A review by klor
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

The world building and the plot that runs the book was a really interesting read. While there are probably bigger things happening in the world our protagonist lives in, this novel focuses more on how the ordinary people are trying to get by in the midst of all the disappearances. There's almost a want for a hero to come and solve all of the disappearances but it never happens in the book. In a way, there's some beauty to that. It's absolutely heartbreaking what these people go through.

I thought the romance between R and our protagonist felt a little forced at first but it eventually blossomed into something comfortable for the both of them. I think them and the old man and the bond they shared was the absolute heart of this story.


I'd love to explore the world more but that probably isn't the point of the book.
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