Reviews

MEM by Bethany C. Morrow

bellhore's review

Very interesting, but just didn't capture me. Very Klara and the Sun with lots of crying and existentialism and well, I just don't care. Maybe I'll try again another time.

adamrbrooks's review

3.75

And interesting idea and some beautiful writing, with interesting ideas about memory, who we are, how we define ourselves and others, the stories we tell that define lives. 

Worth a read. Suggested by StoryGraph

kurbanski's review against another edition

challenging reflective

3.0

skylercauldron's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

morgob's review

4.0

This novel made me cry. I wonder how many reviews I've started out that way. It's a heartbreaking story about a woman who was created to be a Memory (a sort of way for people to erase painful memories and transfer them to another being that has no personality or thoughts of their own and who is a copy of the person who created them) but ends up being so much more human than anyone expected. The story is about her humanity and trying to convince others that she is human. In a way, it reminded me of Cloud Atlas and the Sonmi story. It's all about treating those who are not human like objects or possessions, whether they be clones or physical manifestations of memory.
It made me cry because it was told in first person point of view, so the reader understands right away that her feelings and thoughts are real feelings and thoughts, and she is her own person, but no one else can see that. It's one of those things where you know something but no one else believes you, that sort of heartbreaking frustration, and in this case her life depends on people believing her. She is also such a vibrant character; she knows who she is and she has so many thoughts and feelings that are extraordinary. I just loved reading it in her voice.
Also, though it was pretty cheesy, I liked the romance aspect of it. I saw it coming, yet the ending still made me sad,

Spoiler

especially once she realizes that she probably can't have normal relationships because she is quite possibly immortal. And she probably won't be able to be with him forever, and THEN he goes and has a memory made of himself! Oh my gosh it made me so angry and sad because now he won't be the same ever again. And he might be like her, but we have no idea of that at all because all we get of him are like two sentences, so we're just left to assume everything is going to be okay but WHAT IF IT ISN'T?

Okay, I'm done ranting about that. It just made me really sad. I enjoyed the book and I couldn't put it down, it just made my heart hurt at certain parts.

moth_dance's review against another edition

4.0

I was so excited to enter this world! And it didn't disappoint. I think I really fell in love with this book at No. 9, though. That's to say, give it the time and space it needs to tell the story. It is a novella, but it's kinda like a slow-burn thriller. Can't wait to see what Bethany C. Morrow creates next.

entommoore's review

slow-paced

3.0

tymarie's review

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

excellent meditation on autonomy, identity, trauma, and memory in a science fiction framework. melancholic, so i would suggest knowing this beforehand. poetic but could have been more descriptive

queen_perfection's review

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

megadeathvsbooks's review

3.0

Intriguing idea and I wish I knew more. But ultimately I didn't feel like it had enough depth around the story and characters. It felt either unfinished or tentative.