A review by jaclyn_sixminutesforme
The Memory Police, by Yōko Ogawa
4.0
Examining the central themes of memory and the trauma around loss, this was such a unique narrative.
The novel is set in a dystopian world where items and physical parts of the world are “disappeared” in a very literal sense - as they disappear, so too does the memory of them for people. Well, most people. There are Memory Police that monitor the disappearances and “correct” situations where people do not lose their memories as intended.
It is such a peculiar concept in abstract, particularly as the novel progresses and the types of things “disappeared” become more personal. That said, I couldn’t help feeling how much the narrative stirred up traces of dictatorships throughout history and the policing of thoughts. It still has my mind spinning since finishing and made me want to read more from Ogawa!
Thanks to Pantheon for an ARC.
The novel is set in a dystopian world where items and physical parts of the world are “disappeared” in a very literal sense - as they disappear, so too does the memory of them for people. Well, most people. There are Memory Police that monitor the disappearances and “correct” situations where people do not lose their memories as intended.
It is such a peculiar concept in abstract, particularly as the novel progresses and the types of things “disappeared” become more personal. That said, I couldn’t help feeling how much the narrative stirred up traces of dictatorships throughout history and the policing of thoughts. It still has my mind spinning since finishing and made me want to read more from Ogawa!
Thanks to Pantheon for an ARC.