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A review by sunyidean
The Memory Project by Andrew C. Youngson
3.0
A surreal and almost psychedelic read. I think my favorite bits were in Bangkok, and I think the writer absolutely nailed that weird third culture kid going to private international school vibe, which is quite niche and makes me think he has personal experience of it. If not, he did his research. The descriptions of trauma were evocative and intriguing. I loved the queet rep.
But other aspects were a bit jarring for me. Structurally, the narrative felt disconnected or fragmented. I think a lot of that was intentional but that did leave me drifting and frustrated at times. I am a structure fiend when it comes to books so that matters to me a lot.
Some of psychology verged into cliche or inaccurate for me but that's perhaps subjective. The book also felt like an odd combination of high concept (Mnemosyne Project, weavers, stitchers) but had a literary pace. High concept can be hard to balance with literary and in this case it didn't quite gel for me.
I would still recommend this overall though.
But other aspects were a bit jarring for me. Structurally, the narrative felt disconnected or fragmented. I think a lot of that was intentional but that did leave me drifting and frustrated at times. I am a structure fiend when it comes to books so that matters to me a lot.
Some of psychology verged into cliche or inaccurate for me but that's perhaps subjective. The book also felt like an odd combination of high concept (Mnemosyne Project, weavers, stitchers) but had a literary pace. High concept can be hard to balance with literary and in this case it didn't quite gel for me.
I would still recommend this overall though.