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wonderlandfairy 's review for:
The Memory Police
by Yōko Ogawa
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars* This was a gentle, odd, and slightly hypotonic story. The cast of characters are wonderful and very easy to become fond of. The idea of the island and its disappearances is very interesting. And I absolutely loved the exploration of memory loss and how much of it contributed to our sense of identity. Can’t forget how this forced memory loss contributes to the characters’ isolation and disconnection from their daily lives/rituals. It’s clear that the Memory Police symbolize the dangers of authoritarianism : suppression of identity and expression, destruction of meaningful relationships, and depletion of any purpose in life.
But what is so disheartening is the island residents complacency in all of it—they accept the disappearances and move forward, questioning nothing. Even those that can remember these disappearances don’t do much to challenge The Memory Place. This is probably the point—that is to show what happens when we’re complacent and idle while living under oppressive regimes. When we lose so much and become almost numb to it—only seeking survival. I just found it a bit disappointing that not a single person decided to fight back in some way. On top of that, we don’t get any insight into how the memory police can take away memories, how some are exempt from not remembering and others aren’t, or even what exists beyond the island. There were so many questions. I understand that that wasn’t the focus, but those details would’ve bolstered the story that much more.
I enjoyed the story, there is so much power in exploring oppressive governments, loss of identity and expression and how people respond to it all. Yet, I can’t say it was as powerful as books like Fahrenheit 451 or 1984 (ik I haven’t read 1984, but I hear such amazing things)-–at least for me.
But what is so disheartening is the island residents complacency in all of it—they accept the disappearances and move forward, questioning nothing. Even those that can remember these disappearances don’t do much to challenge The Memory Place. This is probably the point—that is to show what happens when we’re complacent and idle while living under oppressive regimes. When we lose so much and become almost numb to it—only seeking survival. I just found it a bit disappointing that not a single person decided to fight back in some way. On top of that, we don’t get any insight into how the memory police can take away memories, how some are exempt from not remembering and others aren’t, or even what exists beyond the island. There were so many questions. I understand that that wasn’t the focus, but those details would’ve bolstered the story that much more.
I enjoyed the story, there is so much power in exploring oppressive governments, loss of identity and expression and how people respond to it all. Yet, I can’t say it was as powerful as books like Fahrenheit 451 or 1984 (ik I haven’t read 1984, but I hear such amazing things)-–at least for me.