Official Website of Author
Video Introduction
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rob is working on renovating his condo when his life is turned upside down. One fateful day, his contractor hears him collapse from the other room. When Rob awakens in the hospital, little does he know, his life—and brain—have changed forever . . . .
Leaving La-La Land is the astounding memoir of a man afflicted by a rare brain condition known as encephalopathy. Over the course of his three-month hospital stay, doctors speculate all kinds of hypotheses for what Rob might be dealing with, which shows itself through both psychological and physical symptoms, putting him through a barrage of tests. Meanwhile Rob, who has lost his sense of who or where or when he is, and his abilities to accomplish even the most basic bodily functions, finds himself afloat on a sea of encephalopathic dreams that try desperately to make sense of his new reality.
Through these remembered dreams, in which he believes himself to be part of a secretive muay thai tournament or the head of a family and husband to a resentful wife in Japan, Rob’s hospital experience is half-revealed to him, while medical staff’s scrupulous note-taking helps fill in the blanks.
Against all expectations, Rob will eventually find himself able to partially recover from his encephalopathy, regaining a life of relative independence, though he will never be the same. Imaginatively told, at times harrowing, and always profoundly illuminating, Leaving La-La Land is a story of survival and perseverance in the face of incredible odds.
More than a Memoir
Dear Readers
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This book is more than a memoir; it’s a “mind-bending memoir” that explores the human physical, psychological, and emotional changes caused by encephalopathy, a brain disease.
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It’s been called an invitation to understand the power and fragility of the human mind, a psychological odyssey, and a meditation on being alive that immerses you into the very architecture of the mind.
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This book is a front-row seat to a mind in the middle of collapse and reinvention, allowing readers to inhabit a medical crisis step by disorienting step, thought by fractured thought, following a mind, memory, identity, and sense of reality that are suspended.
One reader says this story is a human journey that makes you think about your life, loved ones, and how quickly life can change. While others say this story is a resilience and survival, more than a medical memoir.
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Please enjoy the book, as many others have.
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Rob Bosscha
Reviews
"An exploration from hopelessness - loss of basic functioning to a journey of recovery. A lasting taste of the 'what if' possibilities."
- Reedsy Discovery Review
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"A perfect read for readers drawn to memoir, neuroscience, and the fragility of identity."​​​
- The Prairies Book Review
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"An absorbing, humane account of neurological illness that brings rare visibility to an interior world most patients cannot articulate."
- BookView Review
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"The narration is vulnerable . . . it reflects on personal unraveling and rediscovery of oneself. . . A philosophical memoir about post-illness discovery, Leaving La-La Land is about recovering a lost grip on reality."
- Foreword Clarion Reviews
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"This book offers a rare, honest look into the confusion, memory loss, and emotional isolation. . . Robert writes with raw honesty about the daily realities of recovery. . .Robert’s voice adds a vital human perspective to a condition that is too often misunderstood or hidden — making this not only a compelling read but an important one."
​- Michelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA, Executive Life Coach and Counselor
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"This complex memoir is well organized. . . This story of survival provides insight into a world that is little understood. . . A disturbing and frightening but highly informative tale, with encouragement for fellow sufferers."
- Kirkus Reviews
See what others are saying about Leaving La-La Land!
Interviews
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"I did not start out to write a book. I started writing down these crazy dreams I remember while at the same time having no memory of the real events around me. Over ninety days after being admitted to the hospital, my memory was full of these dreams, which were occupying my brain. I thought that writing them down would do two things: first, ease the time these dreams were occupying my brain, and second, maybe retrieve some real memories."
- Robert K. Bosscha - BookView Interview
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Leaving La-La Land Video- Proof of Concept
About the Author
RObert K. BOSSCHA
Robert K. Bosscha is an author, organizational development specialist, and survivor of the life-altering encephalopathy journey described in this, his first book. With Leaving La-La Land, he hopes to fill in the gap of encephalopathy information as told from a patient’s perspective, providing hope for (partial) recovery to those—or those with loved ones—facing similar odds.
Outside of his writing, Rob enjoys many activities that keep his mind busy, from learning about stock trading to completing jigsaw puzzles. He continues to live with encephalopathy at an independent living retirement community in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.