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Original poster

the memory keeper's daughter- any opinions?

30 replies

luminarphrases · 20/02/2008 20:23

i've just finished it on the bus home, and for once i genuinely don't know if i thought it was good or not. the writing style was a bit rambly, the story was ok, but i am a bit hmmm. so would like to hear other opinions on it!

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myjobismum · 22/02/2008 19:56

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PellMell · 22/02/2008 19:52

I was really gripped until half way
It then seemed to get really dull but I assumed the ending would be so good that I persevered.
The ending was just such a let down after such a great start.
It was such a disapointment after such a gripping start...just seemed to lose momentum.
I have a copy if anyone has a swap for me

jojosmaman · 22/02/2008 19:43

Only read the first half and was enjoying it at first but then it felt like it wasn't going anywhere and so I have not bothered to persevere... glad to read there wasn't an explosive ending I missed!!

Also had same with The Island and the Ukranian tractor thing, just lost interest and not bothered to finish them.

Villette · 22/02/2008 19:38

I thought the concept was interesting but it was badly written. The set up for the story was so contrived that the mechanics of the plot detracted from the human emotions involved; I kept wondering how it was possible to organise a memorial service without a death certificate, etc.
Also, the author kept spelling things out in a very obvious way. We are told, for example, David was attracted to photography because "in camera" means "in secret" and he had a big secret in his life.

I only finished it because it was a local book club read and if I turned up and slated it off without finishing it, they would say: "But you haven't read page 368..... " or whatever.
Hated it.

Flum · 21/02/2008 22:22

I liked it. I found it thought provoking. Sad at the beginning, then just interesting.

Actually first book I have finished in about 2 years and only read it as found it in hotel room on holiday with out the dcs

liath · 21/02/2008 22:20

Fairly rubbish I thought, and ninedragons I had the same thought about the starfish hands thing too! Really irritating. Reminded me of Jilly Cooper and her grating overuse of acid green!!

SlugsNSnails · 21/02/2008 19:06

Psycho - the second book appears to be short stories (I am halfway through and unless she is going to suddenly pull em all together...) Feel a bit cheated tbh because most of them leave me feeling too unfinished.

PandaG · 21/02/2008 18:52

I really liked the book, as did pretty much all my book group. provoked lots of discussion about choices we make for our children.

evelynrose · 21/02/2008 18:46

I wasn't mad about it for the same reasons- a good start and then got a bit depressing and boring.

kerala · 21/02/2008 13:52

The author did rather love herself though, and I guess it was abit contrived - the questions at the end obviously trying to stimulate debate at book clubs. It was rather...self conscious.

Loved the Timetravellers wife - couldnt stop thinking about it. It reduced DH to tears on the tube (slighly embarrassing for him).

Aero · 20/02/2008 23:16

Not great. First half ok, but it did rather fizzle out like others have said.

pointydog · 20/02/2008 23:11

mediocre

Poledra · 20/02/2008 23:00

Liked the first half, felt it lost its way after that. I just couldn't care about how the doctor felt (see, can't even remember his name and it's only been a few months since I read it)

Feenie · 20/02/2008 22:07

I loved it!

Bainmarie · 20/02/2008 21:02

Started well, but the end just fizzled out.

ninedragons · 20/02/2008 20:52

Hated it. Only finished reading it because I'd just moved house, couldn't find an English-language bookshop and all my other books were in transit.

REALLY badly written (how many references to "starfish hands" and curtains lifting in the breeze could the writer fit into one book?) and I didn't give a toss about any of the characters.

I wish I could bill the writer for the time I wasted reading it!

Psychomum5 · 20/02/2008 20:52

I haven't yet managed to complete 'the time travellers wife'.........was not in the right frame of mind I don;t think, the first time I tried it.....yet so many people I know have read it and declared it really good.

yup, must try again.

I did take a couple of attempts with 'we must talk about kevin', and then the third time of trying absolutely LOVED it.

guess sometimes it depends on times of life for certain books maybe...??

Original poster
luminarphrases · 20/02/2008 20:49

i have to say, i definitely preferred time travellers wife.

i tend to pick up a lot of the 'richard and judy' books in charity shops and this certainly looked the most interesting, but it just seemed longwinded

OP posts:
Saturn74 · 20/02/2008 20:46

Liked the first half.
Then got bored.

cornsilk · 20/02/2008 20:46

I didn't like the characters and wasn't really that curious about them - they were dull.

moodymammy · 20/02/2008 20:45

I thought the book was ok until about 2 thirds of the way through and then it just kind of fizzled out. the ending was pants, there should have been a big showdown!!!

Christie · 20/02/2008 20:43

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OrmIrian · 20/02/2008 20:41

I quite liked it. Fascinating premise. DH used to work with adults with learning difficulties and some of them in their 30s and 40's had just been dumped in a home and forgotten about as babies because there parents were told it was the right thing to do.

Much much better than the Time Travellers group which brought me out in severe harrumphs and made me throw the book across the room

Aimsmum · 20/02/2008 20:40

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cluelessnchaos · 20/02/2008 20:40

I loved it and recommended it to friends,

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