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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Heartbreak, humour and hope.
Told through a series of journal entries, The Memory Book follows Sammie as she comes to terms with the diagnosis that she will lose all of her memories as a genetic disorder steals her life.
With a plot like that, you know that this book is going to be heartbreaking, but Lara Avery has managed to add humour and hope into what would otherwise be an extremely upsetting novel.
In addition to following Sammie’s medical journey, you’ll be treated to glimpses of her life as a teenager, which she is muddling through in all of the same ways as any other teenager would. She’s struggling with friendships and relationships in the same ways we all did, just with something huge and terrifying looming over her while she’s at it.
Sammie as a character is incredibly charming, and I loved the dynamic she has with her family. The journal style helps us delve right into Sammie’s thoughts and it took no time at all for me to feel like I knew her, which makes it all the more heartbreaking as you watch her deteriorate throughout the novel.
In addition to the wonderful plot and characters, the writing itself is fantastic, and you’ll discover how great the further you progress through the book. I’ll say nothing more than that so as not to spoil it, but it really is great.
Told through a series of journal entries, The Memory Book follows Sammie as she comes to terms with the diagnosis that she will lose all of her memories as a genetic disorder steals her life.
With a plot like that, you know that this book is going to be heartbreaking, but Lara Avery has managed to add humour and hope into what would otherwise be an extremely upsetting novel.
In addition to following Sammie’s medical journey, you’ll be treated to glimpses of her life as a teenager, which she is muddling through in all of the same ways as any other teenager would. She’s struggling with friendships and relationships in the same ways we all did, just with something huge and terrifying looming over her while she’s at it.
Sammie as a character is incredibly charming, and I loved the dynamic she has with her family. The journal style helps us delve right into Sammie’s thoughts and it took no time at all for me to feel like I knew her, which makes it all the more heartbreaking as you watch her deteriorate throughout the novel.
In addition to the wonderful plot and characters, the writing itself is fantastic, and you’ll discover how great the further you progress through the book. I’ll say nothing more than that so as not to spoil it, but it really is great.
over a year after reading this masterpiece it's still one of the best books I've ever read!!! I CRIED SO HARD IT'S SO GOOD PLEASE READ IT NOOOOOW
WOW! Simply amazing book. I loved every single one of the characters. I felt like I knew them all so well by the end of the book. The story was engaging as well. I couldn't stop reading, and finished it in a few hours. Not gonna lie, I absolutely cried a bit at the end... and a few tears escaped at some other parts of the story.
This book is beautiful... So sad but so powerful! I am speechless, I loved loved loved it.
Forever ago, I put this book on hold at our library (Kindle version). I had completely forgotten that I'd done so, until I was notified that it was my turn to read it (yay!). I downloaded it yesterday, and finished it today, and that wasn't even with continuously reading it.
This is one of the many reasons that I love YA fiction, and authors like Lara Avery. They draw me fully into their worlds, into their minds, into their characters... and time, stress, and all of the associated baggage from this world fades away.
I loved Sammie. I hated how she slowly lost herself due to NPC, but it was an excellent story. And I won't lie, I cried at the end. I became very attached to Sammie as a flawed protagonist. She was (to me) a very realistic character, one in whom I could see reflections of my teenage self.
My one "issue" (per se) with The Memory Book was the fact that the selfishness, which became such a huge issue for Maddie and Stuart, wasn't depicted as clearly as I would've liked throughout the book. Perhaps that is more an issue with how I read, versus an issue with the book itself, but I had a really hard time differentiating between above-and-beyond selfishness, and the selfishness (self-absorption?) that is natural, to me, in people who are in pain, who are depressed, or who are facing their mortality.
(As an aside, I have been depressed in the past, and I would say that I was self-absorbed but not in a way that I could really prevent. It was more of a natural reaction to depression than something that I should've "fought harder" against, I think.)
But aside from that, I loved this book. Lara Avery strikes again! :) Would definitely recommend.
This is one of the many reasons that I love YA fiction, and authors like Lara Avery. They draw me fully into their worlds, into their minds, into their characters... and time, stress, and all of the associated baggage from this world fades away.
I loved Sammie. I hated how she slowly lost herself due to NPC, but it was an excellent story. And I won't lie, I cried at the end. I became very attached to Sammie as a flawed protagonist. She was (to me) a very realistic character, one in whom I could see reflections of my teenage self.
My one "issue" (per se) with The Memory Book was the fact that the selfishness, which became such a huge issue for Maddie and Stuart, wasn't depicted as clearly as I would've liked throughout the book. Perhaps that is more an issue with how I read, versus an issue with the book itself, but I had a really hard time differentiating between above-and-beyond selfishness, and the selfishness (self-absorption?) that is natural, to me, in people who are in pain, who are depressed, or who are facing their mortality.
(As an aside, I have been depressed in the past, and I would say that I was self-absorbed but not in a way that I could really prevent. It was more of a natural reaction to depression than something that I should've "fought harder" against, I think.)
But aside from that, I loved this book. Lara Avery strikes again! :) Would definitely recommend.
Sammie, a girl with a fantastic future ahead of her, finds out she has a debilitating illness that will ultimately take her life. Great book about living life to the fullest in spite of our circumstances!
Samantha has a rare degenerative condition which will affect her physically, but the mental effects are much more devastating for this valedictorian debater with Big Plans for University and life beyond. In her last year of highs school, just as she's preparing for uni, Samantha's illness begins to manifest, and dementia starts to set in.
Samantha is smart, forthright, driven, and determined to beat her condition, and if sheer willpower could have any effect, she would be in with a fighting chance. Told in a series of journal entries, we see Samantha struggle to come to terms with her condition, and her slow deterioration as she watches her friends launch into life after high school. We get occasional insights into her friends and families' viewpoints too, as she allows them to add entries to her journal document now and again.
Samantha is smart, forthright, driven, and determined to beat her condition, and if sheer willpower could have any effect, she would be in with a fighting chance. Told in a series of journal entries, we see Samantha struggle to come to terms with her condition, and her slow deterioration as she watches her friends launch into life after high school. We get occasional insights into her friends and families' viewpoints too, as she allows them to add entries to her journal document now and again.
emotional
sad
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:
No
Book #37 Read in 2016
The Memory Book by Lara Avery
Samiey is a senior in high school, valedictorian of her class. She is planning to head to New York City to college and then law school. But Sammy's health has other ideas and she is struck with a disease where dementia is setting in. Will this disease put an end to all of Sammie's plans? Sammie finds out a lot about herself, her family and her friends when her health begins to decline. Told in a journal-like format, this book is a great read for both high school students and adults alike. I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.
The Memory Book by Lara Avery
Samiey is a senior in high school, valedictorian of her class. She is planning to head to New York City to college and then law school. But Sammy's health has other ideas and she is struck with a disease where dementia is setting in. Will this disease put an end to all of Sammie's plans? Sammie finds out a lot about herself, her family and her friends when her health begins to decline. Told in a journal-like format, this book is a great read for both high school students and adults alike. I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.