You probably have heard of Lisa Genova because of her excellent book turned movie Still Alice. What you might not know is that she has so many other great books, all dealing with different neurological issues such as Huntington's Disease, Autism, and in the case of this newest book, ALS. Every Note Played is a book full of emotion and hard truth. Not everyone that has a degenerative disease was a great person before their diagnosis, and I appreciate that Genova takes us through Richard's internal struggle of dealing with the past that now haunts him as his imminent death weighs on his mind. We see Richard from the beginning of his disease and watch it progress and get to be in his head to see how he is feeling about it all. Another aspect I really appreciated about this book was the focus on the primary care giver. It is never easy to be the care giver for someone so ill, so it was interesting to follow Karina's journey as well. Every Note Played is another great book from Lisa Genova. I hope that this one is given the Still Alice treatment and that we get to see it come alive on the big screen some day as well.

4.5 STARS - After hearing of Stephen Hawking's death yesterday, a brilliant man who lived with ALS for decades, I decided to post my review of Every Note Played, which focuses on talented pianist who suffers from ALS.

In Every Note Played, Lisa Genova once again explores the emotions and issues surrounding a neurological disorder. This time, she focuses Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and chronic neurodegenerative disease that gradually paralyzes a person, leaving them with mental acuity but trapped within their bodies until eventually they are unable to breathe.

Genova, a former neuroscientist, educates her readers on the disease and debunks some myths but readers won't feel overloaded with information. The facts are blended well within a story about a fractured family and readers will come away with a better understanding and sympathy for those who live with this disease and see the toll the disease has on the family as a whole.

Genova has lost friends to this disease and her connections to her characters and the issues are evident. This is an emotional read about family, loss, making amends and regret. Keep the Kleenex box handy for this read. I dare you not to tear up as you witness this once proud, professional pianist lose everything he 'thought' was important to him as he battles this currently incurable disease.

Currently there is no cure but to help create awareness and fund research for a much needed cure, Genova provides ways readers can help and get involved.

Disclaimer: This Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This was a wonderful book. The author’s descriptions and explanations of ALS left me inspired to learn more about this dreadful disease. Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me this ARC, and thank you to Lisa Genova for sharing her knowledge in such an inspirational way. So glad that I had the opportunity to read Every Note Played.

Shortly before writing this review I learned Stephen Hawking had died. That the famous scientist and 55 year ALS survivor died mere days before Every Note Played is published is a bittersweet irony that will likely increase interest in the book. Not that it's needed...even without Mr. Hawking's passing Every Note Played is destined to vault to the top of the best sellers list the day it hits bookstores. Like its "older sibling" Still Alice, Every Note Played pulls back the curtain on a devastating illness (here it is ALS, Still Alice followed a 50 year old professor diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's) and pulls no punches in describing the brutality it bestows on those afflicted with it. That author Lisa Genova has a PhD in neuroscience lends credibility and a "real life" tone to her novels without making them sound like a medical school textbook. Her masterful blending of medical terminology and raw emotion makes Every Note Played a joy to read despite the grim plot. The characters in Every Note Played earn our sympathy and scorn-years of secrets and resentments between world renowned pianist Richard and his long suffering (ex) wife Karina simmer even as Richard's body abandons him to the disease. When he is no longer able to care for himself, Karina moves Richard back into the home they shared before their divorce. But Karina is unprepared for the depth of care Richard needs, and she is buried under a mountain of guilt over a long held secret she kept from him. With Richard in denial of what his future holds, their lives become a "dance" of anger, regret, guilt and forgiveness that is exquisite in its clumsiness-how many ex's would wipe the ass of a man who had cheated on them repeatedly? Every Note Played is a beautiful tribute to every person suffering from this terrible disease. It is brilliant from beginning to end, even though we know the end is going to come much sooner for Richard than it did for Stephen Hawking. May he rest in peace.

Thanks to the publisher, Gallery/Scout Press, via NetGalley, for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've read nearly all of Lisa Genova's novels and she never ceases to amaze me. She has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and uses that knowledge to write wonderful books that entertain and educate us about neurological diseases and disorders. This novel tackles ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It's a devastating, debilitating disease that gradually takes away all muscle control in the body.

Ms. Genova is a talented fiction novelist and includes interesting characters and plots. Her characters are always well-developed, the pacing is perfect, and even though there is not a lot of action, the interest is always there as we learn about the disease. I knew next to nothing about ALS but now I understand just how ravaging this disease can be. It not only destroys the victims but affects all those who are near and dear to them because of the extensive care needed.

This novel is heart-wrenching and just plan sad but Ms. Genova's storytelling is very skillful and you find yourself wanting to find out more as the disease progresses. 5 tearful Stars.

I love love love Lisa Genova! This is the story of a very successful concert pianist that has been diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and his slow and painful deterioration.

This is a book that I was not able to put down. It is wonderfully written and painfully real. Have your tissues ready, because you are going to need them.

My thanks to netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for this advanced readers copy.

I've read every title Lisa Genova has ever written. Her work is rich and deep. It is always layered with relationship and complications, grief and hope. Every Note Played was no exception. Richard is a famed pianist who has cheated his family out of a husband and father, in order to chase his dreams. He has isolated himself from everyone that cares for him, when he is diagnosed with ALS. The story follows his relationship with his estranged ex-wife as she accidentally becomes his caregiver. The story is sad. But it is important. My favorite thing about Lisa Genova's work is that she puts a lens of humanity on disability and illness. This is so important because we don't often get to interact with someone with ALS. But her stories, they help facilitate understanding and compassion for those around us.

You know when you read one novel by an author and then don't read his or her new book because you know it can't live up to that first one you read? That's exactly what happened with Still Alice and Every Note Played. Once I read Still Alice, I knew I couldn't read any of Genova's other novels right away because I felt so deeply attached to that storyline and her characters. The opposite happened when I read Every Note Played. While I could argue that Genova has found her niche and her latest doesn't deter from that, I think that niche has done her a disservice. Where Still Alice was full of "heart", Every Note Played reads very clinically. While her books are never classically uplifting, there's still a sense of hope and an emotional connection to her characters. Sadly, I didn't feel attached to Richard, an all-star classical pianist who gets ALS, his ex-wife Karina who ends up being one of his caretakers, and their college-age daughter Grace. My advice? Wait for Genova's next one.

This book was basically Still Alice in reverse--a pianist losing control of his body instead of a professor losing control of her mind. I was intrigued to learn in the acknowledgments that one of the directors of Still Alice had ALS. The detailed, blunt picture of this disease was poignant and touching. The story of Richard and Karina's marriage could be frustrating at times--they both sucked at relationships a lot and couldn't just communicate simple things to each other. But I loved the progression they both had at the end and thought the book was beautiful overall.

So many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and Lisa Genova for another amazing book - my heart is still ravaged.

This is the story of Richard, a famous concert pianist, who develops ALS. For a man whose life is his fingers, the loss is unimaginable. His ex-wife, Karina, is an accomplished pianist in her own right. However, she blames Richard for the loss of their marriage, her career as a jazz pianist, and the fact that she is stuck. Grace is their daughter in college, whose relationship with Richard suffered because his first love was his piano.

You make think you know about ALS but when you read this book, you'll see how very little you know about the sad realities of this disease. Lisa Genova is a neuroscientist and this book is meticulously written and researched as all her books are. There is no sugar-coating of the toll this disease takes on everyone around.

However, the personal relationships between these characters makes this story shine. Just as Still Alice showed us the world of Alzheimer's, Every Note Played will make you feel differently about ALS.

Do not wait to read this book - preorder it now before it comes out next week.

Good portrayal of the suffering of ALS. I need to leave a 50 word review and don't like to write negative reviews. I'll simply say, it wasn't my favorite book.

Lisa Genova’s “Every Note Played” was a hard read for me. Having watched someone deteriorate from a disease as ugly as ALS brings back memories that are difficult . That said Lisa Genova has a fluidity in her writing that does make parts of the book quite enjoyable. When she describes Richards connection to classical piano you feel his connection to the music. Karinas connection to Jazz is similarly described. Both evoke a different response.on the surface but underneath there is a profound love of their respect choice in music. This is an unshared love.

This unshared love is but part of their problems. Richard puts his playing career ahead of everything else. Karina becomes the victim of the marriage. Always feeling that Richard has forced decisions upon her. This ultimately leads to their divorce.

With the sudden onset of ALS Richard lives in denial about how this will change his life.Richards. ALS brings out the further feelings of victimization as Karina sees only one option, taking care of Richard. Richards denial and rapid deterioration brings out Karinas anger and hatred towards him. The theme of Richards self absorbtion and Karinas victimization is played out qute well. Lisa Genovas description of this disease is pretty spot on.. The characters remain true to themselves throughout the book.

What I didn’t get was much development of the characters. There is no growth in empathy of Karina towards Richard. His reflections of the pain he has caused in their marriage is an internal process. He never develops this into an actual conversation. Everything is left unspoken.by both. Karinas anger and hatred just fuels more thoughts of being a victim of Richards.

I did enjoy “Every Note Played” but was left wanting more.

Lisa Genova has a knack for writing beautifully written stories about terrible illnesses. Every Note Played follows in the footsteps of her previous books. I enjoyed reading about her complicated, imperfect characters having to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Another winner from Genova that details the staggering ramifications that medical conditions can have on a family. Great detail into the condition blends with family trying to cope with how to deal with already existing family complications.

I adored Still Alice so I was looking forward to this novel! To say it was painful to read is an understatement; I was crying almost immediately when we see famed pianist, Richard's slow demise from ALS. His ex-wife, Karina--though riddled with anger at his many betrayals--realizes he has no one to care for him and moves him back in with her. If you know very little about ALS--or even if you know a lot--this book shows you the humiliation the patient suffers as he slowly loses function in his limbs and his organs. Does a debilitating disease change the family dynamics? Without a doubt...but I wept through the entire book with Richard, Karina, and daughter, Grace. Such an important book!

With tears, I read this book. ALS is ugly and devastating. Lisa Genova has a gift of telling the story, drawing a person in and making it all so real! This book goes a long way in making awareness of what it is like to have ALS, it is a must read!

I am a huge fan of author Lisa Genova who is also a PhD of neuroscience. I enjoy how she incorporates the science of neurological diseases into her fictional stories and feel I’m better educated after reading them. Every Note Played focuses on ALS, taking the reader through the painful stages of this fast-moving and devastating disease.

Initially ALS presents itself as twitching for renowned concert pianist Richard and thought to be tendinitis. This arrogant egomaniac struck me as a perfect character choice by Genova and through Richard, she brilliantly showcases the inner and outer struggles of a patient whose life’s purpose was to play music but has been taken hostage by a devastating disease.

“Eight months ago, his right hand held five of the finest fingers in the world. Today, his entire right arm and hand are paralyzed.”

Ex-wife Katrina, a talented pianist as well who gave up her dream of a career in jazz piano due to Richard’s self-centeredness, moves dying Richard back to their marital home when he can no longer take care of himself. She is a wonderfully-drawn character and I emotionally connected with her. Reading this book gave me pause and begged the question, could I make the same sacrifice if put in her situation? Though not my favorite Genova book, this is a moving story of ALS, relationships, forgiveness and reconciliation and very well-done.
*will post review to additional online venues (Amazon, B&N, Powells) upon publication.

Beautiful, lyrical, heart-pulling, redeeming and a lovely novel to remind us to find strength, forgiveness and hope where we can.....perfect Lisa Genova. If you are a fan of her writing, you will not be disappointed.

This was a title that left me with emotions running from low to high, sad to happy and tears to pure joy. Writing about ALS--the person who has the disease and all those around him was heartbreaking and yet full of redemption. This is a title that stayed with me long after the last word was read--and I am so grateful for not only having read an advance copy of this book but learning so much more about the human spirit. My deepest thanks for allowing me to read this title prior to publication---it was a joy!