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A review by batsinthecastle
The Memory Book by Lara Avery
3.0
This was a book I wouldn't have picked up for myself. It was chosen for a book club and, while I didn't hate it and felt oddly compelled to keep reading, I didn't love it. The book follows Sammie, an overachieving, debate club-participating, some of socially estranged high schooler. Some days before her senior year is ending, she discovers she is about to have curve ball thrown her way in the form of a staggering disease.
1 star - I found the story telling of the book interesting. Sammie is talking to herself (Future Sam) in an attempt to always have a physical log of her thoughts. This journal of sorts takes some interesting turns, sometimes very poorly written (on purpose) and other times letting family and friends write a passage or transcribing a text conversation. I like mixed media, so this was a nice niche.
2 stars - While not necessarily well-rounded, Sammie's relationships gave some depth to the story. I'm a little torn between feeling like the relationships were all tied up in the end and not tied up enough, but they certainly taught the reader a few last-minute lessons.
3 stars - The pacing (mostly) was good. It kept me hooked for sure.
Why it lost stars: While Sammie did know where her health was headed, I felt things ended up a little too wrapped up. Usually, as a reader, I like things to be resolved by the end. With this story, however, it just felt...almost too neat? I was definitely engaged in reading this book, but it just wasn't 'everything' to me. Maybe if we had several POVs I would have felt it a little more well-rounded.
1 star - I found the story telling of the book interesting. Sammie is talking to herself (Future Sam) in an attempt to always have a physical log of her thoughts. This journal of sorts takes some interesting turns, sometimes very poorly written (on purpose) and other times letting family and friends write a passage or transcribing a text conversation. I like mixed media, so this was a nice niche.
2 stars - While not necessarily well-rounded, Sammie's relationships gave some depth to the story. I'm a little torn between feeling like the relationships were all tied up in the end and not tied up enough, but they certainly taught the reader a few last-minute lessons.
3 stars - The pacing (mostly) was good. It kept me hooked for sure.
Why it lost stars: While Sammie did know where her health was headed, I felt things ended up a little too wrapped up. Usually, as a reader, I like things to be resolved by the end. With this story, however, it just felt...almost too neat? I was definitely engaged in reading this book, but it just wasn't 'everything' to me. Maybe if we had several POVs I would have felt it a little more well-rounded.