A review by samarakroeger
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

dark mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I was not the biggest fan of the narration style chosen by the author/translator. It does not make sense within this dystopia for a first person present tense narration when this person is continuously losing her memory for things but the narrative still references these things in her voice. She shouldn’t be able to point out that she has no idea what a bird is because she is acknowledging the loss of a named thing. 

Anyways, this book deals with themes of loss, memory, confinement, and censorship, just like many well known and loved dystopias. There were clearly many interpretations/allusions to a wide variety of real-life issues, which managed to be both vague and pretty obvious. It’s giving Anne Frank. It’s giving Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative diseases. It’s even giving abusive relationship. Obviously, it’s giving police state — that’s literally what this is.  

It’s like someone took Ishiguro’s favorite themes (memory, time, loss) but forgot the nuance and subtlety. 

Don’t get me wrong, I still liked the book despite my qualms. I don’t think it’s anything particularly special and only time will tell if it has had a true effect on me. While it felt kind of slow and repetitive at times, I did listen to it in two sittings over the course of 24 hours. And I’ve been in a reading slump. I’d call it a success. 
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