leannaaker's review against another edition
5.0
Really loved this book (as an audiobook)! This thriller was different because it was told from a narrator's perspective...a psychologist. The tight turns are paired with raw self-reflection.
husnaibrahim_'s review against another edition
3.5
This story, in its own unique way, intrigued me, but I can't say if I truly enjoyed it, primarily because of the unsettling elements, or if I hated it because of just that.
The source of my unease lies in whether it’s the storyline itself, particularly involving Dr. Alan, or the way in which he tells it. It's peculiar; his pompous and air of self-importance, making it a bit difficult to warm up to. There's an underlying sense of misogyny, narcissism, and manipulation beneath his logical assessment. Yet, it's equally challenging not to understand why he's this way. This complexity makes me question whether I dislike him in general or just the circumstances in which we find him.
It was even more surprising that the author was a woman, yet it appears because she’s a woman, she can artfully portray a well-hidden misogynist under the guise of a supposedly progressive man.
Nevertheless, this narrative was interesting. It wasn’t one of those beautifully written or narrated books about the typical tragedies involving women. Instead, it presents Jenny as the somewhat central character, with a cast of strikingly flawed characters, each grappling with their own shortcomings. The character I connected with most was Tom, his determination in transforming guilt and helplessness into a mission to find his daughter's rapist felt too real and just brutal. However, I'm unsure about my feelings toward him and Charlotte as a couple.
And I wish I had more I could say about Charlotte but I don’t. I can't say I connected with her deeply. I struggled to understand her and her 'two sides,' but I guess some things might be beyond our own individualistic understanding. Just like I couldn't fathom why Dr. Alan said some certain things about his wife. It all leaves a bitter taste.
The revelation that Dr. Alan knew the truth but led us, readers, and Jenny's family to believe he was helping her recover her memories was a bitter twist. Instead of reporting it to the police, which he could have easily done since he had been in contact with them frequently, he allowed this elaborate deception to unfold. No wonder he was so adamant that his son didn’t do it and could have in fact even been the victim. It’s all just so twisted but I guess he found a way to justify that too. Justify what he did to them all and what happened to Bob. I mean it’s just like he said, he was just ‘trying’ not to ‘confuse’ her memories. Yet did exactly that.
Then there’s the fact that he showed no remorse for his role in what happened to Bob. It was truly unsettling. I mean bob is not a good man that is a fact but Dr Alan is one sick individual. I know we are supposed to understand him and his choices after what we came to know but I just somehow don’t. And I just find it difficult to empathize with him. The empathy is there but not as much as it should have been. The man is just a deeply complicated character.
And this complexity is why I believe this book deserves a good rating. I somehow feel like the author intended for us to feel conflicted, not to actually like Dr. Alan even after everything that unfolds in the book. To somewhat understand his decisions, but also not understand it? To recognize that he needs to see a specialist just as much as Jenny does, and perhaps, in some twisted way, Jenny is his own form of therapy?
It's a complicated story that left me intrigued but also really conflicted, not because it's poorly written, but because it's well-written in its own unique way.
The source of my unease lies in whether it’s the storyline itself, particularly involving Dr. Alan, or the way in which he tells it. It's peculiar; his pompous and air of self-importance, making it a bit difficult to warm up to. There's an underlying sense of misogyny, narcissism, and manipulation beneath his logical assessment. Yet, it's equally challenging not to understand why he's this way. This complexity makes me question whether I dislike him in general or just the circumstances in which we find him.
It was even more surprising that the author was a woman, yet it appears because she’s a woman, she can artfully portray a well-hidden misogynist under the guise of a supposedly progressive man.
Nevertheless, this narrative was interesting. It wasn’t one of those beautifully written or narrated books about the typical tragedies involving women. Instead, it presents Jenny as the somewhat central character, with a cast of strikingly flawed characters, each grappling with their own shortcomings. The character I connected with most was Tom, his determination in transforming guilt and helplessness into a mission to find his daughter's rapist felt too real and just brutal. However, I'm unsure about my feelings toward him and Charlotte as a couple.
And I wish I had more I could say about Charlotte but I don’t. I can't say I connected with her deeply. I struggled to understand her and her 'two sides,' but I guess some things might be beyond our own individualistic understanding. Just like I couldn't fathom why Dr. Alan said some certain things about his wife. It all leaves a bitter taste.
The revelation that Dr. Alan knew the truth but led us, readers, and Jenny's family to believe he was helping her recover her memories was a bitter twist. Instead of reporting it to the police, which he could have easily done since he had been in contact with them frequently, he allowed this elaborate deception to unfold. No wonder he was so adamant that his son didn’t do it and could have in fact even been the victim. It’s all just so twisted but I guess he found a way to justify that too. Justify what he did to them all and what happened to Bob. I mean it’s just like he said, he was just ‘trying’ not to ‘confuse’ her memories. Yet did exactly that.
Then there’s the fact that he showed no remorse for his role in what happened to Bob. It was truly unsettling. I mean bob is not a good man that is a fact but Dr Alan is one sick individual. I know we are supposed to understand him and his choices after what we came to know but I just somehow don’t. And I just find it difficult to empathize with him. The empathy is there but not as much as it should have been. The man is just a deeply complicated character.
And this complexity is why I believe this book deserves a good rating. I somehow feel like the author intended for us to feel conflicted, not to actually like Dr. Alan even after everything that unfolds in the book. To somewhat understand his decisions, but also not understand it? To recognize that he needs to see a specialist just as much as Jenny does, and perhaps, in some twisted way, Jenny is his own form of therapy?
It's a complicated story that left me intrigued but also really conflicted, not because it's poorly written, but because it's well-written in its own unique way.
lisam0183_bookworm's review against another edition
2.0
This was not a great read. It had so much promise from the blurb, but was such a let down. It's told through the eyes of Jenny's psychiatrist, but he just jumps from one person and one story to another in nearly all of the chapters. Sometimes it got so confusing as to who he was talking about.
marcccb's review against another edition
4.0
When Jenny Kramer is raped, she is given a controversial drug to erase any memory of the assault. The Kramer household shatters into a million pieces as their daughter returns to them with no memory of what happened. But although she cannot remember anything, the physical scar on her back and her emotional state draw her back to find out what actually happened to her that night.
Before I talk about the book, it is important to note that it is not for everyone. There are some graphic descriptions of the rape, so if this is triggering, then this book might not be for you.
This book was absolutely amazing and so very important. Having read Walker's previous novels and chatted with her as well, I have come to sense the pattern of the major theme of trauma in all of her books. Walker is masterful in the way she balances both a family drama and a thriller novel. It's such a hard thing to do, but fear not because Walker always delivers.
The story is told from point of view of the therapist and I personally found it to be very different from anything I've ever read. He was such an interesting narrator and readers begin to see what an influence he has on the Kramers' life as we read along.
I think this book is more of a slow-burn thriller/family drama, but there sure are plenty of secrets in this one. And the twist. What a twist. I was not disappointed at all.
If you're able to handle a book with sensitive content, while enjoying a slow burning mystery, then the is the book for you. I cannot wait to read more of Wendy Walker's books!
Before I talk about the book, it is important to note that it is not for everyone. There are some graphic descriptions of the rape, so if this is triggering, then this book might not be for you.
This book was absolutely amazing and so very important. Having read Walker's previous novels and chatted with her as well, I have come to sense the pattern of the major theme of trauma in all of her books. Walker is masterful in the way she balances both a family drama and a thriller novel. It's such a hard thing to do, but fear not because Walker always delivers.
The story is told from point of view of the therapist and I personally found it to be very different from anything I've ever read. He was such an interesting narrator and readers begin to see what an influence he has on the Kramers' life as we read along.
I think this book is more of a slow-burn thriller/family drama, but there sure are plenty of secrets in this one. And the twist. What a twist. I was not disappointed at all.
If you're able to handle a book with sensitive content, while enjoying a slow burning mystery, then the is the book for you. I cannot wait to read more of Wendy Walker's books!
dr_manuela_reads's review against another edition
2.0
Okay story. Young girl is raped and given medication to forget the violation. Story is told through lens of psychiatrist who has own involvement in story. Interesting twist at end but not entirely surprising.
books_and_planners's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warning: this book talks about rape & describes it in some detail.
I’m not sure what I think about this book. It was good, a fast paced read. It seemed to kind of jump around the timeline & there were so many complex characters. The author did a great job building up character backgrounds. I was very shocked by the ending. I didn’t see that coming. I’m giving it 4 stars because I did not want to put it down until I found out who the rapist was & what everyone’s role ended up being.
I’m not sure what I think about this book. It was good, a fast paced read. It seemed to kind of jump around the timeline & there were so many complex characters. The author did a great job building up character backgrounds. I was very shocked by the ending. I didn’t see that coming. I’m giving it 4 stars because I did not want to put it down until I found out who the rapist was & what everyone’s role ended up being.
cfreda's review against another edition
4.0
This is a chilling and graphic book. The narrator is not likable at all as he comes across as snooty and arrogant. Although, the narration and story comes together nicely at the end.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker is a gripping mystery that has an unusual premise and a unique narrator.
Fifteen year old Jenny Kramer is brutally raped and in an effort to spare her the psychological trauma of the attack, her parents make an unorthodox decision to erase her memories of the assault. The controversial treatment blocks the memory of the act but as Jenny and her family soon discover, the accompanying emotions are still keenly felt. Without a tangible event to attach these feelings to, Jenny suffers from residual fear and anxiety. After a desperate attempt to end her torment, Jenny's family turns to Dr. Alan Forrester, a local psychiatrist who is also treating another patient that was given the same drugs as Jenny. Due to Dr. Forrester's limited success in helping war veteran Sean Logan retrieve his memories of the attack that left him an amputee and took the life of a fellow soldier, the Kramer family is hopeful that he can help Jenny remember the details of the rape and possibly identify her attacker. At the same time, the police are finally making progress on the case but outside interference soon hinders the investigation.
Written from the point of view of a very surprising narrator, All Is Not Forgotten unfolds at a steady pace. The narrator is unemotional and distant as the details of Jenny's attack and the months leading up to her therapy are slowly revealed. While this technique is a little off-putting initially, it does not take long to get used to this somewhat unusual form of narration. The flow of the story is sometimes interrupted as the narrator reveals tantalizing bits of information then backtracks to explain how these details were discovered. While it appears the storyteller is an impartial observer, the narrator's careful parceling of information keeps readers off balance and wondering whether or not this person's account of events is truly unbiased.
With a cast of flawed characters, jaw-dropping revelations and shocking plot twists, All Is Not Forgotten is an intricately plotted, suspenseful mystery that is impossible to put down. Wendy Walker makes an unusual choice for a narrator but this atypical narration is what makes this novel stand out in the mystery/suspense genre. A thought-provoking, riveting novel that I highly recommend to readers who enjoy a twisty, turny psychologically complex mystery.
All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker is a gripping mystery that has an unusual premise and a unique narrator.
Fifteen year old Jenny Kramer is brutally raped and in an effort to spare her the psychological trauma of the attack, her parents make an unorthodox decision to erase her memories of the assault. The controversial treatment blocks the memory of the act but as Jenny and her family soon discover, the accompanying emotions are still keenly felt. Without a tangible event to attach these feelings to, Jenny suffers from residual fear and anxiety. After a desperate attempt to end her torment, Jenny's family turns to Dr. Alan Forrester, a local psychiatrist who is also treating another patient that was given the same drugs as Jenny. Due to Dr. Forrester's limited success in helping war veteran Sean Logan retrieve his memories of the attack that left him an amputee and took the life of a fellow soldier, the Kramer family is hopeful that he can help Jenny remember the details of the rape and possibly identify her attacker. At the same time, the police are finally making progress on the case but outside interference soon hinders the investigation.
Written from the point of view of a very surprising narrator, All Is Not Forgotten unfolds at a steady pace. The narrator is unemotional and distant as the details of Jenny's attack and the months leading up to her therapy are slowly revealed. While this technique is a little off-putting initially, it does not take long to get used to this somewhat unusual form of narration. The flow of the story is sometimes interrupted as the narrator reveals tantalizing bits of information then backtracks to explain how these details were discovered. While it appears the storyteller is an impartial observer, the narrator's careful parceling of information keeps readers off balance and wondering whether or not this person's account of events is truly unbiased.
With a cast of flawed characters, jaw-dropping revelations and shocking plot twists, All Is Not Forgotten is an intricately plotted, suspenseful mystery that is impossible to put down. Wendy Walker makes an unusual choice for a narrator but this atypical narration is what makes this novel stand out in the mystery/suspense genre. A thought-provoking, riveting novel that I highly recommend to readers who enjoy a twisty, turny psychologically complex mystery.
thxalatte's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Very graphic, disturbing & dark. Young girl is raped.