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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
I really liked this book. The protagonist falls down a flight of stairs and bumps her noggin causing short term amnesia. This gives our teenaged heroine a chance to rediscover herself, who she is and what she's all about, and what's really important in her life. While it could be cheesy and preachy, Zevin keeps the story moving and never mires it with too many lessons or mush. It is, perhaps, for a more mature reader as there is some sex although it is not gratutitous nor descriptive.
I loved Elsewhere and it's on my to re-read list, so when I saw this was by the same author, I had to pick it up.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac begins with of course, the main character being an amnesiac after falling down the stairs at her school. She must then figure out who she is and who those around her are while navigating a high school where everyone else knows who she is and is dealing with her differences. She learns things about her own life that come to a shock and says some things to people she no longer remembers which hurts them.
It was a fun read, interesting enough that it's a pleasure to read and therefore also a very quick read. It's very cute and I think the relationships between all of the characters worked very well. The one thing that upset me was that in the very beginning when she's going through her room she finds a food diary displaying disturbingly low calorie counts with smiley faces next to them. This is not only met with indifference, but is never again mention in the book and so why even put it there at all?
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac begins with of course, the main character being an amnesiac after falling down the stairs at her school. She must then figure out who she is and who those around her are while navigating a high school where everyone else knows who she is and is dealing with her differences. She learns things about her own life that come to a shock and says some things to people she no longer remembers which hurts them.
It was a fun read, interesting enough that it's a pleasure to read and therefore also a very quick read. It's very cute and I think the relationships between all of the characters worked very well. The one thing that upset me was that in the very beginning when she's going through her room she finds a food diary displaying disturbingly low calorie counts with smiley faces next to them. This is not only met with indifference, but is never again mention in the book and so why even put it there at all?
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I thought this book was less about amnesia and more about learning about different types of love as life changes around you and you grow up.
I felt that James took up too many words and that their relationship could have been handled in a more nuanced way to give the idea but not in such in-depth detail. Naomi’s self discovery and navigation of life with no memory could have been fleshed out in the saved pages. I wanted to hear more reflection and emotion from her as a character rather than learning about her mainly in relation to her connections with men.
Some parts I was waiting to come back round, ie, the blank book her dad got her and I was disappointed when this wasn’t tied up.
I thought Zevins writing was decent, not as on the mark as other more experienced YA authors, but it flowed well and made me page turn even if I wasn’t loving every second.
However, for me, one of the biggest factors that stopped me from enjoying it was seeing lots of parallels with Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I loved that so much and of course, this just didn’t stand up next to it. Had there been less similarities I wouldn’t have judged them side by side and could have perhaps appreciated this on its own merit, but I couldn’t help thinking how some quite specific themes cropped up in both novels, ie, hospitals opening up relationships, chance encounters at train stations bringing long lost connections together and parental death (although that’s a must in YA right?!)
I did like the end a lot more than tomorrow though!
I felt that James took up too many words and that their relationship could have been handled in a more nuanced way to give the idea but not in such in-depth detail. Naomi’s self discovery and navigation of life with no memory could have been fleshed out in the saved pages. I wanted to hear more reflection and emotion from her as a character rather than learning about her mainly in relation to her connections with men.
Some parts I was waiting to come back round, ie, the blank book her dad got her and I was disappointed when this wasn’t tied up.
I thought Zevins writing was decent, not as on the mark as other more experienced YA authors, but it flowed well and made me page turn even if I wasn’t loving every second.
However, for me, one of the biggest factors that stopped me from enjoying it was seeing lots of parallels with Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I loved that so much and of course, this just didn’t stand up next to it. Had there been less similarities I wouldn’t have judged them side by side and could have perhaps appreciated this on its own merit, but I couldn’t help thinking how some quite specific themes cropped up in both novels, ie, hospitals opening up relationships, chance encounters at train stations bringing long lost connections together and parental death (although that’s a must in YA right?!)
I did like the end a lot more than tomorrow though!
I received this as part of a Tandem ReadAlong so think I have to preface with AD PR PRODUCT
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fabulous. Amnesia is catnip to some readers, but here it's not just fluff but as entertaining as a John Hughes movie, with just as much truth and pain about real life. Naomi wakes up from a fall on the school steps to realize she's forgotten the last four years -including her best friend, her boy friend, why she likes the sports and activities she does, and worst of all, her parents divorce. What follows is a journey to figure out who she is and where she fits that ANY teenager will be able to relate to. Brilliant book by a skillful writer.
For more on this book and why parents should read it too, visit my blog at http://www.teenagesafari.com/2017/03/13/read-with-your-teen-memoirs-of-a-teenage-amnesiac-by-gabrielle-zevin/
For more on this book and why parents should read it too, visit my blog at http://www.teenagesafari.com/2017/03/13/read-with-your-teen-memoirs-of-a-teenage-amnesiac-by-gabrielle-zevin/
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No