Blurb
When time is running out, every moment is precious…
When Claire starts to write her Memory Book, she already knows that this scrapbook of mementoes will soon be all her daughters and husband have of her. But how can she hold onto the past when her future is slipping through her fingers...?
A Sunday Times bestseller and Richard & Judy Autumn Book Club pick, The Memory Book is a critically acclaimed, beautiful novel of mothers and daughters, and what we will do for love.
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Tanya's review
Wow Wow Wow this is another great book that I have read this
year and it’s one that will stay with me for years to come. I must say a big thank you to Suzanne for
gifting me this book during her fabulous visit to Wales. It will be a book that stays on my keep shelf
and be re-read many times especially when I want reassuring about the
importance of life.
The book is about Claire and her families’ struggles and
fight against early onset Alzheimer’s. Since
having her oldest daughter at the age of 20 Claire has learnt to be independent
and has always worked hard to have what she has in life. She recently married Greg, they met when he was doing some building work for her. They have a three year old daughter together
called Esther and she seems to be the only one that does not recognise the
daily struggles for the family. Claire’s
mum, Ruth, has started to live with the family to take care of Claire during
the day. The change in her behaviour is
a big shock to the family as well as herself as her struggle to remember the
simplest of tasks and words.
The idea of the memory book is for Claire to record the
memories that she has of her life, as a child and an adult and she finds this a
great help. The rest of the family start
to contribute towards it as well.
Hopefully it will be something for the family especially Esther to look
back on in the future.
As well as the story of what happened in the past being put
in the memory book there is also stories that run through the book about what
is happening to members of the family during the current time. These are varied and again quite hard to read
but are told in a fantastic way in that you can’t help but read and want to
know what happens next.
The book is told in alternate chapters by different members
of the family. Sometimes it is in
present time sometimes it is about what is being written about the past to go
in the memory book. You really need to
read the titles of the chapters to find out whose eyes you are seeing the events
through and when it is set.
I loved all the main characters in this book and wanted to
hold them close and tell them it would all be ok when in reality I suppose it
really was not going to be. I am blessed
that I have never faced Alzheimer’s in real life and after reading this it
gives me some insight into how things feel for the person and the family. If you have face this in your life I imagine
this book may be difficult to read as it left me in tears at many points.
Thank you to Rowan Coleman for opening my eyes to this
terrible condition and for such a great book on the subject.
Amazing book and full of historical story thanks for share it best statement of purpose for mba .
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