Scan barcode
lucy3610's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story centers on Sophie and Lucien who are both patients at a center that treats people who have used Memoroxin, a drug that allows one to experience past memories of their own or others. Sophie is an aspiring dancer who waitresses to make ends meet and has come to the attention of a powerful and controlling Hollywood producer. Lucien is a photographer whose mother has recently died and whose grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The story weaves between their two perspectives, hopping between their current experiences at the Center and their lives before that brought them to this point.
Westgate does an excellent job of discussing the impact of memory on identity through the two main characters. The story shifts into and out of the past and present as well as between the two main characters in an interesting way that is easy to follow. As we learn more about Lucien and Sophie's past, we better understand how their lives became entangled with Mem. The use of two very specific character studies to explore wider questions about memory works incredibly well. Despite my ability to feel empathy for these characters and to be interested in their stories, I never truly cared for them. Though I think the commentary and ideas that this story presents will stick with me, I think that the characters will be easy to forget. Even so, I think that Westgate does do a lot in this story and presents many ideas in an effective manner. I'll be interested to see what they write next and if they continue to explore complex ideas through near future character studies.
Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Addiction, Car accident, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual assault, Drug use, Mental illness, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Suicide, and Dementia
stevie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Cancer, Dementia, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Mass/school shootings
aimsro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Car accident, Self harm, and Drug abuse
goodbyerachel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is on the slower-paced side but I think balances two POV characters and their dual timelines in the "before" and then the "current" timeline when they are in a treatment center for taking Mem. I was instantly invested in how they got from the before to the "current" and how both characters changed in such little time. However, the prose does meander a bit through their lives and memories and makes the reader sit with these characters a bit longer to get answers. To me, this aligned well with other literary fiction or character-driven pacing and with the themes of memory in this book.
I’d recommend this to fans of character-driven, lyrical prose, Black Mirror, and Blake Crouch.
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent