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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
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
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a wonderful read (or “listen to” in my case!). A story of family, love, misunderstandings, and the loss of close years because of assumptions. In the end the story was redeeming and treated some sensitive topics (dementia, infidelity, mother-daughter relationships) with grace and humor. Highly recommend this book and narrator!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
This was a beautiful story about a mother and daughter, forgiveness, and found family… with the bonus of books! While the main character starts of a little unlikable, she has a great growth arc. I found the other characters exceptionally lovable. On top of all that, it has one of the most beautiful ideas about sharing books with loved ones that I have ever heard. I am telling everyone I know about it.
This book does deal with dementia, but as someone who last a parent to it, I found it was handled well.
This book does deal with dementia, but as someone who last a parent to it, I found it was handled well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
This had high reviews, and I had it marked to read if I subscribed to Kindle Unlimited again ... I got a KU subscription (just for a month), and Hoopla has the audio. I liked this a lot, and it would be a good bookclub book (there were some included questions at the end)//lots of issues, and lots of books mentioned.
It felt a little TOO much, trying to have our MC recognize "privilege" and the acceptance of others, just the slightest bit preachy. Sally (the mother) seemed a bit too perfect (although her daughter sure didn't see it).
There were 44 chapters, plus a prologue and epilogue. Within the book, the chapters were clearly marked with the POV and timeframe. In the audio Table of Contents, the POV was listed (which was appreciated) ... nothing in the Kindle copy, just the chronological chapter list. As a reader, I like to look at the TOC and see the POV if it's changing, so I felt the Kindle TOC was lacking. I didn't have a physical copy ... probably NO TOC at all, per usual publishing standards today. Here, it's dominantly Ella, with just a few from Sally. Sally's are from various times in the past, while Ella's are all "now". All 3rd person/Past tense. Two different narrators in audio (which was appreciated, I needed that voice distinction, even with 3rd person).
Personal connections ... even with the separation between mother and daughter, there was a time when Ella was thinking "when was the last time I called my mom? It's been 13 days ..." So ... BAD daughter, I rarely(almost never) call my mom. I'm just not a phone person. I'll text and email. I'm also not good at visiting (there are some driving issues too) but ... it does make me feel bad. Another funny connection as Ella looks at her mother's phone "The phone must have been at least five years old. It still had the button at the bottom for fingerprint" um ... I still have that OLD phone myself!
ProFanity x 4 ...
In the Kindle copy, it has a little line after the title ... The Memory Library: A Brand New, Must-Read Novel of Family, Friendship and the Power of Storytelling to Leave You Feeling Hopeful and Inspired in 2024...
Blech ... that might have turned me off. I don't like when there is a tagline to the title. If it's part of the blurb, or a shoutout from an author/publication, okay, but when it's stuck there like it's part of the title, I feel like that's a cry for attention and I HATE it. This also had a "Note to Readers" about accessibility features ... ??? That was a basic "ereaders can do these things" and wasn't anything about THIS book. I found it strange.
It felt a little TOO much, trying to have our MC recognize "privilege" and the acceptance of others, just the slightest bit preachy. Sally (the mother) seemed a bit too perfect (although her daughter sure didn't see it).
There were 44 chapters, plus a prologue and epilogue. Within the book, the chapters were clearly marked with the POV and timeframe. In the audio Table of Contents, the POV was listed (which was appreciated) ... nothing in the Kindle copy, just the chronological chapter list. As a reader, I like to look at the TOC and see the POV if it's changing, so I felt the Kindle TOC was lacking. I didn't have a physical copy ... probably NO TOC at all, per usual publishing standards today. Here, it's dominantly Ella, with just a few from Sally. Sally's are from various times in the past, while Ella's are all "now". All 3rd person/Past tense. Two different narrators in audio (which was appreciated, I needed that voice distinction, even with 3rd person).
Personal connections ... even with the separation between mother and daughter, there was a time when Ella was thinking "when was the last time I called my mom? It's been 13 days ..." So ... BAD daughter, I rarely(almost never) call my mom. I'm just not a phone person. I'll text and email. I'm also not good at visiting (there are some driving issues too) but ... it does make me feel bad. Another funny connection as Ella looks at her mother's phone "The phone must have been at least five years old. It still had the button at the bottom for fingerprint" um ... I still have that OLD phone myself!
ProFanity x 4 ...
In the Kindle copy, it has a little line after the title ... The Memory Library: A Brand New, Must-Read Novel of Family, Friendship and the Power of Storytelling to Leave You Feeling Hopeful and Inspired in 2024...
Blech ... that might have turned me off. I don't like when there is a tagline to the title. If it's part of the blurb, or a shoutout from an author/publication, okay, but when it's stuck there like it's part of the title, I feel like that's a cry for attention and I HATE it. This also had a "Note to Readers" about accessibility features ... ??? That was a basic "ereaders can do these things" and wasn't anything about THIS book. I found it strange.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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