the growing epidemic that is currently ravaging the minds of so many of those we love.

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This was so difficult to read. The aching memories of times gone by yet living in the present! Many of us have somewhat similar experiences and to see them written so that others may know and understand is just so powerful! It’s something that everyone should read!

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