Inside the O'Briens

by Lisa Genova

The breathtaking new novel from the author of STILL ALICE, which was adapted into an Oscar-winning film starring Julianne Moore.

Joe O'Brien is a Boston cop; his physical stamina and methodical mind have seen him through decades policing the city streets, while raising a family with his wife Rosie. When he starts committing uncharacteristic errors - mislaying his police weapon, trouble writing up reports, slurred speech - he attributes them to stress. Finally, he agrees to see a doctor and is handed a terrifying, unexpected diagnosis: Huntington's disease.

Not only is Joe's life set to change forever, but each of his four grown children has a fifty-fifty chance of inheriting the disease. Observing her potential future play out in his escalating symptoms, his pretty yoga teacher daughter Katie wrestles with how to make the most of the here and now, and how to care for her dad who is, inside, always an O'Brien.

• ISBN10: 1471154963
• ISBN13: 9781471154966
• Publish Date: 1 November 2015 (first published 7 April 2015)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 22 March 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Edition: ANZ Only
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Fond Of

The most important aspect of Inside the O'Briens is that it brings awareness to Huntington's Disease. Being epileptic, I understand how important it is to "get the word out there" and admire the novel for that.

Lisa Genova creates an emotional roller-coaster and has imagined characters that touch with intensity.

Inside the O'Briens is very heartbreaking, showing the horrible genetic component of Huntington's. Although it did so maturely, without restraint and assembled a pounding in your chest each time one of Joe O'Brien's children read their test results.

Not Fond Of

Joe and Rosie's reaction to their son Patrick's child out of wedlock bothered me as they apparently decided to write the baby off. Considering they were all about family it seemed unreasonable to me.

Final Thoughts

It is a heavy book and one must be in the mood for it. At the end of Inside the O'Briens the youngest daughter Katie decides to be tested after two of her siblings test positive, but ends the novel when the envelope is being opened, a cut to commercial moment. Although despite my desire to know her genes it leaves the reader with the message of living each day to its fullest as you never know what tomorrow will bring.