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thebookishpersuasion's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
megan_mac_'s review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-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
3.75
This book is so creative and imaginative. I really enjoyed that aspect!
It was a bit darker than I was anticipating; this would make a good book club book for the discussion.
There were some parts of the book that felt unfinished, which was a bit of a disappointment. Overall, though, very creative.
It was a bit darker than I was anticipating; this would make a good book club book for the discussion.
There were some parts of the book that felt unfinished, which was a bit of a disappointment. Overall, though, very creative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness
galactikatie's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 - I was really excited for this Canadian debut set in Vancouver’s Chinatown but I think it was just a case of wrong book wrong time. At the core this is a story about the bonds of sisterhood and follows Ev and her sister Noemi as they come to terms with their ability to feel the emotions “stained” on everyday objects. I had a hard time getting into this which is strange because it’s fairly fast paced and full of mystery and intrigue and conflict. Fans of stories full of magical realism like The scent keeper, The keeper of lost things or The little shop of found things should enjoy this one a lot. I’ll probably give it another try at some point - because again, wasn’t bad just wasn’t for me right now. I did like how the family history of this ability had strong metaphors to mental health illness - Ev finds a way to cope and turn her gift into a positive thing, whereas her father and sister struggled with the darkness.
TW: hoarding, domestic violence
TW: hoarding, domestic violence
booksaremypeople's review
4.0
A novel about a serious empath, Ev has the extraordinary ability to feel people’s emotional states through their objects. The space that these charged objects occupy feel dangerous to Ev, who wants to get rid of the most emotionally charged items. The rest she sells at a market. But her abilities are tested when she meets Harriet, a hoarder of all things. Can their connection make room for a curated museum of objects that helps people heal? This is an original and emotional read with tinges of magical realism. It’s about memory and representations of memory and the ways in which we all use “things” as surrogates for our own memories and emotions. Thank you so Atria Books and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.
bridget_h's review
3.0
I am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC! I did enjoy this book - the characters were very interesting and their interactions with each other was something that kept the story moving along. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. The book started out a bit whimsical with an air of magic, charm, and something a little otherworldly, which was really delightful. There was some conflict, but not so much as to cast a dark shadow on the lightness of the book. The second half of a book took a turn into a very dark place - murder, hoarding, mental issues, etc. It was very well done, and if you like detailed descriptions of places and items, this book is for you. I was hoping for something slightly more upbeat in my reading life right now, but I can't fault the book for not meeting my moods!
susanthebookbag's review
5.0
Let me start off by saying this I think this cover is beautiful! It definitely caught my attention. And as you read the story, you'll figure out what everything on the cover means.
The story itself is wonderful. I love escaping into a world where objects take on a life of their own, or give off vibes for other people to pick up on. Evelyn thinks she is cursed because things make her feel emotions—both the good ones and the dark ones. Harriet recognizes herself in Ev and after an arduous beginning, they start to work together to create the museum of memory. Their adventure from then on makes for an amazing, magical read.
The Memory Collectors is Kim Neville's debut novel and she hit this one out of the park. I can't wait to see what she creates next!
I loved The Memory Collectors and will be recommending it to everyone. We all deserve a little escape from the real world once in a while, don't we?
The story itself is wonderful. I love escaping into a world where objects take on a life of their own, or give off vibes for other people to pick up on. Evelyn thinks she is cursed because things make her feel emotions—both the good ones and the dark ones. Harriet recognizes herself in Ev and after an arduous beginning, they start to work together to create the museum of memory. Their adventure from then on makes for an amazing, magical read.
The Memory Collectors is Kim Neville's debut novel and she hit this one out of the park. I can't wait to see what she creates next!
I loved The Memory Collectors and will be recommending it to everyone. We all deserve a little escape from the real world once in a while, don't we?
dhar7's review
3.0
This was a weird ride for me. It wasn’t bad, not at all. I quite enjoyed the story and the characters. I would recommend giving this one a try. Enjoy the read!