Cover Image: Morningside Heights

Morningside Heights

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Member Reviews

I couldn't get through this title. It ended up not being for me, but I hope it finds a hope with other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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Thirty years ago, she found her happily ever after. Today, her identity as one half of a happy couple living their dream life has morphed into the reality of being her husband's caretaker as Alzheimers claims the man she knew a little more each day. The daily problems they faced together have now become a daily nightmare as she struggles with a bleak future. She begins to regret the decisions she made so many years ago and sees herself through the eyes of others, including a man that still sees HER, not her surrounding.

This story is played out all too often in today's longer life expectancies. Health issues can quickly take a partner and turn them into a responsibility. Joshua Henkin has done an excellent job of protrying one family's journey into a place where tomorrow is not guaranteed.

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An extremely sad look at early on-set alzheimers, this story is set around Columbia and certainly a fun read if you are familiar with the campus. Otherwise, it's pretty depressing and no new territory.

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Well written, thoughtful, and bittersweet. It felt like a normal story about relationships, and families, but the story was compelling and realistic. Enjoyed a lot!

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This is one of the books that once you start, you can never put it back down. I love how fast-pace the story is and how it's definitely a page turner.

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I wanted to like this story because the topic is close to my heart, someone dealing with Alzheimers, but the story is joy told linearly and jumps around too much for my taste. The emotions it portrays of the ups and downs of dealing with this disease are important to include, but I wasn’t able to enjoy the story as much because of the unsettled feeling of the timeline jumping.

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I really enjoyed this quiet and contemplative story with a lot of heart and emotion. I loved how much this one made me think, and I'd love for more people to read this one. The author can really demonstrate the more nuanced pieces of who were are as humans and how we are in relationship with those that we love. I love how subtly he writes these moments into his prose. If you want something character driven to pull at your heartstrings, this is the perfect read!

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Morningside Heights is a quiet, nuanced, and poignant story about one middle-class couple living in New York, and lets the reader see the story of their relationship from the time they meet, through the death of one of them. The book reads easily, and I connected with both the characters from the start.

Pru and Spence meet at Columbia University where he is her professor. She is a brilliant student with a smart future, and while he is only 6 years older than she is, he has already published a book and is the rising star of his field. The proceeds from his book allow them to buy a home and start a family, which results in Pru giving up on her own academic career.

Soon they have a fuller house when they have a daughter, Sarah, and when Spence's son from his first marriage, Arlo, moves in. The author allows us to see the difficulties of a blended family, sharing the struggles of all of them.

But the most powerful part of this story happens when Spence develops early-onset Alzheimer's. His mind slowly deteriorates, and turns him into a stranger to his wife and children. Pru begins to resent giving up her own path in life, and begins to consider some big changes. She does everything she can to protect him, and to keep his reputations strong. She acts selflessly, despite her own anger and grief. We watch as both spouses suffer, change and learn to manage his symptoms. It is an emotional, beautiful, true look at what this disease does to both the person suffering from the disease and the caretaker. I spent three years as the primary caretaker for my dad, who also suffered from Alzheimer's, and this book brought up a lot of memories. I cried more than one.

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A tender, terrifying novel about a family forced to deal with early onset Alzheimer's disease. Spence, a Shakespearean scholar, is at the center of the book but his wife and children are the pulsing heart of it. I felt especially invested in Flo and Arlo - never sure what would come next. In spite of the devastating subject, I found it difficult to put down.

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The cover of this book is what caught my attention. This was quite the complicated story about a family and their trails and tribulations. I thought it was very engaging, but it still took me a while to read.

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A beautifully written story of a family and the progress of dementia. Heartfelt and tragic but so well done.

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Unfortunately, Did not get to this book in 2021.
My review is not a reflection of the work or the writing/plot itself, but rather speaks to other books that caught my attention more.
Hate I didn't manage to squeeze this one in, but there are so many books and only so much time.

I would look to Goodreads or other reviewers on Netgalley who read the title and will offer their unbiased opinion.

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This book sounded like exactly the type of book I would love. A family drama over several decades. There were parts of the story I really enjoyed, such as the relationship between the siblings, and various aspects of Arlo's story. However, there were quite a few characters' stories all weaved in here, and they failed to come together in any meaningful way at the end. The end of the story is foretold at the beginning, so there are no surprises, and nothing ever really happens. I also fail to see much growth or change in the characters, if this meant to be a character driven novel. I found this dull without much purpose.

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Looking at this cover, I’m not sure what I expected. By the bright colors, I thought this would be a happy book! And while it had some happy parts, there was more sadness than anything.

First off, this is a pretty basic story about a husband and wife. We learn how they meet, their marriage, struggles with kids, family, and the biggest component about being a caregiver for your loved one. If you told me this, I would probably pass.

I’m glad I didn’t.

I felt Henkin spent equal time in the stages of Pru and Spence’s marriage. The meeting/honeymoon phase, parenting and careers, and then ultimately, death. It really showcases a relationship and how to care for one another, no matter what life throws at you.

My only complaint is not knowing enough about Spence’s son, Arlo. Rereading the synopsis, he’s mentioned, but it feels like the weight would be heavier within the book. And he’s a really great character for the little we learned about him!

Overall, I think the author did a great job describing the unpredictable progression of Alzheimer's and how minds play tricks on those who are diagnosed. The last time I saw my grandmother, she didn’t know who I was so this book definitely hit home and I’m wishing I read it sooner.

Content warnings: infidelity, death, Alzheimer’s, divorce, sibling bullying

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As someone in their first year of marriage, this story of love and commitment really touched me. It was compelling, dramatic and thought-provoking, and it'll be on my mind for a while.

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On looking over my #NetGalley books, I found I inadvertently forgot to post a review for #MorningsideHeights. Sorry, my error. Looking back, I found it to be an intriguing family drama. It was well written and moved at a steady pace, enabling me to feel the plight of the characters. After reading, I was torn in rating it between three and four stars. I ultimately gave it three , but would not be surprised if other reviewers went higher.

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Unfortunately, this book was unreadable due to formatting issues that I just couldn’t ignore after 25 pages. That said, I didn’t love the beginning enough to seek it out further.

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Joshua Henkin has written a poignant book about the enchantment of love and the endurance of commitment. Pru is a student in Professor Spence Robin's Shakespeare class when the two of them begin to date. The professor is the star of Columbia's English faculty and, at first, they try to keep their relationship hidden. That only goes so far and they end up, not only open about it, but married shortly after they meet.

Pru had wanted to pursue her interest in Shakespeare but gives up her career to be with Robin. They have a daughter, Sarah, who grows up to become a doctor. Pru finds out shortly after she begins to date Spence that he'd been married before and has a son named Arlo. His first wife is a drifter and was unwilling to share custody of Arlo with Spence. He comes in and out of their lives erratically.

Spence is about six years Pru's senior and is a real star. He receives a MacArthur genius award, a Guggenheim award, and many others. His classes have the highest enrollment of any class in his department. Pru takes a job working for Barnard's fund raising department and it is not at all fulfilling. Her life is dedicated to Spence and Sarah.

When Spence is about 50, Pru begins to notice some changes in him. He needs a lot more sleep, he forgets some familia words, and he had 'episodes' in his classes where he forgets what he planned to say. The neurological findings are unquestionable. Spence has early onset Alzheimer's disease.

This novel is about love and devotion, and how Spence and Pru navigate this uncharted territory It is not easy but Pru is thoroughly committed to Spence. I had a mother with dementia and the details of this disease, as described by the author, are very accurate. As Spence gets more and more unable to communicate and his physical abilities deteriorate, Pru does her best to care for him with dignity and respect.

I could say this book is about love and loss but it is much more complex than that. It is about the webs of connection and the extremes we'll go to in order to continue loving what is remembered. While the current situation might be met with disgust or even revulsion, the love remains solid and true. The book is very well-written and I hated to put it down. It is a testimony to commitment and love, no matter what the circumstances.

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What a beautiful and thoughtful book. The writing is exceptional and paints a compassionate portrait of marriage, family, a the challenges that Alzheimer's bring. This was an emotional read and one I will not soon forget.

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Joshua Henkin’s Morningside Heights is a story of one family and how its patriarch’s Alzheimer’s affects each member. It is about how the disease can destroy even the most brilliant mind and strain the strongest of relationships. It is also a quiet story. There are no big blow-ups, even during the most contentious conflicts. That very simplicity is what moves the reader; illness can happen to anyone and need not be accompanied by excessive drama.

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