A review by hannahnasir
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

One of Ogawa’s best works for sure. This book was real dystopia, without being so intense it was indigestible. I couldn’t put the book down. It kept me on my toes. And as I approached the end, I didn’t want it to. Not because it was so good (it was) I didn’t want it to end, but because for the first time in a very long time a book scared me. I felt genuine, eerily gentle fear. The way Ogawa packed in so much emotion into an environment that was anything but emotional was so impressive. Her ability to pin importance and value and emotional permanence to every day objects, and to make a story out of it is something I believe you won’t see anywhere else. 
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