From Sympathy to Empathy: The Novels of Lisa Genova
SOC1-10-THu2
Janice Burres
This course will take place in person at 60 Turner Street. The room will be equipped with a HEPA air purifier.
March 13 - May 22
(No Class April 17)
“Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, Lisa Genova writes stories that are equally inspired by neuroscience and the human spirit.” Her purpose is to “be an ambassador for the vulnerable.” Her extensively researched fiction focuses on people living with neurological diseases, disorders, and mental illness, people who tend to be ignored, feared, or misunderstood for what is happening in their brains, portrayed within a narrative that is accessible to the general public. She introduces her readers to realistic characters who are grappling with some of life’s most difficult medical situations. For example, a highly respected professor at the peak of her career has symptoms of early onset Alzheimer’s. A police officer has Huntington’s, a genetic disease that his children have a 50% chance of inheriting. A world-famous pianist, who has alienated family and friends, learns that he has ALS. Finally, a freshman in college, who has always felt different, learns that she has bipolar disorder.
In this course we will read four of Lisa Genova’s novels. We will discuss the impact of a neurological disease on the patient, the caretaker(s), the family and friends. We’ll examine the choices/dilemmas faced by people genetically predisposed to possibly contract a neurological disease. We’ll watch Genova’s Ted Talks, the movie of Still Alice, for which Julianne Moore won a best actress Oscar, and read relevant articles to further expand our knowledge. And perhaps, in our greater understanding of how people cope with some of life’s most difficult challenges, we’ll move from sympathy to empathy for the most vulnerable.
More facilitated discussion than lecture.
All books are by Lisa Genova. The first 3 are available used for about $5 each, including shipping, from Amazon. The fourth book listed is scheduled to be available in January 2025. All are available at the library.
Still Alice
Inside the O’Briens
Every Note Played
More or Less Maddy
The Minuteman libraries have several copies of “Still Alice” – the video.
Course questions and additional materials will be provided on a Google site.
Preparation time will be about 160 book pages per week plus a TED Talk and/or article.
Janice Burres double majored in English and education, earned a master’s degree in reading education, and completed the coursework for a master’s in counseling psychology. She taught middle and high school English for twenty years. As a communication specialist at McKinsey, she traveled around the world training their consultants in writing, public speaking, and group facilitation. She retired after fifteen years of teaching graduate courses to practicing K-12 teachers.