The Memory Book by Rowan Coleman
Genre; Contemporary
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.
My thoughts:
A beautiful, beautiful book. It’s the first I’ve read by Rowan Coleman, but it won’t be the last.
It’s about a woman with early onset Alzheimer’s. She’s married with two young children and a mum who we meet because when the story starts she is already in the picture, moved in and looking after the family because the diagnosis is firm and Claire is advancing rapidly.
Her marriage was a fairly recent thing so it is one of the things she forgets first but her two children she clings onto with everything she has and it’s these relationships, with her mum, her two daughters and her husband that make the book.
You might imagine it would be a sad book all the way through, but I was laughing out loud in lots of places and no it didn’t feel inappropriate because I was there, with Claire.
It’s also a sensitive book. The Alzheimer’s is handled so well and described for the reader just brilliantly from Claire’s point of view. Like a fog that shrouds the words or memories, she’s trying to access.
I did cry and I did laugh. What more can you want? A book that evokes emotion from you is a great book indeed.
Highly recommended.
I’m so glad you thought this was well-done, Rebecca. The theme is a difficult one, and really has to be handled very carefully if it’s to be effective. So I’m glad you found that Coleman took a sensitive approach.
It is a difficult subject and I was really surprised that I found myself laughing. It’s why I highly recommend it. It’s not overly heavy going. It’s done well without overloading.
Sounds fascinating. I often shy away from subject matters like this because I’m such a wuss I’m afraid I’ll just be sobbing away on the tube or something, but I love the idea that there’s humour here too – one for the TBR pile!
That’s the problem with reading on public transport. I have found myself trying to stem tears on the train before now. Not a pretty sight. As for this book, it’s definitely worth it and you’ll find yourself laughing out loud on the tube 🙂