Still Alice

Horrifying all the way through. Written in third person—because first person would be preposterous—but it's a deeply intimate third person, heavily focused on Alice's decaying mind and thoughts... and awareness. That's where the book shines: its merciless brutal spotlight on Alice's inner state. Her knowledge of what awaits her but helpless ignorance of when and how. Loss and frustration and courage, and then only nothing. The reader watches a beautiful mind fade then vanish. Most chillingly, she (rightly) plans her exit strategy early on... but then, understandably, waits too long. There is no escape for her or her loved ones.