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pamshenanigans's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“But the laws of the island are not softened by death. Memories do not change the law. No matter how precious the person I may be losing, the disappearances that surround me will remain unchanged.”
A sci-fi dystopian novel that doesn’t rely on action and plot twists. Reading The Memory Police is like listening to classical music: it has short and balanced melodies that slowly introduce the small island where things just disappear, it has bright and dark contrasts that emphasize the island’s inhabitants’ resiliency against the disappearances and the Memory Police itself and how they still manage to live their lives as normal as they can.
As mentioned, this isn't the type of dystopian novel that is action-packed and has the usual formula of “abusive governing body + rebels sworn to overthrow the said government”. Not also the type of dystopian novel where you can nitpick the world-building and the mechanics of how it came to be a dystopian world. It’s the kind that just accepts whatever it cannot control nor change and just shows the different effects of destruction that come along its way. While there are rebellious citizens, their actions are for them and their family’s safety and freedom, not for fighting back the abusers. It shows both hope and hopelessness of the people, violence and finding love and family amidst it.
I love how it just slowly breaks your heart as more things disappear towards the end. Another detail that I loved is how the MC is a writer and is in the middle of writing a novel despite everything that’s happening and how her novel is a fictional reflection / juxtaposition of what they are going through.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Death
tomasalbanez's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Sexual violence, Violence, and Toxic relationship
darbo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"I don't know. Maybe there's a place out there where people whose hearts aren't empty can go on living."
The book has a slow start, and it may feel slow all throughout for some due to its mundane, everyday tasks, but it picks up eventually and just leaves you baffled and shocked at every turn. Especially so the ending. I truly love this and wholeheartedly recommend this to any dystopia and Orwell fans out there.
The book has a slow start, and it may feel slow all throughout for some due to its mundane, everyday tasks, but it picks up eventually and just leaves you baffled and shocked at every turn. Especially so the ending. I truly love this and wholeheartedly recommend this to any dystopia and Orwell fans out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, and Death
aaryan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Omniously Beautiful. Never have I ever read something like this. Probably the most gorgeous dystopia I've ever read. It carved a hole within me. Very very sensory in its storytelling. The world and aesthetic the story is set in, the emotions are immaculately wonderful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Torture, Police brutality, Child death, and Death of parent
kamuffel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Daunting, Murakami-like vibes, dark but in a light way. Went down smooth as butter.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Rape
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