Scan barcode
karma_narwhal's review
5.0
Ah! So good! I thought I had it figured out, thought I knew how it was going to end... and then the ending came and smacked me upside the head. Such a great book that kept me on my toes and interested!
pattyfgd's review
4.0
JT Lawrence, I had never heard of this author before, but now am wondering why! The Memory of Water is an action packed book that is so full of twists and turns, you can't put it down. Slade Harris is an author with writer's block. And the way he decides to get his mojo back turns into mayhem! There is surprise at every corner leaving you wondering what could possible happen next! A little romance, a little sex, lots of mystery and you have the perfect combination of intrigue.
J Austin Moran II is a new narrator to me as well, and he did a phenomenal job with this book. His voice for suspense and intrigue is spot on, making the story that much more intense. Will be looking for more from both of these!
J Austin Moran II is a new narrator to me as well, and he did a phenomenal job with this book. His voice for suspense and intrigue is spot on, making the story that much more intense. Will be looking for more from both of these!
nickmasters's review
5.0
What a mind f$%&. And I say that in the most complimentary way I can.
Damn, that was a ride and a half. An exceptionally well written journey through the mind of Slade Harris. Slade Harris, just that name alone seems to suggest that the owner of said name has no choice but to be some sort of sociopath or psychopath. The embodiment of that name didn’t disappoint. Slade’s mind is nothing short of interesting, and although it seems complex at times, it’s probably the simplistic rawness of its wants and needs that lead him down a road of depravity.
As for the Audio version of the book. I certainly can’t complain about how it was portrayed.
I did however battle with pronunciations of South African words (not even slang necessarily). Some words like; Tannie, Afrikaans, Ag, Windhoek, Siphiso, etc. irritated me at the start, but I eventually just accepted the incorrect articulation. Other things like R20k (instead of Twenty Thousand Rand) bugged me to no-end (it’s still English after all). Anyway, maybe it’s asking too much to get everything pronounced correctly, but if South African terminology/names/references are going to be used proudly through the book, perhaps more attention could have been afforded? Or perhaps that’s the expat talking in me
Anyway, thanks for taking more on this journey!
It was thoroughly enjoyable.
Damn, that was a ride and a half. An exceptionally well written journey through the mind of Slade Harris. Slade Harris, just that name alone seems to suggest that the owner of said name has no choice but to be some sort of sociopath or psychopath. The embodiment of that name didn’t disappoint. Slade’s mind is nothing short of interesting, and although it seems complex at times, it’s probably the simplistic rawness of its wants and needs that lead him down a road of depravity.
As for the Audio version of the book. I certainly can’t complain about how it was portrayed.
I did however battle with pronunciations of South African words (not even slang necessarily). Some words like; Tannie, Afrikaans, Ag, Windhoek, Siphiso, etc. irritated me at the start, but I eventually just accepted the incorrect articulation. Other things like R20k (instead of Twenty Thousand Rand) bugged me to no-end (it’s still English after all). Anyway, maybe it’s asking too much to get everything pronounced correctly, but if South African terminology/names/references are going to be used proudly through the book, perhaps more attention could have been afforded? Or perhaps that’s the expat talking in me
Anyway, thanks for taking more on this journey!
It was thoroughly enjoyable.
julianav's review
4.0
J. T Lawrence created the anti-hero we all love to hate. Slade Harris is not a mercenary who used to kill for hire or a smuggler working on the side of the good guys. He is a writer of literary fiction, who's had enough of a success to be in debt for his large expensive house and his expensive Jaguar. In the beginning of the book Slade is in the throes of writer's block. It's been a year since he strung together a sentence good enough to be printed, he's spent his advance from his publishers and he's hopelessly in love with his best friend Eve. In a last ditch effort he tries to regain some sort of control, but the effort fails and costs him his relationship with Eve.
Afterwards, in a moment of anger and reflection, Slade decides that killing the woman he still loves will be his next great story. And true to his credo of writing from his own experience, he needs to kill Eve for real, not just on the pages of a book.
I really love the idea that it's murder that gets Slade's creative juices flowing. Lawrence does an amazing job revealing Slade's background, his escapades and trauma to make him what he is. Through this journey, I realized that Slade's imagination only unlocks when the gauge of his real experience is reached, without it he cannot write a plausible sentence. Following his progress throughout the book, I never thought that my dislike of the main character could intensify... and yet with each chapter passing, I hated him more than ever. The book is told from Slade's point of view, who cannot pass a street corner or have an independent thought without attaching a paragraph where a phrase will do. Enamored of the literary greats, Slade views everything as an adventure to be immortalized. In the end, to me, despite his partial redemption Slade remains an unlikable sod, who finally managed to achieve some emotional growth. Sort of like the common first victim in cozy mystery books, where the protagonist has to figure out who didn't want him dead.
This is not an easy book, mostly because I think the character journey and experience defies expectations that readers (and listeners) must love the hero. After this book, that rule isn't really true for me. I would give it 4.5 stars, but the narration, whilst great in many ways, is about an adventure taking place in South Africa, was delivered in slightly Southern US accent. That and the pronunciation of some of the words and names were jarring enough to warrant the loss of a half a star.
Afterwards, in a moment of anger and reflection, Slade decides that killing the woman he still loves will be his next great story. And true to his credo of writing from his own experience, he needs to kill Eve for real, not just on the pages of a book.
I really love the idea that it's murder that gets Slade's creative juices flowing. Lawrence does an amazing job revealing Slade's background, his escapades and trauma to make him what he is. Through this journey, I realized that Slade's imagination only unlocks when the gauge of his real experience is reached, without it he cannot write a plausible sentence. Following his progress throughout the book, I never thought that my dislike of the main character could intensify... and yet with each chapter passing, I hated him more than ever. The book is told from Slade's point of view, who cannot pass a street corner or have an independent thought without attaching a paragraph where a phrase will do. Enamored of the literary greats, Slade views everything as an adventure to be immortalized. In the end, to me, despite his partial redemption Slade remains an unlikable sod, who finally managed to achieve some emotional growth. Sort of like the common first victim in cozy mystery books, where the protagonist has to figure out who didn't want him dead.
This is not an easy book, mostly because I think the character journey and experience defies expectations that readers (and listeners) must love the hero. After this book, that rule isn't really true for me. I would give it 4.5 stars, but the narration, whilst great in many ways, is about an adventure taking place in South Africa, was delivered in slightly Southern US accent. That and the pronunciation of some of the words and names were jarring enough to warrant the loss of a half a star.
kitsune's review
5.0
Another stunning offering from JTL.
I really enjoyed this - it's definitely very different from Lawrence's usual offerings, but as beautifully written as ever.
I loved the protagonist, although he's definitely an unreliable narrator!
I really enjoyed this - it's definitely very different from Lawrence's usual offerings, but as beautifully written as ever.
I loved the protagonist, although he's definitely an unreliable narrator!
vewokie's review
5.0
I thought this book was FAMAZING!
I had to re-read the ending twice just to make sure I understood what had ACTUALLY happened because for a second I was entirely confused that it could NOT be how it ended!
It was incredibly gripping and for me it was enjoyable from the start to the end.
This isn't the sort of genre I regularly read and I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.
The story follows Slade who is the strangest and craziest guy you can think of and this is what kept me hooked because JT describes his thought processes so well. This poor guy's whole life crumbles to pieces and I couldn't help but be entertained by it.
I actually shared daily what I had read with my husband who also wanted to be kept in the loop!
It is the first book by this author that I've had the pleasure of reading and I look forward to reading more of her books if this is the quality!
I had to re-read the ending twice just to make sure I understood what had ACTUALLY happened because for a second I was entirely confused that it could NOT be how it ended!
It was incredibly gripping and for me it was enjoyable from the start to the end.
This isn't the sort of genre I regularly read and I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.
The story follows Slade who is the strangest and craziest guy you can think of and this is what kept me hooked because JT describes his thought processes so well. This poor guy's whole life crumbles to pieces and I couldn't help but be entertained by it.
I actually shared daily what I had read with my husband who also wanted to be kept in the loop!
It is the first book by this author that I've had the pleasure of reading and I look forward to reading more of her books if this is the quality!
tania_kliphuis's review
3.0
At first I wasn't sure about old Slade Harris and his suffocating self-destructive attitude. For at least 30% of the book, I really did wonder where this was all going. But I kept reading because, for all of his faults, he was a rather interesting character (I guess that's why someone as lovely as Eve is friends with him?).
Things really got going for me in the middle of the book.
And then the ending fell a bit apart for me. Look, at least it didn't end with the false ending that Harris initially penned in his cell. And I completely believed that PyschoSally could've done it. But, even so, I have so many questions still:
1. What the hell was the whole Mrs X thing about (not to mention the exploding car in the middle of Duduza)? Was he having a manic episode?
2. Is he that self-involved that he didn't realise that "Denise" was his stalker?
3. Who was Susannah? This was resolved in the false ending, but not the actual ending. Or is it meant to apply there too?
4. What really happened to Francina? Did PyschoSally get rid of her (and I don't mean by sending her to Mauritius)?
All-in-all though, I am really liking J.T. Lawrence and it seems like this is one of her earlier books (which may explain why it's a bit less "polished" plot-wise than Why you were taken)? South African fiction can be so up-itself and it often tries so bloody hard, but I find Lawrence's writing interesting and enjoyable to read and most definitely not up-itself. I managed to get this one for free on Amazon, but I shall be forking over my own money for more of her work.
Things really got going for me in the middle of the book.
Spoiler
The mystery. The suspense. Did he? Didn't he? If not him, then who?And then the ending fell a bit apart for me. Look, at least it didn't end with the false ending that Harris initially penned in his cell. And I completely believed that PyschoSally could've done it. But, even so, I have so many questions still:
1. What the hell was the whole Mrs X thing about (not to mention the exploding car in the middle of Duduza)? Was he having a manic episode?
2. Is he that self-involved that he didn't realise that "Denise" was his stalker?
3. Who was Susannah? This was resolved in the false ending, but not the actual ending. Or is it meant to apply there too?
4. What really happened to Francina? Did PyschoSally get rid of her (and I don't mean by sending her to Mauritius)?
All-in-all though, I am really liking J.T. Lawrence and it seems like this is one of her earlier books (which may explain why it's a bit less "polished" plot-wise than Why you were taken)? South African fiction can be so up-itself and it often tries so bloody hard, but I find Lawrence's writing interesting and enjoyable to read and most definitely not up-itself. I managed to get this one for free on Amazon, but I shall be forking over my own money for more of her work.
rincondejoss's review
5.0
Wao I had my doubts with this one at first, but the twists make me this book a new favorite. I have to admit that Slade didn't catch me the first time he sounded like a bad person, maybe he was but maybe just too wild?
and the plot and the conspirations were so huges and amazing, really a thriller fan dream.
if you're into noir novels this is the one you should pick up.
and the plot and the conspirations were so huges and amazing, really a thriller fan dream.
if you're into noir novels this is the one you should pick up.
geckoedit's review
5.0
WOW! It's so different from her scifi... Boy does this author have range. It's steamy and gritty, twisty and turny and just when I thought I had it all figured out and even had my theory confirmed, she spun around and blew it all up in a fiery explosion of "Gotcha!"
Sneaky trickster. Excellent book.
Sneaky trickster. Excellent book.