Given its surprising beauty and assured voice, it's hard to believe that When I Forgot is Elina Hirvonen's first novel. While on her way to ...
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reviews
Jun 12, 2010
Karen
rated it: 
When I Forgot is a dark, contemporary story of only 180 pages. It's written in a way that I found to be quite confusing at times, as it moved back and forth between time periods frequently and I became a bit lost. Yet the information being slowly fed to me was intriguing, which meant I had to keep reading to find out what was happening.
Anna is a young woman sitting in a café trying to read a book. Yet the content of the book brings memories of her childhood to mind. She spends the en More...
Anna is a young woman sitting in a café trying to read a book. Yet the content of the book brings memories of her childhood to mind. She spends the en More...
Jul 10, 2009
Connie
rated it: 
Devastating childhoods have a unique way of bringing together beautiful, intricate minds and hearts. This is a story that examines such a relationship as well as the concept of the relationship.
The story reveals the past and choices of its characters in a discerningly drifty and dreamily reflective way.
At one point in the story, the author described Anna as seeing the sky in the reflection of the puddles. I noticed that I felt like that was how this story was written. An More...
The story reveals the past and choices of its characters in a discerningly drifty and dreamily reflective way.
At one point in the story, the author described Anna as seeing the sky in the reflection of the puddles. I noticed that I felt like that was how this story was written. An More...
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May 05, 2009
Lacie
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Elina Hirvonen’s novel When I Forgot, is a striking portrayal of two adults dealing with the mental illness of close family members. The reader is drawn into the lives of Ian and Anna, two Finnish writers. Hirvonen explores the scars left by each character’s experience with mental illness. She demonstrates the difficulty of living one’s own life successfully while dealing with a kind of survivor’s guilt at leaving behind the ill family member. We learn early on that Anna’s brother, Joona, is
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May 09, 2010
Collin Shea
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This is a quick read that was a thoroughly enjoyable, although perhaps slightly depressing, way to spend my Saturday afternoon. This is the type of book that I think different people might take different things away from after reading. For me, it was primarily about how having one mentally ill family member affects the entire family and the various roles that each member assumes, or is expected to assume.
It was about the particularly unique bond that sisters have with their brothers.
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It was about the particularly unique bond that sisters have with their brothers.
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Jan 03, 2010
Sally
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Would really rate it a 3.5. Painful story of her brother's mentoal illness. Powerful insight, like this excerpt:
..."First Ian told us why he became a literary scholar. 'I'm convinced that it's important to remember. Only by remembering can we understand something about ourselves. But I happen to have a terrible memory. I wanted to fill in the gaps by stealing from others...and he began talking about this dazzlingly intelligent woman who lived a hundred years ago {Virginia Woolf) More...
..."First Ian told us why he became a literary scholar. 'I'm convinced that it's important to remember. Only by remembering can we understand something about ourselves. But I happen to have a terrible memory. I wanted to fill in the gaps by stealing from others...and he began talking about this dazzlingly intelligent woman who lived a hundred years ago {Virginia Woolf) More...
Jan 13, 2011
susa
rated it: 
Kylmäksi jättävä kertomus siskosta, veljestä mielisairaalassa, Irakin sodasta ja kahdesta erilaisesta isästä: toisesta, joka traumautui sodassa liiaksi ollakseen isä ja toisesta, joka ei vain osannut olla isä. Kun mukaan heitetään vielä hyvin päälleliimatut viittaukset Virginia Woolfiin, on soppa valmis.
Hirvosen kirjoitustyyli oli ihan ok, ihan nätti paikoitellen, vähän tekotaiteellinen ja itsetarkoituksellinen muilta osin.
Eniten omalla kohdalla ehkä tökki kaiken mahdollisen More...
Hirvosen kirjoitustyyli oli ihan ok, ihan nätti paikoitellen, vähän tekotaiteellinen ja itsetarkoituksellinen muilta osin.
Eniten omalla kohdalla ehkä tökki kaiken mahdollisen More...
Nov 08, 2009
Elana
rated it:
First Reads Review...
I got this book with the book The Children's Day, and boy O boy did this book make The Children's Day seem all the better. The Children's Day was a decent book but compared to When I Forgot, it seemed like a beautiful masterpiece.
I'm not a fan of memoir like books to begin with, but this felt like everything I hated. The story rambles on into oblivion never giving the reader a chance to catch up. And when finally, after your a quart More...
I got this book with the book The Children's Day, and boy O boy did this book make The Children's Day seem all the better. The Children's Day was a decent book but compared to When I Forgot, it seemed like a beautiful masterpiece.
I'm not a fan of memoir like books to begin with, but this felt like everything I hated. The story rambles on into oblivion never giving the reader a chance to catch up. And when finally, after your a quart More...
Aug 11, 2011
Kris
rated it: 
The critical reaction seems to be very favourable, and I must admit that I’m struggling to see why. The story of damaged people and damaged families, and the harm that they inevitably do to each other; it utilises a fractured narrative to exemplify the ‘brokenness’ of the central characters. In this sense, this is not a subtle book. In broad brush strokes it ties together the idea of memory with the reality of unfortunate childhood(s), mental illness, relationship failures and even the linkage b
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Jun 19, 2009
Kate
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Meh. I was excited to read this book because the author is Finnish, and I've been wanted to get more acquainted with literature from the homeland. Written four years after 9/11, the novel tells the story of Anna, a young Finnish woman in a relationship with a visiting American lit. professor. Hirvonen makes Anna go through a lot -- 9/11, an abusive father, a mentally unbalanced brother, a near-rape, attempted suicide...I know that there are indeed unfortunate people who have had to deal with all
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Sep 22, 2011
ParasolPirate
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This was short but...well, sweet isn't really the word. But it was made sweeter for it's shortness, I think.
A book about the human condition, and how mental illness has an effect on families, friendship groups and relationships, not just the individual.
Any longer, and this book would have quickly become self indulgent and repetitive. As it was, I still found myself skipping along slightly at the end, but still retained my interest.
It was refreshing to find a book of this vein whe More...
A book about the human condition, and how mental illness has an effect on families, friendship groups and relationships, not just the individual.
Any longer, and this book would have quickly become self indulgent and repetitive. As it was, I still found myself skipping along slightly at the end, but still retained my interest.
It was refreshing to find a book of this vein whe More...
Jan 03, 2012
Anna
rated it:
Apparently this has also been published in English too, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61508...
The blurb for the English edition covers where the story moves well:
"Alone in a Helsinki cafe, Anna, a young journalist, spends a day drinking coffee and reading Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway. The novel, a gift from her professor and now lover, an American named Ian, becomes a lens through which Anna can view her own life. Compelling and poignant, the narrative floats in and out of More...
The blurb for the English edition covers where the story moves well:
"Alone in a Helsinki cafe, Anna, a young journalist, spends a day drinking coffee and reading Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway. The novel, a gift from her professor and now lover, an American named Ian, becomes a lens through which Anna can view her own life. Compelling and poignant, the narrative floats in and out of More...
Dec 26, 2011
Johanna
rated it:
1st-6th chapter
She tells about her family and Ian´s. It all seems like random short memories from people´s lives, with all sorts of stuff in their history. Jumps from one thing to another, I hope it gets a little clearer.
7th-13th
Something in this book makes me think it a story that happens sometime years and years ago. But it´s not. 9/11 happens during the book. It is really annoying because I can´t tell what it is that makes me think like this. Maybe it´s jus More...
She tells about her family and Ian´s. It all seems like random short memories from people´s lives, with all sorts of stuff in their history. Jumps from one thing to another, I hope it gets a little clearer.
7th-13th
Something in this book makes me think it a story that happens sometime years and years ago. But it´s not. 9/11 happens during the book. It is really annoying because I can´t tell what it is that makes me think like this. Maybe it´s jus More...
Mar 07, 2010
Jane
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I read this book during the summer. Interesting. Intense. Not really connected to Mrs. Dalloway in the way I expected. But it is a look at another culture--Finnish--and the life of an American in this culture. The tragedy of the brother involve some of the most heartbreaking scenes...Really good, I'd probably give it a higher rating if I had talked about it in a bookclub. At this point I've forgotten the sense I had while reading.
Oct 16, 2010
Judy
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This book resonated with me because it illuminated a part of my life, an uncompromising painful piece. The depiction of the mentally unbalanced brother was really well done, and the tie ins to modern history were well delineated. I wouldn't recommend this book to literal people, the poetry in it is overwhelming. A wonderful fairly short book to inhale in one sitting if possible.
Apr 11, 2010
Carmen
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A strange book about a woman dealing with mental problems in her family. It switches back and forth from the present to the past, along with a man's life whom she is dating. The man is from the US, so they highlight the American invasion of Iraq and have the man's father go to Vietnam in the past. I didn't really see any plot to the book. Very disjointed.
Jul 20, 2009
Paul
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I learned about this book via nytimes reviews, and it really struck me: I finished the novel in a day. I deeply related to the feelings of psychological mess that result from the institutionalization of a close family member. This book should be read by anybody who has experienced a relationship with an individual who has a severe mental illness. The writing really expresses some seemingly ineffable sentiments.
While I am hesitant to believe that readers should align their identities More...
While I am hesitant to believe that readers should align their identities More...
Aug 01, 2011
Heidi
rated it:
Ensin pitää pyytää anteeksi kaikilta, jotka rakastaa tätä kirjaa.
Ja sitten.. Mikä helvetillinen vimma suomalaisilla on kirjoittaa vain ja ainoastaan siitä, miten elämä on Paskaa? Kärsimystä alusta loppuun, aamusta iltaan. Niinkö pimeä paikka tämä todella on?
Vähän huumoria peliin perhana! Siihen ei ole kuoltu ennenkään, päinvastoin..
Ja sitten.. Mikä helvetillinen vimma suomalaisilla on kirjoittaa vain ja ainoastaan siitä, miten elämä on Paskaa? Kärsimystä alusta loppuun, aamusta iltaan. Niinkö pimeä paikka tämä todella on?
Vähän huumoria peliin perhana! Siihen ei ole kuoltu ennenkään, päinvastoin..
Aug 03, 2011
Herkka kasvukertomus sukupolvien kipukohdista ja niiden vaikutuksista seuraavaan sukupolveen. Vaikka haluaisimme olla erilaisia kuin vanhempamme, olemme ehkä kuitenkin liian haavoittuneita käyttäytymään toisin. Lapsen mieli on hauras ja me olemme vanhempinakin jonkun lapsia.
Aug 02, 2011
Reetta
rated it:
Kirja, jonka kanssa valvottiin valoisa yö.
"Äiti
Olen ulkona ja en tiedä koska tulen.
Faija repi tiedevihkot palasiksi kun riideltiin. Anna yrittää liimata niitä jollain.
En ehkä tule ikinä takaisin.
Joona
PS Älä huolehdi. Olen tehnyt läksyt
"Äiti
Olen ulkona ja en tiedä koska tulen.
Faija repi tiedevihkot palasiksi kun riideltiin. Anna yrittää liimata niitä jollain.
En ehkä tule ikinä takaisin.
Joona
PS Älä huolehdi. Olen tehnyt läksyt
Apr 25, 2011
Iira
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Harvemmin kirja pistää itkemään ensimmäisiltä sivuilta lähtien, tämä jostain syystä sai sen aikaan. Hirvosen tapa kirjoittaa on rauhallinen ja ehkä jopa nostalgiaan taipuvainen. Romaani on vahvasti kiinni 2000-luvussa, puhuen asioista niiden oikeilla nimillä. Kirja ei ole ensisijaisesti juonitarina, vaan monitasoinen onnettomien miesten ryhmäkuva. Naisten osana on kestää ja korjata. Annan on uhrattava päivänsä ja Tunnit-romaaninsa. (Virginia Woolf on teoksessa läsnä sekä Annan mukana olevassa Mi
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Aug 25, 2009
Mr.Nourok
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The lyrically told story of a young woman caught between her feelings for her brother, who is mentally ill, and 9/11. Everyone in this book is damaged by their past, that is, their family, which is only accentuated by what happens in New York in 2001.
Dec 23, 2011
Kirsty
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Beautiful descriptions of childhood, as well as a deeply affecting portrayal of a difficult brother-sister relationship. The writing is heavy-handed at times, and the romance plot-line is totally pointless, but it's worth looking past that.
Jan 01, 2011
Zoe
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This book opened with a reference to Michael Cunningham's "The Hours" but never lived up to it, or to "Mrs. Dalloway." I was interested in the sibling relationship where one sibling has mental illness, and those were definitely my favorite passages.
Feb 01, 2010
Marianne
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enjoyed this book - nice easy writing style and contemporary characters. i liked the way she worked the parallel experiences (both past and present) into a fluid story. plus, how often do you come across a finnish book at your local shop?
May 26, 2009
Beth Anne
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i thought this book was very well written, well developed characters and a very thoughtful story about family relationships with an underlying theme of post 9/11 reactions in a foreign country.
the struggle of the main character dealing with the mental insanity/breakdown of her brother looms over the entire novel (novella?), creeping up in every memory...and weaving into every other story that is told.
overall, a great first novel...i would definately read another by this More...
the struggle of the main character dealing with the mental insanity/breakdown of her brother looms over the entire novel (novella?), creeping up in every memory...and weaving into every other story that is told.
overall, a great first novel...i would definately read another by this More...
May 21, 2011
Jim
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The story jumps around between the narrator's childhood and adulthood a bit inconsistently. Her strained family life as a child has affected her adult She seems to come to terms with her brother's illness only towards the end.
May 07, 2009
Angie
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I won this book from a goodreads "First Reads" giveaway. I am torn on the rating of this one, but am settling on a 3 out of 5 because while I DID enjoy the author's voice, I did not like her style so much. The book felt very disjointed to me, free flowing, flashbacks, present day, what-ifs, and while I suspect that's exactly what she intended (to represent mental illness and dealing with mental illness in those you love), that's just not the kind of book I dig.
Her descrip More...
Her descrip More...
Apr 30, 2009
Elise
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This quick read was at the same time dark and hopeful. Two people with troubled childhoods come together with all of their baggage and provide a sense of hope. You can feel their pain, and empathize with the trouble that Anna has due to her situation.
May 24, 2009
Kevin
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A dark and sad, yet beautiful, novel. Mental illness, abusive and broken families, and the politics of protest provide the backdrop but the real subject is memory, self-conception and identity in relationships.
Aug 03, 2011
Marja
rated it:
Tänään luin kyseisen teoksen, ja rakastuin mahtavaan kerrontaan! Kerrassaan hieno ja koskettava kirja.
