The Art of Forgetting

by Julie McLaren

A missing girl. A secret decades old. Memories that re-surface, as bright as if they were yesterday. A mind slipping into confusion. Judy is only in her sixties, but she recognises what is happening to her. She struggles to remember what happened yesterday, but the past, with the secret she has kept all these years, troubles her. She begins to write an account of the events leading up to a mystery that was never solved, but time is against her. This is the story of what happens when Judy's daughter Laura finds her account and resolves to solve the mystery that her mother has kept secret all these years. It is told against the backdrop of Judy's increasing confusion and the new landscape in which she finds herself as the family has to take increasingly difficult decisions. Laura's own life is thrown into turmoil and what she finds out could cause shockwaves in the family and beyond. Now she is the keeper of a secret too, but what will she do with it? "I just loved this book. It was heartbreaking in places but I just couldn't put it down and the ending was a complete surprise." "A splendid story, highly recommended."

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2015

About the author

Julie McLaren has three grown-up children and seven grandchildren and is now fully retired. She worked as an advisory teacher for children in care for many years, and found this work very rewarding, but now she has the time to commit fully to her first love: writing. She published her first novel, 'The Music of the Spheres' in July 2013 and her second, 'Deceiving Ellie' on Valentine's Day 2014. Since then, she has published a further six novels and is working on another, albeit at a more leisurely pace.

Julie was a late-comer to social media and found herself being dragged, not exactly kicking and screaming, but certainly protesting mildly, into the realms of Facebook and Twitter. Sadly, many of her resolutions to do better at communicating with her readers have fallen by the wayside. Nevertheless, she tries to keep her website up to date, and her Facebook page is worth a visit, if only to hear about offers.

Reviews

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy, though only in her 60s, becomes aware that she's losing her memory. Not the simple misplaced purse but whole sections of the day she can't remember – finding herself out dog-walking and unaware of how to get home. Her daughters Laura and Kelly find a respite place for her and it rapidly becomes apparent that she can no longer cope. While clearing her house, Laura finds part of an A4 pad on which her mother has started writing about her youth, with special reference to a mystery disappearance. Laura's own life begins to echo some aspects of her mother's. Things come to a head with a family wedding.

This is a super mystery story but it's also a detailed and affectionate look at a mother's failing mind. The day to day difference between a good day and a day when things go completely haywire is well observed. Judy is sometimes irrational or anxious which makes Laura's exploration of her past very difficult. We finally discover the truth about the past but it wasn't as simple as Judy, or her daughter, believed. A splendid story, highly recommended.

I received an advance copy for review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read.

This story deals with the subject of dementia and it is something that is close to my heart. Its a sad and disturbing tale but the author writes with sensitivity and understanding.

A chilling tale and defiantly worth reading. X

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dire. I have given up reading this book, it is so dull and boring. The description and blurb made it sound interesting, but disappointingly it isn't. Very slow moving, the main character is pathetic, just couldn't finish it - don't waste your time on this book.

[Karen J Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating Read

I loved this book, I would recommend it to everyone
I have worked with people that have Alzheimer's, and still never really had a proper understanding of what they go through. Somehow, it always seems to be the family who get the sympathy! Smile in the book was the one character who got it! Treat the person as though they are still in the here and now!

[Sammy Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't a bad read, kept me interested until the end, not going to win any prizes for read of the year, but would recommend to the usual ladies

[Jackie Hamlin]

Another excellent book that i've had the pleasure of reading this year and another author I will defiantly look out for.