Reviews

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

amstnfrd's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad fast-paced

3.75

Really enjoyed it but wanted more, so as close to a 4 star as possible but not quite there

carlscarls's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

I want to give it 4 but at the same time I don't know if I can. And I have no real reason why. It's speculative fiction and got me thinking, but I don't know if it will keep me thinking long after reading.

Does that sound dumb?

silvia_frz's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

te_m's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

podanotherjessi's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

First and foremost, this book is beautifully written, and it will make you think. While there are some clear intended themes around censorship and a police state that would have people disappear for something beyond their control, the emotional resonance and complex world leaves room for a lot of personal interpretation. And the writing really allows for this. Ogawa has done a wonderful job creating such thought-provoking writing, and Snyder's translation ensure the emotion also translates.
Unfortunately, where the book falls a little short for me are in the characters and the unanswered questions. While I felt a lot of emotion in imagining myself in scenarios like the characters, I never really felt for the characters themselves. There were times decisions were made and it felt like there was little reflection from the characters. For example

when the narrator and R started an affair, and beyond one moment of thought for his wife and kid, neither character seemed conflicted over it.

I also just had so many questions about the how and why. And while I recognize the mechanics of the disappearing and forgetting weren't the point, I found inconsistencies at times that were confusing. Such as

in the middle of the novel, fruit disappears. Later, when novels disappear, the narrator mentions having to burn a book with fruit on the cover. But surely that book would have been gotten rid of after fruit disappeared?

And there's the fact of the narration at all, which has no problem talking about some disappeared things like hats or birds, but struggles to talk about emeralds. I would have been more okay not understanding if the book was consistent.

mdlhall's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

agnethebirkelund's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

delendaest's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

ameliabedeliaful's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

readwithmeemz's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.0

This was a quiet and brilliant accounting of a dystopian society, perfect for fans of 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and The Handmaid’s Tale. Set on an island where things are disappeared from existence and memory, this is a resonant ode to the power of words and memories. We witness our nameless heroine slowly start to lose her memories, and eventually her selfhood, under the watchful eyes of the oppressive “memory police”. This is a smart and thoughtful story that moves slowly, but is no less impactful for it. I loved the snippets of our heroine’s novel woven into our present story. Ogawa is an excellent writer, using few words to paint a compelling picture of this world & to draw the readers into it. I look forward to reading more translations of her work.