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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
You may have seen my blog post from the author of this book. The book itself was a great read. In the book, we learn what it is like to not being able to remember things and the impact on life. I enjoyed this book because it was hard to read, but also beautifully written. I really enjoyed the story and I am glad I got to help get the word out about this one.
An intense and an emotional rollercoaster. Such an interesting novel and so great to read!
Give me a second while I try to compose myself. I'm a wreck as of the moment.
Okay, so...
I really love this book so much! This can actually be devoured in just one sitting, but a little distraction wouldn't hurt because [a: Lara Avery|5626114|Lara Avery|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442618102p2/5626114.jpg] wrote a story that brims with sadness, joy, humor, hope, and grief, and you know, sometimes you also need to get a grip.
I didn't know anything much about dementia other than it is characterized by decline in memory, and thanks to this book we're given light, or at the very least, a glimpse of what it is like to have this condition. To be clear, dementia is not a disease but is categorized under a group of symptoms of even broader types of neurological diseases including Niemann-Pick Type C, which is what Sammie McCoy battles with. The Memory Book was written to record the memories of Sammie and help her remember who she was before NPC took over and controlled the life she'd only just started to live. Sammie McCoy's narrative is filled with so much emotions that will definitely tug at your heartstrings and its authenticity will take you along with all the ups and downs in her life as if you're actually experiencing it firsthand. Right from the very first entry, I got absorbed by the sadness that looms through pages BUT also knew when to laugh when warranted. This novel talks mostly about Sammie's struggles yet I still found it so delightful to see the optimism in her character no matter how unfair life is. All I can really say is that this book is nothing short of laughter, ambition, heartbreak, and yes, life lessons.
I'd also like to talk about how much I love the elements in Sammie's story: family dynamics, frienship, romance, and identity.
Sammie has two loving parents and three cute and adorable siblings which may be annoying at times but love and care for her no matter what. Avery's portrayal of how a family breaks and still functions in the middle of a disease is genuine as it is excruciating yet heartwarming.
The friendship part in this book is very relatable. Sammie is a very smart person who undoubtedly excels in school but fails miserably when it comes to social cues, which explains why she only has Maddie and Cooper as her two friends. Maddie is a friend from the debate team and while I actually didn't like how she handled Sammie's confession about her disease, it's still touching to see how maturely they've grown on their relationship, both as debate partners and friends. Cooper, on the other hand.... Oh, Cooper.... He's actually my favorite character in this book, and possibly of all time (aside from Frank Porter and Kaz Brekker) because he's cute, funny, charming, and despite what he may seem, he is really sweet and caring. He's your dumbshit, always high friend but loyal to the bone. Honestly, after finishing this I wanted to give my friends a call and ask them how they are, because I'm reminded how terrible of a friend I am, how rarely I reach out to them.
The romance was precious. Sammie has guts and it's so adorable how she straight up spilled her feelings to the person she's loved forever, Stuart. Of course she was initially anxious, but she handled the situation perfectly fine. Plus, her internal monologues were funny, I was laughing like crazy.
There's a little bit of a love triangle and I was carried away with Sammie choosing who she really loves. I'm not going to elaborate too much on this because I feel like I'm going to give it all away, so I'm going to tell you to just read it and figure it out. I swear, it's really so adorable.
One last thing, even before Sammie was diagnosed with NPC, she already was admirable. She's intelligent, a bookworm (reads a book in a party — this girl is so me), most of the time she can be very intense, goes to debate championships, and can possibly be the class valedictorian. Sucks can't even come close to how her life can be described after NPC diagnosis. Sammie who has all the potential in the world, with hopes and dreams that could be just as high as the sky goes, suddenly has her life on hold because her illness limits her capabalities. Life has been really tough on her. But what's truly remarkable is how she still chooses to hope that life can get better, that her illness could improve, even if her lab results tell otherwise. Her illness might have become a big hindrance for her to truly live her life, but she's given, by some consolation, a chance to discover what her heart wants and get to know the people she had years to interact with.
I almost gave this 5 stars. I really was determined to give this a perfect score because I loved everything EXCEPT for what happened towards the end. I was already down to the last 25 pages of the book until IT happened and I really couldn't bring myself to tolerate it no matter how lovely the characters involved were. So, yes, I'd give this only 4 stars. Nonetheless, I'm still in love with this.
Okay, so...
I really love this book so much! This can actually be devoured in just one sitting, but a little distraction wouldn't hurt because [a: Lara Avery|5626114|Lara Avery|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442618102p2/5626114.jpg] wrote a story that brims with sadness, joy, humor, hope, and grief, and you know, sometimes you also need to get a grip.
I didn't know anything much about dementia other than it is characterized by decline in memory, and thanks to this book we're given light, or at the very least, a glimpse of what it is like to have this condition. To be clear, dementia is not a disease but is categorized under a group of symptoms of even broader types of neurological diseases including Niemann-Pick Type C, which is what Sammie McCoy battles with. The Memory Book was written to record the memories of Sammie and help her remember who she was before NPC took over and controlled the life she'd only just started to live. Sammie McCoy's narrative is filled with so much emotions that will definitely tug at your heartstrings and its authenticity will take you along with all the ups and downs in her life as if you're actually experiencing it firsthand. Right from the very first entry, I got absorbed by the sadness that looms through pages BUT also knew when to laugh when warranted. This novel talks mostly about Sammie's struggles yet I still found it so delightful to see the optimism in her character no matter how unfair life is. All I can really say is that this book is nothing short of laughter, ambition, heartbreak, and yes, life lessons.
"And I'm glad I'm writing the good and the bad. I'm glad I didn't delete anything. What about all the moments that surround the good things? If you can only remember your aspirations, you will have no idea how you got from point A to point B."
I'd also like to talk about how much I love the elements in Sammie's story: family dynamics, frienship, romance, and identity.
Sammie has two loving parents and three cute and adorable siblings which may be annoying at times but love and care for her no matter what. Avery's portrayal of how a family breaks and still functions in the middle of a disease is genuine as it is excruciating yet heartwarming.
Spoiler
When Davy cried because Sammie couldn't remember who she was, I wanted to give her a warm hug. Baby doll, please don't cry.The friendship part in this book is very relatable. Sammie is a very smart person who undoubtedly excels in school but fails miserably when it comes to social cues, which explains why she only has Maddie and Cooper as her two friends. Maddie is a friend from the debate team and while I actually didn't like how she handled Sammie's confession about her disease, it's still touching to see how maturely they've grown on their relationship, both as debate partners and friends. Cooper, on the other hand.... Oh, Cooper.... He's actually my favorite character in this book, and possibly of all time (aside from Frank Porter and Kaz Brekker) because he's cute, funny, charming, and despite what he may seem, he is really sweet and caring. He's your dumbshit, always high friend but loyal to the bone. Honestly, after finishing this I wanted to give my friends a call and ask them how they are, because I'm reminded how terrible of a friend I am, how rarely I reach out to them.
The romance was precious. Sammie has guts and it's so adorable how she straight up spilled her feelings to the person she's loved forever, Stuart. Of course she was initially anxious, but she handled the situation perfectly fine. Plus, her internal monologues were funny, I was laughing like crazy.
Stuart: What are you up to these days? You're debating in one of the most prestigious competitions in the country, right?
Sammie: No. No, I'm not.
Stuart: Oh really? What a shame. What are you doing instead?
Sammie: Oh, just, you know, diseasin'. Diseasin' around.
There's a little bit of a love triangle and I was carried away with Sammie choosing who she really loves. I'm not going to elaborate too much on this because I feel like I'm going to give it all away, so I'm going to tell you to just read it and figure it out. I swear, it's really so adorable.
One last thing, even before Sammie was diagnosed with NPC, she already was admirable. She's intelligent, a bookworm (reads a book in a party — this girl is so me), most of the time she can be very intense, goes to debate championships, and can possibly be the class valedictorian. Sucks can't even come close to how her life can be described after NPC diagnosis. Sammie who has all the potential in the world, with hopes and dreams that could be just as high as the sky goes, suddenly has her life on hold because her illness limits her capabalities. Life has been really tough on her. But what's truly remarkable is how she still chooses to hope that life can get better, that her illness could improve, even if her lab results tell otherwise. Her illness might have become a big hindrance for her to truly live her life, but she's given, by some consolation, a chance to discover what her heart wants and get to know the people she had years to interact with.
"I know I'm sick. But I'm not going to set myself up for failure."
I almost gave this 5 stars. I really was determined to give this a perfect score because I loved everything EXCEPT for what happened towards the end. I was already down to the last 25 pages of the book until IT happened and I really couldn't bring myself to tolerate it no matter how lovely the characters involved were. So, yes, I'd give this only 4 stars. Nonetheless, I'm still in love with this.
Before reading The Memory Book, I'm afraid to say I'd never heard of Niemann-Pick Type C. It is a rare type of dementia that affects younger people, usually children. But seveteen-year-old Sam is a special case as her diagnosis comes a lot later than what is typical. Her dream for after high school is to attend NYU, and she stays focused on that goal even her family and doctors try to dissuade her. Sam starts typing up her memories on the computer for future Sam to read back later.
What I really respected about this story was that despite the subject matter, it wasn't a sad read. Yes, there were heartbreaking moments, as there would be for anyone facing a life cut short because of illness, but Sam had a fantastic attitude about the whole situation from start to finish. She was determined to continue living her life the way she planned, regardless of what challenges her illness threw at her.
Whilst the story itself was a difficult but touching subject, I found myself disappointed in the romance. Sam has had a crush on Stuart for years, and now he's back in town after being at NYU. When they go to the same party, they finally start talking, and it turns into something more. Towards the end of the book, there is even a bit of a love triangle. This side of the story didn't appeal to me, and I was much more interested in Sam dealing with her illness, and her relationship with her family and best friend Maddie than I was in the romance. Maddie was an awesome character and I wish the story had given us more moments between her and Sam because I felt as though their friendship could have been expanded more. I'd have also liked to have seen more of Sam's siblings.
The Niemann-Pick Type C itself was heartbreaking to see progress throughout the book, especially when sam ends up having more episodes of memory loss. Her sudden confusion in her entries are actually quite chilling because it shows us just have terrifying it must feel to be in that situation. I'm grateful that books like this exist so that readers can become more aware of rare illnesses such as this one.
The Memory Book was a bit of a mixed-bag for me. Whilst I loved the importance of the story and the message it held, there were parts of the story that felt a little forced and stereotypical. But I was still able to enjoy the story as a whole, and I appreciate that it made me aware of Niemann-Pick Type C. I'm always grateful to stories like this that shine a light on conditions less known to the general public.
What I really respected about this story was that despite the subject matter, it wasn't a sad read. Yes, there were heartbreaking moments, as there would be for anyone facing a life cut short because of illness, but Sam had a fantastic attitude about the whole situation from start to finish. She was determined to continue living her life the way she planned, regardless of what challenges her illness threw at her.
Whilst the story itself was a difficult but touching subject, I found myself disappointed in the romance. Sam has had a crush on Stuart for years, and now he's back in town after being at NYU. When they go to the same party, they finally start talking, and it turns into something more. Towards the end of the book, there is even a bit of a love triangle. This side of the story didn't appeal to me, and I was much more interested in Sam dealing with her illness, and her relationship with her family and best friend Maddie than I was in the romance. Maddie was an awesome character and I wish the story had given us more moments between her and Sam because I felt as though their friendship could have been expanded more. I'd have also liked to have seen more of Sam's siblings.
The Niemann-Pick Type C itself was heartbreaking to see progress throughout the book, especially when sam ends up having more episodes of memory loss. Her sudden confusion in her entries are actually quite chilling because it shows us just have terrifying it must feel to be in that situation. I'm grateful that books like this exist so that readers can become more aware of rare illnesses such as this one.
The Memory Book was a bit of a mixed-bag for me. Whilst I loved the importance of the story and the message it held, there were parts of the story that felt a little forced and stereotypical. But I was still able to enjoy the story as a whole, and I appreciate that it made me aware of Niemann-Pick Type C. I'm always grateful to stories like this that shine a light on conditions less known to the general public.
OH MY WORD. I CAN'T. I spent most of this book going "okay this is super sad but really good oh man" and then those last few pages just BROKE ME. A book that makes me cry so hard that I shake the bed and get a headache and can't breathe deserves five stars. I can't.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
It's an odd book this, easy to read for the format but heavy on your heart as you do. A friend read it first and thought it would matter to me, I'm so glad she did. I cried on the last page and will now force my sibling to do the same this time with my scribbles in the margins<3
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars
Well, this was a hard one to rate. Mixed feelings. I suppose the following short list can sum up my thoughts:
What I liked about it:
- The MC's illness
What I didn't like about it:
- Everything else
I was hoping for a heart-wrenching [a:Lisa Genova|978484|Lisa Genova|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1410537635p2/978484.jpg]-esque novel, but what I got was a first half that was painfully YA, and a second half that was like a mediocre re-write of [b:Flowers for Algernon|36576608|Flowers for Algernon|Daniel Keyes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1510416245s/36576608.jpg|3337594]. Wow, that feels a bit harsh. The second half, to be fair, was much better than the first half; I just didn't have much of an attachment to any character due to the detached, journal-entry format of the novel.
Well, this was a hard one to rate. Mixed feelings. I suppose the following short list can sum up my thoughts:
What I liked about it:
- The MC's illness
What I didn't like about it:
- Everything else
I was hoping for a heart-wrenching [a:Lisa Genova|978484|Lisa Genova|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1410537635p2/978484.jpg]-esque novel, but what I got was a first half that was painfully YA, and a second half that was like a mediocre re-write of [b:Flowers for Algernon|36576608|Flowers for Algernon|Daniel Keyes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1510416245s/36576608.jpg|3337594]. Wow, that feels a bit harsh. The second half, to be fair, was much better than the first half; I just didn't have much of an attachment to any character due to the detached, journal-entry format of the novel.