Mary Ellen Geist

October 2008 was my first time to make a request as a new Early Reviewer. I applied for quite a few because I didn't really expect to be picked and so many books interested me. However, when I did receive this particular book I was shocked. I thought I had avoided requesting it because it was about a daughter whose parent had Alzheimer's and I just didn't think I could handle the subject. You see, my mother had been diagnosed about eight months before and I wasn't ready to know "how the story ends."
So it took me about two months to make myself pick up "Measure of the Heart" and start reading it. The only reason I did was because I was obligated to write a review since I had received the book for free through the Early Book Reviewers. I am so thankful for taking that step.
Mary Ellen Geist is a very brave woman who left a high profile, well paying career to go home to be with her over-burdened mother and to spend the time she had left with her father who had Alzheimer's. What an incredible inspiration she is to anyone who has a family member with the challenge of this overwhelming disease. She writes in such a gentle," sisterly" manner as she openly shares her emotional ups and downs that you feel like you could call her and cry on her shoulder if you needed to. But the one thing she does not do is whine or play the martyr. She just tells it like it is and shares some very intimate moments along with some unique and cherished ones. What you are left with is a feeling that you were very blessed to have been allowed to enter the privacy of her family as they struggle, love, fight off the craziness, laugh, cry, love some more, and try to make every moment count. Thank you Mary Ellen for sharing with us in this intimate way through your book.… (mehr)