One Hundred Names for Love: A Memoir

All of Ackermann's writing is memorable, beautiful, and grounded in fact. This story of her husband's stroke and it consequences if both helpful and affecting.

this book touched me in ways i did not expect. two wordsmiths are decimated by paul's stroke. his partial recovery of his marvelous, neologistic, brilliant wordplay is inspirational. equally compelling is ackerman's account of the weeks in the hospital, the drain of being a constant caretaker, the loss of her own work, the loss of all those words -- as i wrote to some friends when recommending this book, when i read his first word joke after this horrible stroke and double aphasia -- i cried.wow.

This book would probably not be for everyone, but I liked it. It is a very detailed account of how the author helped her husband find his way back, more or less, from a devastating stroke. I found her patience and upbeat spirit admirable. It is truly a story of a great love written by a great lady. She did have her challenging and discouraging moments, but seemed to always rise above them. He is a very lucky man to have her

Diane Ackerman writes with spellbinding beauty and so much needed knowledge for people like me. I would hope that if I should ever have a stroke that my caregivers would use this book as a guide. Read this on my Kindle but plan to buy a hard copy so I can highlight so much information, plus the dancing of her phrases. Such a marvelous book thank you Diane

I had mixed reactions to the book. On one hand, how can anyone but root for Diane and Paul, and suffer along with them as they struggled through the horror of these circumstances? I felt happy as clarity surfaced in Paul's damaged brain, and wanted to give Diane a hug during the early days when she went through her caregiver role as a zombie.Yet there were some difficulties in the book. At times, Diane overused metaphors in a way that obscured rather than clarified her points. Here's an example of overwriting, wherein she describes her mannerisms changing to accommodate Paul's limitations:"I now seemed to quarry words, one by one, presenting them like bright bits of jasper—not slurred in a wash of flurried adjectives—when I spoke to Paul. Sometimes with a flutter of agitated worry that felt like a beetle was trapped inside my ribs. But I savored the delicious warm touch-ribbons of silent affection, uniting and comforting us, even when words failed. And I followed the stew of sympathy from friends, whose faces flickered with unrefined sorrow-compassion-pity."Also, I was disappointed that Diane, while knocked back by the overwhelming load of caregiving, adapts to it somehow, yet she declines to explain those successful strategies. What a great service that would have been. Here's an example of what most of us either have gone through or will in the future:"My body also felt derelict and unlived in. Every little thing, no matter how small—putting on makeup, changing my clothes, washing my hair—seemed to add boulders to an already unbearable weight. I felt as if a spare particle would make me collapse. I kept forgetting to eat, and, anyway, the refrigerator was bare because I hadn’t the energy to shop." Like many people, I've been there. What did she do about it? How did she handle it? Not said.And: "...caregiving had its hopes and charms, but on the downside, this meant that every hour was interruptible. My days no longer contained adjoining hours in which to work. Yet I had a new book to write...So while Paul was straining mentally to reclaim language, I was straining to learn the peculiar skill of concentrating on my work in attention gulps...while keeping one ear open for signs of discord or trouble." Again, I know that feeling of interruption, and the frustration that makes one want to throw everything in the trash and say the heck with it, I'll just give up being a person and dedicate my life to caring for you. Diane struggled with this, but she doesn't say how she surmounts it.She also reveals that she's married a man who is quite a bit older than her, who was in the past given to alcoholic rages and verbal abuse. The balance of power in this relationship is striking. I say this realizing I'm commenting on the apparent nature of their relationship, which is none of my business and not the point of the book. Still, it's like an unacknowledged third protagonist.In summary, Diane Ackerman has done a good job of describing one stroke, one man, and one dedicated wife. The potential for teaching others how to deal with a similar situation remains unrealized, regrettably.

Having always been interested in how the brain works and also in the creative use of words, I found this book a gold mine of information regarding the human brain and its functioning in spite of trauma. It is stimulating, inspiring, and at times very emotionally stirring. From tears to torrents of laughter it takes the literary traveler. It depicts genuine love with all its ups and downs; appropriately named, the book shares what it means to really love someone and show it in recemptive ways.I highly recommend this book.

I appreciated EVERYTHING even though in our situation we are dealing with Vascular Dementia and not Aphasia. I was often unable to find language for the swirling, changing and powerful feelings as a partner, so Ackerman's descriptions were immensely helpful! Sadly, in our situation there is no chance of improvement, only decline, but still useful. I developed more empathy for my partner, as well, due to Paul's reflections on his diminished functioning.

This book is amazing on many levels. Interesting analysis of what goes on in a person's brain and in his life during and after a stroke. Incredible testimony of support and love of the caregiver/wife. Not too rose-colored glasses - yes, it is difficult to give up yourself to care for another even when you love him. And Ackerman lets us know that.On the other hand, and even giving Diane Ackerman many many kudos for both her loving support of her husband and for her writing, it gets a little old hearing her pat herself on the back. It only became tiring for me 3/4 of the way through, so that's not too bad, I guess.I prefer to think someone is wonderful than to hear them tell me how wonderful they are...over and over.Good thinking on her part to let the reader know right up front that her husband regained much functioning. It would be just too grueling to read otherwise. As it is, even with my high recommendations, none of my friends has wanted to read this book. The subject matter may just be too threatening.Imho, extremely worth reading.

One rarely thinks of loving as a creative activity; read this book and you'll change your mind. Ah - the phrase change your mind...very apt. Such a difficult unfathomable task and yet Paul's story is living proof. Following his stroke he had to learn to cope with a changed mind

Wonderful insight.....

I bought this as I so enjoyed Diane Ackerman's language in The Zookeeper's Wife [and wonder how a film can do justice to the richness of the language]. However, it is as if this poet cannot turn off her poetry gene for a second and just write a straight sentence, so this book, superb though it is, does not move fast enough for me. It is still interesting and loving and beautifully written. I am just not gobbling it up as I did the first book. I also bought Alchemy of Mind and once again, this is superbly written, fascinating and sensual in its understanding and descriptions of brain and mind. Somehow I like this better than the memoir. Reading Diane Ackerman is like having the best coffee and the richest chocolate cake - and then a slice too much!

This outlined a very unique relationship of a couple who seemed to have a very child like relationship, using play words for each other, a tool used in stroke recovery. Felt too private sometimes.