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Retrograde
On a warm summer day in Berlin, Helena is hit by a truck while crossing the street. She awakens to the loving face of her husband Joachim. In addition to a few broken bones, she realizes she can’t remember anything about the accident, or even the last few years leading up to it. Retrograde amnesia the doctors call it, and assure her that with time, she should regain her memory. At loose ends after another botched relationship, Joachim doesn’t intend to lie to his estranged wife, Helena. But when he realizes that she doesn’t remember their separation, he can’t bring himself to tell her. So he does what any rational man would he takes her home and pretends they were never apart. As the lies accumulate, Helena senses something isn’t quite right—that her husband is hiding something. When the outside world encroaches, Helena must face an unsettling truth and decide what the past will mean for their future. Is the past binding, or can she go back and change what went wrong in their relationship? And if given the chance, would she even want to? In her beautifully written debut novel, Kat Hausler weaves a haunting tale of the tenuous nature of love.
270 pages, Paperback
Published September 26, 2017
2 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Kat Hausler
5 books9 followersOriginally from Virginia, Kat Hausler is a graduate of New York University and holds an M.F.A. in Fiction from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she was the recipient of a Baumeister Fellowship. Her work has been published by 34th Parallel, Inkspill Magazine, All Things That Matter Press, Rozlyn Press, Porridge Magazine, LitReactor and BlazeVOX, among others. Her debut novel Retrograde was published by Meerkat Press in September 2017. She also works as a translator in Berlin.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 25, 2017
Thanks to Meerkat Press for the advanced copy of Retrograde! 3.25 / 5 🌟
Although well written with a concise plot, I was surprised and a bit disappointed by this book. I kept expecting the plot to take a much darker twist with the unusual relationship between our main characters. The questions centered around how far would you deceive someone if given the chance to start a relationship over. At some level they both wanted a second chance. But they also would not sacrifice their pride to simply communicate. The ending was tidy and predictable.
I would be interested to read Hausler's future stories. Retrograde was decent, just not memorable.
Although well written with a concise plot, I was surprised and a bit disappointed by this book. I kept expecting the plot to take a much darker twist with the unusual relationship between our main characters. The questions centered around how far would you deceive someone if given the chance to start a relationship over. At some level they both wanted a second chance. But they also would not sacrifice their pride to simply communicate. The ending was tidy and predictable.
I would be interested to read Hausler's future stories. Retrograde was decent, just not memorable.
August 21, 2017
This book was not at all what I was expecting. And I am very pleasantly surprised at that. This book was so much more. Its one of those books that you pick up and think well this sounds interesting, I think I will like it. Then after you read it, you realize you have fallen in love with the book and all the characters...well that's how this book was for me. This is a must read!
August 9, 2017
Joachim and Helena split up three years ago. Then Helena has a road accident. She wakes up in hospital to find that Joachim has been by her side, and when she is well enough he takes her home. Except something feels wrong. Helena has suffered retrograde amnesia that made her forget the past couple of years of her life. She does not remember the break-up, nor does she remember the reason they split, and - glimpsing a second chance for their relationship - Joachim is not going to tell her.
Kat Hausler’s debut novel Retrograde tells both sides of the story in alternate chapters in Joachim’s and Helena’s voice, as they retrace the steps of their relationship, each unsure of what the other knows or remembers as Helena slowly regains her memory. The story is set in present-day Berlin, but it might have been set anywhere. Helena’s amnesia meanwhile might as well be self-imposed as she too tries to convince herself that she might be able to resume their relationship where they left off. But, as her memory returns, there is also her more recent, post-break-up life, her friends and colleagues, who never heard about Joachim, and even a potential new man in the offing. Helena essentially has to choose between two versions of herself.
The story, which mainly takes place in the two protagonists’ heads, is about the everyday lies we tell each other and ourselves in relationships to make them work, the limits of our tolerance, and the question we all face at some point: when it is time to forgive and start over or better walk away? Reading this novel might make you a bit wiser, but you should not expect any straightforward answers.
Kat Hausler’s debut novel Retrograde tells both sides of the story in alternate chapters in Joachim’s and Helena’s voice, as they retrace the steps of their relationship, each unsure of what the other knows or remembers as Helena slowly regains her memory. The story is set in present-day Berlin, but it might have been set anywhere. Helena’s amnesia meanwhile might as well be self-imposed as she too tries to convince herself that she might be able to resume their relationship where they left off. But, as her memory returns, there is also her more recent, post-break-up life, her friends and colleagues, who never heard about Joachim, and even a potential new man in the offing. Helena essentially has to choose between two versions of herself.
The story, which mainly takes place in the two protagonists’ heads, is about the everyday lies we tell each other and ourselves in relationships to make them work, the limits of our tolerance, and the question we all face at some point: when it is time to forgive and start over or better walk away? Reading this novel might make you a bit wiser, but you should not expect any straightforward answers.
March 19, 2018
I'm not sure I have ever felt so angry with 2 main characters in a book. Their complacency.......especially Helena. How could she not do something or say something. And Joachim, he let it go on too long too.
I enjoyed the writing style and the story and I kept waiting for the big bang of realisation.......but in a way, the ending fot so well
I enjoyed the writing style and the story and I kept waiting for the big bang of realisation.......but in a way, the ending fot so well
December 31, 2017
Is honesty the quintessential ingredient to a successful marriage? What happens when a spouse deeply fears the loss of the marriage if he reveals the truth about the past? Both questions are explored in this first novel, Retrograde, by Kat Hausler.
The novel’s setting is Berlin. The events of the marriage are related by the husband, Joachim, and his wife, Helena. Helena walked out of the marriage three years earlier. For those three years, Joachim had no idea where she was. His emails and phone calls went unanswered. Her family and friends would not reveal her location. He thought he should be able to reach her if he needed to: “To divorce her, for example.”
Helena returns to his life abruptly when the hospital calls to tell him that his wife has been hit by a truck. She has broken ribs, a broken arm and ankle, and a broken memory, “retrograde amnesia.” He decides to take advantage of her confusion and recreate the marriage: “It’s a wonderful thing, an unbelievable thing, a chance most people don’t have in their entire lives. It’s time travel and reincarnation and something Helena herself will appreciate when she can.” He will give her new memories, “show her how good it can be, how happy they can be together. And then she can decide.”
The novel moves back and forth from Joachim’s soliloquies to Helena’s. We, the readers, listen as Joachim dreams of the future with Helena, promising repeatedly to tell her about their past, a relationship that had been “swept from storm to storm, and calms were few and far between.” We listen to Helena as she begins to recover from her injuries and question her situation. “It’s the past she’s forgotten, but the present that she can’t figure out.” We learn that before she was hit by the truck, she had a date with a man with whom conversation was “so easy, she doesn’t have to think about it.” “When he kisses her on both cheeks, her heart shudders with fear and happiness.” His name is Tobias. When Joachim later finds his messages on her phone, he smashes it. When he eventually gives her a phone so that she can call him in an emergency, she uses it to call a former colleague, Doro, who has thoughtfully written a phone number on a get well card. Doro becomes Helena’s “door” to reality.
Meanwhile, Joachim promises that he “is going to start telling Helena the truth, little by little.” Yet, he lies when she asks about her books and plants that are missing in the apartment, explaining he had to remove them because “some pipes burst upstairs.” He admits he does not know what to say to her about an affair he had with a woman who became pregnant, their separation, his appearance at the hospital. “Telling the truth has lost its appeal now that he has to.” As she recovers, she wonders if “he’s living this intricate lie because he likes it better than the truth. He must’ve seen her amnesia as a kind of tacit agreement, a willingness to accept his version of things.”
David Whyte said in Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words, (Many Rivers Press, 2015), that “the fear of loss, in one form or another, is the motivator behind all conscious and unconscious dishonesties: all of us are afraid of loss, in all its forms, all of us, at times, are haunted or overwhelmed by the possibility of a disappearance, and all of us therefore, are one short step away from dishonesty.” That is the struggle that takes place within this sensitively written story.
The novel’s setting is Berlin. The events of the marriage are related by the husband, Joachim, and his wife, Helena. Helena walked out of the marriage three years earlier. For those three years, Joachim had no idea where she was. His emails and phone calls went unanswered. Her family and friends would not reveal her location. He thought he should be able to reach her if he needed to: “To divorce her, for example.”
Helena returns to his life abruptly when the hospital calls to tell him that his wife has been hit by a truck. She has broken ribs, a broken arm and ankle, and a broken memory, “retrograde amnesia.” He decides to take advantage of her confusion and recreate the marriage: “It’s a wonderful thing, an unbelievable thing, a chance most people don’t have in their entire lives. It’s time travel and reincarnation and something Helena herself will appreciate when she can.” He will give her new memories, “show her how good it can be, how happy they can be together. And then she can decide.”
The novel moves back and forth from Joachim’s soliloquies to Helena’s. We, the readers, listen as Joachim dreams of the future with Helena, promising repeatedly to tell her about their past, a relationship that had been “swept from storm to storm, and calms were few and far between.” We listen to Helena as she begins to recover from her injuries and question her situation. “It’s the past she’s forgotten, but the present that she can’t figure out.” We learn that before she was hit by the truck, she had a date with a man with whom conversation was “so easy, she doesn’t have to think about it.” “When he kisses her on both cheeks, her heart shudders with fear and happiness.” His name is Tobias. When Joachim later finds his messages on her phone, he smashes it. When he eventually gives her a phone so that she can call him in an emergency, she uses it to call a former colleague, Doro, who has thoughtfully written a phone number on a get well card. Doro becomes Helena’s “door” to reality.
Meanwhile, Joachim promises that he “is going to start telling Helena the truth, little by little.” Yet, he lies when she asks about her books and plants that are missing in the apartment, explaining he had to remove them because “some pipes burst upstairs.” He admits he does not know what to say to her about an affair he had with a woman who became pregnant, their separation, his appearance at the hospital. “Telling the truth has lost its appeal now that he has to.” As she recovers, she wonders if “he’s living this intricate lie because he likes it better than the truth. He must’ve seen her amnesia as a kind of tacit agreement, a willingness to accept his version of things.”
David Whyte said in Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words, (Many Rivers Press, 2015), that “the fear of loss, in one form or another, is the motivator behind all conscious and unconscious dishonesties: all of us are afraid of loss, in all its forms, all of us, at times, are haunted or overwhelmed by the possibility of a disappearance, and all of us therefore, are one short step away from dishonesty.” That is the struggle that takes place within this sensitively written story.
July 18, 2017
I was recently given an advance copy of Retrograde to review for Paperback Paris.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kat Hausler's debut novel, which touches on love and relationships when put in difficult situations. Specifically, Retrograde explores the question: If given the chance, would you attempt to start a relationship over?
After suffering from head trauma following a car accident, Helena wakes up to realize that she cannot remember the past few years of her life. The situation brings her into contact with her estranged husband, a man that she does not remember leaving. Due to a bout of retrograde amnesia, Helena and her (ex)husband, Joachim are given a second chance to mend their broken relationship.
Throughout the novel, Hausler does a wonderful job developing the dynamics of a long-term relationship, including everything from the stupid, petty arguments to thoughtful and affectionate moments and everything inbetween. Although I found myself longing to see Helena and Joachim together, Hausler takes the reader on a journey as the two tiptoe around each other, aware that something is off in their relationship.
As Helena slowly starts to regain her memory and begins to hide her own secrets from Joachim, their relationship is strained once more. But with the opportunity to come clean and start over, will Joachim take the chance and regain Helena's love and trust?
Told through the alternating perspectives of Helena and Joachim, Retrograde was a pleasure to read. If you love reading novels that deal with romance, Retrograde is something that you should pick up, as it will win you over with its charm (even if it doesn't have the ending that you were expecting).
I thoroughly enjoyed Kat Hausler's debut novel, which touches on love and relationships when put in difficult situations. Specifically, Retrograde explores the question: If given the chance, would you attempt to start a relationship over?
After suffering from head trauma following a car accident, Helena wakes up to realize that she cannot remember the past few years of her life. The situation brings her into contact with her estranged husband, a man that she does not remember leaving. Due to a bout of retrograde amnesia, Helena and her (ex)husband, Joachim are given a second chance to mend their broken relationship.
Throughout the novel, Hausler does a wonderful job developing the dynamics of a long-term relationship, including everything from the stupid, petty arguments to thoughtful and affectionate moments and everything inbetween. Although I found myself longing to see Helena and Joachim together, Hausler takes the reader on a journey as the two tiptoe around each other, aware that something is off in their relationship.
As Helena slowly starts to regain her memory and begins to hide her own secrets from Joachim, their relationship is strained once more. But with the opportunity to come clean and start over, will Joachim take the chance and regain Helena's love and trust?
Told through the alternating perspectives of Helena and Joachim, Retrograde was a pleasure to read. If you love reading novels that deal with romance, Retrograde is something that you should pick up, as it will win you over with its charm (even if it doesn't have the ending that you were expecting).
August 18, 2017
Retrograde was a stunning debut novel about a relationship's painful collapse. It's a fascinating psychological study of the two lead characters, Helena and Joachim, at various moments in, during, and after their marriage dissolved. As summarized above, the bulk of the story takes place after Helena awakens after an accident with no memory of separating from her husband, an intriguing concept. The imagery was lyrical, and the story developed at a great pace.
I found the characters uneven on occasion, with some motivations that seemed to conflict with their thoughts at earlier points in the novel. I also found the ending very abrupt, but perhaps that's fitting for a novel about how single moments can dramatically change your future.
All in all this was a great, absorbing read, and I'm excited to see what the author publishes next!
I found the characters uneven on occasion, with some motivations that seemed to conflict with their thoughts at earlier points in the novel. I also found the ending very abrupt, but perhaps that's fitting for a novel about how single moments can dramatically change your future.
All in all this was a great, absorbing read, and I'm excited to see what the author publishes next!
June 23, 2017
I had the chance to read a review copy of this book and loved it!
A lot of parts reminded me of my own past experiences in relationships. I never had amnesia of course but the book describes the daily struggles in a relationship going down the drain really well - and the reasons why you still stay in that relationship.
The book develops a lot of tension (and sadness in some parts). If you like books that focus on well-written characters you'll love this one like I did.
A lot of parts reminded me of my own past experiences in relationships. I never had amnesia of course but the book describes the daily struggles in a relationship going down the drain really well - and the reasons why you still stay in that relationship.
The book develops a lot of tension (and sadness in some parts). If you like books that focus on well-written characters you'll love this one like I did.
July 10, 2017
I read an advanced copy for my library's blog and was impressed with the complexity
of this book. I thought it would be more of a two bit thriller but, while it did involve intrigue, it also was very observant about relationships. Well written and psychologically deft.
I hope it becomes a film; would love to see these characters on screen.
of this book. I thought it would be more of a two bit thriller but, while it did involve intrigue, it also was very observant about relationships. Well written and psychologically deft.
I hope it becomes a film; would love to see these characters on screen.
July 28, 2017
When carelessly crossing a busy road in Berlin, Helena is hit by a truck and wakes up in hospital three days later, suffering from a broken arm and leg. However, she quickly realises that her injuries are not limited to physical ones because not only does she not remember the accident but, frighteningly, she has no memories of the previous few years. She is told by the doctor that she has retrograde amnesia, the result of a blow to her head at the time of the accident. When she wakes up she is told that her husband, Joachim, named as next of kin on her papers, has just popped out for a coffee and will be back shortly. When he does appear she is relieved to see him as she feels he will be able to help her to sort out her confusion about what has happened. However, she also feels that there is something rather strange in his behaviour towards her; she wonders if they had had a row just before she had her accident. What she has no recollection of is the fact that they have been living separately for three years. Joachim, whose latest girlfriend has just left him because he hadn’t told her he was still married, realises that maybe he now has a chance to rebuild his relationship with Helena and so he doesn’t tell her the truth.
When she is ready to be discharged from hospital she still needs care because of her injuries, so he takes her home, thus reinforcing her dependence on him. He ensures that she is unable to make contact with the outside world by depriving her not only of a phone, but also of any means of gaining access to the internet. He keeps on meaning to be honest with her but the time never feels right, even when he realises that she suspects that he isn’t telling her the truth. The longer this situation continues, the harder it is for him to contemplate being honest with her. As fragmented memories begin to surface for Helena, the renewed closeness they have begun to develop is threatened by the emerging truth. Is it possible that can they eventually rebuild their relationship, and will Helena even want to when she discovers the extent of Joachim’s deception?
This disturbing, haunting and powerful story explores the minutiae of the relationship between the couple as they start to live together again; the tender moments, the petty irritations, the major disagreements, as well as all the old patterns from the past; patterns which begin to feel all too familiar when it becomes clear that they are being repeated in the present. In a psychologically convincing way, the author captures the fragility of a relationship which is based on dishonesty and an imbalance of power. Initially it is just Joachim who holds the power with his lies and his withholding of the truth but, as Helena begins to recover her memory, she too starts to lie and to withhold her own discoveries.
As the story is told in alternating chapters the complexities of their relationship, both past and present, is revealed. The reader discovers why they were first attracted to each other and fell in love, and then what led to their separation. There were times when their dysfunctional patterns of behaviour, seemingly doomed to be repeated day after day, reminded me of the film “Groundhog Day”! Yet there were also moments when it felt that they did perhaps have a future together, if only they could be honest with each other. The possibility of second chances was a theme which ran throughout the story, but could either of them learn from their past mistakes in order to create a future together? The author’s exploration of how vulnerable someone struggling with memory is, and how easily they can be manipulated – after all, how can you possibly know what you can’t recall, and how can you trust the information given to you by a person with a vested interest in you believing a particular version of the past?
By the time I had finished reading this roller-coaster exposure to the inner workings of an essentially dysfunctional relationship I felt emotionally wrung out, as though I had lived through every moment of Helena and Joachim’s struggles. I think this is a real tribute to the quality of the author’s writing skills and her ability to make me care about these characters, even during those moments when I felt a combination of despair and irritation at their self-destructive behaviour! I thought that the ending was a masterpiece of the power of “less is more” in story-telling – but if you want to know what it is, then you will have to read this wonderful novel.
My thanks to Meerkat Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When she is ready to be discharged from hospital she still needs care because of her injuries, so he takes her home, thus reinforcing her dependence on him. He ensures that she is unable to make contact with the outside world by depriving her not only of a phone, but also of any means of gaining access to the internet. He keeps on meaning to be honest with her but the time never feels right, even when he realises that she suspects that he isn’t telling her the truth. The longer this situation continues, the harder it is for him to contemplate being honest with her. As fragmented memories begin to surface for Helena, the renewed closeness they have begun to develop is threatened by the emerging truth. Is it possible that can they eventually rebuild their relationship, and will Helena even want to when she discovers the extent of Joachim’s deception?
This disturbing, haunting and powerful story explores the minutiae of the relationship between the couple as they start to live together again; the tender moments, the petty irritations, the major disagreements, as well as all the old patterns from the past; patterns which begin to feel all too familiar when it becomes clear that they are being repeated in the present. In a psychologically convincing way, the author captures the fragility of a relationship which is based on dishonesty and an imbalance of power. Initially it is just Joachim who holds the power with his lies and his withholding of the truth but, as Helena begins to recover her memory, she too starts to lie and to withhold her own discoveries.
As the story is told in alternating chapters the complexities of their relationship, both past and present, is revealed. The reader discovers why they were first attracted to each other and fell in love, and then what led to their separation. There were times when their dysfunctional patterns of behaviour, seemingly doomed to be repeated day after day, reminded me of the film “Groundhog Day”! Yet there were also moments when it felt that they did perhaps have a future together, if only they could be honest with each other. The possibility of second chances was a theme which ran throughout the story, but could either of them learn from their past mistakes in order to create a future together? The author’s exploration of how vulnerable someone struggling with memory is, and how easily they can be manipulated – after all, how can you possibly know what you can’t recall, and how can you trust the information given to you by a person with a vested interest in you believing a particular version of the past?
By the time I had finished reading this roller-coaster exposure to the inner workings of an essentially dysfunctional relationship I felt emotionally wrung out, as though I had lived through every moment of Helena and Joachim’s struggles. I think this is a real tribute to the quality of the author’s writing skills and her ability to make me care about these characters, even during those moments when I felt a combination of despair and irritation at their self-destructive behaviour! I thought that the ending was a masterpiece of the power of “less is more” in story-telling – but if you want to know what it is, then you will have to read this wonderful novel.
My thanks to Meerkat Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2017
I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book about a complex marital relationship, love, hatred, bitter words and feelings, things people remember and those they don't.
One day Helena is hit by a truck. When she wakes up in a hospital and sees her husband, something is strange but she can't figure out what. She simply can't remember some things. But how important are those things? What secrets is her husband keeping from her?
At first the book seemed to me as a suspense thriller, but there is much more behind the plot. I liked the concept of the book, the story told from the perspective of both husband and wife. The author paid a lot of attention to characters, their inner feelings, thoughts and actions. There are some parts of the book which were quite difficult for me to imagine, some actions that I would never have expected, but I guess that’s the point of a good story. Although the story ends in a little too abrupt way, the ending is something that could easily be guessed. Maybe a bit more attention and time should have been paid to this last part but nevertheless I recommend this book as a quite good read.
This is a book about a complex marital relationship, love, hatred, bitter words and feelings, things people remember and those they don't.
One day Helena is hit by a truck. When she wakes up in a hospital and sees her husband, something is strange but she can't figure out what. She simply can't remember some things. But how important are those things? What secrets is her husband keeping from her?
At first the book seemed to me as a suspense thriller, but there is much more behind the plot. I liked the concept of the book, the story told from the perspective of both husband and wife. The author paid a lot of attention to characters, their inner feelings, thoughts and actions. There are some parts of the book which were quite difficult for me to imagine, some actions that I would never have expected, but I guess that’s the point of a good story. Although the story ends in a little too abrupt way, the ending is something that could easily be guessed. Maybe a bit more attention and time should have been paid to this last part but nevertheless I recommend this book as a quite good read.
September 27, 2017
Psychological thriller or introspective character study?
When Helena is hit by a truck, estranged husband Joachim takes advantage of her amnesia to try their relationship again. He thinks they’ve been given a second chance but Helena can tell that something is wrong.
This was an interesting book with evocative prose. Unfortunately, the feeling this evokes is bleakness. Helena is at first dazed by her accident then unsure how to work out this tangle that Joachim has put her in. Joachim has convinced himself that he can win Helena back but isn’t even sure that he wants to.
It wasn’t always clear what Helena remembered and Joachim’s gaslighting really creeped me out, but my main problem was that the story didn’t go anywhere – I was surprised when it got dark, but then it never went deeper than a murky grey. It doesn’t have much of a climax – the story tails off and like the characters, you’re left wondering what happens next. Perhaps that’s the point, but it’s not what I look for in a book.
I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Helena is hit by a truck, estranged husband Joachim takes advantage of her amnesia to try their relationship again. He thinks they’ve been given a second chance but Helena can tell that something is wrong.
This was an interesting book with evocative prose. Unfortunately, the feeling this evokes is bleakness. Helena is at first dazed by her accident then unsure how to work out this tangle that Joachim has put her in. Joachim has convinced himself that he can win Helena back but isn’t even sure that he wants to.
It wasn’t always clear what Helena remembered and Joachim’s gaslighting really creeped me out, but my main problem was that the story didn’t go anywhere – I was surprised when it got dark, but then it never went deeper than a murky grey. It doesn’t have much of a climax – the story tails off and like the characters, you’re left wondering what happens next. Perhaps that’s the point, but it’s not what I look for in a book.
I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2017
I got this for free from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers and it had a good premise, but I think it'll only be really good if you read it before you read Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson & What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. Sadly, I read both of those books already (great books, which I highly recommend) and this book about the same topic wasn't nearly as interesting.
I didn't get as invested in the characters and didn't care as much about what happened to them. I find the topic very interesting and the idea of dealing with amnesia fascinating, but I just didn't find the story that intriguing. The book also just ends. About the way I expected it to end, but it was a very abrupt ending to a story that seemed like it wasn't completely formed.
It's a fast read and if you haven't read really great books about retrograde amnesia, this might be a good choice for a quick read. If you like this one, you should definitely check out the two I mentioned above, since I think they're much better.
I didn't get as invested in the characters and didn't care as much about what happened to them. I find the topic very interesting and the idea of dealing with amnesia fascinating, but I just didn't find the story that intriguing. The book also just ends. About the way I expected it to end, but it was a very abrupt ending to a story that seemed like it wasn't completely formed.
It's a fast read and if you haven't read really great books about retrograde amnesia, this might be a good choice for a quick read. If you like this one, you should definitely check out the two I mentioned above, since I think they're much better.
May 20, 2019
I enjoyed this one - although felt a serious deja vu when reading it. There have been a spate of fighting couple-accident-amnesia-ethics of it all books lately it seems - or at least, I've stumbled upon them lately. This one was enjoyable, although not perhaps as much as it would have been if I hadn't just read at least two others with the same basic plot points. The characters weren't exactly likeable but they were very relatable - which, I suspect, was at least part of the point. The fumbling, patchy web of secrets and revelations generated an awkward tension that really worked well for the story. The writing was quite good, and the ethics of it all were just as entertaining to work through as ever.
July 29, 2017
Ms Hausler has a unique plot! It was interesting to see what can happen when a couple doesn't communicate.
October 20, 2017
I received a galley of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I was absolutely unprepared to be sucked into the abysmal drama of these characters' lives - and yet I couldn't help myself, as it happened before I knew it. The raw complexity of the emotion is what held me tightest. I put this book off for quite some time and I'm sorry that I did. I've yet to read anything else by Ms Hausler but I'd consider it an honor.
I was absolutely unprepared to be sucked into the abysmal drama of these characters' lives - and yet I couldn't help myself, as it happened before I knew it. The raw complexity of the emotion is what held me tightest. I put this book off for quite some time and I'm sorry that I did. I've yet to read anything else by Ms Hausler but I'd consider it an honor.
August 22, 2017
A haunting story about a woman who loses her memory and the reaction of the husband she left long ago. And her reaction to his.
Sad, very sad. I felt it in my bones, it was just suffocating.
I like the ending.
Sad, very sad. I felt it in my bones, it was just suffocating.
I like the ending.
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