Every Note Played

A virtuoso performance by the bestselling author of Still Alice, Lisa Genova delivers a stunning novel of finding harmony amidst the most tragic of situations.



An accomplished concert pianist, Richard has already suffered many losses in his life: the acrimonious divorce from his ex-wife, Karina; the estrangement of his daughter, Grace; and now, a devastating diagnosis. ALS. The relentlessly progressive paralysis of ALS begins in the cruellest way possible - in his hands. As Richard becomes more and more locked inside his body and can no longer play piano or live on his own, Karina steps in as his reluctant caregiver.



Paralysed in a different way, Karina is trapped within a prison of excuses and blame, stuck in an unfulfilling life as an after-school piano teacher, afraid to pursue the path she abandoned as a young woman. As Richard's muscles, voice and breath fade, the two struggle to reconcile their past before it's too late.



With a strong musical sensibility and the staggering insight of Jojo Moyes' Me Before You, Lisa Genova has delivered a masterful exploration of what it means to find yourself within the most shattering of circumstances.



Lisa Genova is the New York Times bestselling author of Inside the O'Briens, Love Anthony, Left Neglected and Still Alice. Her first novel, Still Alice, was adapted into an acclaimed Academy-Award winning film starring Julianne Moore. Lisa holds a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard University and travels worldwide speaking about Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury and autism. She lives with her family in Massachusetts.



Lisa Genova is unquestionably the wise counsellor who would get you and yours through the worst. She's a philosopher and her books are quite simply brilliant



Lisa Genova's novels ring true . . . Beautifully written and poignant to the point of heartbreak



An expertly written depiction of the toll a ravaging disease takes on both the body and the heart.



The research that has gone into this book is extraordinary. It moved me to tears and has opened my eyes to the horror of motor neurone disease in a way no ice bucket challenge ever did.



An emotional, touching and provocative novel [...] Lisa Genova writes with incredible sensitivity... This isn't a fairytale, I knew there wasn't going to be a happy ending, yet I was surprised at the amount of love and hope between the pages. EVERY NOTE PLAYED is powerful, stark, and strangely beautiful, I truly loved it.



A tear-jerker of a novel from the bestselling author of Still Alice



an eloquent and touching imagining of how a peaceful terminal place might be reached



Genova captivates... [Every Note Played] is both substantively informative about ALS and an emotionally wrenching psychological portrait.



Genova expertly details the devastation ALS wreaks on Richard, and though her latest is a sometimes difficult read, she finds hope in the opportunities Richard has to repair his relationships with his daughter and brothers before it's too late.



an ideal choice for reading groups



Devastating. We climb into the hearts of a normal, chaotic, loving family. A story about the resilience of love in the face of a tragic, inevitable fate.



Remember how you couldn't put down Still Alice? Well, clear your schedule because you're going to feel the same way.