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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
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
Ella and her mum Sally's relationship is strained after Ella moved to live and work in Australia more than twenty years ago following a bitter argument.
When Ella receives a phone call from Sally's neighbour to say that she has had an accident she reluctantly returns to the UK.
As Ella begins to rebuild her relationship with her mum -who has added a book for Ella to her bookshelf on Ella's birthday ever year - she starts to question her understanding of the events that resulted in their estrangement.
This was a lovely story about family, friendship and the power of books.
When Ella receives a phone call from Sally's neighbour to say that she has had an accident she reluctantly returns to the UK.
As Ella begins to rebuild her relationship with her mum -who has added a book for Ella to her bookshelf on Ella's birthday ever year - she starts to question her understanding of the events that resulted in their estrangement.
This was a lovely story about family, friendship and the power of books.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
reflective
fast-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
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Injury/Injury detail
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
The Memory Library by Kate Storey is an engaging and moving read.
It's about a mother who has waited in faith and hope for a long time. It is about her daughter who returns to England to dutifully care for her mother, somewhat reluctantly.
What follows is an eye opening journey for Ella as she rediscovers her roots and her mother's life back here in England. As things take place her heart begins to open and her head begins to question all that she has so long believed.
I loved Sally, Ella's mother, and all the people she has come in contact with over the years. Such a great community. Sally was a teacher and she has a great love of books. A love she has shared in the past with Ella and others.
It's best to not know too much about the book, but know you'll meet some wonderful characters, some great books and if you are like me, you'll close this book with tears in your eyes and a feeling of all is right with the world.
It's about a mother who has waited in faith and hope for a long time. It is about her daughter who returns to England to dutifully care for her mother, somewhat reluctantly.
What follows is an eye opening journey for Ella as she rediscovers her roots and her mother's life back here in England. As things take place her heart begins to open and her head begins to question all that she has so long believed.
I loved Sally, Ella's mother, and all the people she has come in contact with over the years. Such a great community. Sally was a teacher and she has a great love of books. A love she has shared in the past with Ella and others.
It's best to not know too much about the book, but know you'll meet some wonderful characters, some great books and if you are like me, you'll close this book with tears in your eyes and a feeling of all is right with the world.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the idea of Sally creating a library of books for her daughter Ella. Every year since Ella was about 8, Sally had chosen a book for her birthday and written a dedication in it. I have to admit that at first I really didn’t like the grown-up Ella. She had left for Australia after graduation and really had very little to do with her widowed mother since then. I was so intrigued to find out what had happened to cause the rift between them.
When Ella reluctantly returns to London to look after her mother, it really is life-changing for her. Through looking after Sally and seeing how well-loved she is in her community, Ella finds out so much about her mother and what happened all those years ago and also finds out a lot about herself. For the first time, they really talk and listen and get to know each other properly. It was rather touching to read how they gradually grew closer. I looked up the Seamus Heaney poem Follower which Sally mentions to Ella and, like Ella, I watched a video on YouTube of Heaney reading the poem. It is very moving and brought a lump to my throat.
This book really is a love-letter to books and to libraries and does feature some actual love letters too. Through the library that Sally creates for Ella, the work of the public library in the community and the library that the community becomes involved in, we see just how important books and reading are.
I can’t sum up this book better than to use the words of one of the characters who is really talking about a special evening for Sally but I think it applies to the whole ethos of the book: “It’s about friendship, it’s about love and it’s about community.”.
When Ella reluctantly returns to London to look after her mother, it really is life-changing for her. Through looking after Sally and seeing how well-loved she is in her community, Ella finds out so much about her mother and what happened all those years ago and also finds out a lot about herself. For the first time, they really talk and listen and get to know each other properly. It was rather touching to read how they gradually grew closer. I looked up the Seamus Heaney poem Follower which Sally mentions to Ella and, like Ella, I watched a video on YouTube of Heaney reading the poem. It is very moving and brought a lump to my throat.
This book really is a love-letter to books and to libraries and does feature some actual love letters too. Through the library that Sally creates for Ella, the work of the public library in the community and the library that the community becomes involved in, we see just how important books and reading are.
I can’t sum up this book better than to use the words of one of the characters who is really talking about a special evening for Sally but I think it applies to the whole ethos of the book: “It’s about friendship, it’s about love and it’s about community.”.
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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:
Complicated
Ella and Sally are an estranged Mother and Daughter. Following her Fathers death Ella left for University and then moved to Australia, only face-timing her mum when she took a break from her job. But when the call comes from her mums neighbour Ella resentfully goes to the UK to care for her. But as well as caring for Sally, Ella learns a little bit about the life her mum had and that things weren't the way she had perceived them.
Every now and then a book comes along that takes a piece of your heart. The Memory Library is one of those books. It's heartwarming, like a hug from a book. A story of taking a step back and appreciating the simpler things in life. All the belongings and luxuries in life are nothing if you don't value who and what's around you.
I loved the sense of community in the book, how everyone came together in Sally's time and need. It reiterates the power of books and reading. It's an uplifting novel and was a joy to read. I already know it will be in my top 5 books of 2024.
Every now and then a book comes along that takes a piece of your heart. The Memory Library is one of those books. It's heartwarming, like a hug from a book. A story of taking a step back and appreciating the simpler things in life. All the belongings and luxuries in life are nothing if you don't value who and what's around you.
I loved the sense of community in the book, how everyone came together in Sally's time and need. It reiterates the power of books and reading. It's an uplifting novel and was a joy to read. I already know it will be in my top 5 books of 2024.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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