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Somebody I Used to Know
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK Brave, illuminating and inspiring, Somebody I Used to Know gets to the very heart of what it means to be human. What do you lose when you lose your memories? What do you value when this loss reframes how you've lived, and how you will live in the future? How do you conceive of love when you can no longer recognise those who are supposed to mean the most to you? When she was diagnosed with dementia at the age of fifty-eight, Wendy Mitchell was confronted with the most profound questions about life and identity. All at once, she had to say goodbye to the woman she used to be. Her demanding career in the NHS, her ability to drive, cook and run the various shades of her independence were suddenly gone. Philosophical, profoundly moving, insightful and ultimately full of hope, Somebody I Used to Know is both a heart-rending tribute to the woman Wendy once was, and a brave affirmation of the woman dementia has seen her become.
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TheEllieMo
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

review
youneverarrived
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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Pickpick

Wendy is diagnosed with dementia at the age of 58 & her memoir is an inspiring read of how she lives with it. She finds ways to cope like setting reminders on her phone that tell her to eat etc, still travels around the country, speaks about dementia in conferences etc, and finds little wins like instead of reading novels, she reads short stories. I think this would be an uplifting read for anyone diagnosed with dementia. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

youneverarrived #nonfiction2021 something by someone who inspires you 3y
squirrelbrain Great review - I‘ve been wanting to read this for a while. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sounds really good! 3y
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I think you would like it! I‘d definitely recommend the audio too 👍 3y
60 likes1 stack add4 comments
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MrsMalaprop
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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Pickpick

What an amazing feat this is. Wendy was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2014 at the age of 58. This is her memoir, published in 2018. She shows us how she lives well with dementia. I will recommend this book widely.

Rissreads She is truly inspirational! I am worried that I too will end up suffering with dementia like my mum, it‘s books like this that will give people hope. This book is amazing! I‘m so glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. 👍🏼 (edited) 4y
BarbaraBB I loved this book so much too 💔 4y
MrsMalaprop @Rissreads 💕😢🤞🙏 4y
40 likes3 comments
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MrsMalaprop
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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The impact of dementia on the author‘s ability to read novels 😢.
My mum who is living with dementia has now lost the ability to follow a story & has essentially given up reading anything beyond a magazine or daily paper. Even audiobooks are too hard for her to follow now.
My dad had dementia too and I treasure a particular novel in which he taped his notes on the characters & plot to help him keep track when he was in the early stages 💕📖.

Texreader Oooh that‘s sad. 4y
Freespirit It‘s hard watching our parents get old☹️ 4y
Jeg That is the saddest thing. Not being able to read. My dad had dementia but he was not a great reader. He watched a lot of TV but often fell asleep. 🤞🤞 4y
33 likes3 comments
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MrsMalaprop
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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#currentlyreading Thanks @Rissreads for recommending this. I can‘t put it down - luckily I have a quiet weekend ahead so I don‘t have to.

My dad had Alzheimer‘s & died in January 2019. My mum has since been diagnosed with vascular dementia & possibly Alzheimer‘s too. My parents were in their mid to late 70s when they were diagnosed, whereas the author of this memoir was diagnosed at 58. We are so lucky she wrote this book sharing her experiences.

TheEllieMo She‘s such an inspiration. 4y
Rissreads I‘m so glad you are liking it! I‘ve bought copies for my family. 4y
24 likes2 comments
review
Rissreads
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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Pickpick

This book was fantastic! I learnt a lot. I feel like I have a much better understanding of what it feels like to suffer with dementia and of how I can help those who do (my Mum❤️).
The author Wendy is inspiring and brave beyond words. I recommend it.
It‘s funny how the right book comes to you at the right time.
@MrsMalaprop

JennyM I loved this book. Wendy is an incredible woman. Hope you‘re good my lovely. I‘ve missed seeing you. 4y
Rissreads @JennyM I‘ve been trying to spend more time off my phone so my visits to Litsy have been quick and sporadic! I‘m doing good, it‘s school holidays now so lots of reading! How are you going? X 4y
JennyM @Rissreads time away from phones and social media is always good. Glad you‘re well. It‘s our school holidays now, too. It‘ll soon be the Xmas holidays - I‘m not ready for that yet 😯 4y
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MrsMalaprop Stacked. Do you have a copy? 4y
Rissreads @MrsMalaprop I sure do. Want to borrow it? 4y
MrsMalaprop Yes please 🙏. 4y
MrsMalaprop Just bought myself a copy 😊 4y
Rissreads @MrsMalaprop Mine just arrived! I hope you like it x 4y
39 likes1 stack add9 comments
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BarbaraBB
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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#BookReport 34/20

A good week with three completely different but good books. I‘d like to read more but I don‘t have the time. Life and work are really almost back to normal here. Let‘s hope it stays that way, the virus is so unpredictable.

Megabooks So happy for you! I miss normal. 4y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks It‘s a “new normal” with lots of distance, no hugging, working at home as much as possible etc but it feels so liberating (is that a word?). I don‘t know for how long, numbers are increasing again among the young people (who meet everywhere because the clubs are still closed) but the ICUs are almost empty. I am so sorry things go slowly for you. I hope people take it more serious now. 4y
squirrelbrain Another good week! 4y
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TrishB I think 3 is pretty much my average with work! Just trying to finish one today. My perception of normal changes everyday I think. 4y
BarbaraBB @TrishB Yes indeed. What I now consider normal is completely different from half a year ago! 4y
Megabooks Yeah, things are not good here but it‘s not for our governor‘s lack of trying. Poorer outlying areas are choosing not to do distance learning because there is not good enough internet coverage and students can‘t afford computers. People here tend to be doing well with masks in public places but are broadening the personal circle of people they see. One family friend has been on a ventilator the past week. I grew up with her daughter. ⬇️ 4y
Megabooks She seems to be showing signs of holding steady, maybe a bit of improvement. One of my mom‘s other friends was under two weeks quarantine because she went to dinner with a person who tested positive. This friend is really being irresponsible. She‘s been to five cities in three states recently and doesn‘t seem to care. 😡 And yes, liberating is the correct word. 👍🏻 4y
Kalalalatja What you describe is sort of the same situation we have in Denmark. Masks have been made mandatory in public transport, school is virtual for the high schoolers and uni, clubs close early, and a lot of people are working from home. The new normal is weird, but still better than quarantine 4y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks It is such a bitch this virus. People on ventilation must be so hard. And I can understand that people without internet or computers want their kids to go to school. Dilemma‘s! 4y
BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja Yes much better. Here schools are open but clubs not. What reasons should our governments have to differ?! 4y
Kalalalatja I really don‘t know, it is so weird! But the Danish government has started making regional guidelines, for regions where infection numbers are going up, which, unfortunately, is where I live. I think a lot of primary schools are open, but many have been forced to close down again or send many classes home because of outbreaks. I still feel like I can‘t keep up with all the changing rules and regulations 🤷‍♀️ 4y
BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja Neither do I, rules keep changing. However the general thought here is that children under 18 can move freely since they hardly get infected and don‘t infect others. So schools and kindergartens and high schools all are open. This has been the first week however after summer break so we‘ll have to wait and see 🤞🏽 4y
Cinfhen Glad you had a good reading week...I agree this virus is a bitch!!! Rules & regulations fluctuate here too!! Nursery thru grade 5 go back to school sept 1 but all other grades are online learning. 4y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Everyone is trying their best to deal with the virus I guess but it‘s so unpredictable. I wonder how long schools will be open here 🤞🏽 4y
62 likes14 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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Pickpick

In her fifties Wendy Mitchell is diagnosed with Alzheimer‘s. In this book she shares how she deals with her changing world and the functioning of her brain. She fights dementia in the best way she can, by organizing her life and sharing her experiences online and at meetings all over England.

She is so incredibly courageous and positive. My heart breaks for her and for everyone with this diagnosis. I feel so sad now.

#ATY2020

squirrelbrain Sounds like a very difficult, sad book, but your review makes it sound worth reading. 4y
Cathythoughts Great review ❤️💔 4y
TrishB I was getting upset reading your review, it‘s a scary thing. 4y
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charl08 Sounds like something I should read - runs in the family. 4y
Kalalalatja Alzheimer‘s scares me so much. Ever since reading Still Alice, I have been terrified of someone in my family being diagnosed with it 4y
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @TrishB @Kalalalatja It scares me too, it‘s such a devastating disease. Mitchell‘s perseverance is so admirable and I learned a lot about how to approach people with Alzheimer‘s. I‘d almost say it‘s a must-read for you @charl08 but it‘s upsetting. 💔 (edited) 4y
BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja She refers often to the movie Still Alice, she even meets Julianne Moore and thinks the movie comes very close to the truth. 4y
71 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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WildQuibble
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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And finished. It‘s not a theme book, but is for the Scavenger Hunt as a book that scares you. Dementia is a terrifying prospect to me. #scarathlon #teamstoker

BeansPage 🧟‍♀️ 5y
9 likes1 comment
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TheEllieMo
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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Wendy Mitchell is a #HeroHeroine in my opinion. Diagnosed in 2015, at the age of 58, with Young Onset Dementia, she started a blog https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/ and wrote a book about her experiences, and how she continues to do what she can to defy her condition. She has done so much to raise the profile of dementia, and does many book festival events (she‘s at Cheltenham Literature Festival next month.)
#SoulSeptember @Eggs

Eggs Amazing 👏🏻🤗👏🏻👏🏻 5y
35 likes1 comment
review
Forgetmenot
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
Pickpick

This book was amazing and such an insight into the world of a person living with dementia. Helping raising the awareness. Thank you Wendy for putting into words your life. The courage and resilience coping with the losses and the uncertainty of the foggy times. The world with dementia is not one that was envisaged it steals the future that was dreamt of. A very powerful read and definitely one that really touched me

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JennyM
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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Pickpick

Wendy Mitchell was just 58 when she was diagnosed with young-onset dementia - this is her story. Beautifully written, with honesty and heart, it reaffirmed why I work in dementia research ♥️

Texreader So glad to hear you do. Heartbreaking diagnosis 6y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Thank you for working in dementia research. It‘s such a heartbreaking disease. 6y
Leftcoastzen That is a noble profession.I hope someday it is eradicated. 6y
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JennyM @Leftcoastzen @Texreader @BarbaraTheBibliophage aww, thankyou for your kind words. We are still a way off from a cure, but there is so much fantastic research happening to improve quality of life at all stages of dementia. The people I meet fill me with hope (edited) 6y
Tanisha_A You! ❤️ 6y
JennyM @Tanisha_A back at you my lovely friend 😘😘😘 6y
BarbaraBB Important work. I didn‘t know. And I‘ll stack the book. 💜 6y
JennyM @BarbaraBB thankyou lovely 😊 I hope you enjoy the book 📖 6y
scowler1 Quality of life is key. You are my hero. 6y
JennyM @scowler1 thankyou - I really appreciate your support. And please, can you be on my next grant review panel?!? They‘re often not as supportive as you Litsy people😂 😘 (edited) 6y
59 likes3 stack adds10 comments
review
Simona
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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Pickpick

Wendy Mitchell diagnosis is the young-onset dementia, and her story is at the same time horrifying and uplifting. Her strength and willpower is just unbelievable. Instead of helplessness, she decided to fight and act in the field of awareness. I don‘t know nobody with dementia, but if you do - this is the must read.
Her blog https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/

#booked2018 #mcWithInvisibleIllness

Cinfhen Was this your last one????? 6y
Simona @Cinfhen Yes 😁 6y
Cinfhen Woohoo!!!! Way to go 🙌🏻💕😁 6y
Simona I feel good 💃 Thanks 😊 It was fun challenge 😘 6y
71 likes4 comments
review
Ibis-liber-ibis
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
Pickpick

If you have someone close to you with Dementia/Alzheimers read this book. Very enlightening. I listened to the audiobook and found Wendy‘s voice and clarity added to the message of the book, just smart, normal, kind...

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TiredLibrarian
Somebody I Used to Know | Wendy Mitchell
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This is just heart-rending. Must put it down & go to sleep, but it'll be hard to get it out of my mind.

52 likes3 stack adds