Reviews

The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna

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mandyherbet's review against another edition

5.0

I struggled to get into this one, probably because I read it on my kindle and it was a bookclub selection, so I didn't have the blurb to go by. I struggled to get a sense of where the story was set and who the narrator - and later, narrators - were. So I grumbled but kept reading, promising myself that I could read something else once I was finished.

And then I hit my stride! Wow, three narrators - Elias Cole, Adrian, and Kai - all tell the story of Sierra Leone and the lives of those left behind, those who choose to leave, and those who choose to stay. It's a story of courage - the courage of your convictions and the lies you tell to alleviate your guilt. I found myself gasping at some of the twists and especially the ending and I almost need more time to digest it all.

It's a powerful story and I can't wait to discuss it at the next bookclub meeting!

amakaazie's review against another edition

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3.0

Difficult to read. Very slow progression of the story with focus on unnecessary details. The only thing i enjoyed was the cultural exposure to Sierra Leone.