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The Memory Thief
In Emily Colin’s exquisite debut novel, perfect for the fans of Kristin Hannah, one man’s vow to his wife sparks a remarkable journey that tests the pull of memory and reaffirms the bonds of love.
Before Madeleine Kimble’s mountaineer husband, Aidan, climbs Mount McKinley’s south face, he makes her a solemn vow: I will come back to you. But late one night, Maddie gets the devastating news that Aidan has died in an avalanche, leaving her to care for their son—a small boy with a very big secret. The call comes from J.C., Aidan’s best friend and fellow climber, whose grief is seasoned with survivor’s guilt . . . and something more. J.C. has loved Maddie for years, but he never wanted his chance with her to come at so terrible a cost.
Across the country, Nicholas Sullivan wakes from a motorcycle crash with his memory wiped clean. Yet his dreams are haunted by visions of a mysterious woman and a young boy, neither of whom he has ever met. Convinced that these strangers hold the answers he seeks, Nicholas leaves everything behind to find them. What he discovers will require a leap of faith that will change all of their lives forever.
“Dazzlingly original and as haunting as a dream, Emily Colin’s mesmerizing debut explores the way memory, love, and great loss bind our lives together in ways we might never expect. From its audacious opening to its knockout last pages, I was enthralled.”—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You
Before Madeleine Kimble’s mountaineer husband, Aidan, climbs Mount McKinley’s south face, he makes her a solemn vow: I will come back to you. But late one night, Maddie gets the devastating news that Aidan has died in an avalanche, leaving her to care for their son—a small boy with a very big secret. The call comes from J.C., Aidan’s best friend and fellow climber, whose grief is seasoned with survivor’s guilt . . . and something more. J.C. has loved Maddie for years, but he never wanted his chance with her to come at so terrible a cost.
Across the country, Nicholas Sullivan wakes from a motorcycle crash with his memory wiped clean. Yet his dreams are haunted by visions of a mysterious woman and a young boy, neither of whom he has ever met. Convinced that these strangers hold the answers he seeks, Nicholas leaves everything behind to find them. What he discovers will require a leap of faith that will change all of their lives forever.
“Dazzlingly original and as haunting as a dream, Emily Colin’s mesmerizing debut explores the way memory, love, and great loss bind our lives together in ways we might never expect. From its audacious opening to its knockout last pages, I was enthralled.”—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2012
456 people are currently reading
6192 people want to read
About the author
Emily Colin
13 books327 followersEmily Colin writes love stories with a supernatural edge for adults and teens. Her debut novel, THE MEMORY THIEF, was a New York Times bestseller and a Target Emerging Authors Pick; she followed it up with THE DREAM KEEPER’S DAUGHTER.
Emily is also the author of the Gold Moonbeam Award-winning, young adult dystopian romantasy series, The Seven Sins. SWORD OF THE SEVEN SINS, the first book, was a Foreword INDIES Award finalist, won the YA fiction award of the North Carolina Indie Author Project, and was shortlisted for the 2021 Manly Wade Wellman Award for North Carolina Science Fiction and Fantasy. The second novel of the series, SIEGE OF THE SEVEN SINS, is a 2021 silver IPPY Award winner and Foreword INDIES finalist. The third book in the series launches February 13, 2024.
Emily co-edited and contributed to the young adult anthologies WICKED SOUTH: SECRETS AND LIES and UNBOUND: STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION, LOVE, AND MONSTERS, which was a SUSPENSE MAGAZINE “Best of” 2021 pick as well as a 2021 Foreword INDIES Award finalist. DISSENT, the 2022 romance anthology to which she contributed a short story, was a #1 Amazon category bestseller in over eight countries.
Emily's diverse life experience includes organizing a Coney Island tattoo and piercing show, hauling fish at a dolphin research center, roaming New York City as an itinerant teenage violinist, helping launch two small publishing companies, and working to facilitate community engagement in the arts. A former Pitch Wars mentor and KissPitch mentor, Emily is a writing instructor, freelance editor, and book coach. She lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. You can find her at www.emilycolin.com and on IG at @emilycolin.books.
Emily is also the author of the Gold Moonbeam Award-winning, young adult dystopian romantasy series, The Seven Sins. SWORD OF THE SEVEN SINS, the first book, was a Foreword INDIES Award finalist, won the YA fiction award of the North Carolina Indie Author Project, and was shortlisted for the 2021 Manly Wade Wellman Award for North Carolina Science Fiction and Fantasy. The second novel of the series, SIEGE OF THE SEVEN SINS, is a 2021 silver IPPY Award winner and Foreword INDIES finalist. The third book in the series launches February 13, 2024.
Emily co-edited and contributed to the young adult anthologies WICKED SOUTH: SECRETS AND LIES and UNBOUND: STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION, LOVE, AND MONSTERS, which was a SUSPENSE MAGAZINE “Best of” 2021 pick as well as a 2021 Foreword INDIES Award finalist. DISSENT, the 2022 romance anthology to which she contributed a short story, was a #1 Amazon category bestseller in over eight countries.
Emily's diverse life experience includes organizing a Coney Island tattoo and piercing show, hauling fish at a dolphin research center, roaming New York City as an itinerant teenage violinist, helping launch two small publishing companies, and working to facilitate community engagement in the arts. A former Pitch Wars mentor and KissPitch mentor, Emily is a writing instructor, freelance editor, and book coach. She lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. You can find her at www.emilycolin.com and on IG at @emilycolin.books.
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May 3, 2013
Sigh. Big sigh. The premise of this book sounded so interesting - Aidan, the husband of Maddie and father of Gabe, dies in a mountain climbing accident but is somehow able to usurp the mind of Nicholas, the victim of a motorcycle accident that occurred the same day as Aidan's death. That all sounds great. But the execution was pretty terrible. Some spoilers ahead.
First of all, the dialogue. No one talks like these people. All of the conversations felt so stilted! And Gabe? He's supposed to be 4 years old, but I've never met a 4-year-old as precocious as Gabe was written to be. He sounded more like 10, which was kind of annoying. Despite that, Gabe was probably my favorite character, because everyone else was a hot mess.
Aidan was really annoying. He seemed like a loving husband and father, which is great, but he was really cavalier about manipulating Nicholas (you'll get it when you read it). I get why he did what he did, but he was just so selfish about it. And the way he kept showing up for Gabe was pretty messed up. Each time the kid says goodbye to his dead father, he just pops back up again. A little much for a 4-year-old.
Ugh, JC. WHAT THE HELL. The love triangle between him, Maddie and Aidan seemed soooo contrived. Nothing was original about it. There's a way to write a compelling love triangle (I'm not talking Twilight), and Emily Colin did not succeed in this for me. The way the men acted around each other in regards to Maddie was ridiculous. I don't know any guys who would have acted that way (thank God). And then, on the DAY OF AIDAN'S FUNERAL, JC sleeps with Maddie. Neither feels particularly guilty (JC doesn't at all). And then, when Maddie expresses uncertainty about her feelings for JC and what's happening between them (maybe because she just buried her husband, I don't know), JC FLIPS OUT. Okay, so JC may have been really good to Gabe and helpful around the house, but he's a dumbass of a person. I couldn't find it in me to like him, and that's a problem.
And oh my God - when Maddie and JC are about to have sex, this is what he says to her: "Mama always told me good things are worth waiting for. And damn if she wasn't right!" ARE YOU SERIOUS. That's some sexy bedroom talk you got there, JC, I'm sure everyone wants to visualize their mothers as they're about to bone down. I cracked up at this part and I'm laughing right now. He's so dumb.
The sex scenes were pretty PG13, so be prepared. The sex seemed pretty weird a lot of the time. Don't get me wrong, it sounded fun, but I don't get why certain things had to be included. Like when Nicholas bit his girlfriend so hard she bled? Like really? And when Aidan and Maddie were carrying on a normal conversation while they were in the middle of things? Come on.
The ending was nice, I did like that in a way. I thought it was super strange and awful how Nicholas just abandoned the dog that had been there his whole life, that's for sure. JC annoyed me to the very end as well, but other than that it was fine. I was mainly just glad I finished the damn thing. It kept me curious throughout, I will say that much about the book. That's why it gets 2 stars instead of 1. But be prepared for cliche upon cliche.
First of all, the dialogue. No one talks like these people. All of the conversations felt so stilted! And Gabe? He's supposed to be 4 years old, but I've never met a 4-year-old as precocious as Gabe was written to be. He sounded more like 10, which was kind of annoying. Despite that, Gabe was probably my favorite character, because everyone else was a hot mess.
Aidan was really annoying. He seemed like a loving husband and father, which is great, but he was really cavalier about manipulating Nicholas (you'll get it when you read it). I get why he did what he did, but he was just so selfish about it. And the way he kept showing up for Gabe was pretty messed up. Each time the kid says goodbye to his dead father, he just pops back up again. A little much for a 4-year-old.
Ugh, JC. WHAT THE HELL. The love triangle between him, Maddie and Aidan seemed soooo contrived. Nothing was original about it. There's a way to write a compelling love triangle (I'm not talking Twilight), and Emily Colin did not succeed in this for me. The way the men acted around each other in regards to Maddie was ridiculous. I don't know any guys who would have acted that way (thank God). And then, on the DAY OF AIDAN'S FUNERAL, JC sleeps with Maddie. Neither feels particularly guilty (JC doesn't at all). And then, when Maddie expresses uncertainty about her feelings for JC and what's happening between them (maybe because she just buried her husband, I don't know), JC FLIPS OUT. Okay, so JC may have been really good to Gabe and helpful around the house, but he's a dumbass of a person. I couldn't find it in me to like him, and that's a problem.
And oh my God - when Maddie and JC are about to have sex, this is what he says to her: "Mama always told me good things are worth waiting for. And damn if she wasn't right!" ARE YOU SERIOUS. That's some sexy bedroom talk you got there, JC, I'm sure everyone wants to visualize their mothers as they're about to bone down. I cracked up at this part and I'm laughing right now. He's so dumb.
The sex scenes were pretty PG13, so be prepared. The sex seemed pretty weird a lot of the time. Don't get me wrong, it sounded fun, but I don't get why certain things had to be included. Like when Nicholas bit his girlfriend so hard she bled? Like really? And when Aidan and Maddie were carrying on a normal conversation while they were in the middle of things? Come on.
The ending was nice, I did like that in a way. I thought it was super strange and awful how Nicholas just abandoned the dog that had been there his whole life, that's for sure. JC annoyed me to the very end as well, but other than that it was fine. I was mainly just glad I finished the damn thing. It kept me curious throughout, I will say that much about the book. That's why it gets 2 stars instead of 1. But be prepared for cliche upon cliche.
October 4, 2015
Emily Colin’s debut novel is gripping, hauntingly beautiful, and thought-provoking in its other-worldly feel. The research demonstrates the time and effort this author has expended in getting the details right and in presenting the challenges, risks, and perseverance of mountain climbing. In addition to a storyline that delivers an abstract vision, the characters are interesting and well-defined. The Memory Thief shows us that love can bring both pleasure and pain, yet when both of those are gone, love still remains.
First off, I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention that the cover of this book really disappoints – especially since it could be such a great draw to the story and characters on the pages. What’s with the water - where are the snow-covered mountains? Sure, this story includes a woman and little boy . . . but mountains played such an important role, too. This cover just wasn’t in sync with this story or the characters readers will meet. There were also some editing issues throughout -- nothing major and ones that won't diminish the positives.
After Aidan, a true mountaineer, is killed by an avalanche at the top of an Alaskan mountain (the same mountain that took the life of one of his best friends & climbing buddy a few years back), his spirit takes over the body of Nicholas, who is lying unconscious miles away in a North Carolina hospital. Aidan has one plan – to make good on a promise he made to his wife before he set off on this mountain climbing adventure, and Nicholas is the vessel he uses.
Madeline, Aidan, and Nicholas all tell their side of the story. Gabriel is Madeleine and Aidan’s four-year old son – but seemed much older - and he has some secrets of his own that will not only break your heart but will then turn around and make you smile with his strength and determination to stay loyal and honor his daddy’s wishes.
And then there’s J.C., Aidan’s best friend from childhood. He’s a questionable character in my opinion. He’s loved his best friend’s wife from the first time he saw her. I liked his personality and charm, but I also wondered if it was just a little too much. His interactions with both Madeleine and Gabe after Aidan’s death demonstrated the love he held for both of them. However, there were just too many things that made me feel a little queasy and ill-at-ease where he was concerned. Was he really the stand up guy he appeared to be? Was there something sinister in his friendship with Aidan? Could he have played a part in those mountain climbing accidents?
Is this one paranormal? Well, I’m not a big fan of that genre. Although this story definitely challenged the limits on my beliefs in what may be the afterlife, it never really felt paranormal-ish or ghostly to me. I was intrigued from the start. So I just let go of my inhibitions and took the plunge into the deep end. I'm not sorry that I did either.
First off, I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention that the cover of this book really disappoints – especially since it could be such a great draw to the story and characters on the pages. What’s with the water - where are the snow-covered mountains? Sure, this story includes a woman and little boy . . . but mountains played such an important role, too. This cover just wasn’t in sync with this story or the characters readers will meet. There were also some editing issues throughout -- nothing major and ones that won't diminish the positives.
After Aidan, a true mountaineer, is killed by an avalanche at the top of an Alaskan mountain (the same mountain that took the life of one of his best friends & climbing buddy a few years back), his spirit takes over the body of Nicholas, who is lying unconscious miles away in a North Carolina hospital. Aidan has one plan – to make good on a promise he made to his wife before he set off on this mountain climbing adventure, and Nicholas is the vessel he uses.
Madeline, Aidan, and Nicholas all tell their side of the story. Gabriel is Madeleine and Aidan’s four-year old son – but seemed much older - and he has some secrets of his own that will not only break your heart but will then turn around and make you smile with his strength and determination to stay loyal and honor his daddy’s wishes.
And then there’s J.C., Aidan’s best friend from childhood. He’s a questionable character in my opinion. He’s loved his best friend’s wife from the first time he saw her. I liked his personality and charm, but I also wondered if it was just a little too much. His interactions with both Madeleine and Gabe after Aidan’s death demonstrated the love he held for both of them. However, there were just too many things that made me feel a little queasy and ill-at-ease where he was concerned. Was he really the stand up guy he appeared to be? Was there something sinister in his friendship with Aidan? Could he have played a part in those mountain climbing accidents?
Is this one paranormal? Well, I’m not a big fan of that genre. Although this story definitely challenged the limits on my beliefs in what may be the afterlife, it never really felt paranormal-ish or ghostly to me. I was intrigued from the start. So I just let go of my inhibitions and took the plunge into the deep end. I'm not sorry that I did either.
June 6, 2013
I want a sequel.
Strong words when I've only granted it three stars -- but I was gripped by this (surprised me, too.) -- and by the end, I was sort of furious about what actually happened.
SO! Aidan (mountain climber) is married to Madeline (writer), with child in tow. They are a great big smooshy nest of love, but in a realistic way. If you happen to be a beautiful and woman with no need for a job who is married to a beautiful and rugged adrenaline junkie who loves poetry.
Which I am.
So it fit into my emotional landscape. Is what I'm saying.
And then Aidan dies. He dies alone, on a mountaintop, with his bff JC somewhere nearby.
And then JC moves in on his territory, and it's pretty goddamn fast, all things considered, but no big deal because grief and also I've been in love with you for years, Maddie and also Aidan said it was okay.
You know.
Before he was crushed to death in that avalanche.
And ... yeah. What about that avalanche. What about that rope Aidan was attached to, the rope JC was holding -- the one that was severed "like it was cut"? Well, they're on top of a damn mountain and there are winds and snow and things like that. It's tragic, but definitely an accident.
Except that JC has been into Madeline for years.
And their old friend Ellis died in a similar accident -- JC, rope, maybe a knife cutting the rope, grieving hottie widow to comfort.
HUH.
And when Maddie meets Nicholas, who is actively channeling Aidan, JC says: I'm gonna get a flight out there and I'm gonna kill him. Seriously, Maddie. I'm gonna kill him for thinking he can touch you.
But! But! JC's such a standup guy! He's so considerate! He mows the grass and goes out for milk. And when he meets Ellis' widow (who looks a little pissed to see him hanging on Madeline) he tells Maddie "she's just jealous, since I've never been interested in her."
JC seems like a major asshole, is what I'm saying. And I'm not saying he's necessarily a murderer, but ... he probably is. Cause it is more than bad taste to move in on your best friend's wife the evening of his funeral. It's sort of evil.
And here's where I would have given up on reading, if Madeline's emotions (turmoil; several layers of guilt; pleasure; grief) didn't ring so true to me. She doesn't want JC. She'll take him, because lust and boredom -- but she doesn't want him. She wants Aidan.
... and then Aidan comes back. (... sort of?)
I won't bother with reviewing that bit -- except to say that the woo-woo stuff also felt true to this grouchy atheist. (... mostly true?) The emotional response was real to me, at least, and that's the important part. The name-dropping (Smashing Pumpkins; Facebook) wasn't awkward and misplaced; it added to the life and reality of the characters, until I felt like I could look up and see them in my own life. Maybe they're shopping for new milk.
I enjoyed it enough to read it in two days and crave to know the end when I was in the beginning and to wish for a sequel, though it'll never happen. I enjoyed it enough to wait for more of her work. And that's enough.
(Now I continue with my ideas about a sequel!)
Five years later. Madeline and JC are married; she keeps in touch with the perpetually-confused Nicholas (he's gotten a little less confused in the intervening years, since Aidan is gone), much to the annoyance of JC.
JC continues to be a standup kinda guy, when he's not acting out in flashes of anger and jealousy. Maddie reassures herself that her ambiguity doesn't mean much of anything (did I do the right thing in marrying him? but he's such a nice guy. And my son needed a father. And he's never really hurt me.)
She keeps in touch with Aidan's old friends, and hers, but their relationships were strained since her quick re-marriage (accidental pregnancy; subsequent miscarriage) and they've all drifted apart a little since JC has stopped his mountaineering (too dangerous, baby).
Madeline mostly stays at home and writes and tends the house. And they don't need money from another income, but sometimes she gets so bored and lonely, and ... but JC says JC says JC says
And then spring comes; it's unusually warm. A couple of climbers stumble on Aidan's body. They bring it home. She goes to the morgue. Tears. Loss, again, startling her with its force. Do you want his affects? Of course -- of course --
She goes home and touches all his things again. Notepaper, that old photograph, sketches for her, notes to her, notes to himself. The rope he was tethered to when he fell loose. It wasn't torn at all -- that rope is formed to be untearable, how can anything tear that rope?
It was cut.
She stares at the end for a long time.
JC comes home.
Madeline doesn't confront him.
She doesn't do anything.
It sits in her closet for a long time, the rope. JC assumes it was lost. She doesn't argue with him. Instead she begins to contact their old friends again -- and she starts with Ellis' widow, the one JC said was "jealous". The one who tried to talk to her before the wedding; the one she brushed off. Beth? I know it's been forever ... do you mind meeting me sometime this week, maybe coffee? My treat.
Once the waitress has poured the coffee, Maddie brings out the rope. Do you know what this is?
Beth goes silent for a minute; then she reaches across the table to grip Madeline's hand. I've seen one of those before. One just like that.
They have nothing to say aloud after that, not for a long time. When one of them starts to speak her throat is dry; she reaches for the coffee. And it's already cold. It's practically ice.
Strong words when I've only granted it three stars -- but I was gripped by this (surprised me, too.) -- and by the end, I was sort of furious about what actually happened.
SO! Aidan (mountain climber) is married to Madeline (writer), with child in tow. They are a great big smooshy nest of love, but in a realistic way. If you happen to be a beautiful and woman with no need for a job who is married to a beautiful and rugged adrenaline junkie who loves poetry.
Which I am.
So it fit into my emotional landscape. Is what I'm saying.
And then Aidan dies. He dies alone, on a mountaintop, with his bff JC somewhere nearby.
And then JC moves in on his territory, and it's pretty goddamn fast, all things considered, but no big deal because grief and also I've been in love with you for years, Maddie and also Aidan said it was okay.
You know.
Before he was crushed to death in that avalanche.
And ... yeah. What about that avalanche. What about that rope Aidan was attached to, the rope JC was holding -- the one that was severed "like it was cut"? Well, they're on top of a damn mountain and there are winds and snow and things like that. It's tragic, but definitely an accident.
Except that JC has been into Madeline for years.
And their old friend Ellis died in a similar accident -- JC, rope, maybe a knife cutting the rope, grieving hottie widow to comfort.
HUH.
And when Maddie meets Nicholas, who is actively channeling Aidan, JC says: I'm gonna get a flight out there and I'm gonna kill him. Seriously, Maddie. I'm gonna kill him for thinking he can touch you.
But! But! JC's such a standup guy! He's so considerate! He mows the grass and goes out for milk. And when he meets Ellis' widow (who looks a little pissed to see him hanging on Madeline) he tells Maddie "she's just jealous, since I've never been interested in her."
JC seems like a major asshole, is what I'm saying. And I'm not saying he's necessarily a murderer, but ... he probably is. Cause it is more than bad taste to move in on your best friend's wife the evening of his funeral. It's sort of evil.
And here's where I would have given up on reading, if Madeline's emotions (turmoil; several layers of guilt; pleasure; grief) didn't ring so true to me. She doesn't want JC. She'll take him, because lust and boredom -- but she doesn't want him. She wants Aidan.
... and then Aidan comes back. (... sort of?)
I won't bother with reviewing that bit -- except to say that the woo-woo stuff also felt true to this grouchy atheist. (... mostly true?) The emotional response was real to me, at least, and that's the important part. The name-dropping (Smashing Pumpkins; Facebook) wasn't awkward and misplaced; it added to the life and reality of the characters, until I felt like I could look up and see them in my own life. Maybe they're shopping for new milk.
I enjoyed it enough to read it in two days and crave to know the end when I was in the beginning and to wish for a sequel, though it'll never happen. I enjoyed it enough to wait for more of her work. And that's enough.
(Now I continue with my ideas about a sequel!)
Five years later. Madeline and JC are married; she keeps in touch with the perpetually-confused Nicholas (he's gotten a little less confused in the intervening years, since Aidan is gone), much to the annoyance of JC.
JC continues to be a standup kinda guy, when he's not acting out in flashes of anger and jealousy. Maddie reassures herself that her ambiguity doesn't mean much of anything (did I do the right thing in marrying him? but he's such a nice guy. And my son needed a father. And he's never really hurt me.)
She keeps in touch with Aidan's old friends, and hers, but their relationships were strained since her quick re-marriage (accidental pregnancy; subsequent miscarriage) and they've all drifted apart a little since JC has stopped his mountaineering (too dangerous, baby).
Madeline mostly stays at home and writes and tends the house. And they don't need money from another income, but sometimes she gets so bored and lonely, and ... but JC says JC says JC says
And then spring comes; it's unusually warm. A couple of climbers stumble on Aidan's body. They bring it home. She goes to the morgue. Tears. Loss, again, startling her with its force. Do you want his affects? Of course -- of course --
She goes home and touches all his things again. Notepaper, that old photograph, sketches for her, notes to her, notes to himself. The rope he was tethered to when he fell loose. It wasn't torn at all -- that rope is formed to be untearable, how can anything tear that rope?
It was cut.
She stares at the end for a long time.
JC comes home.
Madeline doesn't confront him.
She doesn't do anything.
It sits in her closet for a long time, the rope. JC assumes it was lost. She doesn't argue with him. Instead she begins to contact their old friends again -- and she starts with Ellis' widow, the one JC said was "jealous". The one who tried to talk to her before the wedding; the one she brushed off. Beth? I know it's been forever ... do you mind meeting me sometime this week, maybe coffee? My treat.
Once the waitress has poured the coffee, Maddie brings out the rope. Do you know what this is?
Beth goes silent for a minute; then she reaches across the table to grip Madeline's hand. I've seen one of those before. One just like that.
They have nothing to say aloud after that, not for a long time. When one of them starts to speak her throat is dry; she reaches for the coffee. And it's already cold. It's practically ice.
January 26, 2013
The premise of this book intrigued me, and I'm glad I read it. The use of tense, point of view and language was quite unusual and something not every reader will like, but I loved it. LOVED it. The writing was lyrical and lovely, and characters felt real to me. I did have a few nits, so my true star rating would be more like 4.5, but to me the nits were minor. Example: I found the character of Aiden not that likable. I didn't see what Maddie saw in him. If it were me, I probably would've never married him and gone for JC, but it wasn't my call. On further reflection, you can really make the argument that the author created a well-fleshed-out, realistic man in Aiden, because I wanted to roll my eyes at him and yell at him and slap him. Not that he didn't have his good points, because he did, but for me his bad points outweighed them. However, creating a man like that -- a pretty true to life one -- in the lead role (sort of... it's hard to explain...) is not something every author can pull off. Much respect to Emily Colin for doing it. And he did do right by Maddie in the end, so there's that.
Anyway, I'm not very good at writing reviews, but I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. It's a beautifully written love story with an interesting, unusual plot. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
Anyway, I'm not very good at writing reviews, but I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. It's a beautifully written love story with an interesting, unusual plot. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
February 8, 2019
4.5 Were I to describe the plot (woman loves mountain climber, and later, his best friend) - there's nothing there - air!
Yet somehow, there's so much more. Huge themes, moral questions, enormous feeling. Literature. Ultimately, it's uplifting and restorative. Between the protracted conversations full of sexual tension (straight out of the romance genre), and the frequent, but tame, sex scenes (ditto), there is meaning. It grabbed me for the entire distance, and after I put it down and looked back, it's like, What? How? In that little story?
Impressive!
Yet somehow, there's so much more. Huge themes, moral questions, enormous feeling. Literature. Ultimately, it's uplifting and restorative. Between the protracted conversations full of sexual tension (straight out of the romance genre), and the frequent, but tame, sex scenes (ditto), there is meaning. It grabbed me for the entire distance, and after I put it down and looked back, it's like, What? How? In that little story?
Impressive!
July 6, 2024
I think this book was over for me when the protagonist sleeps with her dead husband's best friend the day after his funeral.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2012
Vonnegut once said that every character should want something. Aiden James wants to get back to his wife and son, but he died on the cold, unforgiving slope of a mountain. Nicholas Sullivan doesn’t know what he wants. He’s got amnesia, and nothing about his life is familiar or comforting except the strange dreams he’s been having of a mysterious woman and her son, and of falling down a mountain he knows he’s never seen.
And so Emily Colin’s debut novel, The Memory Thief, lives up to Vonnegut’s requirements. It’s enticing premise, multiple points of view, and and troubled characters weave a compelling story that will make readers ask “What’s next?” from this talented author. While I expect some people will be tempted to use the words “paranormal” and “romance,” when describing The Memory Thief, those who do so will do Colin’s book a disservice – her writing is much stronger than most of what passes for typical in these categories. Colin’s own description, “beach reading for smart people,” is much more apt. And although admittedly I found the narrative occasionally worn by minutiae (witness the description of the Mellow Mushroom restaurant), this is just a single nit to pick about a very enjoyable read.
And so Emily Colin’s debut novel, The Memory Thief, lives up to Vonnegut’s requirements. It’s enticing premise, multiple points of view, and and troubled characters weave a compelling story that will make readers ask “What’s next?” from this talented author. While I expect some people will be tempted to use the words “paranormal” and “romance,” when describing The Memory Thief, those who do so will do Colin’s book a disservice – her writing is much stronger than most of what passes for typical in these categories. Colin’s own description, “beach reading for smart people,” is much more apt. And although admittedly I found the narrative occasionally worn by minutiae (witness the description of the Mellow Mushroom restaurant), this is just a single nit to pick about a very enjoyable read.
September 15, 2013
I suppose anything this short that takes 13 days to read should automatically get one star. I mean, otherwise I would have plowed through it right? I just could not make myself sit and keep reading this. It's honestly a wonder I finished. It just didn't make sense. I get that it was trying to be mystical or whatever, but at least give Aidan and Nick a connection. I kept waiting for them to "reveal" that Nick was Aidan's half brother. They had the same eyes, Gabe's eyes...UGH WHY didn't she take the story in this direction?!?!? They briefly mentioned there was another brother other than Oliver...this would have made the story INFINITELY better. It would have given it a bit more purpose, more of a connection. I kept waiting for the twist and there was none. It was just boring and flat. The family background story was so much more interesting and colorful than the actual story. And because they weren't connected there really was no point to the backstory anyway.
I was also annoyed every time J.C. talks to Maddie. Baby, sweetheart, honey. Yuck. It sounded so fake and forced. And don't even get me started on the sex scenes. They were so uncomfortable. Graphic in ways that were not necessary to move the story and just seemed....slutty and not romantic, which I think was the author's actual goal.
I say this is a definite pass. Don't waste your time. Certainly don't waste 13 days. Such a shame. There was such potential.
I was also annoyed every time J.C. talks to Maddie. Baby, sweetheart, honey. Yuck. It sounded so fake and forced. And don't even get me started on the sex scenes. They were so uncomfortable. Graphic in ways that were not necessary to move the story and just seemed....slutty and not romantic, which I think was the author's actual goal.
I say this is a definite pass. Don't waste your time. Certainly don't waste 13 days. Such a shame. There was such potential.
March 11, 2023
This is such a great book & the cover is SO misleading. I may have never read this book because the cover lacks appeal. A beautiful emotional read with a dash of paranormal. All the stars!
January 22, 2013
Oh where to begin. There were parts of this book I really liked--the characters were well developed, the plot was interesting. A woman (Maddie) loses her husband (Aidan) in a mountain climbing accident and a stranger across the country (Nicholas) starts having memories of Aidan. The other main characters, JC, Aidan's best-friend and Gabriel, Maddie and Aidan's four year old son, were my two favorite characters. The story is told in alternating point of view, between Maddie, Aidan and Nicholas. I liked seeing how Maddie and Aidan's relationship developed. I liked the overall story, though there were things that annoyed me: the use of initials for names. Aidan is also known as AJ, for unknown reasons. There is the aforementioned JC. I guess that's only two, but I found it annoying. Gabriel is four years old (almost five, they mention), yet he acts like an older child--more like 7 or 8, maybe 9. He doesn't speak like any four year old I've ever seen or met. His mother puts on a movie and it's...Harry Potter? What? Four year olds are watching Harry Potter? What?
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
I don't see why Nicholas had to have a dog. The dog wasn't involved in the story at all and in the end he just ends up abandoning him. It made Nicholas seem like kind of a jerk in a small way. I was annoyed with Aidan's ghost or whatever for making his FOUR YEAR OLD SON say goodbye to him three times over, each time leaving Gabe crying. That is awful! And just for your own needs. The sex scenes were a tad ridiculous. A bit overly graphic. There was a common factor in almost every one of them that I won't mention, but it made me say, "What? Why?" every time.
I was ready to really not like the story, I hated Aidan for taking over Nicholas' life for his own needs. However, I did feel the author wrapped it up nicely. I liked the ending a lot and how it all came together. I loved the character of JC--he was warm, caring, kind, considerate (for the most part, and the times he wasn't, his behavior was understandable).
(END SPOILERS)
One last thing--the editing was sloppy. I noticed several errors (incorrect grammar, a random / at the end of a word). The tense was awkward, I wish she'd stuck to past tense instead of switching between the past tense and present tense.
Overall, I did like the book, and I would read more from Emily Colin. It was well researched in regards to the mountain climbing aspects, and as I said before, I thought the characters were well developed and fleshed out, and the overall plot was a very interesting concept. Saying that, I would've just read a book about the whole Maddie/Aidan/JC triangle.
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
I don't see why Nicholas had to have a dog. The dog wasn't involved in the story at all and in the end he just ends up abandoning him. It made Nicholas seem like kind of a jerk in a small way. I was annoyed with Aidan's ghost or whatever for making his FOUR YEAR OLD SON say goodbye to him three times over, each time leaving Gabe crying. That is awful! And just for your own needs. The sex scenes were a tad ridiculous. A bit overly graphic. There was a common factor in almost every one of them that I won't mention, but it made me say, "What? Why?" every time.
I was ready to really not like the story, I hated Aidan for taking over Nicholas' life for his own needs. However, I did feel the author wrapped it up nicely. I liked the ending a lot and how it all came together. I loved the character of JC--he was warm, caring, kind, considerate (for the most part, and the times he wasn't, his behavior was understandable).
(END SPOILERS)
One last thing--the editing was sloppy. I noticed several errors (incorrect grammar, a random / at the end of a word). The tense was awkward, I wish she'd stuck to past tense instead of switching between the past tense and present tense.
Overall, I did like the book, and I would read more from Emily Colin. It was well researched in regards to the mountain climbing aspects, and as I said before, I thought the characters were well developed and fleshed out, and the overall plot was a very interesting concept. Saying that, I would've just read a book about the whole Maddie/Aidan/JC triangle.
October 14, 2012
Somewhat surprised by the rave reviews. It was an intriguing premise and an interesting read, but I didn't really care for half of the characters. I found Maddie was very undeveloped as a character and I never quite figured out why these men were so in love with her. And JC? I found him a little creepy.
And what the heck does the cover have to do with the book? lol
And what the heck does the cover have to do with the book? lol
April 29, 2013
*Spoiler Alert* Have you ever read a review of a novel...and the premise is interesting and enchanting...so you pick it up, start reading it and discover that the author totally wasted the interesting premise? This is what happened in this book. After finishing the book Afterwife a couple of weeks ago, I discovered this book and decided to stick with the my-spouse-died-and-is-now-a-friendly-ghost theme. Maddie's husband is a mountain climber so, of course, he dies in an avalanche but his spirit dives in to the body of a man who was injured in a motorcycle accident. Only the man is not dead, so it's 2 confused guys in one body. The author could have explored some interesting things with that premise, but we just stay confused about the vague husband-ghost in random man's body. Instead, we detour into a mildly steamy romance with the husband's best friend who, yes, has always been secretly in love with Maddie. I conclude this review by saying that perhaps I am too much of a science fiction/fantasy reader to be able to enjoy this kind of romance.
April 21, 2013
This book, a bad soap opera in book form, is the reason that people with one good plot idea think they can write a novel -- and the reason that readers think they need drama for their lives to have meaning.
December 14, 2018
Un libro particolarissimo...iniziato per caso e con poca convinzione...infatti avendo compreso la piega che avrebbe preso ero molto scettica..tuttavia l'autrice è stata molto brava nell'indurmi a continuare fino a quando non ho potuto non finirlo. È molto difficile parlarne senza timore di dire magari troppo o al contrario troppo poco...a ogni modo credo che la cosa migliore da fare è leggerlo e scoprire da sé la magia che contiene....Una storia che suscita tante sensazioni.. interrogativi su cosa sia giusto..su cosa sia sbagliato.. e soprattutto fa capire come non bisognerebbe mai giudicare le scelte di nessuno anche se potrebbero sembrare non conformi alle regole,o giuste ...La cosa che mi preme sottolineare è una in particolare...e cioè che questa storia racconta come l'amore tutto può...che trascende il tempo e lo spazio...l'amore non ha limiti o barriere(e qua ecco che mi commuovo di nuovo nello scrivere)....Preparate la vostra anima se volete leggerlo...richiede serenità...predisposizione..a momenti stringe il cuore ma del resto è questa la sua bellezza..necessaria a veicolare il grande messaggio che esso contiene.
April 11, 2013
E’ come se i sogni avessero una memoria migliore della mia,
trattengono tutti i dettagli che avevo dimenticato...
Il libro che ho appena terminato, “La memoria incancellabile dei sogni”, è una delle letture più intense e riflessive in cui mi sia imbattuta.
Spesso mi capita di preferire libri poco conosciuti, come è successo con il libro di Emily Colin, leggo senza preconcetti e aspettative, come se fossi la prima a leggere il libro,la sola spettatrice di questa storia densa di sentimenti, quasi surreale e affascinante come solo il mistero dell’amore e della morte possono essere.
Una storia, tre vite e una strana fatalità,fluiscono dentro un sogno condiviso dai protagonisti...
Possono i ricordi sopravvivere alla morte?
I ricordi sono l’arma più potente che l’animo umano possiede...
Speranza, dolore e un sentimento che emerge prepotente sopratutto nei sogni, i sogni che ricordano alla mente la storia di Maddie e Aiden, una splendida storia fuori dal tempo!
Proprio ai ricordi si aggrappa Madeleine, dopo che una valanga le porta via suo marito Aiden, lui scalatore professionista, impavido e sempre pronto a nuove sfide, viene dato per disperso dopo una scalata sul monte McKinley.
Maddie aveva avuto un brutto presentimento a riguardo, ma Aiden non le aveva prestato attenzione liquidando le paure della moglie, con la promessa che sarebbe ritornato da lei e da Gabe, il loro bimbo di 4 anni.
Maddie tenta di andare avanti, ma l’assenza di Aiden e i ricordi che affiorano prepotenti, sopratutto nei sogni, non le danno tregua... solo la vicinanza di C.J riesce a darle conforto e quel senso di protezione di cui ha bisogno.
C.J. è il migliore amico di Aiden e compagno di scalate, ama Maddie in silenzio da molti anni e adesso, nonostante il senso di colpa per non essere riuscito a salvare l’amico, durante la valanga, vorrebbe starle vicino come ha sempre desiderato. Intanto, lo stesso giorno in cui la valanga travolge Aiden, un ragazzo si sveglia in un letto d’ospedale, senza ricordi. Nicholas, dopo un incidente in moto, ha perso la memoria ma inspiegabilmente possiede frammenti dei ricordi di Aiden...
Conosce Maddie, Gabe e C.J. persone che non ha mai incontrato!
Nick è confuso, disorientato e tenta di dare una spiegazione a quello che gli sta accadendo, sembra impossibile, ma durante i suoi sogni rivive alcuni momenti della vita di Aiden... istantanee di amore, amicizia che non ha vissuto.Madeleine, Aiden e Nicholas tre punti vista che raccontano una storia semplice, surreale e toccante...una storia sospesa fra sogno e realtà!
La storia d’amore fra Aiden e Maddie è di una sconfinata dolcezza, passione e allo stesso tempo imperfetta, perchè disseminata di errori. C.J.e Maddie, sono una metamorfosi continua di emozioni, cosparse da rimorso e passione... delle due storie nessuna prevale sull’altra, ma fanno parte entrambe del corso della vita, niente risulta scontato o prevedibile e fino alla fine ogni congettura è possibile.
Non posso addentrarmi ulteriormente nella trama, perchè ogni capitolo è denso di avvenimenti e sensazioni e voglio lasciare a voi il piacere di scoprire ogni cosa.
Questo libro si è rivelato una magnifica sorpresa, non sapevo cosa aspettarmi ed invece sono stata travolta da questa storia semplice e bellissima, fatta di sogni condivisi e dalla “prepotenza dei ricordi”.
Lo stile che la Colin usa è semplice, ma allo stesso tempo riesce ad inserire mistero e passione in ogni pagina, rende la storia sempre incerta e sospesa tra reale e surreale. I pov di Maddie, Aiden e Nick creano una panoramica completa e chiara della storia, un semplice frammento di vita viene visto in modo completamente diverso e si arricchisce di sfumature ed emozioni nuove.
Maddie confusa e sola è la voce struggente e delicata del libro. Aiden, invece è colui che lotta e si insinua fra i ricordi è la voce del rimorso e della consapevolezza della perdita. Nick è il cambiamento continuo, la scoperta di se stesso,il vero se stesso,che emerge anche grazie ad Aiden.
Tre filtri per un’unica storia, dove il confine tra reale e surreale è sottile e spesso indistinguibile, una storia dove i ricordi sono protagonisti prepotenti, ma assolutamente indispensabili alla mente e al cuore.
Rabbia e rimorso, dolcezza e passione, speranza e consapevolezza,tutto questo in 413 pagine che ho divorato in un paio di giorni...un’autrice che non conoscevo e che ho molto apprezzato perchè con una storia semplice è riuscita a creare un libro intenso e originale!
La mia vita era vuota e lui l’ha riempita..
Mi ha ricordato cosa significhi appassionarsi a ciò che si fa,
mi ha mostrato cosa significhi amare qualcuno con tutto se stesso,senza tirarsi indietro difronte a nulla...
mi ha fatto capire che non devo accontentarmi di una vita mediocre e devo volere il meglio...
mi ha ridato la speranza...
mi ha restituito me stesso!
Né la sinossi o il mio parere possono rendere giustizia alla piccola meraviglia che è questo libro. Ve ne consiglio assolutamente la lettura.
Voto: 4 stelle!
trattengono tutti i dettagli che avevo dimenticato...
Il libro che ho appena terminato, “La memoria incancellabile dei sogni”, è una delle letture più intense e riflessive in cui mi sia imbattuta.
Spesso mi capita di preferire libri poco conosciuti, come è successo con il libro di Emily Colin, leggo senza preconcetti e aspettative, come se fossi la prima a leggere il libro,la sola spettatrice di questa storia densa di sentimenti, quasi surreale e affascinante come solo il mistero dell’amore e della morte possono essere.
Una storia, tre vite e una strana fatalità,fluiscono dentro un sogno condiviso dai protagonisti...
Possono i ricordi sopravvivere alla morte?
I ricordi sono l’arma più potente che l’animo umano possiede...
Speranza, dolore e un sentimento che emerge prepotente sopratutto nei sogni, i sogni che ricordano alla mente la storia di Maddie e Aiden, una splendida storia fuori dal tempo!
Proprio ai ricordi si aggrappa Madeleine, dopo che una valanga le porta via suo marito Aiden, lui scalatore professionista, impavido e sempre pronto a nuove sfide, viene dato per disperso dopo una scalata sul monte McKinley.
Maddie aveva avuto un brutto presentimento a riguardo, ma Aiden non le aveva prestato attenzione liquidando le paure della moglie, con la promessa che sarebbe ritornato da lei e da Gabe, il loro bimbo di 4 anni.
Maddie tenta di andare avanti, ma l’assenza di Aiden e i ricordi che affiorano prepotenti, sopratutto nei sogni, non le danno tregua... solo la vicinanza di C.J riesce a darle conforto e quel senso di protezione di cui ha bisogno.
C.J. è il migliore amico di Aiden e compagno di scalate, ama Maddie in silenzio da molti anni e adesso, nonostante il senso di colpa per non essere riuscito a salvare l’amico, durante la valanga, vorrebbe starle vicino come ha sempre desiderato. Intanto, lo stesso giorno in cui la valanga travolge Aiden, un ragazzo si sveglia in un letto d’ospedale, senza ricordi. Nicholas, dopo un incidente in moto, ha perso la memoria ma inspiegabilmente possiede frammenti dei ricordi di Aiden...
Conosce Maddie, Gabe e C.J. persone che non ha mai incontrato!
Nick è confuso, disorientato e tenta di dare una spiegazione a quello che gli sta accadendo, sembra impossibile, ma durante i suoi sogni rivive alcuni momenti della vita di Aiden... istantanee di amore, amicizia che non ha vissuto.Madeleine, Aiden e Nicholas tre punti vista che raccontano una storia semplice, surreale e toccante...una storia sospesa fra sogno e realtà!
La storia d’amore fra Aiden e Maddie è di una sconfinata dolcezza, passione e allo stesso tempo imperfetta, perchè disseminata di errori. C.J.e Maddie, sono una metamorfosi continua di emozioni, cosparse da rimorso e passione... delle due storie nessuna prevale sull’altra, ma fanno parte entrambe del corso della vita, niente risulta scontato o prevedibile e fino alla fine ogni congettura è possibile.
Non posso addentrarmi ulteriormente nella trama, perchè ogni capitolo è denso di avvenimenti e sensazioni e voglio lasciare a voi il piacere di scoprire ogni cosa.
Questo libro si è rivelato una magnifica sorpresa, non sapevo cosa aspettarmi ed invece sono stata travolta da questa storia semplice e bellissima, fatta di sogni condivisi e dalla “prepotenza dei ricordi”.
Lo stile che la Colin usa è semplice, ma allo stesso tempo riesce ad inserire mistero e passione in ogni pagina, rende la storia sempre incerta e sospesa tra reale e surreale. I pov di Maddie, Aiden e Nick creano una panoramica completa e chiara della storia, un semplice frammento di vita viene visto in modo completamente diverso e si arricchisce di sfumature ed emozioni nuove.
Maddie confusa e sola è la voce struggente e delicata del libro. Aiden, invece è colui che lotta e si insinua fra i ricordi è la voce del rimorso e della consapevolezza della perdita. Nick è il cambiamento continuo, la scoperta di se stesso,il vero se stesso,che emerge anche grazie ad Aiden.
Tre filtri per un’unica storia, dove il confine tra reale e surreale è sottile e spesso indistinguibile, una storia dove i ricordi sono protagonisti prepotenti, ma assolutamente indispensabili alla mente e al cuore.
Rabbia e rimorso, dolcezza e passione, speranza e consapevolezza,tutto questo in 413 pagine che ho divorato in un paio di giorni...un’autrice che non conoscevo e che ho molto apprezzato perchè con una storia semplice è riuscita a creare un libro intenso e originale!
La mia vita era vuota e lui l’ha riempita..
Mi ha ricordato cosa significhi appassionarsi a ciò che si fa,
mi ha mostrato cosa significhi amare qualcuno con tutto se stesso,senza tirarsi indietro difronte a nulla...
mi ha fatto capire che non devo accontentarmi di una vita mediocre e devo volere il meglio...
mi ha ridato la speranza...
mi ha restituito me stesso!
Né la sinossi o il mio parere possono rendere giustizia alla piccola meraviglia che è questo libro. Ve ne consiglio assolutamente la lettura.
Voto: 4 stelle!
July 29, 2014
A book that I think everyone should read.
A story of love, loss and promises kept.
Maddie and Aiden are deeply in love. Aiden is the adventureous type, always planning or going mountain climbing. He leaves on his next climb with the words "- I will come back to you Maddie. Trust me!". But then disaster strikes. Maddie gets the dreaded phone call in the middle of the night. Aiden has fallen, they can't find him. At the same time, Nicholas wakes from a coma after having been in a motorcycle accident but something is weird. He can't remember anything from his own life, yet all these feelings and memories are there for a life that is not his. What's going on? While Maddie suffers a devastating loss and tries to cope with life without Aiden, Nick is trying to find out what on earth is happening with him. Who is that beautiful woman in his dreams he loves so much, who is the cute little boy he desperatly wants to see. His life has been turned upside down, all of a sudden he has new likes, and dislikes (eg: he now likes whiskey and hates wine, now he smokes, craves nicotine, whereas he has never smoked before, he now even makes love differently). It's like he is a new person. Or is he?
The story is written in a point of view format that gives it such depth. We feel for each of the characters, see exactly what they are going through, feel their loss, sadness and frustration. All the characters are likeable, each are unique and seeing through their eyes we get to know them, get to understand them.
Aiden has made a promise to Maddie that he is desperate to somehow keep.
The story is beautiful, sometimes creepy, often teary. A little mystical, a little ghost story-like, a lot love story-like.
It's not really a supernatural love story, more like a story of deep love, of devastating loss and of moving on. Each character makes a huge emotional journey through the book: Maddie from love through loss to somehow allowing herself the possibility to love again, Aiden of deep love and to keep promises and to love enough to be able to let go and move on, and Nick from a life that was somehow stuck in routine and emptiness to the realisation of new possibilities.
As we read their story, we cry for them, feel sad for them, and cheer them on as finally they each find what they are looking for.
Emily Colin's writing is easy to read, flowing and continuous. There is no fluff, no unnecessary phrases, just enough description to allow the reader to see and feel what she intended.
As sad as the stroy's premise is, it's still uplifting in the end. It sooths the souls.
A book that everyone should read!
A story of love, loss and promises kept.
Maddie and Aiden are deeply in love. Aiden is the adventureous type, always planning or going mountain climbing. He leaves on his next climb with the words "- I will come back to you Maddie. Trust me!". But then disaster strikes. Maddie gets the dreaded phone call in the middle of the night. Aiden has fallen, they can't find him. At the same time, Nicholas wakes from a coma after having been in a motorcycle accident but something is weird. He can't remember anything from his own life, yet all these feelings and memories are there for a life that is not his. What's going on? While Maddie suffers a devastating loss and tries to cope with life without Aiden, Nick is trying to find out what on earth is happening with him. Who is that beautiful woman in his dreams he loves so much, who is the cute little boy he desperatly wants to see. His life has been turned upside down, all of a sudden he has new likes, and dislikes (eg: he now likes whiskey and hates wine, now he smokes, craves nicotine, whereas he has never smoked before, he now even makes love differently). It's like he is a new person. Or is he?
The story is written in a point of view format that gives it such depth. We feel for each of the characters, see exactly what they are going through, feel their loss, sadness and frustration. All the characters are likeable, each are unique and seeing through their eyes we get to know them, get to understand them.
Aiden has made a promise to Maddie that he is desperate to somehow keep.
The story is beautiful, sometimes creepy, often teary. A little mystical, a little ghost story-like, a lot love story-like.
It's not really a supernatural love story, more like a story of deep love, of devastating loss and of moving on. Each character makes a huge emotional journey through the book: Maddie from love through loss to somehow allowing herself the possibility to love again, Aiden of deep love and to keep promises and to love enough to be able to let go and move on, and Nick from a life that was somehow stuck in routine and emptiness to the realisation of new possibilities.
As we read their story, we cry for them, feel sad for them, and cheer them on as finally they each find what they are looking for.
Emily Colin's writing is easy to read, flowing and continuous. There is no fluff, no unnecessary phrases, just enough description to allow the reader to see and feel what she intended.
As sad as the stroy's premise is, it's still uplifting in the end. It sooths the souls.
A book that everyone should read!
March 22, 2013
What a wonderful read and I will look for more from this author. This was a tear jerker at the end for me. I knew the love story between Aiden & Madeleine was going to be good from the start, I just didn't know how wrapped up in it I was going to get. It broke my heart when she begged him not leave her and their son Gabe for the mountain, and then Gabe's dream and the phone called that ended it all. I loved the character development, the love triangle with J.C. and Nicholas's attempt to shut off what he was dreaming about before finally giving in. I can't say enough about this book! Even as I continued reading and knew that Aiden was going to return, I can't imagine how hard it was to reach out to make sure that Maddie knew he loved her and their son. I wept for him, his life had finally reached a happy standstill and he pushed the limits too far. The struggle between Maddie and J.C. to figure out what it was between them, guilt or affection. The use of Nicholas to bring the story full circle, as a way for Aiden to say goodbye. This book makes you think and wonder, if you could go on after a loved one left, if they are watching over you and how much they are involved in what happens to you. Chills! Chills! Loved it from the start. Fluent writing, easy chapters and just an overall great story concept. A definite book club choice.
August 30, 2012
This first novel of Emily Colin caught my attention when I read a review in the Star-News of Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a local author, and based part of the book here.
While I was reading this story, I jotted down words that ran through my head when I would take a break from reading. They were: intriguing, addicting and heartbreaking. This novel stretches your imagination to impossible limits. You can feel the bite of the ice and snow, and exhilaration of being at the peak of an impossible climb. Then there is the despair of a man who made a promise to the ones he loves, that he knows he can’t keep.
This story is told from the perspective of three people, Madeline, Aidan, and Nicholas. We learn in the first chapter that Aidan is killed in an avalanche, what more is there to say? There is so much more.
It is impossible for me to go into details of this work, without giving spoilers. I can only tell you it is a journey of friendship, enlightenment, and undying love. It made me laugh, and made me cry, and sigh with contentment when I was finished. I would recommend this novel to people who like to read love stories, with a leap of faith.
December 23, 2012
This book was received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers.
I chose this book because the premise intrigued me. As I started reading, I discovered that each chapter is written from a different character's perspective. This is a style utilized by some of my favorite authors and I like it because it enables the reader to really get to know the characters.
The settings, situations, interactions between the characters, and the characters themselves are true-to-life. The language is readable. The witty, humorous dialogue provides welcome comic relief.
Her descriptions are vivid and her metaphors, apt. I especially remember a few :
"But the phone doesn't ring again. It's silent in my hand, an innocent-looking instrument of destruction."
"This sick aura surrounded him when he got mad, like Pigpen and his cloud of dirt. You could almost see it, dark and rage full and pulsing. It moved the air."
The drawbacks for me were that sometimes the shifts in time and dream sequences confused me. Also, because I'm not familiar with the sport of mountain-climbing, those passages slowed me down.
In conclusion, although it was pretty good for a debut, the novel wasn't so compelling that I couldn't put it down(which I did -- numerous times).
I chose this book because the premise intrigued me. As I started reading, I discovered that each chapter is written from a different character's perspective. This is a style utilized by some of my favorite authors and I like it because it enables the reader to really get to know the characters.
The settings, situations, interactions between the characters, and the characters themselves are true-to-life. The language is readable. The witty, humorous dialogue provides welcome comic relief.
Her descriptions are vivid and her metaphors, apt. I especially remember a few :
"But the phone doesn't ring again. It's silent in my hand, an innocent-looking instrument of destruction."
"This sick aura surrounded him when he got mad, like Pigpen and his cloud of dirt. You could almost see it, dark and rage full and pulsing. It moved the air."
The drawbacks for me were that sometimes the shifts in time and dream sequences confused me. Also, because I'm not familiar with the sport of mountain-climbing, those passages slowed me down.
In conclusion, although it was pretty good for a debut, the novel wasn't so compelling that I couldn't put it down(which I did -- numerous times).
August 27, 2012
What makes a human being?
What defines the contours of a soul? Memory? The loss of it? Where we put our forks in the kitchen? Who we love? How hard we fight to come back to them?
These are just a fragment of the questions I began asking myself as I read Emily Colin's debut novel, THE MEMORY THIEF. This is a novel about people who have lost themselves and the story of how they find themselves again. A tale of grief, of letting go, but most importantly, of love.
In this novel, most of what they've lost stays lost. THE MEMORY THIEF is no fairy tale with solutions to all ills presented at the end. But in the end, they get to keep the love they feel. They each get to keep their own souls. And that is a victory.
THE MEMORY THIEF is a story of the fragile bridges that we build to those we love, and how those bridges can be swept away, until only the love is left. Love that does not die with us, but brings our souls home.
What defines the contours of a soul? Memory? The loss of it? Where we put our forks in the kitchen? Who we love? How hard we fight to come back to them?
These are just a fragment of the questions I began asking myself as I read Emily Colin's debut novel, THE MEMORY THIEF. This is a novel about people who have lost themselves and the story of how they find themselves again. A tale of grief, of letting go, but most importantly, of love.
In this novel, most of what they've lost stays lost. THE MEMORY THIEF is no fairy tale with solutions to all ills presented at the end. But in the end, they get to keep the love they feel. They each get to keep their own souls. And that is a victory.
THE MEMORY THIEF is a story of the fragile bridges that we build to those we love, and how those bridges can be swept away, until only the love is left. Love that does not die with us, but brings our souls home.
January 29, 2013
This is approximately as well-written as Jodi Picoult, Jacquelyn Mitchard, or Anita Shreve, so if those authors are up your alley, this should be too. But it's a little flat, and not something you'd necessarily go back to and read again.
Imagine that the movie "Ghost" is a book. And Whoopi Goldberg's character is a heterosexual man who imagines himself in love with Demi Moore's character, while she's inexplicably falling in love with that Carl guy, who in this version didn't kill Swayze even though the author sure seems to foreshadow it once or twice. There you have it.
(I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I read J.C. as a bad guy the entire time, because who the hell seduces his best friend's wife on the day of the dude's funeral? Not okay!)
Imagine that the movie "Ghost" is a book. And Whoopi Goldberg's character is a heterosexual man who imagines himself in love with Demi Moore's character, while she's inexplicably falling in love with that Carl guy, who in this version didn't kill Swayze even though the author sure seems to foreshadow it once or twice. There you have it.
(I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I read J.C. as a bad guy the entire time, because who the hell seduces his best friend's wife on the day of the dude's funeral? Not okay!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2013
In reading the reviews, I once again felt as if I read an entirely different book. Shallow, poorly developed characters. A supernatural element that had potential, but overall did very little for the story. The plot quickly went from Aidan and Maddie's story to JC and Maddie's story. I had a difficult time feeling the connection between Aidan and Maddie (thus the supernatural element failing for me), when she was in a full blown relationship with JC so soon after her husband's death. I prefer meatier plots, with better developed characters
February 19, 2013
Weak plot device that was neither explained well enough, or developed strongly enough to be effective. If the point of the book is that a husband's spirit entered another's man body when he died so his final promise to his wife could be met, perhaps have the two characters meet before page 300 of a 400 page book. And I don't care if your husband told you he wanted you to move on if he ever died; sleeping with his best friend on the same day of his funeral is just poor taste.
June 6, 2023
I liked the book... I had to push through the middle, there was a lot of stuff that could have been shortened and still told you everything you needed to know.
Why did no one believe Gabe.(He was just trynna tell him mommy he saw his dad- like believe the kid)
THE LAST CHAPTER
I'm proud for Nicholas, he deserves to live his life, but he shouldn't have just left his dog🐕. (Grace can wallow in her self pity)
THE EPILOGUE
Girl I am sooo confused with this. Is he dead, is he not dead, is he in heaven, was it the past. If it was the past I feel like the person daring him to go up was JC (Wanted to steal his wifey).
The dialogue was very CRINGE. One who has a whole conversation during SEX. Two no one wants to think about their momma while doing the devil's tango.
I really liked the concept of dead husband possessed a dude to talk to to his family again.
JC and Maddie are Crae Crae they did the nasty less than a month after her husbando dies. Then JC has the audacity to be upset when Maddie isn't ready for him when the love of her life literally just died on an expedition with you.
Overall a 4 star book, but I didn't know how the book ended, and there was so much that want necessary so it was only 3 stars.⭐⭐⭐
Why did no one believe Gabe.(He was just trynna tell him mommy he saw his dad- like believe the kid)
THE LAST CHAPTER
I'm proud for Nicholas, he deserves to live his life, but he shouldn't have just left his dog🐕. (Grace can wallow in her self pity)
THE EPILOGUE
Girl I am sooo confused with this. Is he dead, is he not dead, is he in heaven, was it the past. If it was the past I feel like the person daring him to go up was JC (Wanted to steal his wifey).
The dialogue was very CRINGE. One who has a whole conversation during SEX. Two no one wants to think about their momma while doing the devil's tango.
I really liked the concept of dead husband possessed a dude to talk to to his family again.
JC and Maddie are Crae Crae they did the nasty less than a month after her husbando dies. Then JC has the audacity to be upset when Maddie isn't ready for him when the love of her life literally just died on an expedition with you.
Overall a 4 star book, but I didn't know how the book ended, and there was so much that want necessary so it was only 3 stars.⭐⭐⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2024
I was drawn in by the premise of this book: a dead man trying to keep his promise to his wife. I wasn’t, however, thrilled with the actual character. Aiden was selfish, egotistical and arrogant. He manipulated Maddie, his wife, from the start, both emotionally and sexually. His drive to prove himself as the best climber was more important than his family. What a douche.
I loved Maddie and Gabe, although I found it hard to believe that a strong, intelligent woman would subsume herself so completely in another person. In every scene where Aiden and Maddie are together it’s his way or the highway. Please stop apologizing for things that aren’t your fault, Maddie.
Through most of the book I was exasperated by Nick. Although everything about his life felt wrong to him when he woke up in the hospital, he jumped into the improbable story that he was deeply in love with a woman he’d never met. It’s not until late in the game that Nick became his own character, and I liked him much better for it.
Finally, I know it was formulaic to the extreme, but I couldn’t help rooting for J.C. to get what he deserved and find someone to complete him. He was a sweet, loving man who was loyal to a fault. He was the rock in Aiden’s tumultuous life, cleaning up the messes his friend left behind.
Overall, I fell into the narrative quickly and felt connected to all the characters. An interesting story worth reading.
I loved Maddie and Gabe, although I found it hard to believe that a strong, intelligent woman would subsume herself so completely in another person. In every scene where Aiden and Maddie are together it’s his way or the highway. Please stop apologizing for things that aren’t your fault, Maddie.
Through most of the book I was exasperated by Nick. Although everything about his life felt wrong to him when he woke up in the hospital, he jumped into the improbable story that he was deeply in love with a woman he’d never met. It’s not until late in the game that Nick became his own character, and I liked him much better for it.
Finally, I know it was formulaic to the extreme, but I couldn’t help rooting for J.C. to get what he deserved and find someone to complete him. He was a sweet, loving man who was loyal to a fault. He was the rock in Aiden’s tumultuous life, cleaning up the messes his friend left behind.
Overall, I fell into the narrative quickly and felt connected to all the characters. An interesting story worth reading.
July 6, 2018
Ughhh the emotions...I typically try to avoid books like these because I end up sobbing, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love them. This one came via recommendation from my brother-in-law’s wife’s sister (confusing enough for you?) and I should have known it would be great since she is an avid reader, not to mention a high school English teacher. I really wasn’t sure where the story was going halfway through, but I am more than satisfied with the conclusion, even if it’s a little too pat. Great book though, I’ll end up a romance reader if I keep this up!
April 22, 2018
Enjoyable
This book was just what I needed. The previous book I read was quite intense and while this story had some angst, I knew there’d be a rainbow at the end of it. I just wasn’t sure how rocky the journey would be to get there. Turns out it was all worth it.
This book was just what I needed. The previous book I read was quite intense and while this story had some angst, I knew there’d be a rainbow at the end of it. I just wasn’t sure how rocky the journey would be to get there. Turns out it was all worth it.
June 12, 2020
Partly I think the narration was distracting to me, good premise, but didn't love the execution.
March 29, 2025
I did enjoy this book- a bit predictable, a bit of hmmmm…after life possibilities. Love, grief, friendships.
November 19, 2015
Be ready to suspend belief if you want to read this book. And I mean really suspend it....kick it out the door. If you don't, you definitely will not enjoy this book. Even accepting that what happens in this book could happen (that's the suspension) I still wrestled with the book, and my rating.
First off, the premise was interesting. One man dies in an accident (Aiden), another loses his own memory but takes on that of the dead man (Nicholas). And all because of a promise that Aiden makes to his wife (Maddie). Colin did a nice job in creating the emotions of grief. Maddie's at the loss of her husband and Nicholas's at the loss of his life (He wakes up after a car crash and has no memory). And I must say that I was really drawn into Nicholas's character. Colin weaves a pretty complex story and doesn't lose the reader - which would be easy to do.
At first, I thought this would be a great novel, but in the end was disappointed. The plot, as complex as it was, needed puzzle pieces laid down regularly and covertly. Unfortunately, those pieces were added as almost after thought. It was as if Colin suddenly realized that a character's behavior needed to be justified and suddenly stuck in an explanation. I wanted to stand and say "Objection, leading the reader!" The explanations were so blatant that it took some of the fun and mystery out of the story.
The middle of the book sagged. It began to feel like the story was just about one intimate encounter after another. (And they were all the same, and more graphic than I like.) I found myself wishing the story would move on.
I also thought there was far too much profanity. I understand that some people swear, and that sometimes that can help define a character's personality. But I honestly don't know anyone who uses the F-bomb so frequently or in so many different contexts. Maybe I live a sheltered life....if I do....that's okay with me. I found the profanity distracting and that it added little to the story.
As much as I thought when I started that I would be recommending this book...I find I cannot. Skip this one.
First off, the premise was interesting. One man dies in an accident (Aiden), another loses his own memory but takes on that of the dead man (Nicholas). And all because of a promise that Aiden makes to his wife (Maddie). Colin did a nice job in creating the emotions of grief. Maddie's at the loss of her husband and Nicholas's at the loss of his life (He wakes up after a car crash and has no memory). And I must say that I was really drawn into Nicholas's character. Colin weaves a pretty complex story and doesn't lose the reader - which would be easy to do.
At first, I thought this would be a great novel, but in the end was disappointed. The plot, as complex as it was, needed puzzle pieces laid down regularly and covertly. Unfortunately, those pieces were added as almost after thought. It was as if Colin suddenly realized that a character's behavior needed to be justified and suddenly stuck in an explanation. I wanted to stand and say "Objection, leading the reader!" The explanations were so blatant that it took some of the fun and mystery out of the story.
The middle of the book sagged. It began to feel like the story was just about one intimate encounter after another. (And they were all the same, and more graphic than I like.) I found myself wishing the story would move on.
I also thought there was far too much profanity. I understand that some people swear, and that sometimes that can help define a character's personality. But I honestly don't know anyone who uses the F-bomb so frequently or in so many different contexts. Maybe I live a sheltered life....if I do....that's okay with me. I found the profanity distracting and that it added little to the story.
As much as I thought when I started that I would be recommending this book...I find I cannot. Skip this one.
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