Articles

This is the eleventh in a series of book reviews from Kristen Phillips. Reading about other people’s experiences helped Kristen emotionally and practically around her father’s illness. Her hope is that these reviews will raise awareness of the ever-increasing number of books (fiction and non-fiction) available to support and educate those of us affected by dementia.

Blimmin’ Koro!: Kātahi rā, e Koro e!
(Oratia Books, 2021)                          
Jill Bevan-Brown, Illustrated by Trish Bowles.
Māori translation by Māhaki Bevan-Brown              
32 pages 

This is the ninth in a series of book reviews from Kristen Phillips. Reading about other people’s experiences helped Kristen emotionally and practically around her father’s illness. Her hope is that these reviews will raise awareness of the ever-increasing number of books (fiction and non-fiction) available to support and educate those of us affected by dementia.

Aliceheimer’s: Alzheimer’s Through the Looking Glass
(Pennsylvania State University Press, 2016)
Dana Walrath   
72 pages

Reading about other people’s experiences helped me emotionally and practically around my dad’s condition. My hope is that these reviews will raise awareness of the ever-increasing number of books (fiction and nonfiction) available to support and educate those of us affected by dementia.

If there are any books you would like reviewed, please send me the titles.

This review of The Year My Family Unravelled has been written by a guest reviewer, my partner, the writer Mia Farlane. My own book Dad, You’ve Got Dementia was published in July so I have not had time in the second half of the year to write reviews; I will be getting back to regular reviews in 2024.

- Kristen Phillips

This is the seventh in a series of book reviews from Kristen Phillips. Reading about other people’s experiences helped Kristen emotionally and practically around her father’s illness. Her hope is that these reviews will raise awareness of the ever-increasing number of books (fiction and non-fiction) available to support and educate those of us affected by dementia.

Head On: An All Black’s memoir 
(Harper Collins, June 2023)
Carl Hayman
311 pages
Order at any book shop or online.

‘I used to play ruby and was quite good at it. I’m a man who hit a woman I loved, the mother of three of my children ... I’m a kid from a farm and still a wannabe farmer. I’m an alcoholic. I’m brain damaged and sometimes scared, sometimes lonely, I’m loving and loyal. I’m a bit of a mess.

Yeah, I’m all that, but there’s one other thing I am ...I’m not without hope.