The Memory Book

"Made me cry. Good story :) 7.9/10"

"I CRIED SO MUCH. I LOVED IT!!!"

"<b>Original de:</b> <a href="http://el-extrano-gato-del-cuento.blogspot.pe/2017/07/book-review-memory-book-lara-avery.html">El Blog del Gato - El Extraño Gato del Cuento</a><br/><br/>Este es el tipo de libro que me confirma una y otra vez que tengo el alma podrida y ya no hay salvación para mí. Razón por la que leí el libro: absolutamente todas las personas que hablaban de él, no paraban de mencionar una y otra vez las cascadas de lágrimas que habían derramado por su culpa, y en el momento en el que yo lo leí, necesitaba algo con el que desahogarme. Pero, ¿crees que esta cosa a la que llamo sentimientos reaccionó?<br/><br/><a href="http://el-extrano-gato-del-cuento.blogspot.pe/2017/07/book-review-memory-book-lara-avery.html"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/tUsXDfR.png" width="300px" /></a><br/><br/><b><a href="https://twitter.com/EllieIntheHat">Twitter</a> || <a href="http://el-extrano-gato-del-cuento.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> || <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/EllaZegarra/">Pinterest</a> || <a href="http://ellie-in-the-hat.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a> || <a href="http://instagram.com/ellieinthehat">Instagram</a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElBlogDelGato">Facebook</a></b>"

"One of the few books to get me choked up, which is an impressive act. It’s so good, and yet, so sad as the story play out. The ending is so satisfying, and so heartbreaking. Definitely worth a read if you want something quick to try a draw out emotions "

"Such a great book, the character development is great, and it keeps you entertained the whole way. I warn you it's sad and deep, but it really shows you to treasure the present, and not to stay in the future."

"A very good book, it will make you cry though."

"This is an excellent book. As I reflect on the story tears are still dripping from my eyes and my heart still hurts. <br/><br/>The story follows protagonist Sammie a high school senior, valedictorian of her class, a high achieving academic and debater with an acceptance letter from NYU and plans to become a lawyer. Her memory is her pride. Sammie has recently been diagnosed with Nieman-Pick type c (NPC) which is a disease that causes both physical and mental degradation similar to that of dementia. This disease is highly unusual in people her age as most kids get it at a very young age. With this knowledge of her impending illness and eventual death Sammie must decide what to prioritize, whether to live slowly and soak up her life or to try to fit in what she can with the time she has left. During these moments Sammie finally has the opportunity to go on a date with her long time crush Stuart and explore their connection as well as the strain the her illness has in their relationship. She also rekindles a friendship with her neighbour and ex-best friend cooper, cherishing memories of her past as her future shrinks. This is a beautiful story of relationships, new and refurbished and the journey of losing ones self and a future to an illness attacking both the body and the brain, strung together as entries in a “memory book” kept by Sammie to remind herself of who she is and has been. <br/><br/>This story hit close to home for me on so many levels. <br/>Firstly Sammie’s stage of life, graduating high school and realizing the life she has in front of her and it’s malleability is so similar to mine, it’s interesting to be at the same “spring before grad” stage. It certainly makes me thankful to have a future in front of me. <br/>Sammies journey through NPC also bears a striking resemblance to that of losing my Oma to dementia. As Sammies eloquently says “Words cannot express (the) grief at watching you fall away little by little. But I suppose in losing layers, your golden core came out”. I feel this reflection is common in the gradual loss of a loved one. In reflecting on the loss of my Oma my thoughts were this: “We didn’t need to interact and know her in her prime years to understand that Christa Laser was kind and compassionate, that she cared deeply and wholly about her family and friends, that she was entirely and endlessly devoted to her saviour and Lord Jesus Christ and that she went through life with a piercing feel good spirit. ... These are the things we know about our Oma, we heard them to be true in the fond memories of her family and friends and we watched stay true even when almost everything else was changing. This is the core of who our Oma was and although we didn’t get to experience this when she was healthy, the most important pieces of her were lovingly translated into her life with her illness and were graciously shared with us. I feel privileged to have experienced Oma in this way.”<br/><br/>This fictional story brought such a beautiful story to life in my mind and I have adored spending some time in this world. Thank you, Laura Avery."

"I couldn't put it down and such a touching story"