The Forgetting

Nice branch off from the why are we here and why is there a wall around us theme. Nadia is a very tough and likable protagonist, surrounded by a varied and well drawn cast of characters. Every 12 years, The Forgetting happens, erasing everyone's memories. Some riot, some, die, some become members of the Lost, people unable to get back any memories and relegated to menial tasks. Everyone keeps their book with them at all times so they can write things they want to remember when the next Forgetting happens. When Nadia begins slipping over the forbidden wall to explore, what she finds, who catches her when she returns and what she remembers from before, all combine to set in motion a series of events and discoveries that threaten to turn show more everything she thought was true, on its head. Following her and Gray makes for a very interesting story. show less

At first, I wasn't sure about this book. The concept is very intriguing, but it was a little slow and I didn't love Nadia. It definitely got better though, especially once some things were revealed. I liked Gray a lot, he was so irritated with Nadia but then loved to tease her. And Genivee was also pretty great. I loved that she was so smart and observant and made things happen. What a great little sister. The whole thing about what's really going on with the Forgetting and the town was pretty cool. I'm looking forward to the second book.

I’ll be honest.

When this book came out last year, I definitely thought this was the dumbest premise for a book I’d ever seen. I was also super burned out with dystopian novels and wary of all books promoted by big YouTubers because… ya’ll convinced me Miss Peregrine’s was SPECTACULAR… and that was a lie.

However, around Christmas last year, the ebook went on sale for $1.99 and I, thinking only of filling my Kindle, was like “Yeah, maybe I’ll read that… one day…” When I saw that Sharon Cameron is going to be attending SeYa Fest in March 2018, I decided to go ahead and read THE FORGETTING. I mean, the worst that could happen was I decided not to finish it and quietly move on with my life.

But I liked it. A lot.

The show more start was slow, I will agree with half the reviews on that. Generally, I’m turned off by books that try to set up an entire world within the first chapter but Cameron did a great job of both info dumping and keeping the reader interested… not an easy feat. I was worried that the romance element of the story would overpower things I thought were most important, like Nadia’s family and how the Forgetting would (and had) effected their bonds.

There were a few things that puzzled me (and were the reasons this lost a star). Why was everyone not reduced to learning how to talk, walk, feed themselves, etc., after the forgetting? If it wipes our memories, then shouldn’t they have also forgotten their language? I’m probably reading way too deep into, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it!

I also didn’t quite like how neatly the ending wrapped up. While I vaguely understood Nadia’s dad’s intentions, the forgiving aspect was way too fast. Also, it was hard to believe that Nadia didn’t have any hard feelings towards her older sister after everything that had happened.

However, this was a fast paced read and I’m glad I finally took the plunge and read it! If you’re into dystopian novels, a little romance, and a great mystery, this might be the one for you! show less

The setup took me a bit to really get into, but after that I was pretty well hooked. At the start, you can't help but wonder what exactly is going on here, but the answers to that question are definitely not what I expected. It's a rather clever and original narrative, and an engaging read for sci-fi and and fantasy fans alike.

Really enjoyed the concept of a culture dealing with collective and personal memory and forgetting. With a female lead character, I had hoped for less sexism. For instance, why is there a title system for women, such as "planter's wife" vs just "planter" while there is no "planter's husband" equivalent? Is it romantic that the male love interest repeatedly commands the female lead to come to him?

Every twelve years the citizens of Canaan simultaneously lose their memories, resulting in a temporary and often violent chaos until their journals are retrieved from the city's archives. The next Forgetting is imminent, and Nadia has a big secret: she, out of everyone, has never actually forgotten. Together with her friend Gray, as they explore the forbidden lands outside the city walls, she begins to suspect that the origins and causes of the Forgetting are far more sinister than the stories they've been told all their lives.

While I had some difficulty getting into the story during the first three or so chapters, after that it was off to the races and it was a challenge to put it down. It's a neat twist on the teen dystopia genre. show more Though a sequel has been written, I'm not sure it needs one; it stands on its own pretty well. show less

YES!! I've been wanting to read a dystopian for a long time, but was having trouble finding a newer one. This one was everything I wanted!!

For whatever reason, I have SO been in the mood for some Dystopian Hunger Games-like stuff, and of course I'm like 4 years too late. The Dystopian fad is clearly over--- which YAY, because all those forced HG knock-offs were getting SO old-- but that doesn't mean I want them to go extinct!! There's still room for the good ones isn't there??

Enter The Forgetting. I was recommended this book, and since I had it lying around, I decided to give it a try. I was instantly hooked. I loved the idea that everyone forgot, but Nadia didn't. It was a secret that was dangerous and begging to come out. I loved that show more she knew stuff about people that THEY didn't know about themselves-- including her own family. Reading about how she had to keep all that inside made me feel so sorry for her-- and it made me want to keep reading to see how it would all come out.

The other part that made this book exciting were Nadia's trips over the wall. The city that Nadia lives in is surrounded by a wall that no one is allowed over for fear of the dangers on the other side. They can't remember what those dangers are, but no one is allowed to find out. So, when Nadia went over, it DEFINITELY was giving me Hunger Games vibes and I was really thinking this book was going to be a knock-off. AND when the Glassblower's son starts hanging around, I was thinking "oh is this like the Baker's son??", but I promise that's where the Hunger Games-vibes ended. After they go outside of the walls together, they start discovering CRAZY things about their society, and I got super invested in this exciting story.

I also really liked the Nadia/Gray relationship. It was obvious that it was going to happen, but it felt organic and not forced or icky. Gray was a little annoying with his constant need to "smirk", but I forgave him that because he was more than the flirty jerk that he initially appeared to be.

My fave part: Nadia was the hero. Gray helps, but it's clear that Nadia is the one making the decisions, keeping the secrets, and figuring out a way to save the city from itself.

I will definitely be reading the next book in this series, [b:The Knowing|34109606|The Knowing (The Forgetting, #2)|Sharon Cameron|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486156772s/34109606.jpg|55135546]-- which comes out October 10th!! I am a little bummed that it's not still following Nadia and Gray, but I'm going to give the new characters and time period a shot. If it's half as good as The Forgetting, I'll still really like it.

OVERALL: I am SO glad I was persuaded to pick this up. I was in the mood for a good Dystopian, and I got EXACTLY what I was hoping for. It's adventure and thrills and a cute romance all in one. I loved unraveling the mystery of this society, and was super surprised and excited by the reveal. I SO recommend and be on the lookout for the sequel coming out October 10, 2017!!

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