The Memory Thief: A Novel

Rachel Keener
Center Street (2010)
ISBN 9781599951126
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (05/10)

 

“The Memory Thief” focuses mainly on the childhoods of two seemingly unconnected girls - Hannah and Angel.  Hannah is the daughter of extremely religious parents who believe in modesty and humility.  As a result, she is required to wear floor-length skirts and high-collared blouses even on the hottest days of the summer.  She is often teased by others who call her a “holy roller.”  Although Hannah is beautiful and intelligent, she is not proud or arrogant.  Angel, on the other hand, comes from a poor family that is always on the move looking for ways to make money.  She is not well-supervised and will do just about anything to get attention and approval from others.  Angel always feels she is being called to the mountains and sets off to meet her destiny.  When Angel and Hannah’s lives converge, many secrets about their lives are revealed.

The author expertly portrays how Angel and Hannah led very different lives.  While Hannah was sheltered and loved, Angel was neglected and often left to fend for herself.  Hannah was always trying to fit in with her peers, but Angel always felt she had to stand out to be special.  Hannah allowed others to make decisions for her but Angel stepped up to control her own circumstances.  Through the above mentioned examples, the author demonstrates how choices people make early in life can permanently alter their futures.

“The Memory Thief” is written for an adult female audience.  It is a touching story in which the reader will become emotionally involved.  There is deception, suspense, and even some mystery to hold the reader’s attention.  I found it interesting how two people with such different backgrounds could also share some important similarities.

“The Memory Thief” is definitely worth reading.  It is a good choice for a book club because in addition to the overt subject matter there are plenty of underlying topics to discuss and debate.  These topics include: 1) whether parents really do always know what is best for their children, and, 2) whether someone should ever try run away from her past mistakes because more than likely they will someday resurface and cause even further turmoil.

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