London Lane has an unusual problem. Every night when she falls asleep, her memory of that day is erased, and when she dreams, she remembers events in the future. She’s learned to cope with this strangeness by writing herself detailed notes of what she knows she’ll have forgotten by the next day. But the notes are only so much help. They can tell her what has happened, but it doesn’t make dating a guy she has no memory of any less awkward. But dealing with day-to-day life turns out to be the least of London’s worries when she starts having some disturbing visions in her dreams. London can’t help but feel that she needs to unravel the mystery of this vision to stop a tragedy from happening, but what if the key lies not in the future, but in her past?
Forgotten is a novel that is brilliant in subtle ways. The plot itself is satisfying with a good mix of mystery, romance, and drama specific to London’s unusual memory problems. London’s failure to remember the past takes a while to get used to, but the characters overall are mostly realistic. However, it’s not the plot or characters that truly stood out to me but rather the complicated theory and ideas woven into the story. It’s so evident that Patrick thoroughly thought through the specifics, consequences, and possible causes of a new kind of memory. The way that London’s reverse memory affects every aspect of her life is absolutely compelling and the true driving force of this novel. London’s story raises so many fascinating questions about free will, the consequences of the choices we make, and the connection between the psyche and the passage of time. Forgotten is without a doubt a good story, but it’s one that is even better because of its unique ideas.
Forgotten is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver as well as by any reader who is interested in the psychology of memory.
Rating: 4.25
Review copy from publisher Little, Brown
Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Munched by Rachael Stein on 7/26/2011
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2 munch(es) :
Very intriguing! A serious version of the old very funny SNL skit with Tom Hanks, "Mr. Short Term Memory." LOL!!
I can not wait to read this book! It sounds like something that once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down!
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