Reviews

The Forgetting Room: A Fiction by Nick Bantock

tinkamasala's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

larkais's review

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated

3.0

A neat little interactive art book, I think the visuals were rather surreal especially the little pull out book for the "password" to the forgetting room. The mystery around the room didn't entice me much but I thought Raphael's message to Armon when he inherited the room at the end was the most interesting part. 

mer88's review

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inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

scarletcarnival's review

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4.0

So yesterday I received an anonymous gift in the post. Always intrigued by packages arriving in my name—and especially when it is not an "ordering week" in which I am waiting all too impatiently for UPS, FedEx, USPS, and horseback rider to fill my front porch with beautiful brown packages—I tore into the wrapping while driving down the road. Instantly I knew who it was from even though there was no insert, label, or other clue. (And she has been properly thanked for such an amazing gift.) Books are always a road into any real man's heart—even if only for the momentary glimpse of a sparkle of gratefulness. It is, of course, one of the reasons why I gift books to my own partner and other friends on a regular basis: that is, to share the love I have for them in the only way that makes sense to me.

But I digress...

What lay on the seat next to me surrounded by shreds of brown paper, was Nick Bantock's The Forgetting Room. Having had a discussion with this same young lady over Bantock's acclaimed Griffin & Sabine Trilogy, I was fascinated by the story hinted at by this particular book. I was told I would love it.

She was right. I love it! This is a story that strikes the core of personal lessons I've been trying to learn—and to teach—for decades. The source of creativity, identity, and family all revolve around what ultimately becomes a ghost story of such delicate and exquisite proportions you could miss it if you breathed in the wrong direction.

I admit I read it in one sitting this afternoon. I couldn't put it down. The words and images combined here create such a mesmerizing entanglement of the mind. The Forgetting Room is not a difficult read. It's quite easy, in fact. But it is deep in ways that are subtle, that sneak up on you, and make you realize you've just experienced an epiphany without so much as a single whimpering note from an angel's horn. It was silent. It was cleansing. It was sublime.

hyzenthlay76's review

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2.0

Not nearly as compelling or rewarding as Griffin & Sabine, this one just seemed like a treatise on Bantock's own artistic process, thinly disguised as a worthwhile tale.

bebsbooks's review

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inspiring medium-paced

4.25

tamitam55's review

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4.0

A sweet tale of finding ones own true self and realizing that you can be more than you know. As in true Bantock form there was plenty of intrigue and artistic wonder to fill your soul.

lkkirk75's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

4.0

patrick_114's review

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5.0

great stuff - mix of art and good story.

hlminton's review

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3.0

2.5 stars --The weakest Bantock I've read yet. :(
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