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natasha_l's review against another edition
3.0
So this is not a thriller, like the blurb suggests, nor does it have the pace of one. It's really more like literary fiction in the sense that it's less about the drama of what happened to Justin, and more about how each member of his family has dealt with the trauma of his kidnapping. Honestly very little happens in the book, making it a bit of slog in the latter half. Still, would recommend if you're interested in an exploration of the ways in which trauma affect different people and how it can tear families apart.
clarecg's review against another edition
3.0
I'd like to give this 3.5 stars - it started out really strong, fast-paced, suspenseful, a page-turner, but fizzled out toward the end. I would have liked to know more about Justin's experience, and found the brother's romantic relationship to be an unnecessary addition. Good book, though, that I was glad to read because it made me enthralled in a book again, after spending a couple of months slogging through a book I couldn't get into and ultimately set aside.
shani823's review
4.0
A family apart; brought together
book was fantastic. the author does a great job or portraying how the disappearance affects each family member individually and then as an entire unit. the same is done for when he is found. I loved how it was know what was done to justin but it is not the main crutch of book. Rebuilding life is.
book was fantastic. the author does a great job or portraying how the disappearance affects each family member individually and then as an entire unit. the same is done for when he is found. I loved how it was know what was done to justin but it is not the main crutch of book. Rebuilding life is.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
I am not a big fan of books about Mothers of Missing Children. There are so many out there, they should probably have their own section in the bookstore. They're all the same: the child is kidnapped, or maybe goes missing on the way to the corner store, and the rest of the book consists of the mother's angry, self-pitying inner monologues, with plenty of sleepless nights and maybe an eventual affair with the crusty but caring detective assigned to the case. The mystery of what happened to the child and if he or she will be found alive isn't usually enough to get me through all the shrill hand-wringing.
Because that's not why we show up to read, is it? I don't want to trudge through somebody else's worst nightmare if all I'm hearing is the voice of the person who knows the least about what's going on. That's why I loved Remember Me Like This—it's so much more than just the story of a mom whose son has been kidnapped. It's about an entire family, and how far they will go for justice.
Johnston gives us his story from so many different angles, all of them fascinating, all of them devastating. Justin disappeared at age eleven. The family he left behind did everything they could to find him, papering their Corpus Christi suburb with flyers, organizing search parties through the dunes, taking out a second mortgage on the house to offer a reward for his return. Still, all their efforts turned up nothing but thin air.
Four years later, the impossible: Justin has been found alive, just miles from home. His parents Laura and Eric, shocked back to life by his return, are instructed not to press Justin about what happened during his captivity. Their younger son Griffin is thrilled to have his brother back, but he often doesn't know what to say or how to act around him. Eric's father Cecil also figures prominently, a fount of simple wisdom and righteous anger. (I'm having a hard time describing him in a way that doesn't make him sound like a cliché, but he's not, trust me.)
Justin's sudden return is only the beginning. Everyone has so many questions, and not one of them has an easy answer. What happened to Justin while he was being held? Why didn't he try to get away? If the case goes to trial, will the man accused of taking him go to jail? Will he be able to hurt Justin again? What could they have done to prevent the abduction? Will Justin ever be able to live a normal life after suffering such an ordeal? Will any of them?
It's those questions that make up the bulk of the book, and they're what kept me reading late into the night. Each character is realistically drawn, so clearly teetering on the edge of control that the suspense just builds and builds. Every single member of the family seemed capable of anything. I read the final pages with my heart in my throat.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
Because that's not why we show up to read, is it? I don't want to trudge through somebody else's worst nightmare if all I'm hearing is the voice of the person who knows the least about what's going on. That's why I loved Remember Me Like This—it's so much more than just the story of a mom whose son has been kidnapped. It's about an entire family, and how far they will go for justice.
Johnston gives us his story from so many different angles, all of them fascinating, all of them devastating. Justin disappeared at age eleven. The family he left behind did everything they could to find him, papering their Corpus Christi suburb with flyers, organizing search parties through the dunes, taking out a second mortgage on the house to offer a reward for his return. Still, all their efforts turned up nothing but thin air.
Four years later, the impossible: Justin has been found alive, just miles from home. His parents Laura and Eric, shocked back to life by his return, are instructed not to press Justin about what happened during his captivity. Their younger son Griffin is thrilled to have his brother back, but he often doesn't know what to say or how to act around him. Eric's father Cecil also figures prominently, a fount of simple wisdom and righteous anger. (I'm having a hard time describing him in a way that doesn't make him sound like a cliché, but he's not, trust me.)
Justin's sudden return is only the beginning. Everyone has so many questions, and not one of them has an easy answer. What happened to Justin while he was being held? Why didn't he try to get away? If the case goes to trial, will the man accused of taking him go to jail? Will he be able to hurt Justin again? What could they have done to prevent the abduction? Will Justin ever be able to live a normal life after suffering such an ordeal? Will any of them?
It's those questions that make up the bulk of the book, and they're what kept me reading late into the night. Each character is realistically drawn, so clearly teetering on the edge of control that the suspense just builds and builds. Every single member of the family seemed capable of anything. I read the final pages with my heart in my throat.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
This well-written drama is not so much about the disappearance of a child, but his reappearance. 15-year old Justin is returned to his family after four years of captivity. In his absence his parents have drifted apart, while younger brother Griff tries to compensate for their loss. The author focuses on the fragile relationships between the characters, and steers clear of the facts about Justin's abduction. I understand the author's apparent wish to avoid sensational details, but it also means that Justin remained a mystery to me. There were hints of trauma, but mostly he seemed remarkably calm and well-adjusted. With such a terrible crime at the heart of the story, it felt odd that Johnston refused to allow his characters to ask the obvious questions.
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
1.0
Listened for Review (Random House Audio)
Overall Rating: DNF
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
It's Not You, It's Me DNF Review: I gave Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston 2.5 hours and just could not get into the story. This is one of those thrillers that I think you have to care about the characters in order for it to work and they just did not click with me. I do think this story will work for other people.
Audio Thoughts:
Mark Bramhall did an excellent job with the narration. His pacing was excellent and each of the characters had distinct personalities that his voice enhanced. I will give books narrated by him a try in the future.
Notes about DNF Ratings: I am a moody reader. Sometimes books do not work for me simply because of the mood that I am. Plus, I think reading is so individual and what works for one reader, won't work for all. I track all books that I read and that includes DNFs. Have to keep it real. I always suggest reading other reviews on all my DNF reviews.
Overall Rating: DNF
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
It's Not You, It's Me DNF Review: I gave Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston 2.5 hours and just could not get into the story. This is one of those thrillers that I think you have to care about the characters in order for it to work and they just did not click with me. I do think this story will work for other people.
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Mark Bramhall / Length: 12 hrs and 45 mins
Mark Bramhall did an excellent job with the narration. His pacing was excellent and each of the characters had distinct personalities that his voice enhanced. I will give books narrated by him a try in the future.
Notes about DNF Ratings: I am a moody reader. Sometimes books do not work for me simply because of the mood that I am. Plus, I think reading is so individual and what works for one reader, won't work for all. I track all books that I read and that includes DNFs. Have to keep it real. I always suggest reading other reviews on all my DNF reviews.
melissabeth's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this book is pulls you in right from the beginning.
anneb42's review against another edition
4.0
This was a gripping novel exploring relief and suffering in the aftermath of a child kidnapping victim who returns home years after his disappearance. The multiple narratives from family members helped show the varied responses, fear, guilt, anger, and joy; the only character whose thoughts you aren't privy to is Justin, the kidnapping victim. It's such a horrifying situation that I felt a little voyeuristic as I read - a similar story happened in my hometown, and I've wondered before what kind of life that young man was able to lead after he came home. It's hard to think about and hard to talk about, but I think it's handled well here. The book is incredibly well-crafted, and I enjoyed it a great deal.
taraw's review against another edition
3.0
I know this book is a big deal but it has so many unanswered questions. There was way too much detail about unnecessary things and a complete lack of detail in others. I guess I missed the greatness...
xofeno's review against another edition
2.0
An excruciatingly slow read. This book is like 95% description and 5% plot. Basically nothing happens beyond what's in the synopsis. The characters are okay, but not charismatic enough to make up for the lack of plot.
I stuck with it because the very start of the book teased something dramatic, but that turned out to be not so dramatic at all in the end.
Very disappointing. Not recommended.
I stuck with it because the very start of the book teased something dramatic, but that turned out to be not so dramatic at all in the end.
Very disappointing. Not recommended.