In I Didn’t See It Coming, Mary Lou Falcone shares her life journey. This memoir narrates how she navigated love, loss, and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). From caring for her speech-impaired father at 10 to becoming the main support for her husband Nicky Zann, who had LBD, Mary Lou’s story is filled with not only highs and lows but also hope and laughter. The book offers practical insights into dealing with LBD, and it includes thoughts from friends and family. It’s a stirring story of how Mary Lou faced tough times and found strength amid life’s challenges.

This page-turner unveils pivotal moments in the life of the author. What Falcone has so adeptly achieved with this book is subtlety transitioning the story from a captivating coming-of-age story to an insightful guide on how to care for a loved one with Lewy Body Dementia. This is dexterously done to blend with the exploration of her romantic life over the years. Yet, the alternation between perspectives from the author and other individuals with their own accounts never felt out of place.

No truer statement than this captured in the book describes I Didn’t See It Coming better than “The pendulum swings; it just doesn’t make any local stops.” Mary Lou Falcone’s life has been one of pendulum swings. Motion is dampened every now and then by good fortune, luck, laughter, love, and difficult times. Yet, an unmistakable take-home from all of them is Falcone’s great strength of character.

Falcone’s ability to couple storytelling with insightful observations makes this book not only a literary gem but also a mirror reflecting the complexities of debilitating diseases such as dementia. The art illustrations by Nicky Zann, Falcone’s now-late husband, add a visual layer to the entire journey. I Didn’t See It Coming by Mary Lou Falcone is a poignant exploration of what patience and love can achieve in a world of pendulums that don’t stop swinging.

Pages: 304 | ISBN : 978-1734526899