Memory Lessons

by Ann Warner

Glenna Girard has passed through the agony and utter darkness of an unimaginable loss. It is only in planning her escape, from her marriage and her current circumstances, that she manages to start moving again, toward a place where she can live in anonymity and atone for the unforgivable mistake she has made.


As she takes tentative steps into the new life she is so carefully shaping, she has no desire to connect with other people. But fate has other ideas, bringing her a family who can benefit from her help if only she will give it. And a man, Jack Ralston, who is everything her husband was not, if Glenna will just let herself see it.

Genres: Contemporary

ebook

First published January 4, 2015

About the author

A former Air Force brat turned clinical chemist, toxicologist, and university professor, Ann's life took another turn in 2001, when she began writing fiction. After completing a perfectly dreadful novel (she didn't know it was at the time) she talked her way into a graduate writing seminar and followed that up with several years of study as she continued to write. Along the way she made friends with other writers who have supported, critiqued, and eventually praised her novels. Her debut novel, Dreams for Stones, was a finalist for the Indie Next Generation Book Award.

Ann's novels take advantage of the many unusual settings she's traveled to or lived in including New Zealand, Australia, Peru, San Francisco, Wrangell Alaska, Colorado, Boston, and Puerto Rico. As well, her experiences as a toxicologist have added fillips of intrigue to many of her stories.

In Ann's novels, the consequence of choosing to love or not to love is an underlying theme, as characters face crises and complications that force them to dig deep within themselves to discover their own resilience.

Ann has a readers' group. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/dctGuf

Members of the group will receive a link to a short story along with insider information about Ann's writing process, the stories behind the stories, and recommendations of books Ann has enjoyed.

Contacts for Ann:
Website http://annwarner.net/
Readers' Group Sign-up http://eepurl.com/dctGuf
Email Contact http://annwarner.net/contact-ann/
Facebook Ann Warner Author of Emotionally Engaging Fiction

Reviews

[Joan]

The beginning few pages were utterly compelling, but then Glenna found herself being almost assaulted by a stranger on the bus - not in a physical way but a complete disregard for her personal space or her privacy or her own emotions and I found myself squirming as I read on. And then 'Ella' of the 'let me give you a hug' voice and the terrifyingly overbearing mannerisms starts staring at Glenna's lap and starts talking to what she says is the ghost of a child.

I had to stop reading. I cannot bear the thought of being trapped on a bus or train or anywhere else with someone who is so blind to the discomfort they cause to another person. I genuinely felt shaky reading what was happening. Few things trigger such a response in me.

Shudder.

[Juli Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Memory Lessons! It grabbed me at the very start and didn't let go at all. I loved the lessons, and shed the odd tear - the mark of excellent emotional engagement. I found all the main characters flawed but immensely likeable.

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an emotional read, full of "big feels", but treated in such a calming manner as to appear almost superficial.

NB: I recently read Rebecca Yarros "The Last Letter" - which touched me all the way to my toes - and I found myself comparing the emotions the two evoked. Had I not read Yarros' book first, I suspect I would have said Memory Lessons was a thorough exploration of the emotions of love and loss and guilt and friendship and karma. It is all those things, but in a less heart-wrenching manner.

The reader isn't allowed to know Mark, Glenna's husband. We know only that Glenna's sense of guilt, of loss, and of emotional abandonment is what drives her. At first, I suspected Mark was an abuser, but the actual event that triggers the book isn't revealed for a couple of chapters. By then, I feel we know Glenna a bit, and are inclined to give her a break. I know I did. How Mark coped isn't presented until a lot later, and thus takes on much less importance.

Beyond that is the plot of "women's fiction". The new friend. The new home. The new job. The new love interest, with just the right set of emotional wrenches. It's all a bit passe, and the emotion evoked just isn't strong enough to completely overcome the "everything will be all right in time."

And all that said, I really liked it. I recommended it to a friend before I had even finished.

[LISA · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very emotional read, filled with coping life lessons. The importance of forgiving others, but especially yourself is the overall message of this book, but there were many others along the way. It was very deep read because of the subject matter. There is a good deal of grief and sadness that needs to be overcome by some of the characters and it gives the reader a good deal to reflect on because of this. Had I known the basic premise, I might have skipped over this because of the sorrow I would have expected this subject to evoke. The skill of the author in managing the topic in such a thoughtful and expert way speaks volumes to her ability as an excellent writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

[sharon mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story which helps us to reach out & trust one another.

Ann Warner is a proficient writer with an excellent editing eye. Memory Lessons is about a doctor, Glenna, who after a terrible accident, is consumed with not only guilt but it's accompanying self-hate. Unable to forgive herself, she jumps on a bus and runs away. Soon after arriving in Lawrence, Kansas, she finds herself deeply involved with a family that too are dealing with loss and guilt. Memory Lessons attempts to bridge these emotions with forgiveness, understanding, compassion and courage to rebuild. A good read for those who have felt many of the feelings of loss in their own lives.

[Pam Fattore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting Over

Glenna had a tough past with the death of her young daughter and her non-helpful husband.
She moved to a small town caring for an older woman where her life turned around after meeting her employer's grandson, Jack and his grandkids, Penny and Ben.
Love is found and happiness prevails.

[Stacy Doubrava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I needed a break from now normal thriller, mystery, historical fiction genres...and this was a wonderful read. I enjoyed the characters. The storyline was very interesting and there was a great parallel between Glenna and Mintha. The romance was secondary and that was okay.

[Corinne Smyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Moving...

This is the last of Ann Warner’s books and I want more! I simply couldn’t put this one down - it’s heart wrenching and warming all the same time. A wonderful story! Definitely 5 stars!!

[Ophelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving story. Grief, love and relationships.

This was an extremely moving story. Relationships affected by grief and the interactions of the characters within this context was poignant. Beautifully written, with strong characters.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feel good read

I devoured this book in one day. The characters are likable and believable. The plot is well developed and her prose is heart warming.

[MarySueEzzyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read !

I loved this book. The characters were well developed and so relatable. I cried, happy and sad tears. A well written and deeply moving book.

[Fateh Chand Sharma]

Very compelling and real time story, became bit soft at the end but still so interesting that you wish to complete in one go.

[Carol Taylor burlew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of life lessons in this one. Forgiveness was the main idea in so many relationships. A couple of very difficult plot lines involving young children, but they were well written.

[Margaret Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really emotionally-engaging read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Without giving too much away, its themes are memory and guilt. It opens with Jenna running away from a past that is too painful to remember, let alone deal with. There is no chance of her moving on in life until she has come to terms with the consequences of a terrible mistake she made, but Jenna is hurting too much to allow herself to do so. Instinctively, she wants to withdraw from the world, and she certainly doesn’t want to connect with other people in the new life she is attempting to make for herself. But fate has other ideas, bringing her a family who can benefit from her help if only she will give it. And a man, Jack, who is everything her husband was not, if Jenna will just let herself see it. Jack has guardianship of his two grandchildren – children whose life so far has not allowed them to trust. All Jenna’s instincts tell her to keep her distance, but gradually she is drawn in to their circle, and when trouble strikes, Jenna’s memory is the vital key to helping them. But at what cost to herself and her continuing recovery? I have read several of Ann Warner’s novels, and Memory Lessons is up there with the best of them. Warner is so good at showing her character’s emotions – both female and male, and this makes us really care about them. A real treat if you like to read novels that make you feel.

[Rachael Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good emotional read. Quite heartbreaking in parts. Very well written and I'd highly recommend it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Author is an excellent story teller and I was intrigued from the first page. Characters were well developed. A very satisfying read.