Reviews: The Memory Book (7)

The Memory Book by Rowan Coleman is a British novel. Claire Armstrong is an English teacher, has a husband, two daughters, and has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. Despite a new medication, Claire’s condition is rapidly deteriorating. Her mother, Ruth has moved into the house to help take care of Claire and her three year old daughter, Esther. Caitlin, Claire’s other daughter, is almost twenty-one, and is home from the university until the start of the new semester (or so everyone believes). Claire’s husband, Greg is younger than Claire (they never gave his exact age) and they have only been married a short time (over a year). Claire can no longer drive (since she forgot what a steering wheel was and plowed into a mailbox). Now she is having to give up teaching which she loved.

Ruth tries to keep an eye on Claire, but sometimes Claire is just determined and escapes. The first time she disappears in the rain and no one can find her. Claire ends up at a coffee shop and meets a nice man named Ryan. Ryan gives Claire his phone number. Claire gets back home, but she will soon find a way to break free again. Claire knows what she is doing is wrong, but she does it anyway (then she gets lost, forgets where she lives, who she is, and cannot find her way home). Greg feels the loss of Claire the most. Claire is withdrawing from Greg and acts like he is a stranger. Greg gives Claire a journal to use. Recommended by her counselor, Diane to use a journal as a memory book. For Claire and the family to write down things to remember, events, etc.

Caitlin is not sure how to tell her mother and the family her news. She knows she needs to tell them, but she keeps putting it off. Claire has finally told Caitlin about her biological father. Caitlin thought he didn’t want her, but it turns out he never knew about her. Little Esther is a drama queen (her way or temper tantrums) and does not quite understand what is happening to her mother. When Claire starts acting more childish, Esther is her co-conspirator (which leads to another escape to the park). Claire ends up meeting Ryan again. She really likes him and he cares for her. Will Caitlin meet her biological father? What is Caitlin hiding from everyone? Will Claire and Greg be okay? Who is Ryan?

The Memory Book is also has chapters where it goes back into the childhood of Claire and Caitlin as well as insight into how Ruth turned out the way she did (how she changed from a carefree hippie). I have to admit it took me three tries to get through this book (I have been trying to read this book since March). It does have a nice ending, but it is a depressing book. I give The Memory Book 3 out of 5 stars. It is an interesting story (about early onset Alzheimer’s and how it can affect a woman and her family). I just think it is lacking. I do not know if we needed all the drama with Caitlin added into the story as well as Esther and her over-the-top behavior. I did like the twist with Ryan (though I did figure it out early on in the book). There is some mild foul language in the book (thankfully, just a little) and it is written in the first person (from different character’s perspective).

I received a complimentary copy of The Day We Met (aka The Memory Book) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

This is a truly wonderful heart-warming story of Claire Armstrong, diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer’s Disease and determined to make and keep her gorgeous memory book bought for her by her husband Greg, so that she would not forget the joys of her life and her wonderful and well-loved family: people who she loved with a fierce passion and were her whole life. It continues with her journey into the fog and frustration of AD, forgetting the simplest things in her life like the name of her three-year old daughter Esther, where to collect her milk from in the morning, which house in the row belonged to her family and how to answer a mobile phone which she held out in her hand. Funny, Sassy, highly creative and intelligent and full of natural resourcefulness, Claire can not understand why the people who love her so much and are trying their best to care for her and keep her safe also appear to be holding her captive and will not set her free. Her Mother, who has moved into the family home to help keep it running smoothly, and who she thinks is too controlling and remote, especially puzzles her.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the novel, aside from the moving storyline, is the truly marvellous characters Rowan Coleman has created. Each character is unique and skilfully crafted with their own stories, motives and nuances, sometimes told through their entries and memorabilia or mementos added to the memory book. They are so reasonable, well rounded, natural and likeable and as their back-stories unfold so their characters became even more vibrant and endearing. Their perspectives within the story bring added respect to their role as carers. I particularly loved her eldest daughter Caitlin, who, despite problems of her own, has so much understanding and empathy for her mother.

As Claire struggles to keep herself together, so her heartbreak continues in such an affecting way. ‘I open my eyes each morning and tell myself who I am, who my children are and what is wrong with me’. But true to her wonderful, fiery self she finds ways to help her family cope with her early onset degenerative AD and prepare for the future.

I adored this novel and literally couldn’t put it down. It is surely going to be one of the best novels I read in 2014.

This book actually made me cry - I've read lots of sad books, but this one I could really relate to. We've all had bad memory days and this story of a young woman with early onset Alzheimer's is poignant and terrifying.
I've been a fan of Rowen Coleman for some time and this is probably her best book to date.

Prior to reading this book all the reviews that I had read raved about the book. Therefore, I was really looking forward to reading it.

Unfortunately, It didn't live up to my expectations. I found the story hard to believe and felt as if it was trying too hard to get into the mind of someone with AD. And it just didn't work for me.

I have previously read 'My Dearest Rose' and I really enjoyed that book.

Claire is an intelligent, attractive forty-something. She's the mother to two gorgeous girls; Caitlin aged 20 and Esther aged three. Claire is married to the man of her dreams. Greg came along quite late in her life, she'd already raised Caitlin single handedly, she had a great job as an English teacher and owned her own home. She and Greg met, fell in love and are now married and the parents to the delicious Esther. Life is sweet.

And then, life decides to kick Claire in the teeth. She's diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease - life is never going to be the same again. Claire and her mother Ruth know Alzheimer's very well. Claire's beloved father had the disease too, both of them know exactly what to expect.

Greg buys Claire a beautiful notebook - The Memory Book. Each of them will record their memories of the life that they had together; the good parts, the funny days, the important events. For Claire, this is her way of putting together everything that she feels define her and her life.

Rowan Coleman is an outstanding writer, The Memory Book is a story that is both heartbreakingly sad, yet wonderfully funny and uplifting at the same time. Claire and Caitlin narrate the majority of the story, with input from both Ruth and Greg along the way, and this enables the reader to glimpse back in time to experience the events that shaped Claire's life. We share her heartbreak and her joy, we are there when she finds her true love in Greg and we follow her step by step as her brain begins to let her down.

There is a real touch of emotional genius in this story, Rowan Coleman has portrayed the disjointed workings of Claire's damaged brain so well, both the gut wrenching sadness and grief and also the naughty mischief and almost childlike thought processes that bring the much appreciated light touch to the story.

The Memory Book was never going to be a 'happy ever after' read, the devastation of a cruel illness is central to the story. However, the tender writing, the joy and laughter - especially Claire's changing relationship with her tiny daughter Esther, and the fabulous characters make the heart soar.

There is a line quite near to the beginning of the book, spoken by Claire who is talking about her mother Ruth. This line says so much .... it made me cry;

"..... but I don't, because she is my mum, and I want her. And I know I will want her, even when I don't know that I do."

Rowan Coleman's writing gets better and better. There is no doubt that The Memory Book is her very best novel to date. It is a joy, and I will be recommending it to everyone that I meet.

Finally, I have to comment on the absolutely damn gorgeous cover. It fits the story perfectly. The complete book is a thing of great beauty, with delicate illustration on the inside cover too. I know a lot of my blogger friends have their copy as an ebook, and whilst I do appreciate that many people prefer to read on a Kindle, it is when a book as beautiful as this falls into my hands that I remind myself why I only read hard copies.
The Memory Book will proudly take it's place on my shelf of favourites, and I know that every time I pass the bookcase and glance over, I will see that flash of a red cover and be reminded of this exquisite story.

I was so so looking forward to this book. I'd heard wonderful things about it before I started reading about it from readers and other authors, sometimes hype like that can lead to disappointment when you actually get to the first page, but not with this book-oh no! This is the kind of bos you will stay up late into the night reading, miss trains and appointments because it absorbs you that much. I knew Rowan Coleman was an awesome writer but this book is just on another level, her writing just gets better and better. If you read dearest rose, you will know that Rowan Coleman writes an amazing emotional journey but because this book deals with the confusing world of Alzheimer's too MUCH emotion would have been over the tops, this book has just the right level of drama and sentimental moments but not so much so as to over emphasise the point.

Claire is a fabulous character. She is painted as an amazing independent woman, and because of this, the reader can really root for her. She decided to take on life as a young single mum, she has brought her children up with amazing values and she had a successful career and because of all these traits, you can really identify with her. This is why the emotion of the book works so well, you want to see that strong woman and not the woman she is turning into, someone who is watching things slip away before her eyes. Her husband, mother and daughter provide excellent sporting characters and each have their own voice in this story, Caitlin in particular has her own story going on throughout the novel and this dilutes the drama of the Alzheimer's just enough so that not every scene is spent worrying about Claire. Claire's husband is so patient and lovely and understanding and he plays his own special part in this book that will almost definitely leave you in tears.

Because this novel is written from the points of view of all the main characters, it makes it a real page-turner. You want to find out what happens next and what the next character has to say about it. I really like that we get to hear about all Claire's memories as well as her present from all the different characters. I honestly can't gush about this book enough, it has all the right ingredients for the perfect novel. The ending is just so heartwarming and not the ending you would expect. I think this author could have gone in a completely different direction with the ending of the book and I'm so glad that it ended the way it did. Read this book with tissues and loved ones to hand, it will make you appreciate what you have and think about the future yourself. Even if you've read nothing by this author before, read this (and then her entire back catalogue) because this is truly a wonderful novel!

I have just read this beautiful book on holiday - I started in the day and could not put it down until the early hours of the morning. I am in awe of the writer's skill in telling a story about early onset alzheimers, a terrible disease, which is so moving and tender and really truthful and respectful about the effects of the disease, but also funny and full of love and hope. The heroine, Claire is so witty and lovable, and Rowan Coleman has created such brilliant characters across the age range in her family and friends. I love her exploration of motherhood across the generations and about love in general, and somehow she managed to make me both really cry and feel uplifted and encouraged . There is a quote from Philip Larkin's 'An Arundel Tomb' which Rowan Coleman includes and which ends 'What will survive of us is Love' and that is really what I have taken from this book. I have woken up, after not enough sleep, feeling encouraged just thinking about this book and the story I have just read. Highly recommend.