Welcome back to final comments and questions on Emma Healy's debut novel, Elizabeth is Missing. 82-year-old Maud Horsham, at the mercy of memory loss, is desperately hunting for her friend, Elizabeth. During her lonely but determined search, she uncovers the truth about her sister Sukey's disappearance in 1946.  As she struggles to remember, she also struggles to be taken seriously by her daughter, caregiver, doctor, and the police.  

• Is Maud heroic, or is her determination to find Elizabeth a consequence of her condition?
• Does she display exceptional courage or recklessness in her search? 
• Is Helen worthy of our admiration and respect? 
• What role does Katy play in the novel?
• Are there any comic moments in the book?
• Is the resolution satisfying?
• "I can see they won't listen, won't take me seriously. So I must do something. I must, because Elizabeth is missing." 
• Is the ending happy or sad?

Elizabeth is Missing is a brilliant read. It showcases an older woman with dementia who refuses to be cowed down. It sparkles with wit and humor even as it deals with very hard subjects. It helps us to understand the frustration that people who are unable to communicate for whatever reasons must feel. It teaches us to be humane even as it entertains us. Next month, at the 67th Street Library, we will read and discuss Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson, another fascinating look at memory and its relationship to identity.