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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
3.75 Stars
One Liner: Effective in some ways.
Jenny is living at an elder care center and has just celebrated her 100th birthday. As her favorite caretaker Candice takes out an old wooden box from the drawers, Jenny feels the memories rushing in. She knows there’s something she needs to do, and that involves traveling to Italy.
Being a child of delicate health, it took persistence and grit for Jenny to outlive many others. She hopes for an additional couple of months to lay the past to rest. Jenny asks Candice to accompany her to Italy. It’s for physical support as well as to help Candice see the truth of her relationship with a douche bag manipulative jerk of a boyfriend Beau (eww!).
How will the trip to a place full of past events and memories help both women come to terms with their lives? Can Jenny find her peace? Can Candice force herself to see the truth she so desperately wants to ignore?
The Memory Box has a dual time is as smooth as butter. The story weaves in and out between the 1940s and 2019. The first-person narration by Jenny and the third-person narrative to show Candice’s life seamlessly blend across the chapters.
Can’t tell you how many times I wanted to shake Candice to make her see what everyone around her saw. There were enough red flags to supply for a global red-themed party, and still have some left to spare.
The book starts slow and picks up a little pace as the story moves ahead. The focus isn’t much on the setting but rather the thoughts of the characters. Jenny feels real with her strengths, flaws, and uncertainties. Candice, well, there are girls like her. I think the author drove her point straight in about toxic relationships using Candice and Beau.
The actual story takes place after 65-70% of the book. Things crucial to the book enter the picture and bring the threads together. I guessed all the twists except for one, and I must admit I’m not fully convinced about it. It works more as a plot device, IMO. Also, a couple of things were a tad too convenient. I do like happy endings, so I’m not complaining as such.
While Jenny’s arc was pretty much stable, Candice’s arc seemed confusing in the second half. I was pretty much fed up with her by then, or it would’ve annoyed me more. That girl could do with some solid dumping of sense into her brain.
The reason the book still has it rounded off to 4 stars is the portrayal of toxic love and gaslighting in relationships. It irked me to no end to see Candice make excuses and deny the truth, and that I would say is the biggest achievement. That part is very realistic.
To sum up, The Memory Box is not a must-read historical, but it has some valuable relationship lessons that can start a discussion.
Thank you, NetGalley, Mobius Books, and Headline Review, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheMemoryBox #NetGalley
One Liner: Effective in some ways.
Jenny is living at an elder care center and has just celebrated her 100th birthday. As her favorite caretaker Candice takes out an old wooden box from the drawers, Jenny feels the memories rushing in. She knows there’s something she needs to do, and that involves traveling to Italy.
Being a child of delicate health, it took persistence and grit for Jenny to outlive many others. She hopes for an additional couple of months to lay the past to rest. Jenny asks Candice to accompany her to Italy. It’s for physical support as well as to help Candice see the truth of her relationship with a douche bag manipulative jerk of a boyfriend Beau (eww!).
How will the trip to a place full of past events and memories help both women come to terms with their lives? Can Jenny find her peace? Can Candice force herself to see the truth she so desperately wants to ignore?
The Memory Box has a dual time is as smooth as butter. The story weaves in and out between the 1940s and 2019. The first-person narration by Jenny and the third-person narrative to show Candice’s life seamlessly blend across the chapters.
Can’t tell you how many times I wanted to shake Candice to make her see what everyone around her saw. There were enough red flags to supply for a global red-themed party, and still have some left to spare.
The book starts slow and picks up a little pace as the story moves ahead. The focus isn’t much on the setting but rather the thoughts of the characters. Jenny feels real with her strengths, flaws, and uncertainties. Candice, well, there are girls like her. I think the author drove her point straight in about toxic relationships using Candice and Beau.
The actual story takes place after 65-70% of the book. Things crucial to the book enter the picture and bring the threads together. I guessed all the twists except for one, and I must admit I’m not fully convinced about it. It works more as a plot device, IMO. Also, a couple of things were a tad too convenient. I do like happy endings, so I’m not complaining as such.
While Jenny’s arc was pretty much stable, Candice’s arc seemed confusing in the second half. I was pretty much fed up with her by then, or it would’ve annoyed me more. That girl could do with some solid dumping of sense into her brain.
The reason the book still has it rounded off to 4 stars is the portrayal of toxic love and gaslighting in relationships. It irked me to no end to see Candice make excuses and deny the truth, and that I would say is the biggest achievement. That part is very realistic.
To sum up, The Memory Box is not a must-read historical, but it has some valuable relationship lessons that can start a discussion.
Thank you, NetGalley, Mobius Books, and Headline Review, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheMemoryBox #NetGalley
Kathryn Hughes books are amazing! I have read them all and they just keep getting better each time. This story had everything needed to make a story great, plus I love how the past always influences the present and everything comes full circle. Jenny had such a life story to tell Candice and there were so many revelations in the last part of the book, so surprising and I didn't see any of them coming. Then ending for Jenny, Louis and Candace was amazing! If you have never read Kathryn Hughes you should !! One of the best!! Thank you Netgalley for an ARC for my honest review!! An awesome story!!!!
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I was kindly sent a #paperback copy by Rosie at Headline and I was determined to read it before it’s out in paperback on 11 November.
I haven’t read any of Kathryn’s novels so I plunged straight into this one.
We follow 100 year old Jenny who lives in a care home, and is looked after by young Candice.
The book has two timelines in terms of Jenny’s long life - during World War Two when she was evacuated with her brother Louis from Manchester to Wales, and now when Jenny is determined to go on a trip to honour the past.
Kathryn gives us a story packed with emotions - there’s love, hope, loss, fear, and everything in between.
Jenny is tangled up in a love triangle of sorts all against a wartime backdrop which Jenny recalls to Candice in snippets in modern day. Be warned, there’s a tragedy or two.
With Candice, her situation makes for uncomfortable reading. She is being gaslighted and psychologically abused by her boyfriend, Beau. You will her to get out of the relationship.
I enjoyed the different timelines and also the different settings, including wartime Wales and Italy - it felt escapist and unlike anything I’ve read before. I read it in 4 days which was good going at more than 400 pages in total.
I hadn’t realised how some of the book was based on real life events in terms of Italians being rounded up in England and labelled and deported as ‘alien enemies’, so that was interesting.
All in all, The Memory Box was heartwarming and tender, and had a couple of surprise plot twists up its sleeve which I didn’t see coming. If you get chance to read it, do!
#books #bookstagram #bookish #bookworm #booksaremybag #fiction #paperback #booksof2021 #bookblogger #bookphotography #flatlay #nofilter #lingerlongerwithbooks
I haven’t read any of Kathryn’s novels so I plunged straight into this one.
We follow 100 year old Jenny who lives in a care home, and is looked after by young Candice.
The book has two timelines in terms of Jenny’s long life - during World War Two when she was evacuated with her brother Louis from Manchester to Wales, and now when Jenny is determined to go on a trip to honour the past.
Kathryn gives us a story packed with emotions - there’s love, hope, loss, fear, and everything in between.
Jenny is tangled up in a love triangle of sorts all against a wartime backdrop which Jenny recalls to Candice in snippets in modern day. Be warned, there’s a tragedy or two.
With Candice, her situation makes for uncomfortable reading. She is being gaslighted and psychologically abused by her boyfriend, Beau. You will her to get out of the relationship.
I enjoyed the different timelines and also the different settings, including wartime Wales and Italy - it felt escapist and unlike anything I’ve read before. I read it in 4 days which was good going at more than 400 pages in total.
I hadn’t realised how some of the book was based on real life events in terms of Italians being rounded up in England and labelled and deported as ‘alien enemies’, so that was interesting.
All in all, The Memory Box was heartwarming and tender, and had a couple of surprise plot twists up its sleeve which I didn’t see coming. If you get chance to read it, do!
#books #bookstagram #bookish #bookworm #booksaremybag #fiction #paperback #booksof2021 #bookblogger #bookphotography #flatlay #nofilter #lingerlongerwithbooks
She’d often wondered whether she would know when she was in love. She needn’t have worried, because right there, in that moment, she had the answer.
Oh how I loved this book! I stayed up all night reading it, I just couldn't walk away from Jenny's story. I read [b:The Letter|18160436|The Letter|Kathryn Hughes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1372891944l/18160436._SY75_.jpg|25520000] by Kathryn Hughes four and a half years ago, it was before I wrote reviews but I remember loving that book as well.
Jenny is a centenarian in 2019 and she and her carer, Candice have a close bond. Candice has an ass of a boyfriend named Beau. When Jenny asks Candice to accompany her to Italy Candice jumps at the chance. This story is mostly told from Jenny's point of view, in two timelines...1940 when she is 21 and 2019 when she is one-hundred. We also get the odd chapter from Candice's point of view in 2019.
I loved the 1940 chapters, which is usual for me. For some reason I always enjoy the before chapters more, no matter the genre. During this time Jenny falls for two men, while on a farm in Wales. She was sent there, from Manchester, with her almost five years old brother, Louis. Their mother sent them there for safety reasons during WWII. I loved little Louis, he was so sweet and precocious.
Love at first sight can often be cured by taking a second look.
Candice has dreams and desires, she wants to better herself and go to beauty school, but her jerk of a boyfriend just keeps getting in her way and bringing her down.
I loved how these two ladies stuck up for each other and stayed the course to follow their dreams. The ending was such a surprise and pure bliss. I cannot wait to dig into another of Ms. Hughes books! All. The. Stars.
Disclosure:
Thank you NetGalley, Kathryn Hughes and Headline Review for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#TheMemoryBox #NetGalley
Oh how I loved this book! I stayed up all night reading it, I just couldn't walk away from Jenny's story. I read [b:The Letter|18160436|The Letter|Kathryn Hughes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1372891944l/18160436._SY75_.jpg|25520000] by Kathryn Hughes four and a half years ago, it was before I wrote reviews but I remember loving that book as well.
Jenny is a centenarian in 2019 and she and her carer, Candice have a close bond. Candice has an ass of a boyfriend named Beau. When Jenny asks Candice to accompany her to Italy Candice jumps at the chance. This story is mostly told from Jenny's point of view, in two timelines...1940 when she is 21 and 2019 when she is one-hundred. We also get the odd chapter from Candice's point of view in 2019.
I loved the 1940 chapters, which is usual for me. For some reason I always enjoy the before chapters more, no matter the genre. During this time Jenny falls for two men, while on a farm in Wales. She was sent there, from Manchester, with her almost five years old brother, Louis. Their mother sent them there for safety reasons during WWII. I loved little Louis, he was so sweet and precocious.
Love at first sight can often be cured by taking a second look.
Candice has dreams and desires, she wants to better herself and go to beauty school, but her jerk of a boyfriend just keeps getting in her way and bringing her down.
I loved how these two ladies stuck up for each other and stayed the course to follow their dreams. The ending was such a surprise and pure bliss. I cannot wait to dig into another of Ms. Hughes books! All. The. Stars.
Disclosure:
Thank you NetGalley, Kathryn Hughes and Headline Review for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#TheMemoryBox #NetGalley
The Memory Box
by Kathryn Hughes
Synopsis:
"Jenny Tanner opens the box she has cherished for decades. Contained within are her most precious mementoes, amongst them a pebble, a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read. But Jenny knows the time is finally here. After the war, in a mountainside village in Italy, she left behind a piece of her heart. However painful, she must return to Cinque Alberi and lay the past to rest.
After a troubled upbringing, Candice Barnes dreams of a future with the love of her life - but is he the man she believes him to be? When Candice is given the opportunity to travel to Italy with Jenny, she is unaware the trip will open her eyes to the truth she's been too afraid to face. Could a place of goodbyes help her make a brave new beginning?"
Review:
I loved the camaraderie of Jenny and Candice, such well-developed characters. This story, told over an eighty-year span, included both heart-breaking and heartwarming moments. 100-year-old Jenny regales a much-younger Candice with her life story, beginning in 1940 when she & her younger brother, "Our Louis" are evacuated to the countryside during the British Blitz. The stories affect Candice, who begins to question her relationship with a possessive, drugged-out, wannabe rock star. Even with their huge age difference, similarities between the two women present themselves. Highly recommended.
I was gifted this advance copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
by Kathryn Hughes
Synopsis:
"Jenny Tanner opens the box she has cherished for decades. Contained within are her most precious mementoes, amongst them a pebble, a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read. But Jenny knows the time is finally here. After the war, in a mountainside village in Italy, she left behind a piece of her heart. However painful, she must return to Cinque Alberi and lay the past to rest.
After a troubled upbringing, Candice Barnes dreams of a future with the love of her life - but is he the man she believes him to be? When Candice is given the opportunity to travel to Italy with Jenny, she is unaware the trip will open her eyes to the truth she's been too afraid to face. Could a place of goodbyes help her make a brave new beginning?"
Review:
I loved the camaraderie of Jenny and Candice, such well-developed characters. This story, told over an eighty-year span, included both heart-breaking and heartwarming moments. 100-year-old Jenny regales a much-younger Candice with her life story, beginning in 1940 when she & her younger brother, "Our Louis" are evacuated to the countryside during the British Blitz. The stories affect Candice, who begins to question her relationship with a possessive, drugged-out, wannabe rock star. Even with their huge age difference, similarities between the two women present themselves. Highly recommended.
I was gifted this advance copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Thank you so much NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this wonderful historical fiction novel.
I finished it in only a couple of sittings and I absolutely adored it.
I liked that there were multiple POVs and of course different timelines, but it was not confusing at all. The writing flows and it is a pleasure to read; I actually learned some new words, firstly because some were in Welsh, but also because some were less common in spoken English.
Even though it is an historical fiction novel and WW2 has a weight in the narration, it was not the focal point of the story itself.
I loved the description of Nico explaining Jenny how to eat a gelato properly - being Italian I can fully understand!
I adored the scene with Jenny and Louis just before her wedding, it made me miss my own brother and the author managed to capture the little one's sentiment perfectly.
Beau made me feel a kind of hate I didn't know I could feel. Every time he was in the scene, I just wanted to punch my Kindle or throw it out of the window. Could not stand the guy whatsoever and Kathryn Hughes made a splendid job in building his character.
To conclude, I loved the book, I cried a couple of times; it was such an easy read and a page turner.
I finished it in only a couple of sittings and I absolutely adored it.
I liked that there were multiple POVs and of course different timelines, but it was not confusing at all. The writing flows and it is a pleasure to read; I actually learned some new words, firstly because some were in Welsh, but also because some were less common in spoken English.
Even though it is an historical fiction novel and WW2 has a weight in the narration, it was not the focal point of the story itself.
I loved the description of Nico explaining Jenny how to eat a gelato properly - being Italian I can fully understand!
I adored the scene with Jenny and Louis just before her wedding, it made me miss my own brother and the author managed to capture the little one's sentiment perfectly.
Beau made me feel a kind of hate I didn't know I could feel. Every time he was in the scene, I just wanted to punch my Kindle or throw it out of the window. Could not stand the guy whatsoever and Kathryn Hughes made a splendid job in building his character.
To conclude, I loved the book, I cried a couple of times; it was such an easy read and a page turner.