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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5/5. A really compelling story even though I had some idea of the plot from listening to the author's podcast and hearing about the situation this book was based on. Well written and I like that it jumped back and forth between past and present building up to the time where the two stories meet.
I didn’t know much about this story when I checked it out at the library. Each chapter goes back and forth between the main character’s past and present, alternating from her using her real name and alias (not a spoiler). As her past becomes unfolded, her present becomes more complicated.
It was an interesting story, and having just come back from an international trip I related a lot to the cultural aspects of being in a different country. However, I did not expect nor like the sexual, and at times detailed content, as well as the harsh language spread throughout. Some arcs I felt were unnecessary and left me being very disappointed with this book, even disgusted.
Rating: S: 3, L: 3, V: 1
It was an interesting story, and having just come back from an international trip I related a lot to the cultural aspects of being in a different country. However, I did not expect nor like the sexual, and at times detailed content, as well as the harsh language spread throughout. Some arcs I felt were unnecessary and left me being very disappointed with this book, even disgusted.
Rating: S: 3, L: 3, V: 1
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tengo que decir que este libro me decepciono un poco. Es más interesante todo lo anterior a saber qué paso, que ocasiono todo, que el origen del drama. De hecho el personaje protagonista me resulto un poco demasiado dramático en un momento. De todas formas es interesante y hay gente que lo amo, pero a mí no me gusto tanto, aunque no es una mala historia, es solo que aveces es muy telenovela. Una cosa a reconocer, es que la autora verdaderamente investigo sobre dónde iba a desarrollarse la historia y eso esta muy bien y es algo a rescatar.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Not a lot of books surprise me but this one really did. Great story.
{My Thoughts}
I always like it when an author is able to put together seemingly disparate parts into a cohesive story and Andrea Dunlop did just that in We Came Here to Forget. She managed to bring together an elite ski career with dancing the tango, snow-capped mountains with a bustling foreign city, and the pride of victory with the shame of scandal. She seamlessly accomplished this by using dual timelines for her leading character, Katie/Liz.
“I felt a chill run through my body. At the time I would have told you it was exhaustion, overwhelm, and confusion all happening at once, but looking back, I know. That feeling was the devil walking into the room.”
Katie grew up in Idaho and took to skiing from the time she was 5. The trajectory of her life was defined by getting better and better at her sport, putting more and more time in, moving closer to trainers, qualifying for bigger and bigger competitions until the Olympics became reality. Throughout this past timeline, you not only follow Katie’s career, but her closest relationships with both family and friends.
“The thing about tragedy is that it isn’t about just getting through it. It’s about getting on with your life when the dust has settled, but the landscape is bombed out, smoke in the air, charred remains at your feet.”
In Buenos Aries Katie is calling herself Liz. She fears being recognized, going out of her way to avoid anyone who might realize her true identity. Herein lies the mystery of We Came Here to Forget. Why is Katie afraid? What happened back at home? Why has she given up her career? As she’s learning to tango and finding the solace of friendship in a quirky group of expats with secrets of their own, more and more answers are revealed.
As with many dual timeline stories, in We Came Here to Forget I liked one more than the other. The mystery of the story lived in the past timeline and that was the one I was always most eager to get back to. The present, in Buenos Aires sometimes felt a little trifling. But near the end, as the past got closer and closer to the present, I found them equally compelling. A few plot points in the story felt a little too usual for my taste, but those were offset by other elements that you rarely find in fiction. These added a depth and richness to the story, and that combined with the fantastic narration of Julia Whelan made We Came Here to Forget my favorite audiobook so far this summer! Grade: A-
Narration: This really goes without saying, but ANYTHING read by Julia Whelan is fantastic and We Came Here to Forget is no exception. She does voices so well (including men’s) that she makes it almost impossible not to get lost in the story. Grade: A
For more reviews and bookish news: https://novelvisits.com/
I always like it when an author is able to put together seemingly disparate parts into a cohesive story and Andrea Dunlop did just that in We Came Here to Forget. She managed to bring together an elite ski career with dancing the tango, snow-capped mountains with a bustling foreign city, and the pride of victory with the shame of scandal. She seamlessly accomplished this by using dual timelines for her leading character, Katie/Liz.
“I felt a chill run through my body. At the time I would have told you it was exhaustion, overwhelm, and confusion all happening at once, but looking back, I know. That feeling was the devil walking into the room.”
Katie grew up in Idaho and took to skiing from the time she was 5. The trajectory of her life was defined by getting better and better at her sport, putting more and more time in, moving closer to trainers, qualifying for bigger and bigger competitions until the Olympics became reality. Throughout this past timeline, you not only follow Katie’s career, but her closest relationships with both family and friends.
“The thing about tragedy is that it isn’t about just getting through it. It’s about getting on with your life when the dust has settled, but the landscape is bombed out, smoke in the air, charred remains at your feet.”
In Buenos Aries Katie is calling herself Liz. She fears being recognized, going out of her way to avoid anyone who might realize her true identity. Herein lies the mystery of We Came Here to Forget. Why is Katie afraid? What happened back at home? Why has she given up her career? As she’s learning to tango and finding the solace of friendship in a quirky group of expats with secrets of their own, more and more answers are revealed.
As with many dual timeline stories, in We Came Here to Forget I liked one more than the other. The mystery of the story lived in the past timeline and that was the one I was always most eager to get back to. The present, in Buenos Aires sometimes felt a little trifling. But near the end, as the past got closer and closer to the present, I found them equally compelling. A few plot points in the story felt a little too usual for my taste, but those were offset by other elements that you rarely find in fiction. These added a depth and richness to the story, and that combined with the fantastic narration of Julia Whelan made We Came Here to Forget my favorite audiobook so far this summer! Grade: A-
Narration: This really goes without saying, but ANYTHING read by Julia Whelan is fantastic and We Came Here to Forget is no exception. She does voices so well (including men’s) that she makes it almost impossible not to get lost in the story. Grade: A
For more reviews and bookish news: https://novelvisits.com/