My Name Is Memory (2010)

The max number of renewals the library allows is two. Frankly, I think they should allow three renewals -- three is a fair number, but who cares? I have a system. If I have a book I've renewed twice and still haven't read, I call up: "I returned this book through the college's drop box last week. Yes, I know it's not due for another week, but it should have been checked in three days ago. What if it never gets checked in? I don't want fees." (Current library fee: $6.45. I'm not sure how it managed to not increase, as [b:Ostrich Boys|3954368|Ostrich Boys (Definitions)|Keith Gray|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331965854s/3954368.jpg|4000051] was returned five days late. They must like me, really.)

Librarians either sigh or agree, but they always override the two-renewal rule and, baby, that book is mine for an extra two or three weeks. It's not like I can call up a second time and get a fourth renewal, so that is why My Name is Memory has been my companion since Tuesday.

And what a disappointing companion this book is. A frightening familiarity hit as I read from page to page, and I realized: it reminds me of [b:Twilight|41865|Twilight (Twilight, #1)|Stephenie Meyer|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1307515757s/41865.jpg|3212258]. I don't enjoy tossing [a:Stephenie Meyer|941441|Stephenie Meyer|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1269985304p2/941441.jpg]'s name around every time the topic of poor writing surfaces, but her ability is among the most prominently weak that I've encountered in a crazy spectrum of good and bad writing. Truly, I am surprised Lucy did not convince herself that Daniel is a vampire, but Lucy--surprisingly--has a brain. Or half a brain.

Daniel has "The Memory," or in other words: he retains memory of each past life. In all lives, Daniel spends every waking moment thinking about or searching for Sophia (so it seems). She is the great, one true love of his life--or lives, I should say--which would not be a problem if she remembered, too. Unfortunately for Daniel, she doesn't. Sophia either winds up with another man or no one at all, but never with Daniel. Their "love" story dates back to the year 541, but I would say it doesn't begin until 773 when Daniel's brother, Joaquim, introduces his wife: Sophia. Joaquim plays the antagonist--just another factor next to fate that keeps Daniel and Sophia separated until Daniel meets the present-day Sophia (who now goes by Lucy). What more is there to this story? Daniel pining for Sophia to remember him, Sophia panicking, Sophia thinking Daniel is nuttier than an Almond Joy, Sophia questioning her sanity, and Daniel tediously narrating his past lives. Snore?

I know myself and reading taste well enough to understand that chick lit is not for me. That doesn't mean I'm always inclined to dislike a romance novel if it is indeed enjoyable. Give it a unique story to tell and, if well-written, I'll feel pleasantly surprised. My Name is Memory is not a book I would have even thought to touch, but then someone compared it to [b:The Time Traveler's Wife|14050|The Time Traveler's Wife|Audrey Niffenegger|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1274656075s/14050.jpg|2153746]. Until the day comes when I read Niffenegger's book, I simply say: "Hey, I like that movie!" I then gave My Name is Memory's premise an acknowledgment nod, believing potential for something exceptional was living inside those pages.

That is why I decided to befriend Brashares' newest work -- a mistake on my part. Obviously, I cannot compare Brashares' and Niffenegger's writing styles and try to comprehend what compels people to continuously make the comparison. All I can say is that My Name is Memory has a cliché sitting on each page, whether it serves as a plot device or to express a character's feelings, and the book is all tell (no show).

I would readily rate this at two, perhaps even three, stars if I didn't find the writing monotonous and the backstory uneventful. The truth is it isn't romantic. It is utterly dull -- so dull that when I finally read the last word I felt like pumping my fists up in victory. I had done it! I read the book! Woo-hoo. I feel like I deserve an award for reading this, because it wasn't easy. Brashares gives no hint that she's a writer who is capable of providing a well-written sentence. I read reviews, and people say it's elegantly written but I disagree. What is so elegant about "The Knee/Crotch Scene"? It's as exciting as the book gets:

They were sitting knees to knees, pressing them together, so when he split his legs hers went right through until they were practically joined. Her knee was nearly in his crotch, and his was in hers. Her knee was bare, and his knee was deep under her dress, pressed against her underwear, and her nerves were thrumming. She had a feeling of disbelief. She was suspicious that her imagination was choreographing this out of pure desire and that it wasn't really happening.

"Have you?" he asked. She suddenly knew, just knew, that he was soaking her in, that he was as parched as she was.

He reached out and put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her forward. She drew in her breath, astonished that he would put his mouth on hers. He kissed her. She lost herself in his breath and his warmth and his smell.

Am I supposed to laugh, groan, or empty my stomach? I had a difficult time viewing this as an adult novel. I've read YA novels with more romantic pizzazz and better descriptions. I spy a million irksome things in Brashares' writing, and that is not including how silly or cheesy I find this excerpt.

It's no spoiler to reveal that Daniel confronts Sophia in hopes that she remembers him -- that happens early on. The man practically ambushes her in a dark, empty chemistry lab, because it's not like that won't scare Sophia off. When a man tells me, "You're not Raya. You are my Sarah from many lives ago. I love you. You loved me!" I say, "Gee, what's in your drink? I don't think I want any."

Sophia can't open up immediately, but the story would never go anywhere if she didn't remember something. That's when Sophia sees Esme, a psychic. Goodness, can't say didn't I see that coming. And what kind of mystical nonsense does Esme tap into? Nothing I didn't predict. Esme is one of several pushes Sophia needs to make her believe Daniel. In consequence, the entire set-up is an eyesore of sad anticipation and a contrived plot.

Characters, in effect, come across as blank, uninteresting, and present very little to no variety in terms of personality and development. I'm surprised. By stretching the protagonists' love story through centuries, Brashares has several opportunities to make Sophia's and Daniel's connection special. Instead, the origin of Daniel's attraction to Sophia weighs heavily on the fact that he found her beautiful the first time he saw her. Shortly after was the first time Sophia died... in a fire. That Daniel started. Guilt! Feeling responsible and sorry for causing her death plays into Daniel's connection, but it always comes back to Sophia's physical beauty or their "lusting." Even when the couple are in danger of being shot at, their discussion centers on sex half the time.

"It's not the outfit I would have picked for our reunion, but I admit it's easy to get in and out of." She couldn't quite believe that they were still lusting after each other.

Me neither.

I am disappointed and fed up with these characters and their "love." This is not a love story. Had Sophia connected to Daniel more than once or twice on a deeper level, had there been sincerity and stronger, intimate emotions that didn't fade out after one lifetime, then perhaps it could be.

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This book was interesting because it followed an intersting concept that we have lived many times over. Novel follows daniel through many of his lives and his great love for one girl. What makes Daniel interesting is that he remembers all his past lives, something most people don't. This premise makes for a good novel. however it is a bit over the top / teen romance like . As well, it just ends with a letter. No resolution. ug.I hate that. ( )

I do not like Romances. There. I said it. I don't. I am a curmudgeon. Or, just a book snob.

The biggest problem I had with this book was the writing style. I wish that Brashares would invest in some dictionaries and maybe a writing class. The number one thing I love about good fiction is when I'm shown not told and this story was only concerned with convincing me how badly Daniel needs Sophia to love him. Even though she doesn't and even though they never got together before now. Somehow he always has to "make her" fall in love with her. Which bothers me.

If you were given the chance to remember past lives, to remember everything, I would hope that I would not squander this gift by only finding happiness in seeking out a woman that I just "felt" like I was supposed to be with. I get that it was a love story but why does a love story have to neglect all the good and bad things in life?

Also, my final issue, is that Daniel repeatedly says he has this awesome memory but then will say things like "I don't remember what language it was" and then two pages later he says they are speaking Greek. Totally a lame reason to not like a book but it irked me. ( )

Wow! That was….. unsatisying.

Had I not been properly warned by all the reviews posted here for this book before, I might have actually looked for the remaining chapters of my copy. That is NOT an ending. It is not. Here I was happily reading along, concocting the worst possible scenarios in my head, enjoying my tour of the world in Daniel’s past lives, looking forward for Daniel and Lucy to get together in this life and again trying to imagine what ending could be bad enough to make everyone pull their hairs out. You might even be surprised by all the bad things my mind thought would happen.

The ending sucked. Like REALLY SUCKED. This was by all means a 5 star book. The writing was beautiful, the story was flowing beautifully, and the characters were likeable. I liked Daniel’s old man narration – it sounded like what a 1500 year old guy searching over and over for the girl he loved would sound. Lot better than other guy with the same name in the same predicament and wings ever did. The only damper in this whole experience was that I was waiting to be disappointed as the remaining pages started to dwindle – and boy, did that suck.

I can’t get over that ending. I can’t. It was as if Brashares sent over a manuscript missing a last few chapters and it was published right away. Once the deed was done it was too late to rectify the mistake. Because even if this is a part of a series and a next book will be coming this ending is totally unreal – it is the grandmother of cliffhangers. I seriously have NO other complaints with the book.

3 Stars until I get another copy of this one with the remaining chapters .
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Pretty good. This was an interesting concept and the idea of past lives was fleshed out well. I was disappointed in the ending, however. After everything that happened, the last few chapters were too far-fetched and not as believable as the rest of the story. Overall an entertaining read. ( )