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nerdygnome 's review for:
Tell Me an Ending
by Jo Harkin
A definite slow-burn, low-simmer sci-fi, Tell Me an Ending took some patience but ultimately delivers on character development and on a gentle brain flex.
In Tell Me an Ending, we follow a collection of characters related in various ways to Nepenthe, a memory removal clinic in the UK that scientifically targets and removes certain memories from its clients, helping them wipe out their worst days. Most clients retain their self awareness of this, while others choose to enter into a "self-confidential" treatment, where even the fact that they've had a treatment is wiped from their memory. Following new developments in the science of memory, Nepenthe is required to inform their self-confidential clients that they've received treatment and give them the option of reversing it. Much of the book embarks on the decision of various characters to either accept or decline this reversal, and their discovery if they choose to reveal their hidden memory.
I saw the potential in this book early on and I'm thankful that gave me the patience to push through, because it did take a little longer to grab me than I'd like. The payoff was worth it, because I truly enjoyed this unique exploration of memory and its role in defining our lives, and the ethical implications of tampering with it. For a debut novel, I think this novel shows impressive character development, as I ultimately connected with each character. I didn't always agree with what each character did, but I understood why their decisions were inevitable. Just two things stopped me from giving this a five-star rating -- 1) the aforementioned slow start, and 2) the characters would have benefitted from being a little more closely related. I kept waiting for the twist of seeing parallel story lines come together, and in some cases they tip toed across the line, but never quite crashed together. As it was, they collectively made for a compelling story, but I suspect there was a real gut-punch of a story potential hiding in there had they been more closely related.
Regardless, this was a good read that I feel has been flying under the radar a little too much. It's definitely one I'd recommend, especially to fans of sci-fi realism.
In Tell Me an Ending, we follow a collection of characters related in various ways to Nepenthe, a memory removal clinic in the UK that scientifically targets and removes certain memories from its clients, helping them wipe out their worst days. Most clients retain their self awareness of this, while others choose to enter into a "self-confidential" treatment, where even the fact that they've had a treatment is wiped from their memory. Following new developments in the science of memory, Nepenthe is required to inform their self-confidential clients that they've received treatment and give them the option of reversing it. Much of the book embarks on the decision of various characters to either accept or decline this reversal, and their discovery if they choose to reveal their hidden memory.
I saw the potential in this book early on and I'm thankful that gave me the patience to push through, because it did take a little longer to grab me than I'd like. The payoff was worth it, because I truly enjoyed this unique exploration of memory and its role in defining our lives, and the ethical implications of tampering with it. For a debut novel, I think this novel shows impressive character development, as I ultimately connected with each character. I didn't always agree with what each character did, but I understood why their decisions were inevitable. Just two things stopped me from giving this a five-star rating -- 1) the aforementioned slow start, and 2) the characters would have benefitted from being a little more closely related. I kept waiting for the twist of seeing parallel story lines come together, and in some cases they tip toed across the line, but never quite crashed together. As it was, they collectively made for a compelling story, but I suspect there was a real gut-punch of a story potential hiding in there had they been more closely related.
Regardless, this was a good read that I feel has been flying under the radar a little too much. It's definitely one I'd recommend, especially to fans of sci-fi realism.