11 - A book about forgetting

[L Y N N]

I enjoyed Love Water Memory when I read it 6 years ago and I adore Jennie Shortridge! (I met her in 2014 as well!) Amrita also had a character who suffered from memory loss.

I'm sure there are others! And I know I've read at least 1-2 more, but can't remember them right now! (Speaking of forgetting... :) LOL)

Listopia: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Sandra]

I think The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue would work for this prompt, as Addie is forgotten by everyone she meets.

[Cora]

My 12-year-old son strongly recommends Restart.

[Liberty]

How about The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle?

[Sarah]

I'll recommend The Book of M. Forgetting is a huge theme, and it's a really interesting take on an apocalyptic event.

[Megan]

Highly recommend The Buried Giant - it's a strange book about an elderly couple in a sort of misty version of Arthurian England. I read it back for the 2015 challenge and loved it!

[Alicia]

I don't know how reliable but here is Goodreads "Amnesia" list https://www.goodreads.com/genres/amnesia

[Megan]

Sandra wrote: "I think The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue would work for this prompt, as Addie is forgotten by everyone she meets."

Excellent! I think this is my choice, too!

[Alexa]

I might go with What Alice Forgot or Still Alice for this prompt!

[Lauren]

I'm thinking to go with The Memory Police.

[Nicole]

If I don't get to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue this month, then I'll probably read that. Or I might pick up the graphic novel Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer's, My Mother, and Me.

[Michelle]

I've had Still Alice on my TBR for ages, so think I'll go with that one

[Drakeryn]

The Book of M has been on my TBR for a while and fits perfectly.

[Sara]

I picked up last month a indie fantasy novel where the entire plot is about recovering the MC's memories, so I'll probably use that.

Black Stone Heart

[Drakeryn]

Oh yeah and I can't miss the chance to hype one of my favorites, Archivist Wasp. It's about a ghost who has forgotten much of his past, including his name, but he has been doggedly searching for the past hundreds of years for his best friend, and he hires a ghost hunter to find her. It delves deep into memories and regrets and thoughts about the past.

It would also work for a book under 1K reviews (only 589) or a genre blend (it's post-apocalyptic fantasy/sci-fi). Notably, it's NOT horror/spooky/scary for those who don't like those things.

[Pua]

Sandra wrote: "I think The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue would work for this prompt, as Addie is forgotten by everyone she meets."

Perfect! This is on my TBR. Thanks for the rec!

[Brandon]

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes immediately came to mind.

[Sarah]

Lauren wrote: "I'm thinking to go with The Memory Police."

I was coming here to recommend this exact book :). It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but I loved it.

[Stephen]

I recommend The Deep

[Dixie]

Megan wrote: "Highly recommend The Buried Giant - it's a strange book about an elderly couple in a sort of misty version of Arthurian England. I read it back for the 2015 challenge and loved it!"

This is a wonderful book.

[Dixie]

I'll be reading How to Forget: A Daughter's Memoir by Kate Mulgrew. Her earlier memoir was excellent so I'm looking forward to this one.

[VanesGirl]

The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian

[SadieReadsAgain]

I'm going with What Alice Forgot.

I read Still Alice for this year's challenge, and can recommend it.

[Nadine in NY]

Drakeryn wrote: "Oh yeah and I can't miss the chance to hype one of my favorites, Archivist Wasp. It's about a ghost who has forgotten much of his past, including his name, but he has been doggedly ..."


You mention this book so often, I really should read it. But the title is so confusing. Is she a wasp? I don't understand the title.


Another SFF I just thought of is The Stars Are Legion - the main character has a bit of amnesia in the beginning of the book.

[Drakeryn]

Nadine wrote: "You mention this book so often, I really should read it. But the title is so confusing. Is she a wasp? I don't understand the title."

Her name is Wasp (weird name, I know). Her title is Archivist. That's the title the village gives to the local ghost-powers-person, because it's her job to keep records on all the ghosts she finds, in addition to making sure they don't harass/endanger the townspeople.

[dorian ♕]

Probably The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. She is literally forgotten.

[Miriam]

Alexa wrote: "I might go with What Alice Forgot or Still Alice for this prompt!"

I am stuck between these two and Remember Me?, as I have all three on my shelves.

[Ruth]

I think I will finally read The Seasons of my Mother by Marcia Gay Harden. It's about her mother's battle with Alzheimer's so it should fit. For anyone trying to fit in a Harry Potter, Chamber of Secrets might work, with the professor of Dark Arts that Ron makes forget who he is? (Edited to correct the Harry Potter title lol.)

[Teri]

Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again by Kimberly Williams-Paisley - a memoir about her mother and Alzheimers.

[Teri]

Miriam wrote: "Alexa wrote: "I might go with What Alice Forgot or Still Alice for this prompt!"

I am stuck between these two and Remember Me?, as I have all three on ..."

You can't go wrong with the first two. Both very good. Haven't read the third one.

[Erica]

Oddly first that comes to mind is Before I Go to Sleep, a good thriller. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Remember Me? are also really good reads.
I think I'll try to read In the Woods by Tana French.

[L Y N N]

Megan wrote: "Highly recommend The Buried Giant - it's a strange book about an elderly couple in a sort of misty version of Arthurian England. I read it back for the 2015 challenge and loved it!"

Ooohhh...I just got a copy of this. I may use it!

[L Y N N]

Michelle wrote: "I've had Still Alice on my TBR for ages, so think I'll go with that one"

One of my favorites!

[L Y N N]

Brandon wrote: "Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes immediately came to mind."

Oh, my! That book is so hopeful and yet heartbreaking and it is all about forgetting. Just a beautiful read.

[Lauren]

Ruth wrote: "I think I will finally read The Seasons of my Mother by Marcia Gay Harden. It's about her mother's battle with Alzheimer's so it should fit. For anyone trying to fit in a Harry Potter, The Prisoner..."

You're thinking of Chamber of Secrets :)

[Jeanne]

Four Umbrellas by June Hutton. It also has less than 1000 ratings.

[Angelique]

A very nice one is also Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey
it's a sad and sweet story about an old lady and her friend Elizabeth who has gone missing (for quite some time)

[Brandon]

A lot of these are dealing with the sad and difficult kinds of forgetting. What are some good choices for books about a character wanting to forget something (an ex-lover, for instance)? I'd like a book that has the same feeling as the KISS song "I Just Wanna."

[Ruth]

Lauren wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I think I will finally read The Seasons of my Mother by Marcia Gay Harden. It's about her mother's battle with Alzheimer's so it should fit. For anyone trying to fit in a Harry Potter,..."

Ugh, I was thinking too much, LOL. Yes, that is it. I knew one of the Harry Potter's had it.

[Nadine in NY]

Drakeryn wrote: "Nadine wrote: "You mention this book so often, I really should read it. But the title is so confusing. Is she a wasp? I don't understand the title."

Her name is Wasp (weird name, I know). Her titl..."


I like it. And there's an e-copy available from my library! If it's still there in January, maybe I'll make it my first Challenge read.

[Sarah]

Jo Walton has a book called My Real Children that deals with forgetting.

I'm also thinking I might plug Fight Club in here...

[Tawny]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

I read this a few years ago. It was very suspenseful, and a quick read.

[Lilith]

Tawny wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

I read this a few years ago. It was very suspenseful, and a quick read."

This is such a good book! I wish I could develop temporary amnesia so I could read this all over again for the first time! In the spirit of the prompt , of course.

[Anna]

For anyone looking for a good NF option, I can recommend Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget

[Amy]

Drakeryn wrote: "Oh yeah and I can't miss the chance to hype one of my favorites, Archivist Wasp."

Oooooh - I'm intrigued! I have Still Alice and The Buried Giant already in my TBR pile so I think I will fill this prompt with one of those but I LOVE the sound of Wasp. Gonna use it for my under 1000 reviews like you suggest, I think. Thank you!

[Leona]

Cora wrote: "My 12-year-old son strongly recommends Restart."

Nice 12 year old recommends a book. Good for him to be invoved.

[Harmke]

Here's another list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

For Dutch readers: Hersenschimmen works for this one. Although you might have bad memory of reading for 'the list' at school.

[Mac]

Drakeryn wrote: "Oh yeah and I can't miss the chance to hype one of my favorites, Archivist Wasp. It's about a ghost who has forgotten much of his past, including his name, but he has been doggedly ..."

I read this one this past year and absolutely loved it, and the more I sit and think about it the more I realize how perfect it is for this prompt. Both on the individual and community scale, what has been forgotten and remembered is significant.

Have you read the sequel, Latchkey? I was hoping to fit it into the challenge somewhere but not sure if it continues the same themes.

[Melissa]

Oooh good one!
Sandra wrote: "I think The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue would work for this prompt, as Addie is forgotten by everyone she meets."

[Melissa]

Excellent suggestions, thanks! I also highly recommend And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Frederik Backman