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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
**MINOR SPOILER ALERT** Just a few plot details revealed...
Gabrielle Zevin is on the list of my favorite YA authors right along with Laurie Halse Anderson, Chris Crutcher, John Green, Cinda Chima Williams, Jordan Sonneblick... OK, not such a short list!
Zevin's first novel, Elsewhere, was one of my favorite books last year, so I read her second novel, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac with some trepidation. While MoTA is not as clever as Elsewhere, Zevin's writing is still stellar. There were so many lines that made me tear up or laugh.
Here's one: "Sister? It was a foreign word on my tongue, gibberish. Sisters were something other people had, like mono or ponies."
or: "It's when you don't need something that you tend to lose it."
The title character, Naomi, falls down the steps in front of her school and suffers amnesia. She loses the past four years of her life, basically all of middle school and high school. She doesn't remember how to drive, how to speak French, or the fact that her parents ended their marriage in a messy divorce.
Following Naomi on her journey to "rediscover" herself, unencumbered by the baggage of who she once was,makes this book worth reading.
Yes, the ending is a bit anticlimactic and predictable, but I struggle to figure out how Zevin could tie up the plot any other way than she did.
All in all, a nice sophomore follow-up to Elsewhere. I cannot wait to read her next book.
Gabrielle Zevin is on the list of my favorite YA authors right along with Laurie Halse Anderson, Chris Crutcher, John Green, Cinda Chima Williams, Jordan Sonneblick... OK, not such a short list!
Zevin's first novel, Elsewhere, was one of my favorite books last year, so I read her second novel, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac with some trepidation. While MoTA is not as clever as Elsewhere, Zevin's writing is still stellar. There were so many lines that made me tear up or laugh.
Here's one: "Sister? It was a foreign word on my tongue, gibberish. Sisters were something other people had, like mono or ponies."
or: "It's when you don't need something that you tend to lose it."
The title character, Naomi, falls down the steps in front of her school and suffers amnesia. She loses the past four years of her life, basically all of middle school and high school. She doesn't remember how to drive, how to speak French, or the fact that her parents ended their marriage in a messy divorce.
Following Naomi on her journey to "rediscover" herself, unencumbered by the baggage of who she once was,makes this book worth reading.
Yes, the ending is a bit anticlimactic and predictable, but I struggle to figure out how Zevin could tie up the plot any other way than she did.
All in all, a nice sophomore follow-up to Elsewhere. I cannot wait to read her next book.
I first read this book when I was 15/16. My friend lent it to me and I loved it. Since then I've been looking for it, but I only rediscovered it recently. Still love it now, Gabrielle Zevin is one of my favourite authors :)
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
LOVED THIS BOOK! Deserves 10/5 stars! I wish Will was my best friend..-Chief
Although I understand and think that the effects of amnesia can be quite difficult to understand, in my opinion, Naomi Porter was just too difficult to read about. I’m not sure when I started taking a disliking to her, but I’m pretty sure it was after she thought every single person was being annoying—whether it was her mother who went to visit her in the hospital or getting irritated with her dad for trying to help her see what she’d forgotten. But still. I figured that I should give Naomi the benefit of the doubt. She’s woken up muddled and confused, so it’s obvious that she should not be judged so harshly.
But when it wasn’t Naomi that was annoying, it was either Will, Ace, or James. The three most irritating people that I’ve ever had to read about. God. What Naomi sees in them, we will never know. Although she tries to explain, I just couldn’t see it. Will was far too whiny and just plain insensitive to the fact that Naomi had obviously suffered amnesia. Ace just knocked on her window at night and then proceeded to kiss her and immediately used the most BS metaphor I’ve ever had to read about how they slept together for the first time. James was just too moody, and in my opinion Naomi let him treat her terribly! I mean,!
The plot does go over the span of one year, but in my opinion, I wished it was just a little more of Naomi actually trying to connect with her family and friends and try to just find herself. Instead, we get to see how she constantly lies about everything to as many people that she can, and then just.
One thing that I did appreciate about this is that Naomi has changed overall as a character, and we get to see what parts of her she had to rediscover and how that affected her. I appreciated Naomi more towards the end when I looked past her being whiny for everything. Also, I like the fact that there was more than one love interest just to show that she didn’t need to rely on one person and that you do end up falling in love more than once.
Overall, I would recommend reading Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac if you’re in the mood for something different and just want to try it out.
But when it wasn’t Naomi that was annoying, it was either Will, Ace, or James. The three most irritating people that I’ve ever had to read about. God. What Naomi sees in them, we will never know. Although she tries to explain, I just couldn’t see it. Will was far too whiny and just plain insensitive to the fact that Naomi had obviously suffered amnesia. Ace just knocked on her window at night and then proceeded to kiss her and immediately used the most BS metaphor I’ve ever had to read about how they slept together for the first time. James was just too moody, and in my opinion Naomi let him treat her terribly! I mean,
Spoiler
if my boyfriend made me wait for him so long that a couple walking by thought that I was effing homeless then I would so pissed offThe plot does go over the span of one year, but in my opinion, I wished it was just a little more of Naomi actually trying to connect with her family and friends and try to just find herself. Instead, we get to see how she constantly lies about everything to as many people that she can, and then just
Spoiler
remembers everything in her car towards the end of the book. I guess the only thing that made me happy about that was that we were shown another month of her life after thatOne thing that I did appreciate about this is that Naomi has changed overall as a character, and we get to see what parts of her she had to rediscover and how that affected her. I appreciated Naomi more towards the end when I looked past her being whiny for everything. Also, I like the fact that there was more than one love interest just to show that she didn’t need to rely on one person and that you do end up falling in love more than once.
Overall, I would recommend reading Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac if you’re in the mood for something different and just want to try it out.
I adored this novel. Mainly due to the author's beautiful writing style and fluid storytelling. If I were to make one complaint it would be that I wish one of the characters, whose name I shall not state due to my fear of spoilers, had more of a resolution. I fell in love with them and my mind is reeling, wondering what will become of them and if they move on, find happiness, and heal. This is one novel I am dying to read a companion to.
Naomi has amnesia and had to suffer high school at the same time...The horror! Not only can she not remember why she wanted to take photography, but also forgets all about her boyfriend, best friend and the "crazy" kid, all three whom she happens to fall in love with throughout the story. Gazooks girl! Share the wealth!!
The idea was strong, title is ironic, but alas, the plot falls short in places where it needs to be stronger... Much like an actual teenager, this book often changes its mind on what it is going to do next.
The idea was strong, title is ironic, but alas, the plot falls short in places where it needs to be stronger... Much like an actual teenager, this book often changes its mind on what it is going to do next.
Naomi is a total bitch in this book...i didnt like her character...she was so mean!
