jatropha's review against another edition
1.0
I tried but this is not a great book for me to get out of my reading slump. I wasn't expecting the romance at all and it didn't feel like anything? The characters were quite flat, especially the girl, since I knew next to nothing about her. Also her POVs were so annoying and interrupting the flow of the story. What's with the poetry format?? it didn't fit well
It almost felt like the romance was inserted just because oh there's a boy and there's a girl. The only reason i kept reading was because I was interested to find out the girl's identity, and when I did, I realised I didn't care at all :/
I never understood what the wings were about, and why it was mentioned so often throughout. Seems like just something to make the girl seem quirky, not like other girls, somehow interesting? but it didn't work for me
Oh also why didn't Kyle give her the ID, or maybe I missed it? idk it felt so weird.
Even though the author seemed to try making the characters mean something, it didn’t work out. I think the most solid character was probably Kyle's uncle.
Would've probably DNF'ed under other circumstances, but I tried to power through, skimming through most of the book towards the end.
It almost felt like the romance was inserted just because oh there's a boy and there's a girl. The only reason i kept reading was because I was interested to find out the girl's identity, and when I did, I realised I didn't care at all :/
I never understood what the wings were about, and why it was mentioned so often throughout. Seems like just something to make the girl seem quirky, not like other girls, somehow interesting? but it didn't work for me
Oh also why didn't Kyle give her the ID, or maybe I missed it? idk it felt so weird.
Even though the author seemed to try making the characters mean something, it didn’t work out. I think the most solid character was probably Kyle's uncle.
Would've probably DNF'ed under other circumstances, but I tried to power through, skimming through most of the book towards the end.
aubreywood's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
anneenichole's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. Bored and not enjoying the story, the cussing, the mood
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
5.0
Book #140 Read in 2016
The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
This book is set in New York City on 9/11. Kyle crosses the bridge and makes it home when the towers fell. His dad is a first responder and is at Ground Zero. Kyle found this teen girl alone and wandering and brings her home with him. Who is she? Did she lose her parents in the towers? This book realistically portrays the horrors and the heroes of 9/11. A recommended read for high school and adult readers. I borrowed this book from the public library.
The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
This book is set in New York City on 9/11. Kyle crosses the bridge and makes it home when the towers fell. His dad is a first responder and is at Ground Zero. Kyle found this teen girl alone and wandering and brings her home with him. Who is she? Did she lose her parents in the towers? This book realistically portrays the horrors and the heroes of 9/11. A recommended read for high school and adult readers. I borrowed this book from the public library.
illbefinealone's review against another edition
5.0
Ever since I finished this book, I've felt like I need to read it again. The slightest reminder of the book's existence brings me back to the plot, and it takes me some time to get back to reality. I'm obsessing over this story. That is the biggest reason why I gave myself several days between finishing it and writing this review.
The storyline begins on 9/11, a day that changed America, which in my opinion is very well represented in the story. The book is beautifully written in it's entirety; the characters are well developed, and the plot is executed to perfection. I cannot find a glitch in this book, so perfectly done, so full of hope and poignant at the same time. Incredibly captivating.
I highly recommend it.
The storyline begins on 9/11, a day that changed America, which in my opinion is very well represented in the story. The book is beautifully written in it's entirety; the characters are well developed, and the plot is executed to perfection. I cannot find a glitch in this book, so perfectly done, so full of hope and poignant at the same time. Incredibly captivating.
I highly recommend it.
msethna's review against another edition
5.0
I had heard such great reviews of The Memory of Things from my favorite bloggers and was thrilled to receive an ARC from NetGalley. I had not planned to start reading it on the 15th Anniversary of September 11th, but the timing was perfect. As I opened to the first page, my husband was watching various documentaries on September 11th and I was quickly transferred back to that dreadful day. This book is more than just a love story of two teens who meet on the Brooklyn bridge minutes after the planes crashed into World Trade Center towers. It is about family and protecting those who mean the most to you. It is about friendship and making sure those around you are taken care of. It is about courage and determination to help those who need it the most even when you want to stay home all curled up in bed. And mostly, it is about finding hope in the darkest of days. I loved this story and think I will treasure it for a long time. I want my own children to read it and understand that even when there is a lot of evil in the world. Good will always trump it and love will always win.
**A Huge Thank You to St. Martin's Griffin for my copy of this book. **
**A Huge Thank You to St. Martin's Griffin for my copy of this book. **
agxxo's review against another edition
2.0
I really tried to read this book, and it seems like it would be a good book, but I had to DNF it. I wasn’t alive when 9/11 happened, but for some reason this book just triggered my anxiety to the point I felt that if I kept reading it, I may have possibly had an anxiety attack. I really hope I can pick it up and read it sometime in the future, but I can’t right now.
bookwormmama's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rlwertheimer's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful novel capturing the emotions of 9/11 specifically, and human relationships broadly. Highly recommended.
readbookswithbecca's review against another edition
3.0
A different spin on a 9/11 book. Pretty good on audio