Tory Henwood Hoen Discusses Her Book 'Before I Forget' and Alzheimer's

The Inspiration Behind 'Before I Forget'

• ✍️ Author Tory Henwood Hoen discusses her new book, "Before I Forget," which is deeply personal, drawing from her own experience with her father's battle with Alzheimer's disease.
• 💡 The book aims to blend humor and emotion, reflecting the unexpected and inspirational aspects of navigating the disease.

Blending Humor and Heartbreak

• 💔 While acknowledging Alzheimer's as a devastating and heartbreaking disease, Hoen emphasizes that humor can coexist with the pain.
• 😂 She shares how her father retained his sense of humor, allowing for meaningful moments even as his memory declined.
• 🎭 The narrative explores both the light and dark sides of the disease and how families cope with grace and humor.

The Protagonist's Journey

• 🏡 The main character, Cricut, moves back home to the Adirondacks after a tragedy, embarking on a quiet hero's journey.
• 🌱 The story focuses on Cricut's process of learning to trust herself and her instincts again, ultimately coming home to herself.

Exploring Consciousness and Wisdom

• 🔮 In the book, as the father loses his memory, he develops an ability to see the future and bestow wisdom.
• 🧠 Hoen explores the concept of consciousness, suggesting that even with memory or intellectual decline, other human capacities can emerge.

Themes of Forgiveness and Acceptance

• ❤️ Forgiveness and acceptance are presented as universal themes central to the book.
• 🤝 The narrative portrays a father-daughter relationship that evolves, finding new ways to love beyond limitations and forge a new connection.