Meg Howrey’s novel “Body Language” centers on a family grappling with Alzheimer’s disease, assisted dying, and complex sibling relationships. The story follows Barbara, an Indiana woman who, after witnessing the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s on her own mother and sister, resolves to avoid the same fate by planning a dignified death on her own terms.
Barbara’s three daughters—Nanette, Sloane, and Laurel—converge on her home, confronting a reality far more dire than they expected. Nanette, the youngest, is a 35-year-old Episcopal nun in training based in Chicago. Her spiritual journey takes an unexpected turn when a gun range visit triggers a revelation: she feels compelled to assist her mother in ending her life. Sloane, the eldest, previously an actress with credits including “Star Trek,” now lives in Los Angeles working as a therapist and somatic healer, wrestling with doubts about the commodification of menopause therapies she offers her clients. Laurel, the middle sister, manages a family and works for an environmental nonprofit in New Jersey, facing her own marital uncertainties after suspecting her husband of infidelity.
Barbara, who has remained fiercely independent since divorcing her daughters’ father, relies primarily on a longtime friend, Roberta, who had recently moved in after her house burned down. However, upon the daughters’ arrival, Roberta abruptly leaves in Barbara’s car, heightening the family’s sense of crisis. Barbara’s cognitive decline is evident: she struggles to recognize the names of her grandchildren and presents as a hardened shell of her former self.
The novel explores the sisters’ varied responses to their mother’s condition, depicting moments of tension, humor, and emotional upheaval. Nanette’s neurodivergence is subtly portrayed, reflected in sensory sensitivities and episodes of mental fog. Meanwhile, menopausal fluctuations and personal struggles add layers of complexity to Sloane and Laurel’s experiences.
Howrey’s narrative injects dark humor and absurdity amid the emotional turbulence. The male characters—Barbara’s ex-husband and Laurel’s husband—are depicted as largely peripheral and well-meaning but ineffectual figures within the family dynamic.
“Body Language” also probes themes of faith, family obligation, and personal autonomy, as the sisters navigate the boundaries of care and intervention. Nanette’s spiritual discernment and her willingness to consider assisted dying underscore the novel’s exploration of individual agency confronting mortality.
The book’s tone balances moments of deep pathos with sharp wit, capturing the messy realities of aging, sibling dynamics, and impending loss. Through the sisters’ strained but enduring bonds, Howrey offers a poignant meditation on the complexities of love and the choices faced at life’s end.