Left Neglected, Lisa Genova

Left Neglected, by Lisa Genova

(Tansley Reads Rating: 69%)

Ice Breaker– Have you even been involved in a car accident or serious breakdown?

Discussion

1.     Sarah has a series of anxious dreams in the nights leading up to the accident. How would you interpret these dreams?
        What do you think her subconscious is trying to tell her?
        Is Sarah a better mother before or after the crash? How do you think she would answer that                            question?

2.     Did you identify with any character in the book?

3.     Sarah periodically lets herself have timed crying sessions to cope with stress. Why do you think she loves a job that makes her feel that way?

4.     Why did Sarah suddenly decide not to go back to her job?

5.     Sarah’s Type A personality seems like it should help her through her physical therapy, but her friend and therapist Heidi believes she needs to stop trying to “win” and learn how to “adjust.” Do you agree?
Do you think by adjusting to her new limitations, Sarah holds herself back from a quicker recovery?

6.     While Sarah is in the rehabilitation hospital, she and Heidi trade watches, even though Sarah’s is clearly the more valuable of the two. Toward the end of the novel, Sarah notes that Heidi is still wearing her expensive watch, but never asks for it back. Why do you think she doesn’t reclaim her watch?

7.     What did Sarah miss out on by having such a withdrawn mother? If her mother had been more available, do you think Sarah would be as high achieving?

8.     Sarah’s trauma gives her a chance to reconnect with her estranged mother. Why is it so hard for Sarah to forgive her mother?

9.     What are all the things that are neglected in this book? How does the neglect impact the lives of the characters? --
[ several: Sarah's brother Nate drowns because of neglect and that sets the whole course of her story and her parents'; Sarah and her mother neglect their relationship until catastrophe strikes and lose out on a lot; Sarah and Bob neglect prudent financial management and so are living on the edge in spite of having a huge income; their children probably don't get as much parental attention as they need, though that's not evident; Helen neglects her depression and it robs her of many years of her life; and of  course Sarah neglects paying attention on the highway.]
On the other hand there are many things that are NOT neglected, and they lead to good outcomes, especially Sarah and Bob's relationship and Charlie's ADHD.

10.  Is Sarah better off at the end of the novel than at the beginning? If so, in what ways?