Scan barcode
merricatct's review against another edition
2.0
I feel a little sorry at giving this such a low rating, because the author clearly worked hard on this and it can't be easy to craft a story around such a horrible time in history. But ultimately, the rating reflects my reading experience, and this wasn't a good one at all.
First, the book is sloooooow. The amount of tedious detail is actually mind-numbing at times.
None of the three main characters are likable, ranging from conniving and manipulative to selfish to jealous. And not compellingly unlikable (I love me some unreliable narrators and well-written villains!) - they were just characters that I resented spending my time on.
Worst of all in my mind is that the women of this book appear to be far more interesting characters, but they exist solely to be set pieces in the narrative of the three men. They're there to provoke jealousy, be desired, prompt scholarly interest, and die in various ways.
I'm glad the book is over, and I'm not really glad I read it, but at least it filled a Popsugar prompt for me.
First, the book is sloooooow. The amount of tedious detail is actually mind-numbing at times.
None of the three main characters are likable, ranging from conniving and manipulative to selfish to jealous. And not compellingly unlikable (I love me some unreliable narrators and well-written villains!) - they were just characters that I resented spending my time on.
Worst of all in my mind is that the women of this book appear to be far more interesting characters, but they exist solely to be set pieces in the narrative of the three men. They're there to provoke jealousy, be desired, prompt scholarly interest, and die in various ways.
I'm glad the book is over, and I'm not really glad I read it, but at least it filled a Popsugar prompt for me.
hbelle01's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mrutin's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the characters in this book, along with the setting and writing style. That's all I need for a wonderful escape that is hard to put down!
nicolac's review
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
trinitycolon's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
DNF 17%. before: so I definitely feel like this is going to be a slow burn book, which I’m excited for, because I have never really experienced reading a slow burn, but I hate slow reads so.... idk. the book is giving me enough to sustain interest in finding out more about what’s going to happen with the plot and characters. there are like two different plots going on right now, and they apparently merge at some point. let's se. after: idk man. i really tried liking this book, but when i start feeling like i am being forced to continue reading, it's over for me. it started off well, but the story really just did a 180 on me. it revolves around characters that i just did not think they were going to revolve around. it wasn't fun reading in my opinion. i was also expecting more romance, and this book did not deliver that for me
zakyya's review
the pacing us way too slow and I don't really care for any of the characters
bookish_abena's review against another edition
Summary: The Memory of Love revolves around three men in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1969 after the civil war. Elias Cole a history professor, Kai Mansaray, a gifted surgeon and Adrian Lockheart, a British psychologist. The old university lecturer, Elias Cole tells the story of his wife and the wife of his colleague, Julius. He recalls the desire that drove him to acts of betrayal he has tried to justify.
“In that respect, war was worse for civilians, for at least the fighters were given the opportunity to act. Civilians were like rats in a barrel”
The Memory of Love is a beautiful novel. I loved that Aminatta Forma explored the aftermath of war on civilians. Every character in the book is presented as suffering the consequence of the civil war.
Last year, I read “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier” by Ishmael Beah. Beah’s book gave a first account of the children who were recruited as soldiers or rebels in a war that lasted until 2002. I learnt so much about the civil war in Sierra Leone that claimed as many as 50,000 lives. The Memory of Love goes a step beyond describing the civil way to critically look at how the people lived and survived after the war.
Forna’s description of people, places and events are heavy and heartbreaking. I was particularly touched by the individual stories of lost love, shattered dreams, hopelessness and death. It broke my heart.
The entire nation is burdened by the war. Forna reveals how the citizens who were either witnesses or victims of the civil war are undergoing a serious mental health challenge. Forna’s writing is exceptional – revealing several aspects of the aftermath of the war.
The Memory of Love explored themes such as love, betrayal, friendship, family, the aftermath of a civil war, loss and grief, mental health.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking to understand the civil war in Sierra Leone and its aftermath.
“In that respect, war was worse for civilians, for at least the fighters were given the opportunity to act. Civilians were like rats in a barrel”
The Memory of Love is a beautiful novel. I loved that Aminatta Forma explored the aftermath of war on civilians. Every character in the book is presented as suffering the consequence of the civil war.
Last year, I read “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier” by Ishmael Beah. Beah’s book gave a first account of the children who were recruited as soldiers or rebels in a war that lasted until 2002. I learnt so much about the civil war in Sierra Leone that claimed as many as 50,000 lives. The Memory of Love goes a step beyond describing the civil way to critically look at how the people lived and survived after the war.
Forna’s description of people, places and events are heavy and heartbreaking. I was particularly touched by the individual stories of lost love, shattered dreams, hopelessness and death. It broke my heart.
The entire nation is burdened by the war. Forna reveals how the citizens who were either witnesses or victims of the civil war are undergoing a serious mental health challenge. Forna’s writing is exceptional – revealing several aspects of the aftermath of the war.
The Memory of Love explored themes such as love, betrayal, friendship, family, the aftermath of a civil war, loss and grief, mental health.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking to understand the civil war in Sierra Leone and its aftermath.
obviouslyjudith's review against another edition
3.0
You know those books you can objectively see are good but you just CANNOT get into them? Yeah that’s what this was like // 3,5 stars
semonti_modak's review against another edition
5.0
A scary and disturbing yet beautifully told story. I loved the setting of Sierra Leone.