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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
It didn’t speak to me idk. Read it in one sitting and there was some beautiful imagery but left me feeling empty and unfulfilled
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
reflective
slow-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:
No
Really great concept and writing. It makes you think about everything.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Harrowing. Yoko has a way to put it on the reader to do the work of materializing the thoughts and feelings that are often left lingering in the air between the words on the page and their own soul. It's charged in all the ways that leave reverberate through your heart.
I was left feeling like it was a bit unpolished; as if Yoko had grand ambitions for everything she wanted to touch on in this work, and tried her best to fit them how she may (and for the most part she does a wonderful job of it). Perhaps in another reread I would come to feel more sure of the progression, connection, and meaning of all its parts.
I was left feeling like it was a bit unpolished; as if Yoko had grand ambitions for everything she wanted to touch on in this work, and tried her best to fit them how she may (and for the most part she does a wonderful job of it). Perhaps in another reread I would come to feel more sure of the progression, connection, and meaning of all its parts.
I really wanted to love The Memory Police. After seeing it pop up on countless lists and blogs, and being praised by readers I respect, I had high hopes. Unfortunately, much like the vanishing objects in the story, my enthusiasm for this book disappeared as I read.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why it didn’t click for me. Maybe it was the fact that I’d just finished another dystopian novel, or maybe it was something more elusive, but I found it nearly impossible to connect with the characters. Awful, heartbreaking things are happening to them, yet I couldn’t summon any real concern.
That said, I can appreciate Ogawa’s meditative, almost dreamlike writing style. The book’s lack of a traditional plot gave it an ethereal, meandering quality, which might work well for some readers. For me, though, it felt like the premise, so perfect for a short story, had been stretched thin to fill a full-length novel.
If this had been a shorter slice of dystopian life, I think it would have been brilliant. Instead, it feels like a concept that lost its power by being overextended. It’s a quiet, reflective story, but one that ultimately left me indifferent.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why it didn’t click for me. Maybe it was the fact that I’d just finished another dystopian novel, or maybe it was something more elusive, but I found it nearly impossible to connect with the characters. Awful, heartbreaking things are happening to them, yet I couldn’t summon any real concern.
That said, I can appreciate Ogawa’s meditative, almost dreamlike writing style. The book’s lack of a traditional plot gave it an ethereal, meandering quality, which might work well for some readers. For me, though, it felt like the premise, so perfect for a short story, had been stretched thin to fill a full-length novel.
If this had been a shorter slice of dystopian life, I think it would have been brilliant. Instead, it feels like a concept that lost its power by being overextended. It’s a quiet, reflective story, but one that ultimately left me indifferent.
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Powerful! So I’ve changed my ratings on this several times since I’ve completed this book and here’s why...
Firstly, what a haunting but beautiful story . I’m pretty sure the Sunday times used these exact words and as much as I want to use my own, these are two words that come straight to mind and fit perfectly.
I’ve always loved dystopian books so this was right up my street in terms of genre. I’ll be honest, I had never even heard of this until my husband gifted me this earlier this month. I know it’s a book that will keep me thinking for a long time.
I whizzed through this as the story was so fascinating, you just wanted to find out what would happen and what would become of the characters and the world they were living in. Without giving away spoilers I loved the little relationships within the book, that of the main character and the old man and also with her editor. I constantly found myself in the editors shoes trying to clutch at straws to help the main character remember and stop her memories being taken further.
I feel I’m doing this book an injustice by giving it a 3.5 but that’s because as good as the story was and despite it being a page turner I didn’t like how it ended. I don’t usually like slow books where it all unveils very slowly but I think that was needed to understand the depth of this story. I know why the author ended the book in the way she did as the ending haunts you and is more impactful. Having said this I came away thinking that I needed more, which is why I settled on the 3.5.
Overall I still think it was a great read and a must for dystopian lovers. If you loved A Handmaids tale and 1984, this will be right up your street. As I write this I still sway and feel I want to increase my stars to 4 as this book was more about the depth behind the story and that the author conveyed beautifully. Watch this space...I may increase this to 4 stars soon
Firstly, what a haunting but beautiful story . I’m pretty sure the Sunday times used these exact words and as much as I want to use my own, these are two words that come straight to mind and fit perfectly.
I’ve always loved dystopian books so this was right up my street in terms of genre. I’ll be honest, I had never even heard of this until my husband gifted me this earlier this month. I know it’s a book that will keep me thinking for a long time.
I whizzed through this as the story was so fascinating, you just wanted to find out what would happen and what would become of the characters and the world they were living in. Without giving away spoilers I loved the little relationships within the book, that of the main character and the old man and also with her editor. I constantly found myself in the editors shoes trying to clutch at straws to help the main character remember and stop her memories being taken further.
I feel I’m doing this book an injustice by giving it a 3.5 but that’s because as good as the story was and despite it being a page turner I didn’t like how it ended. I don’t usually like slow books where it all unveils very slowly but I think that was needed to understand the depth of this story. I know why the author ended the book in the way she did as the ending haunts you and is more impactful. Having said this I came away thinking that I needed more, which is why I settled on the 3.5.
Overall I still think it was a great read and a must for dystopian lovers. If you loved A Handmaids tale and 1984, this will be right up your street. As I write this I still sway and feel I want to increase my stars to 4 as this book was more about the depth behind the story and that the author conveyed beautifully. Watch this space...I may increase this to 4 stars soon