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philolulu's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
katykelly's review against another edition
A YA 'Flowers for Algernon' - very affecting weepie
'The Fault in Our Stars' made us cry for teens with cancer,'Ways to Live Forever' looked at a child's degeneration with leukemia. Now 'The Memory Book' is taking its place as its heroine, Samantha, breaks hearts as she copes with a degenerative memory condition.
Imagine the tragedy - class valedictorian, national finalist in the school debating team, about to take up a place at a prestigious university - and now Samantha McCoy is having to tell her teachers and friends that she has a degenerative disease that will take her memory. Heart-breaking.
She's just so lovely. The way she opens the book, telling her teacher of her condition with bravery btu determination not to let it stand in her way - I wasn't going anywhere until I saw Samantha's story through. A budding writer, Samantha's old crush returns home from New York, a former student who's making waves in the literary world - and they connect... how will her new life affect her new relationship?
Avery gives us the family's perspective on Samantha's condition, and how her lapses in memory affect them all. The writing made me think of the science fiction classic 'Flowers for Algernon', as changes in the protagonist's mental capacity are clearly indicated by his ability to diarise his thoughts, just as Samantha's do. Degeneration is marked, and in this case, her confused state is moving to see.
While a few turns in the plot are clearly coming, the writing is rather moving and I knew what I wanted to happen for Samantha.
It's an ending that comes with a big jolt of emotion, a tug of sadness, and a little beauty.
A very worthy YA read, perfect as a diary format, lovely romance story as part of the heartbreaking plot.
'The Fault in Our Stars' made us cry for teens with cancer,'Ways to Live Forever' looked at a child's degeneration with leukemia. Now 'The Memory Book' is taking its place as its heroine, Samantha, breaks hearts as she copes with a degenerative memory condition.
Imagine the tragedy - class valedictorian, national finalist in the school debating team, about to take up a place at a prestigious university - and now Samantha McCoy is having to tell her teachers and friends that she has a degenerative disease that will take her memory. Heart-breaking.
She's just so lovely. The way she opens the book, telling her teacher of her condition with bravery btu determination not to let it stand in her way - I wasn't going anywhere until I saw Samantha's story through. A budding writer, Samantha's old crush returns home from New York, a former student who's making waves in the literary world - and they connect... how will her new life affect her new relationship?
Avery gives us the family's perspective on Samantha's condition, and how her lapses in memory affect them all. The writing made me think of the science fiction classic 'Flowers for Algernon', as changes in the protagonist's mental capacity are clearly indicated by his ability to diarise his thoughts, just as Samantha's do. Degeneration is marked, and in this case, her confused state is moving to see.
While a few turns in the plot are clearly coming, the writing is rather moving and I knew what I wanted to happen for Samantha.
It's an ending that comes with a big jolt of emotion, a tug of sadness, and a little beauty.
A very worthy YA read, perfect as a diary format, lovely romance story as part of the heartbreaking plot.
reader75829's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
curlyc90's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book fast. Fast. fast.
It was just so easy to keep turning the pages. Until the last one....
I am in tears and I don't think I have the emotional stability to thoroughly review this book.
My suggestion: read it
It was just so easy to keep turning the pages. Until the last one....
I am in tears and I don't think I have the emotional stability to thoroughly review this book.
My suggestion: read it
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful, heartbreaking book. If not for that stuff near the end (with 2 boys) I would have rated this book a 5+ stars. Now however it is just going to live with 5 stars.
This book chronicles the progress of the sickness in Sam. She has NPC, a disease that means she will lose her memory, her body will fail her, she will lose everything, and according to doctors there is no hope or cure.
Sam is writing this book, we start not that long after she was diagnosed with the disease. She wants to make something so she can re-read it later (she has high hopes and keeps being positive) when she is in university of NY. She wants to hold on to those memories. In the beginning things seem to go pretty fine, but quite fast things go downhill for Sam. She is having trouble with talking, she gets lost or just forgets who she, and everyone around her is, she gets sick, she loses control, she forgets dates and other things. She is struggling to accept this, and boy, I can imagine. She worked so hard for her future. She has such big plans, and she finds out that she probably will never have any future. At times I was a bit frustrated with Sam. I get that she wants to do everything, that she still feels she can do everything, but the truth is... her body is betraying her. Her mind is abandoning her. I wished she would just see that. I get that it is hard. I get that it must hurt to see your painstakingly perfect future go down the drain, but she did a few things that I just didn't think were the right ones.
But she was really brave, and I loved her around the graduation time. How hard she still tried to do everything she wanted. How she did cheat (but I could forgive her for that, as I can imagine the fear, but I may just hope that the school would have been lenient about her not getting the tests done).
I also wished she was a bit more tactical about telling her friend/boyfriend about the illness. I did agree with Maddie that how Sam told her, and the fact she never did until that moment, was not nice. I get that it is hard, but Maddie is your friend. She cares about you. She won't dump you for this.
And she sends Stuart an email. Really, an email!
The book also clearly shows when things go downhill for Sam. Her posts make less sense, sometimes it was totally weird/nonsensical, when she has an episode. Like with the car and the party, I was just crying during these moments. You see her wonder what is going on, why is she forgetting such simple things, why is her body betraying her.
The illness really went fast, we meet her not that long before her graduation, and the book ends after the summer. That is just a few months. It broke my heart as it reminded me off a recent loss I experienced myself. Someone I really cared about had been sick for a while, but suddenly it went fast, and she died. :( Without warning, 2 weeks before her death I saw her, and she was doing pretty well, of course not the best because still very sick, and then 2 weeks later she was gone. :(
Back to Sam, I was just so sad for her, but also for everyone around her. We could all see it wasn't going well, but I think no one expected it to go down that fast. Everyone still clung to hope, everyone still was praying. I could understand that feeling so well. Sam had her clearer moments, maybe it will be OK...
I also wonder why her parents still let her drive the car alone? She cannot go anywhere without a first responder, and she may just lose it while driving, yet until quite into her sickness she was able to drive a car. It just stood out.
Sorry, but I have to reduce some points for the stuff with Cooper and Stuart. How the fuck are you so dumb that you have
That, and the fact that at times, especially in the beginning I wanted to shake Sam a bit due to her attitude, were the only things I didn't quite like.
Also there is a part about Yayoi Kusama, and it is mentioned it wasn't until later that she started hallucinating (dots etc.). However, that is not the truth. She has had that affliction since childhood. (source: Interviews, official sites)
And God that ending... I was just full on crying. The book was already getting more and more sad as the illness progressed, but I just kept on hoping. Hoping for something, for happiness. *continues crying* I loved that we saw the conversations between her and Cooper, even if she couldn't remember him at times, he was there for her and he tried to help her remember.
This was a beautiful book, be sure to bring tissues you will need those while reading, especially halfway to the end. You will need them. I would highly recommend this book to everyone I see. The writer did a really amazing job on writing this book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This book chronicles the progress of the sickness in Sam. She has NPC, a disease that means she will lose her memory, her body will fail her, she will lose everything, and according to doctors there is no hope or cure.
Sam is writing this book, we start not that long after she was diagnosed with the disease. She wants to make something so she can re-read it later (she has high hopes and keeps being positive) when she is in university of NY. She wants to hold on to those memories. In the beginning things seem to go pretty fine, but quite fast things go downhill for Sam. She is having trouble with talking, she gets lost or just forgets who she, and everyone around her is, she gets sick, she loses control, she forgets dates and other things. She is struggling to accept this, and boy, I can imagine. She worked so hard for her future. She has such big plans, and she finds out that she probably will never have any future. At times I was a bit frustrated with Sam. I get that she wants to do everything, that she still feels she can do everything, but the truth is... her body is betraying her. Her mind is abandoning her. I wished she would just see that. I get that it is hard. I get that it must hurt to see your painstakingly perfect future go down the drain, but she did a few things that I just didn't think were the right ones.
But she was really brave, and I loved her around the graduation time. How hard she still tried to do everything she wanted. How she did cheat (but I could forgive her for that, as I can imagine the fear, but I may just hope that the school would have been lenient about her not getting the tests done).
I also wished she was a bit more tactical about telling her friend/boyfriend about the illness. I did agree with Maddie that how Sam told her, and the fact she never did until that moment, was not nice. I get that it is hard, but Maddie is your friend. She cares about you. She won't dump you for this.
And she sends Stuart an email. Really, an email!
The book also clearly shows when things go downhill for Sam. Her posts make less sense, sometimes it was totally weird/nonsensical, when she has an episode. Like with the car and the party, I was just crying during these moments. You see her wonder what is going on, why is she forgetting such simple things, why is her body betraying her.
The illness really went fast, we meet her not that long before her graduation, and the book ends after the summer. That is just a few months. It broke my heart as it reminded me off a recent loss I experienced myself. Someone I really cared about had been sick for a while, but suddenly it went fast, and she died. :( Without warning, 2 weeks before her death I saw her, and she was doing pretty well, of course not the best because still very sick, and then 2 weeks later she was gone. :(
Back to Sam, I was just so sad for her, but also for everyone around her. We could all see it wasn't going well, but I think no one expected it to go down that fast. Everyone still clung to hope, everyone still was praying. I could understand that feeling so well. Sam had her clearer moments, maybe it will be OK...
I also wonder why her parents still let her drive the car alone? She cannot go anywhere without a first responder, and she may just lose it while driving, yet until quite into her sickness she was able to drive a car. It just stood out.
Sorry, but I have to reduce some points for the stuff with Cooper and Stuart. How the fuck are you so dumb that you have
Spoiler
sex with Cooper. I know you are confused, you have the NPC, but you also still KNOW you are in a relationship with someone else, you know what you did was just wrong in many many levels. Seriously, I was disgusted with the girl at this moment. Plus also with Cooper. I know Cooper's feelings on Stuart, but I found this just a bit too much. And then the drama afterwards? Good lord. I came here for a story about a girl losing her memory, herself, not for some stupid ass love triangle dramarama. I already knew it was going downhill when she started to get interested in Cooper. And yes, I would rather have Cooper and Sam together, but not in this stupid way. I wanted her to break up with Stuart, and then realise or face her feelings. Not just get told Cooper's feelings, and hey let's have sex immediately. I found it really ungrateful of Sam. Stuart has cared for you so much, he loves you so much, he does everything for you. If you don't want him, be honest about it, and don't fuck someone else. Ok? Thanks. And don't act all sad and pathetic.That, and the fact that at times, especially in the beginning I wanted to shake Sam a bit due to her attitude, were the only things I didn't quite like.
Also there is a part about Yayoi Kusama, and it is mentioned it wasn't until later that she started hallucinating (dots etc.). However, that is not the truth. She has had that affliction since childhood. (source: Interviews, official sites)
And God that ending... I was just full on crying. The book was already getting more and more sad as the illness progressed, but I just kept on hoping. Hoping for something, for happiness. *continues crying* I loved that we saw the conversations between her and Cooper, even if she couldn't remember him at times, he was there for her and he tried to help her remember.
This was a beautiful book, be sure to bring tissues you will need those while reading, especially halfway to the end. You will need them. I would highly recommend this book to everyone I see. The writer did a really amazing job on writing this book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
aepstone's review
5.0
Only now realizing that I haven't left some gushing Goodreads praise for this book--one of my favorites I've ever worked on. Travesty! So here we go: If you love a book that will make you laugh AND make you cry--sometimes all on one page--then this is a sure bet, my friends. Don't miss it!
jessicajessica101's review against another edition
3.0
Déçue par ce livre.
A la lecture du résumé, je pensais tomber sur une lecture touchante, la fois remplie de doute, de tristesse, d'espoir, je m'attendais à une lecture qui me ferait réfléchir, m'interroger sur certains choses, avoir, au moins l'espace de quelques pages, une vision différente de la vie.
Malheureusement le livre n'a pas suivie mes attentes : on retrouve Sammie, un personnage qui est à la fin de son année de terminale, qui se découvre une maladie rare, qui lui fera perdre la mémoire et la vie.
Dès le début le constat sur la maladie est sans appel, elle est incurable et pourtant, pendant une partie du livre, on a eu une Sammie assez insupportable, qui n'écoutait personne, qui prenait des décisions incompréhensible, une héroine somme toute assez immature (alors qu'elle est censée avoir 17-18, être la première de son lycée, je n'ai pas trouvé ça crédible pour un sous), qui se fait des illusions assez incroyables et qui se concentre sur des choses assez secondaires à mon sens (se moquant bien des sentiments des personnes autour d'elle), qui ne sait pas ce qu'elle veut mais qui à la fois le sait bien trop. autant le dire : impossible de m'attacher à un personnage comme ça.
Le soucis, c'est que l'immaturité n'est pas que dans ce personnage, mais je l'ai ressenti dans tous le livre et pratiquement chez tous les personnages (que ce soit la conseillère d'orientation, les parents de Sammie, son copain,..), ça suintait de partout. Dans le même temps, j'ai également trouvé l'histoire trop lisse, trop enfantine, trop "niaise" surtout sur la fin (notamment les passages avec Stuart.. honnêtement, je suis peut être cynique, mais je roulais des yeux davantage que je ne lisais)
En résumé : Un livre trop jeunesse pour moi, où le principal sujet n'est pas assez traité, l'histoire n'est pas touchante pour moi, trop lisse, trop facile, l'auteur n'a pas chercher à aller plus loin que son idée ce qui est fort dommage.
Petit mention honorable cependant pour le seul personnage que j'ai vraiment aimé dans ce livre : Cooper.
A la lecture du résumé, je pensais tomber sur une lecture touchante, la fois remplie de doute, de tristesse, d'espoir, je m'attendais à une lecture qui me ferait réfléchir, m'interroger sur certains choses, avoir, au moins l'espace de quelques pages, une vision différente de la vie.
Malheureusement le livre n'a pas suivie mes attentes : on retrouve Sammie, un personnage qui est à la fin de son année de terminale, qui se découvre une maladie rare, qui lui fera perdre la mémoire et la vie.
Dès le début le constat sur la maladie est sans appel, elle est incurable et pourtant, pendant une partie du livre, on a eu une Sammie assez insupportable, qui n'écoutait personne, qui prenait des décisions incompréhensible, une héroine somme toute assez immature (alors qu'elle est censée avoir 17-18, être la première de son lycée, je n'ai pas trouvé ça crédible pour un sous), qui se fait des illusions assez incroyables et qui se concentre sur des choses assez secondaires à mon sens (se moquant bien des sentiments des personnes autour d'elle), qui ne sait pas ce qu'elle veut mais qui à la fois le sait bien trop. autant le dire : impossible de m'attacher à un personnage comme ça.
Le soucis, c'est que l'immaturité n'est pas que dans ce personnage, mais je l'ai ressenti dans tous le livre et pratiquement chez tous les personnages (que ce soit la conseillère d'orientation, les parents de Sammie, son copain,..), ça suintait de partout. Dans le même temps, j'ai également trouvé l'histoire trop lisse, trop enfantine, trop "niaise" surtout sur la fin (notamment les passages avec Stuart.. honnêtement, je suis peut être cynique, mais je roulais des yeux davantage que je ne lisais)
En résumé : Un livre trop jeunesse pour moi, où le principal sujet n'est pas assez traité, l'histoire n'est pas touchante pour moi, trop lisse, trop facile, l'auteur n'a pas chercher à aller plus loin que son idée ce qui est fort dommage.
Petit mention honorable cependant pour le seul personnage que j'ai vraiment aimé dans ce livre : Cooper.