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The Memory Chamber
You are going to die. You can preserve a handful of special memories forever. Which ones would you choose?
True death is a thing of the past. Now you can spend the rest of eternity reliving your happiest memories: that first kiss, falling in love, the birth of your children, enjoyed on loop for ever and ever.
Isobel is a Heaven Architect, and she helps dying people create afterlives from these memories. So when she falls for Jarek, one of her terminal – and married – clients, she knows that while she cannot save him, she can create the most beautiful of heavens, just for him.
But when Jarek's wife is found dead, Isobel uncovers a darker side of the world she works within, and she can trust no one with what she finds...
The Memory Chamber is a thrilling and original story which vaults the reader into a world that is terrifyingly close to our own, where we can avoid everything we fear – even death itself. But can we ever escape the truth?
True death is a thing of the past. Now you can spend the rest of eternity reliving your happiest memories: that first kiss, falling in love, the birth of your children, enjoyed on loop for ever and ever.
Isobel is a Heaven Architect, and she helps dying people create afterlives from these memories. So when she falls for Jarek, one of her terminal – and married – clients, she knows that while she cannot save him, she can create the most beautiful of heavens, just for him.
But when Jarek's wife is found dead, Isobel uncovers a darker side of the world she works within, and she can trust no one with what she finds...
The Memory Chamber is a thrilling and original story which vaults the reader into a world that is terrifyingly close to our own, where we can avoid everything we fear – even death itself. But can we ever escape the truth?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2018
40 people are currently reading
717 people want to read
About the author
Holly Cave
10 books36 followersHolly Cave was born in sunny Torquay in 1983. She received a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Science Communication from Imperial College London, after which she spent four years working at the Science Museum in London. After a career break to travel the world, Holly became a freelance writer and now writes about science and technology alongside her fiction work. She lives in rural Buckinghamshire in a wisteria-draped pub (yes, pub) with her husband and dog, Cooper. The Generation is her debut novel (although she wrote a number of unpublished works with her father on his typewriter in the 1990s).
The Memory Chamber was published in hardback by Quercus in February 2018.
Other books: Really, Really Big Questions About Science (children’s non-fiction); The Generation (fiction)
The Memory Chamber was published in hardback by Quercus in February 2018.
Other books: Really, Really Big Questions About Science (children’s non-fiction); The Generation (fiction)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
January 16, 2018
Holly Cave presents us with a fascinating and beguiling premise where death is banished, instead your most cherished and happiest memories can be constantly relived on a loop in the afterlife, the novel is set in the near future. Isobel is a Heaven Architect, spending time with her close to death clients, eliciting their precious memories to shape their virtual reality heaven after their physical body dies. Isobel's moral considerations are thrown for a loop when she falls for one of her married clients, Jarek, her passions aroused. However, everything goes to hell in a handcart when Jarek's wife is found murdered. She and Jarek are suspects and the police want entry to Jarek's heaven, seeking a post-mortem conviction. Isobel finds herself on the run, unable to trust anyone with what she knows.
Cave does some impressively detailed world building, but the most important themes explore the philosophical, scientific, and religious aspects and the ethical and political considerations of this seemingly benign concept of creating heavens for the dead, with many people protesting this idea. First of all, this option is only available for the well off. There are corporations who profit immensely from the business of creating heavens for those who will pay. The ambitious Valhalla corporation are looking to extend their interest, Isobel becomes a pawn in their game to secure their aims. Isobel loves her job, but she is forced to rethink and question her position as everything she has believed in is turned upside down. I found the philosophical aspects thought provoking and the ideas engaging. However, the dispassionate approach in the story meant I was less emotionally involved. An interesting read for those who enjoy the thoughtful exploration of ideas. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
Cave does some impressively detailed world building, but the most important themes explore the philosophical, scientific, and religious aspects and the ethical and political considerations of this seemingly benign concept of creating heavens for the dead, with many people protesting this idea. First of all, this option is only available for the well off. There are corporations who profit immensely from the business of creating heavens for those who will pay. The ambitious Valhalla corporation are looking to extend their interest, Isobel becomes a pawn in their game to secure their aims. Isobel loves her job, but she is forced to rethink and question her position as everything she has believed in is turned upside down. I found the philosophical aspects thought provoking and the ideas engaging. However, the dispassionate approach in the story meant I was less emotionally involved. An interesting read for those who enjoy the thoughtful exploration of ideas. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
November 29, 2017
Top marks on this one for the high concept idea- that we can keep our best memories once we're dead, live again and again the best things about our lives in a timeless dream state. All this created by a Heaven Architect, science and creativity flawlessness balanced and offering the best hope for an afterlife. Or does it? The author doesn't shy away from dealing with the ethical side of such a business model: the potential for people losing their chance at a real heaven, the question of who should be allowed to have such a perfect post-life experience, and whether we can add the other people we hold in our memories without their express permission... Once the story turns to murder, these questions seem even more pertinent and it becomes necessary to find a way to investigate the memories of someone now dead.
Sounds interesting, right? And yet I read this as if from a distance, the whole book passed beneath my eyes without affecting me in any way. I didn't even dislike the main character, I felt nothing for her at all. It's supposed to be about strong emotions like love and hate and the memories in life we want to hold forever, but they did not come across to me at all, it was all surface and no heart. I might remember the book for the idea, but not for anything else.
ARC via Netgalley
Sounds interesting, right? And yet I read this as if from a distance, the whole book passed beneath my eyes without affecting me in any way. I didn't even dislike the main character, I felt nothing for her at all. It's supposed to be about strong emotions like love and hate and the memories in life we want to hold forever, but they did not come across to me at all, it was all surface and no heart. I might remember the book for the idea, but not for anything else.
ARC via Netgalley
February 12, 2018
The Memory Chamber by Holly Cave is a story set in the future where you can have your memories stored to use after you die. Isobel collects the clients best memories and makes a heaven for them to experience after death. Isobel falls for a handsome client and when his wife is found dead, Isobel has to find out if the client had anything to do with the death of his wife as criminals are not allowed to have a heaven made for them. I found it quite hard to like Isobel but I did enjoy the story. I would like to thank NetGalley and Quercus Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2018
Isobel's profession is a heaven architect. She sits with her dying clients, teasing out their memories, to create a virtual heaven for their consciousness to enter after the death of their body. She loves her job. She is good at her job. But when the moralistic and political ramifications of what she is producing begin to interfere with her professionalism and the quiet order of her days, she must dig inside of herself to see where her true feelings on what she is creating truly lays.
This is one of those novels that is less about the exact story-line and more about the philosophical discussions of what the concept is proposing. The scientific and religious aspects of this technological advancement are fully explored from all angles. Through Isobel the reader gets to view a near-future world where the soon-to-be-deceased can grant themselves some measure of peace by becoming the architect of their next life. However, protesters show us that this may be a less philanthropic venture, when even our own memories can be corrupted and where even our death becomes a commodity the consumer market has seen a way to cash in on. Further political complications muddy the already dense waters and create interesting discussion points for both Isobel and the reader to decipher where exactly their stance on the topic lays.
Whilst I found this a fascinating concept to explore I found nothing else was delivered. There were turns in the narrative that I found unprecedented but they just did not impact me deeply, the way the initial concept of the book had. I found once this was fully explored my interest dwindled and the characters alone could not hold what captivation this once held for me. I liked the theory of the novel and thought it delivered some powerful arguments, but I also felt a little disenchanted with the whole thing as it wore on.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Holly Cave, and the publisher, Quercus, for this opportunity.
This is one of those novels that is less about the exact story-line and more about the philosophical discussions of what the concept is proposing. The scientific and religious aspects of this technological advancement are fully explored from all angles. Through Isobel the reader gets to view a near-future world where the soon-to-be-deceased can grant themselves some measure of peace by becoming the architect of their next life. However, protesters show us that this may be a less philanthropic venture, when even our own memories can be corrupted and where even our death becomes a commodity the consumer market has seen a way to cash in on. Further political complications muddy the already dense waters and create interesting discussion points for both Isobel and the reader to decipher where exactly their stance on the topic lays.
Whilst I found this a fascinating concept to explore I found nothing else was delivered. There were turns in the narrative that I found unprecedented but they just did not impact me deeply, the way the initial concept of the book had. I found once this was fully explored my interest dwindled and the characters alone could not hold what captivation this once held for me. I liked the theory of the novel and thought it delivered some powerful arguments, but I also felt a little disenchanted with the whole thing as it wore on.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Holly Cave, and the publisher, Quercus, for this opportunity.
July 9, 2017
My next "One to Watch in 2018"
The Memory Chamber is a clever speculative fiction novel imagining a future in which you can create your own Heaven – if of course you can afford it and if you are lucky enough to get an appointment with someone like our main protagonist Isobel, who crafts heaven’s for a living and is damned good at it. The technology however does have its quirks and when she is thrown into a passionate affair followed by a murder enquiry things get much less heavenly and far more hellish.
The Memory Chamber has an intelligent and emotive premise – Holly Cave digs deep into the morally blurred world that Isobel lives in, creating a character that is not always easy to like but endlessly intriguing. The scientific speculation feels very authentic and entirely possible, what engaged me about this was Isobel’s distinct love for what she does, her utter belief in it, then watching that belief slowly picked at around the edges leaving her unsure of everything. At the same time she is dealing with a loss and as the story progresses you see the many layers to that loss and how it affects her judgment. As a main protagonist she is beautifully characterised and you are with her all the way.
The world building is gently immersive – we don’t have endless explanations just a considered understanding as we get to know the people that live there, this is a slow beautiful burn of a story that has a rather poignant and moving feel to it – after all we would all like to be sure of what comes after life wouldn’t we?
Overall a genuinely captivating story with a dark heart and an intricately drawn world not that far from our own.
Recommended.
The Memory Chamber is a clever speculative fiction novel imagining a future in which you can create your own Heaven – if of course you can afford it and if you are lucky enough to get an appointment with someone like our main protagonist Isobel, who crafts heaven’s for a living and is damned good at it. The technology however does have its quirks and when she is thrown into a passionate affair followed by a murder enquiry things get much less heavenly and far more hellish.
The Memory Chamber has an intelligent and emotive premise – Holly Cave digs deep into the morally blurred world that Isobel lives in, creating a character that is not always easy to like but endlessly intriguing. The scientific speculation feels very authentic and entirely possible, what engaged me about this was Isobel’s distinct love for what she does, her utter belief in it, then watching that belief slowly picked at around the edges leaving her unsure of everything. At the same time she is dealing with a loss and as the story progresses you see the many layers to that loss and how it affects her judgment. As a main protagonist she is beautifully characterised and you are with her all the way.
The world building is gently immersive – we don’t have endless explanations just a considered understanding as we get to know the people that live there, this is a slow beautiful burn of a story that has a rather poignant and moving feel to it – after all we would all like to be sure of what comes after life wouldn’t we?
Overall a genuinely captivating story with a dark heart and an intricately drawn world not that far from our own.
Recommended.
April 1, 2018
3.5 STARS
The Memory Chamber takes place in a distant future where ‘artificial heavens’ have become a reality for the few able to afford them. People can essentially upload their consciousness after their death into a heaven they create with specially trained architects during their lifetimes. Isobel is one such architect, and apparently one of the best. However, she starts to doubt her chosen career after proposed changes to the law regarding permission over who can feature in other people’s heavens and, more importantly, who can use these places to access someone’s memories posthumously. The story raises some ethical and moral dilemmas early on, and then there’s also the most visible and glaring issue over the morality of allowing only those with wealth to live a blissful afterlife into eternity. However, a lot of the plot is focused on Isobel’s relationship with one of her patients, Jarek, who has a terminal brain tumour and needs a heaven sharpish.
The premise of the plot was intriguing, and I immediately requested a copy after reading the summary on Netgalley, but I think the writing overall wasn’t very engaging. Considering how interesting the premise was, it’s surprising that the writing wasn’t more fast-paced or exciting. There were too many unnecessary details or sections of dialogue that were downright boring and were not what one signs up for when promised a futuristic sci-fi novel. I never felt very emotionally invested in the story either, and I found Isabel and Jarek’s relationship in the first part of the novel to be unrealistic and too reminiscent of the much-hated trope of insta-love. Of course, there turned out to be a sort of explanation for this at the end, but I didn’t know that at the time. All I knew was that I was reading about a relationship that I was glad was doomed to fail, and it only served to lower my estimation of Isobel by telling me that this is a woman perfectly happy sleeping with married men. Every now and then she references some residual feelings of guilt, but they are quickly forgotten as soon as she catches another glimpse of Jarek’s physique or chiselled features. She slept with a married man, but it’s not disgusting or anything because the man in question is hot. Alrighty then...
The story did eventually pick up and for the last 100 pages I actually enjoyed reading it, which is more than I can say for the previous 300. But, for me, it was too little too late. The strength of the last stretch doesn’t automatically erase the struggle it took to get there. And, boy, was it a struggle.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy to review
The Memory Chamber takes place in a distant future where ‘artificial heavens’ have become a reality for the few able to afford them. People can essentially upload their consciousness after their death into a heaven they create with specially trained architects during their lifetimes. Isobel is one such architect, and apparently one of the best. However, she starts to doubt her chosen career after proposed changes to the law regarding permission over who can feature in other people’s heavens and, more importantly, who can use these places to access someone’s memories posthumously. The story raises some ethical and moral dilemmas early on, and then there’s also the most visible and glaring issue over the morality of allowing only those with wealth to live a blissful afterlife into eternity. However, a lot of the plot is focused on Isobel’s relationship with one of her patients, Jarek, who has a terminal brain tumour and needs a heaven sharpish.
The premise of the plot was intriguing, and I immediately requested a copy after reading the summary on Netgalley, but I think the writing overall wasn’t very engaging. Considering how interesting the premise was, it’s surprising that the writing wasn’t more fast-paced or exciting. There were too many unnecessary details or sections of dialogue that were downright boring and were not what one signs up for when promised a futuristic sci-fi novel. I never felt very emotionally invested in the story either, and I found Isabel and Jarek’s relationship in the first part of the novel to be unrealistic and too reminiscent of the much-hated trope of insta-love. Of course, there turned out to be a sort of explanation for this at the end, but I didn’t know that at the time. All I knew was that I was reading about a relationship that I was glad was doomed to fail, and it only served to lower my estimation of Isobel by telling me that this is a woman perfectly happy sleeping with married men. Every now and then she references some residual feelings of guilt, but they are quickly forgotten as soon as she catches another glimpse of Jarek’s physique or chiselled features. She slept with a married man, but it’s not disgusting or anything because the man in question is hot. Alrighty then...
The story did eventually pick up and for the last 100 pages I actually enjoyed reading it, which is more than I can say for the previous 300. But, for me, it was too little too late. The strength of the last stretch doesn’t automatically erase the struggle it took to get there. And, boy, was it a struggle.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy to review
June 25, 2022
What is a heaven architect?
Someone who spends time with the dying and draws out their most precious memories. Happy times, happy occasions so that the can “build” they’re Heaven.
Nice concept.
Great thoughts in this book that made me ask myself several quick like…..what if?
It’s very well written and thought provoking.
Then she meets someone she falls for.
This messes a lot of things up as they embark on their live affair because…..his wife has been found murdered.
And just who are the suspects?
I’ve had this to read for ages and finally came across it on audio.
A very enjoyable read.
Someone who spends time with the dying and draws out their most precious memories. Happy times, happy occasions so that the can “build” they’re Heaven.
Nice concept.
Great thoughts in this book that made me ask myself several quick like…..what if?
It’s very well written and thought provoking.
Then she meets someone she falls for.
This messes a lot of things up as they embark on their live affair because…..his wife has been found murdered.
And just who are the suspects?
I’ve had this to read for ages and finally came across it on audio.
A very enjoyable read.
February 21, 2018
Can you imagine it? A world in which we can custom-make our own heaven! Where the fear of death no longer haunts you. Instead, you can spend eternity re-living your most cherished and happiest of memories! This is the world I found myself in as I read The Memory Chamber by Holly Cave. And what an intriguing and completely original world it is!
It is in this world that we meet Isobel, a Heaven Architect, whose job it is to custom-make each person's heaven. She meets Jarek, a dying, married man whom she subsequently falls for. She is completely devoted to her job and tries her utmost to make the perfect heaven for Jarek. Until his wife is found murdered! Isobel and Jarek are considered as suspects by the police. Now, that complicates EVERYTHING for Isobel. The book then takes on a darker direction as she questions everything she believed about her job...she is unable to trust anyone and finds herself on the run.
Dissecting the scientific, moral, religious, political and monetary consequences of such a unique world, this book certainly provides the reader with plenty to think about, making one question whether this world would in actual fact be heavenly or hellish.
Nicely paced with intriguing characters that are not always easy to like, spiced up with a clever, futuristic, sci-fi aspect to it, a pinch of romance and a few twists and turns, you'll enjoy this one if you're into reading books that stimulate your grey matter with something that is completely different to what's already on the bookshelves.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Books and to Holly Cave for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.
It is in this world that we meet Isobel, a Heaven Architect, whose job it is to custom-make each person's heaven. She meets Jarek, a dying, married man whom she subsequently falls for. She is completely devoted to her job and tries her utmost to make the perfect heaven for Jarek. Until his wife is found murdered! Isobel and Jarek are considered as suspects by the police. Now, that complicates EVERYTHING for Isobel. The book then takes on a darker direction as she questions everything she believed about her job...she is unable to trust anyone and finds herself on the run.
Dissecting the scientific, moral, religious, political and monetary consequences of such a unique world, this book certainly provides the reader with plenty to think about, making one question whether this world would in actual fact be heavenly or hellish.
Nicely paced with intriguing characters that are not always easy to like, spiced up with a clever, futuristic, sci-fi aspect to it, a pinch of romance and a few twists and turns, you'll enjoy this one if you're into reading books that stimulate your grey matter with something that is completely different to what's already on the bookshelves.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Books and to Holly Cave for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.
January 8, 2018
I went into The Memory Chamber (so to speak!) blind and came out the other side very pleased that I had done so as I’m not sure I would have read it otherwise. The concept is an original one and although it did take a while for me to get my thoughts around what was actually taking place, once I did I was hooked and was awake until the very small hours of the morning reading it from cover to cover!
Isobel is a “heaven architect” who meets with clients to plan their own personal heavens. She discusses the memories and moments in their lives that they want to have surrounding them in a timeless loop once they are dead. And Isobel performs that job with a determination and tunnel vision that only comes from a total belief in what she advocates. In fact, she is so totally devoted to her job that her world revolves around her passion for making her clients heaven a perfect representation of their lives happiest times. So it became an intriguing dilemma for her when she meets Jarek and she becomes personally involved with him. Jarek is dying so their time together becomes more important to her than her vocation but is Jarek hiding something from Isobel and how will it affect the perfect heaven she is determined to create for him?
There is a slowly measured build up to the mystery surrounding the death of Jarek’s wife and that twist was when the book became much more of a thriller for me. The world that they live in opened up to me more then, providing a wider picture of how that world was being challenged by a global war that affected their everyday lives. Watching the soldiers contemplating their deaths before they headed off to fight and they planned a heaven they knew may be impossible to provide due to the logistics of their deployment. And it was little touches like that which gave an unexpected and thoughtful poignancy to the narrative. The mechanics of how both theirs and others personalised heavens were achieved are so intrinsically relayed to the reader that the concept didn’t feel as futuristic as I had first expected. The dark and scary world imagined by Holly Cave was backed up by her cleverly crafted storyline where she used her scientific knowledge to great effect setting up this highly original plotline.
I can see this book dividing opinions and it won’t be to everyone’s taste but I was fascinated by the gripping and believable storyline that felt totally feasible to my own scientific brain! I am finding it very difficult to shoehorn it into any genre though. Part sci-fi and part thriller with a twist of romance and a squeeze of suspense it’s a futuristic delight to unravel. If you enjoy books like “Yesterday” by Felicia Yap then I would give The Memory Chamber a go. It’s a book that gave me plenty to think about with a future I’m not quite sure I’m ready to accept and thankfully won’t be around for if it does become a reality!! Trapped in any time or place for an infinitely sounds more like hell than heaven to me!!
Isobel is a “heaven architect” who meets with clients to plan their own personal heavens. She discusses the memories and moments in their lives that they want to have surrounding them in a timeless loop once they are dead. And Isobel performs that job with a determination and tunnel vision that only comes from a total belief in what she advocates. In fact, she is so totally devoted to her job that her world revolves around her passion for making her clients heaven a perfect representation of their lives happiest times. So it became an intriguing dilemma for her when she meets Jarek and she becomes personally involved with him. Jarek is dying so their time together becomes more important to her than her vocation but is Jarek hiding something from Isobel and how will it affect the perfect heaven she is determined to create for him?
There is a slowly measured build up to the mystery surrounding the death of Jarek’s wife and that twist was when the book became much more of a thriller for me. The world that they live in opened up to me more then, providing a wider picture of how that world was being challenged by a global war that affected their everyday lives. Watching the soldiers contemplating their deaths before they headed off to fight and they planned a heaven they knew may be impossible to provide due to the logistics of their deployment. And it was little touches like that which gave an unexpected and thoughtful poignancy to the narrative. The mechanics of how both theirs and others personalised heavens were achieved are so intrinsically relayed to the reader that the concept didn’t feel as futuristic as I had first expected. The dark and scary world imagined by Holly Cave was backed up by her cleverly crafted storyline where she used her scientific knowledge to great effect setting up this highly original plotline.
I can see this book dividing opinions and it won’t be to everyone’s taste but I was fascinated by the gripping and believable storyline that felt totally feasible to my own scientific brain! I am finding it very difficult to shoehorn it into any genre though. Part sci-fi and part thriller with a twist of romance and a squeeze of suspense it’s a futuristic delight to unravel. If you enjoy books like “Yesterday” by Felicia Yap then I would give The Memory Chamber a go. It’s a book that gave me plenty to think about with a future I’m not quite sure I’m ready to accept and thankfully won’t be around for if it does become a reality!! Trapped in any time or place for an infinitely sounds more like hell than heaven to me!!
February 26, 2018
I received an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Moral dilemmas, deception and murder - a gripping novel with a futuristic slant.
Sci-fi leanings, thriller-type storyline... sounded like just the sort of thing I'd enjoy, and I'm pleased to report that I did!
Isobel is a Heaven Architect - someone who ariticially creates 'heavens' for dying people, based on their memories. Her client, Jarek, is handsome, interesting and charming - but there are two major problems; one, he's married, and two, he's dying of a brain tumour.
Isobel makes a lot of bad choices - and, when Jarek's wife is murdered, these backfire on her in splendid style. Is Jarek who she thinks he is? Or has she been guilty of deceiving herself as much as everyone else?
This was a complete tsunami of a novel - relentless, speedy, and all-encompassing. I was engrossed from start to finish, and even better, it hooked me on a number of different levels. Yes, I was intrigued by this concept of creating artificial heavens, and the moral dilemmas such actions posed. But I was equally fascinated by Isobel and her behaviour throughout. She wasn't terribly likeable, she did fairly dreadful things without thought or consideration to those around her - yet I still cared about her; and that's a tricky thing for an author to pull off.
I loved the backdrop of the cold war too (a future one, not the historical one). It added tension and bleakness, and gave the book a real sense of depth. You can tell the author knows her stuff when it comes to science too, which made all the 'sci-fi' bits feel authentic. In fact, there wasn't much I didn't enjoy about this novel - it was an absolute page-turner.
Moral dilemmas, deception and murder - a gripping novel with a futuristic slant.
Sci-fi leanings, thriller-type storyline... sounded like just the sort of thing I'd enjoy, and I'm pleased to report that I did!
Isobel is a Heaven Architect - someone who ariticially creates 'heavens' for dying people, based on their memories. Her client, Jarek, is handsome, interesting and charming - but there are two major problems; one, he's married, and two, he's dying of a brain tumour.
Isobel makes a lot of bad choices - and, when Jarek's wife is murdered, these backfire on her in splendid style. Is Jarek who she thinks he is? Or has she been guilty of deceiving herself as much as everyone else?
This was a complete tsunami of a novel - relentless, speedy, and all-encompassing. I was engrossed from start to finish, and even better, it hooked me on a number of different levels. Yes, I was intrigued by this concept of creating artificial heavens, and the moral dilemmas such actions posed. But I was equally fascinated by Isobel and her behaviour throughout. She wasn't terribly likeable, she did fairly dreadful things without thought or consideration to those around her - yet I still cared about her; and that's a tricky thing for an author to pull off.
I loved the backdrop of the cold war too (a future one, not the historical one). It added tension and bleakness, and gave the book a real sense of depth. You can tell the author knows her stuff when it comes to science too, which made all the 'sci-fi' bits feel authentic. In fact, there wasn't much I didn't enjoy about this novel - it was an absolute page-turner.
January 23, 2018
Imagine you could employ someone to build you a Heaven. A place designed completely from your memories and thoughts. Would you do it? In The Memory Chamber, that’s what Holly Cave is selling. The happiest of memories to tide you over in Heaven, that you can re-live forever. It’s definitely an intriguing concept.
In The Memory Chamber, we meet Heaven Architect Isobel. Its her job to create your Heaven. When she meets and subsequently falls for her client, Jarek, that’s where the problems arise. Initially, she wants to create the best Heaven for him, but when his wife is found dead, it opens up a can of worms both professionally and personally for Isobel.
What follows is quite a dark journey through a world that we know, but we don’t know. There is much more to being a Heaven Architect than we are initially told, and from there the story goes in quite an unusual direction.
The Memory Chamber has a very unique and original concept at its core. I love the idea that you could create this for yourself for when you die, but alas, it’s not real! The characters are interesting, and the story is nicely paced. A few twists and turns to be found, but the USP for this is definitely the concept.
I really enjoyed this one. I flew through it in a day because I needed to know what happened! It is definitely an intriguing read!
Recommended for sure!
In The Memory Chamber, we meet Heaven Architect Isobel. Its her job to create your Heaven. When she meets and subsequently falls for her client, Jarek, that’s where the problems arise. Initially, she wants to create the best Heaven for him, but when his wife is found dead, it opens up a can of worms both professionally and personally for Isobel.
What follows is quite a dark journey through a world that we know, but we don’t know. There is much more to being a Heaven Architect than we are initially told, and from there the story goes in quite an unusual direction.
The Memory Chamber has a very unique and original concept at its core. I love the idea that you could create this for yourself for when you die, but alas, it’s not real! The characters are interesting, and the story is nicely paced. A few twists and turns to be found, but the USP for this is definitely the concept.
I really enjoyed this one. I flew through it in a day because I needed to know what happened! It is definitely an intriguing read!
Recommended for sure!
February 23, 2018
DNF.
The concept of this book is fantastic - if you have enough money and you are not a criminal, you can pay someone to craft you your ideal heaven. You can take your memories with you when you die. It’s unique, it makes you think and I was fascinated.
Unfortunately, the book doesn’t work. The idea does, but the whole plot of Isobel and Jarek is wafer thin. What was it about Jarek that made Isobel lose control? We aren’t told. The book just opens and bam, for the first time ever, Isobel has fallen for a (dying) client. There’s no build up to it - no flirting or connection, he just comes to plan his heaven and Isobel’s world goes upside down. It’s ridiculous, and I could see why Isobel’s colleague, Lela, said it was lust. I personally didn’t see any connection at all, mind.
Why had Isobel suddenly abandoned her morals? What was it about this dying man that was so special? IT JUST DID NOT MAKE SENSE.
I don’t know why you have to take a fantastic, brilliant, unique idea... and then it into the worst love story I’ve ever read, that wasn’t even believable? What a waste.
The concept of this book is fantastic - if you have enough money and you are not a criminal, you can pay someone to craft you your ideal heaven. You can take your memories with you when you die. It’s unique, it makes you think and I was fascinated.
Unfortunately, the book doesn’t work. The idea does, but the whole plot of Isobel and Jarek is wafer thin. What was it about Jarek that made Isobel lose control? We aren’t told. The book just opens and bam, for the first time ever, Isobel has fallen for a (dying) client. There’s no build up to it - no flirting or connection, he just comes to plan his heaven and Isobel’s world goes upside down. It’s ridiculous, and I could see why Isobel’s colleague, Lela, said it was lust. I personally didn’t see any connection at all, mind.
Why had Isobel suddenly abandoned her morals? What was it about this dying man that was so special? IT JUST DID NOT MAKE SENSE.
I don’t know why you have to take a fantastic, brilliant, unique idea... and then it into the worst love story I’ve ever read, that wasn’t even believable? What a waste.
October 6, 2017
What really makes this book is the speculative scientific background: we're in a world where it's possible to create personalised 'heaven's by capturing and programming all your best and favourite memories from life so that your brain cells, after death, enjoy an eternity of pleasure. Cave does an excellent job of setting up this provocative scenario together with protesters, a greedy US corporation (of course!) and an idealistic 'heaven architect' who wants to believe she is genuinely helping people deal with death.
Things change, however, when Izzy falls for a dying patient who might have been guilty of murder before he died: with the police wanting to access his 'heaven' to convict him post-mortem and have his heaven shut down, the story switches to a far more conventional crime/thriller with Izzy on the run, helped by a police detective and a willing scientist.
I had a few moments where the science didn't quite make sense to me (more than likely my fault as science definitely isn't my strong point!): .
Despite a few niggles, this is fast-paced book which crosses a largely conventional crime plot with something far more interesting - a gripping, thought-provoking read.
Thanks to Quercus for an ARC via NetGalley
Things change, however, when Izzy falls for a dying patient who might have been guilty of murder before he died: with the police wanting to access his 'heaven' to convict him post-mortem and have his heaven shut down, the story switches to a far more conventional crime/thriller with Izzy on the run, helped by a police detective and a willing scientist.
I had a few moments where the science didn't quite make sense to me (more than likely my fault as science definitely isn't my strong point!): .
Despite a few niggles, this is fast-paced book which crosses a largely conventional crime plot with something far more interesting - a gripping, thought-provoking read.
Thanks to Quercus for an ARC via NetGalley
Read
May 20, 2018RTC.
But I can tell you now, it won't be positive.
What was potentially a really interesting idea about memories and a kind of life after death with a potential to turn towards Black Mirror feels turned out to be a poorly-executed romance and psychological thriller with the interesting premise serving mostly as a back drop.
The MC is in her early-thirties, and has been in her current job for 10 years. She's also in a long-term relationship when she decides to embark on an affair with one of her terminal clients who is also married. She has "strong" morals which she battles for so hard that her long-standing job is potentially on the line, but then she goes against her morals for a guy, whom she knew for a couple of months.
Just... UGH. So much here that stopped me relating with any of them, and which turned a potentially fascinating story into teenage-hormone-esque drivel.
But I can tell you now, it won't be positive.
What was potentially a really interesting idea about memories and a kind of life after death with a potential to turn towards Black Mirror feels turned out to be a poorly-executed romance and psychological thriller with the interesting premise serving mostly as a back drop.
The MC is in her early-thirties, and has been in her current job for 10 years. She's also in a long-term relationship when she decides to embark on an affair with one of her terminal clients who is also married. She has "strong" morals which she battles for so hard that her long-standing job is potentially on the line, but then she goes against her morals for a guy, whom she knew for a couple of months.
Just... UGH. So much here that stopped me relating with any of them, and which turned a potentially fascinating story into teenage-hormone-esque drivel.
April 1, 2018
The Memory Chamber is Holly Cave' s first novel. It's magnificently different in the imaginary world. The rich need to do research about artificial Heavens as Heaven Architect build memories that they treasure the most to take with them after they die. All sessions are recorded in a format that prevents any one from editing them only the Heaven architect will have future access to them as well as next of kin. In the event of a death a neurologist gathers cluster of neurons that encode someone's consciousness within a matter of hours. With an author that has received a BSc in Biology and MSc in Science Communication, The Memory Chamber is very straightforward and excitingly technical with memory fiction at its highest level of interesting characters and chapters. I'm looking forward to the next book by Holly Cave.
September 18, 2019
This book had a really unique premise that I hadn't experienced before. There's always something about stories set in the future that is somehow horrifying. In this one it is an abundance of massively invasive technology. Science has determined that there is no spiritual heaven and that when you die you just cease to exist. "Heaven Architects" insert a person's consciousness into a computer simulation of their personal heaven after their deaths and these fake heavens offer an afterlife of sorts. The plot is a bit mind-boggling and it reminded me a bit of Blake Crouch's novels. It most definitely kept me turning the pages and had a very engaging level of suspense.
March 8, 2018
It is some time in the future. Death is not necessarily the end if you can create your heaven of your favourite memories. Izzy is a Heaven Architect- a very good one. She spends a long time with her clients creating their heavens. Some are just planning ahead but many are terminally ill. When Jarek, who is dying of a brain tumour, comes to build his heaven she little realises how her neat world is about to change.
In spite of it being unprofessional she has an affair with Jarek. She knows he is married although jarek assures her is is over - he doesn't even want his wife in his heaven. When Jarek's wife is murdered just hours before Jarek dies Izzy insists on his innocence but it totally unprepared for what comes next.
This book blew me away. It is a really original concept, which would have made it an interesting read, but add the murder element & it put it in a whole new light. This is a book that will be on my mind for some time. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this highly original book.
In spite of it being unprofessional she has an affair with Jarek. She knows he is married although jarek assures her is is over - he doesn't even want his wife in his heaven. When Jarek's wife is murdered just hours before Jarek dies Izzy insists on his innocence but it totally unprepared for what comes next.
This book blew me away. It is a really original concept, which would have made it an interesting read, but add the murder element & it put it in a whole new light. This is a book that will be on my mind for some time. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this highly original book.
Read
March 6, 2018Oh. My. God did I love this book or what? The Memory Chamber is exactly my kind of dystopia/speculative fiction which I rarely come across or get a chance to pick up these days. Ones with glimpses into a not so distant future, where the sinister comes from what starts out as a way of making life (or in this case, death) better. The ones that make you think, and the ones that seem not so far fetched after all.
Isobel is a heaven architect – her job involves creating heavens for people when they die in a kind of augmented reality. The process is achieved through the extraction of memory neurons soon after death. It’s Isobel’s job to work with clients to plan their heaven before they die, picking and choosing their favourite memories to live and relive for all eternity.
I’m sure I caught something briefly on the news or some other program recently along similar lines – about the increasing possibility of preserving memories or personalities after death. Now, the science of the whole thing admittedly goes right over my head, but The Memory Chamber as a concept seemed to me highly plausible. I had no difficulty believing that we as humans would go down a path of selling ‘heavens’ after death if the technology was there to make them. While it’s set in a future where technology has advanced, the book isn’t so far away or all that much more different from our own world to be alienating. There are hints at treatments and medicines we don’t yet have access to, driverless cars and superior communication devices but in all honesty, the overall setting is familiar. I found it so credible, and so chilling!
There’s a thriller element to this book, which I found gripping. It stands out not only due to the original concept used to solve it, but the high emotional involvement this book triggered in me. As Isobel is put in an impossible position, I felt I was riding the tide of fear, loyalty, disbelief and betrayal along with her as everything she believes in crumbles around her and she faces both personal and professional ethical dilemmas.
Right from the very start, The Memory Chamber had me hooked. Holly Cave’s writing is beautiful, almost spellbinding as she builds Isobel’s world so convincingly. I struggled to put it down, and when I did, I was thinking about it and eager to get back as soon as possible. An evocatively imagined near future with a sinister and chilling twist, I recommend this book thoroughly!
Isobel is a heaven architect – her job involves creating heavens for people when they die in a kind of augmented reality. The process is achieved through the extraction of memory neurons soon after death. It’s Isobel’s job to work with clients to plan their heaven before they die, picking and choosing their favourite memories to live and relive for all eternity.
I’m sure I caught something briefly on the news or some other program recently along similar lines – about the increasing possibility of preserving memories or personalities after death. Now, the science of the whole thing admittedly goes right over my head, but The Memory Chamber as a concept seemed to me highly plausible. I had no difficulty believing that we as humans would go down a path of selling ‘heavens’ after death if the technology was there to make them. While it’s set in a future where technology has advanced, the book isn’t so far away or all that much more different from our own world to be alienating. There are hints at treatments and medicines we don’t yet have access to, driverless cars and superior communication devices but in all honesty, the overall setting is familiar. I found it so credible, and so chilling!
There’s a thriller element to this book, which I found gripping. It stands out not only due to the original concept used to solve it, but the high emotional involvement this book triggered in me. As Isobel is put in an impossible position, I felt I was riding the tide of fear, loyalty, disbelief and betrayal along with her as everything she believes in crumbles around her and she faces both personal and professional ethical dilemmas.
Right from the very start, The Memory Chamber had me hooked. Holly Cave’s writing is beautiful, almost spellbinding as she builds Isobel’s world so convincingly. I struggled to put it down, and when I did, I was thinking about it and eager to get back as soon as possible. An evocatively imagined near future with a sinister and chilling twist, I recommend this book thoroughly!
August 6, 2017
From the opening line - First of all I tell the dying people my name - this amazing book had me transfixed.
I'm sure The Memory Chamber's brilliant storyline will feature in my dreams, and possibly, scarily, even in my future.
I'm sure The Memory Chamber's brilliant storyline will feature in my dreams, and possibly, scarily, even in my future.
March 2, 2018
Imagine a time where the thought of dying is not quite as terrifying as we know it. Imagine knowing for a fact that when you die you will be reunited with your dearest memories. You'll spend time with your loved ones, sharing happy times and favourite moments. That's the premise of this quite original and strangely compelling first novel from Holly Cave.
Lead character Isobel is a Heaven Architect. She creates a personal, individual Heaven for her clients. She's very good at what she does, in fact she's the best architect in the business. She's committed and thorough and totally dedicated to her work.
Set sometime in the future, The Memory Chamber can be called speculative fiction, and if I'm honest, that classification scares the hell out of me. Despite this, I began to read and soon found myself caught up in this intriguing, if somewhat complicated story. Whilst Holly Cave quite obviously draws upon her science background in her creation of this story, it is very accessible to those of us, like me, whose brain doesn't work in a particularly scientific way.
Woven into the details of neurons and brain cells and the whole process of creating a virtual heaven is a story that centres on an age-old love story. Forbidden love; falling for someone that you really shouldn't, and also the moral and ethical processes behind both the illicit love and the concept of having the wealth to be able to create a better afterlife.
The plot veers off to directions that I really didn't expect, but that I found quite fascinating at times. Isobel is a character who is difficult to like, or to understand, but she's incredibly well created and quite enigmatic.
Part science-fiction, part crime thriller, part love story; The Memory Chamber can be a challenging read at times, but it is quite riveting and I enjoyed the story very much.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
Lead character Isobel is a Heaven Architect. She creates a personal, individual Heaven for her clients. She's very good at what she does, in fact she's the best architect in the business. She's committed and thorough and totally dedicated to her work.
Set sometime in the future, The Memory Chamber can be called speculative fiction, and if I'm honest, that classification scares the hell out of me. Despite this, I began to read and soon found myself caught up in this intriguing, if somewhat complicated story. Whilst Holly Cave quite obviously draws upon her science background in her creation of this story, it is very accessible to those of us, like me, whose brain doesn't work in a particularly scientific way.
Woven into the details of neurons and brain cells and the whole process of creating a virtual heaven is a story that centres on an age-old love story. Forbidden love; falling for someone that you really shouldn't, and also the moral and ethical processes behind both the illicit love and the concept of having the wealth to be able to create a better afterlife.
The plot veers off to directions that I really didn't expect, but that I found quite fascinating at times. Isobel is a character who is difficult to like, or to understand, but she's incredibly well created and quite enigmatic.
Part science-fiction, part crime thriller, part love story; The Memory Chamber can be a challenging read at times, but it is quite riveting and I enjoyed the story very much.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
March 31, 2018
This is a really unique concept for a book. Nothing like I’ve ever read. It made you wonder what memories & what dear ones you’d want in your heaven if you had that option. A fascinating read with an ending that makes me wonder if there will be another book in the future. I’d definitely read it.
January 18, 2018
'The Memory Chamber' is an absolutely brilliant new book by a writer I will be keen to follow. A almost futuristic but maybe parallel timeline has companies able to create artificial heavens (made by Heavenly architects) where prior to your death and with discussion with the architects, your favourite memories can be 'extracted' and your consciousness can spend eternity reliving the best moments of your life.
Immediately this throws up the issue of privilege, those using the service need to pay for it (except for the newly rolled out service for armed forces) and to whom do memories belong. One of the issues raised in the book which the protagonist is totally against is a single opt in system. This would potentially mean no lon ger asking permission from other people to be in your Heaven.
Further to this, the legal aspect becomes quickly apparent, if you can create a Heaven. can you create a Hell and when one of the protagonist, Isobel's, clients is suspected of murder after his death, do you lose the right to an actual 'happy ever after'?
A twisting turning thriller told from a first person perspective, Isobel, a heavenly Architect,'The memory Chamber' is a book to be enjoyed on many levels. Isobel is painted in shades so carefully that you cannot not identify with her and the issues that she is coming up against. She is neither perfect or saintly she is human and flawed and her transition as a character throughout the course of the book is dealt with deftly by Holly Cave.
It has the nuances of a writer who had been published before, it does have a maturity that betrays its debut status and I think Holly Cave's career will be very interesting to watch develop. Cannot wait to see where she goes after this!
Immediately this throws up the issue of privilege, those using the service need to pay for it (except for the newly rolled out service for armed forces) and to whom do memories belong. One of the issues raised in the book which the protagonist is totally against is a single opt in system. This would potentially mean no lon ger asking permission from other people to be in your Heaven.
Further to this, the legal aspect becomes quickly apparent, if you can create a Heaven. can you create a Hell and when one of the protagonist, Isobel's, clients is suspected of murder after his death, do you lose the right to an actual 'happy ever after'?
A twisting turning thriller told from a first person perspective, Isobel, a heavenly Architect,'The memory Chamber' is a book to be enjoyed on many levels. Isobel is painted in shades so carefully that you cannot not identify with her and the issues that she is coming up against. She is neither perfect or saintly she is human and flawed and her transition as a character throughout the course of the book is dealt with deftly by Holly Cave.
It has the nuances of a writer who had been published before, it does have a maturity that betrays its debut status and I think Holly Cave's career will be very interesting to watch develop. Cannot wait to see where she goes after this!
February 26, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
'The Memory Chamber' is a read which was so far out of my comfort zone, I honestly felt like I was on a different planet at times! Whilst I am all for psychological thrillers and crime, I have never really been a fan of science fiction, finding them far too outlandish for my tastes. However, Holly Cave's new novel not only includes themes of a thrilling nature, it also includes themes which had a hint of Matrix versus Men in Black running through them. Like I said right at the beginning of this review, I wasn't sure about 'The Memory Chamber' to start with because of the science involved. But, let me just say that I am so, SO glad that I decided to persevere with the book, stepping outside of my comfort zone to read something totally different. I would definitely recommend reading something you would never have picked up before - you might end up liking it!
I didn't just LIKE 'The Memory Chamber', no. I absolutely loved it! Yes, I know, I surprised myself!! First of all, you have a main character who is a 'Heaven Architect', creating an afterlife for people with their memories and a good use of technology. You want a yellow, Bumblebee type Transformer car in your memories? Call Isobel. You want a selected few people to join you in your afterlife? No problem - Isobel can do that! Of course there are a lot of rules and permissions need to be granted, making the entire thing of a personally created afterlife, seem the norm. For the characters of this book, it is the norm. But that isn't the be all end all of this book!
'The Memory Chamber' has such a jam-packed storyline, exploring clients personally built heavens, as well as finding out the true meaning of hell. Well, Isobel does anyway. As the storyline progresses, Isobel's life becomes extremely difficult. If she thought her job was a matter of life and death before, she has absolutely no idea what she is about to be faced with.
I loved how the storyline was able to switch between the fluffy heaven, and the ever so dark 'hell', as it took me on a rollercoaster ride which was so unique, I couldn't help but be addicted to every single page I was reading.
Yes this book is highly unusual, and yes, the storyline has a lot of themes which, written anywhere else, would seem incredibly outlandish and utterly bonkers - but it works, it really does. If you were to ask me what I disliked about this book, I would answer you with 'absolutely nothing', and I'm being completely honest. I could not put this book down, reading it in one sitting and feeling like I had lost my right arm when I had finished reading it.
Holly Cave turned my world upside down with her highly compelling, addictive and brilliant story telling. Reading 'The Memory Chamber' made me feel as though I was looking down on the Earth and everyone in it - a feeling which I have never experienced before whilst reading a book. This book blew my mind and left me wanting a truck load more, I honestly cannot recommend this enough.
Such a unique, thrilling, eye-opening, and brilliant book which will test your perseverance like never before. Bloomin' brilliant!
'The Memory Chamber' is a read which was so far out of my comfort zone, I honestly felt like I was on a different planet at times! Whilst I am all for psychological thrillers and crime, I have never really been a fan of science fiction, finding them far too outlandish for my tastes. However, Holly Cave's new novel not only includes themes of a thrilling nature, it also includes themes which had a hint of Matrix versus Men in Black running through them. Like I said right at the beginning of this review, I wasn't sure about 'The Memory Chamber' to start with because of the science involved. But, let me just say that I am so, SO glad that I decided to persevere with the book, stepping outside of my comfort zone to read something totally different. I would definitely recommend reading something you would never have picked up before - you might end up liking it!
I didn't just LIKE 'The Memory Chamber', no. I absolutely loved it! Yes, I know, I surprised myself!! First of all, you have a main character who is a 'Heaven Architect', creating an afterlife for people with their memories and a good use of technology. You want a yellow, Bumblebee type Transformer car in your memories? Call Isobel. You want a selected few people to join you in your afterlife? No problem - Isobel can do that! Of course there are a lot of rules and permissions need to be granted, making the entire thing of a personally created afterlife, seem the norm. For the characters of this book, it is the norm. But that isn't the be all end all of this book!
'The Memory Chamber' has such a jam-packed storyline, exploring clients personally built heavens, as well as finding out the true meaning of hell. Well, Isobel does anyway. As the storyline progresses, Isobel's life becomes extremely difficult. If she thought her job was a matter of life and death before, she has absolutely no idea what she is about to be faced with.
I loved how the storyline was able to switch between the fluffy heaven, and the ever so dark 'hell', as it took me on a rollercoaster ride which was so unique, I couldn't help but be addicted to every single page I was reading.
Yes this book is highly unusual, and yes, the storyline has a lot of themes which, written anywhere else, would seem incredibly outlandish and utterly bonkers - but it works, it really does. If you were to ask me what I disliked about this book, I would answer you with 'absolutely nothing', and I'm being completely honest. I could not put this book down, reading it in one sitting and feeling like I had lost my right arm when I had finished reading it.
Holly Cave turned my world upside down with her highly compelling, addictive and brilliant story telling. Reading 'The Memory Chamber' made me feel as though I was looking down on the Earth and everyone in it - a feeling which I have never experienced before whilst reading a book. This book blew my mind and left me wanting a truck load more, I honestly cannot recommend this enough.
Such a unique, thrilling, eye-opening, and brilliant book which will test your perseverance like never before. Bloomin' brilliant!
March 1, 2018
As one of London’s finest Heaven Architects, Isobel Argent can give her clients afterlives to rival their wildest of dreams. She can design a life composed of the happiest of memories. The birth of a child, the embrace of a lover, the voice of a friend, entwined together forever. The impossible is now possible and death is a prospect no one need fear. Certainly not Jarek, a handsome man whose jokes and charms slip past Isobel’s defences and bloom a passionate bond that will tie them to one another. But Jarek is not only a married man. He is a dying man. As he and her other clients inch away from Isobel and into the arms of fate, circling an irrevocable oblivion, Isobel’s well-ordered life stumbles upon disaster. And when Jarek dies, she is informed that he is a prime suspect in a grisly murder. Determined to prove his innocence no matter the cost, Isobel soon unearths the dark underbelly of her career, the shocking truths only she can dredge from the lies.
Holly Cave is a master storyteller. She draws you in with a fusion of mystery, suspense and superb prose, taking command of the imagination and sweeping you along in what is a dark, refreshing, though-provoking tale. Set in a near future where artificial heavens allow people to voyage from this life into a peaceful string of memories, a world just for them, a life after death. So many people say that they wished a particular moment could last forever, in this book those moments can. Isobel and her collages are gatekeepers almost, creating heavens for the world. But even in their lives of order and perfection, changes are rippling through Oakley Associates and beyond.
One of the many reasons I loved this book is because of just how relatable it is. It’s so easy to imagine these artificial heavens existing today, the dawn of a different type of world. It would cause quite a stir and divide opinions; for a lot of people I imagine it could be a bad omen, something to avoid but for others I think it could be somthing that heralds a sense of hope. I’m sure this book will connect with a lot of readers not only because of its original concept but for its compulsive characters and bounty of imagination. Beneath the veil of fiction, it asks the reader moral questions about life and death. It makes you ponder the choices you would make and the memories you would choose to keep and take across the border into heaven.
A gripping, fiercely brave and refreshing tale to grip the imagination and capture hearts. Holly Cave’s writing is beautiful – exquisite and fabulously evocative. I’m so looking forward to reading her next book.
Dark. Imaginative. Compelling.
Holly Cave is a master storyteller. She draws you in with a fusion of mystery, suspense and superb prose, taking command of the imagination and sweeping you along in what is a dark, refreshing, though-provoking tale. Set in a near future where artificial heavens allow people to voyage from this life into a peaceful string of memories, a world just for them, a life after death. So many people say that they wished a particular moment could last forever, in this book those moments can. Isobel and her collages are gatekeepers almost, creating heavens for the world. But even in their lives of order and perfection, changes are rippling through Oakley Associates and beyond.
One of the many reasons I loved this book is because of just how relatable it is. It’s so easy to imagine these artificial heavens existing today, the dawn of a different type of world. It would cause quite a stir and divide opinions; for a lot of people I imagine it could be a bad omen, something to avoid but for others I think it could be somthing that heralds a sense of hope. I’m sure this book will connect with a lot of readers not only because of its original concept but for its compulsive characters and bounty of imagination. Beneath the veil of fiction, it asks the reader moral questions about life and death. It makes you ponder the choices you would make and the memories you would choose to keep and take across the border into heaven.
A gripping, fiercely brave and refreshing tale to grip the imagination and capture hearts. Holly Cave’s writing is beautiful – exquisite and fabulously evocative. I’m so looking forward to reading her next book.
Dark. Imaginative. Compelling.
March 3, 2018
Isobel Argent creates memories for perfect heavens for after we are dead, but she cannot know the full extent of what she is doing.
I thought The Memory Chamber was an exceptional book. I have to admit that I didn’t much enjoy the sensation of reading it because it’s so well written, so plausible and so terrifying that I read it with a knot of tension and fear in the pit of my stomach that made me feel real anxiety. It’s the potential reality of a book set in the not too far off future against an ominous threat of international war that has such impact. Holly Cave has identified our modern day fears and distilled them into a read that compels and terrifies in equal measure.
I’m not usually enamoured of futuristic narratives but The Memory Chamber was just brilliant because I could picture myself living in the London of its setting so easily. Holly Cave writes with such skill. She has a fabulous balance between pared down prose and vivid detail that conveys exactly how Isobel is behaving and feeling so that it’s like being in her mind. It was this that also made me feel very uncomfortable. I didn’t especially warm to Isobel as a character and yet I found myself almost becoming her which was a very disturbing effect of reading The Memory Chamber. I felt quite manipulated by the writing in the same way Isobel finds herself manipulated by events and other characters.
The plot is wonderfully intelligent with the science underpinning its effects and processes giving real authenticity. There’s a compelling murder mystery, but more important is the questioning of how we behave as humans, how we manipulate our own realities and of what should happen when we die. It felt quite nihilistic at times but equally left me feeling it is the life we have now, in our living present, that is so important and meaningful. The themes of truth, identity, technology and science are interwoven effortlessly so that The Memory Chamber is a book that I truly believe will resonate across several decades, not just as a cracking thriller for 2018.
A chilling and compelling book, The Memory Chamber really is ‘electric’ and I urge you to read it, but be prepared to have to question some of your fundamental beliefs and opinions.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2018/03/03/...
I thought The Memory Chamber was an exceptional book. I have to admit that I didn’t much enjoy the sensation of reading it because it’s so well written, so plausible and so terrifying that I read it with a knot of tension and fear in the pit of my stomach that made me feel real anxiety. It’s the potential reality of a book set in the not too far off future against an ominous threat of international war that has such impact. Holly Cave has identified our modern day fears and distilled them into a read that compels and terrifies in equal measure.
I’m not usually enamoured of futuristic narratives but The Memory Chamber was just brilliant because I could picture myself living in the London of its setting so easily. Holly Cave writes with such skill. She has a fabulous balance between pared down prose and vivid detail that conveys exactly how Isobel is behaving and feeling so that it’s like being in her mind. It was this that also made me feel very uncomfortable. I didn’t especially warm to Isobel as a character and yet I found myself almost becoming her which was a very disturbing effect of reading The Memory Chamber. I felt quite manipulated by the writing in the same way Isobel finds herself manipulated by events and other characters.
The plot is wonderfully intelligent with the science underpinning its effects and processes giving real authenticity. There’s a compelling murder mystery, but more important is the questioning of how we behave as humans, how we manipulate our own realities and of what should happen when we die. It felt quite nihilistic at times but equally left me feeling it is the life we have now, in our living present, that is so important and meaningful. The themes of truth, identity, technology and science are interwoven effortlessly so that The Memory Chamber is a book that I truly believe will resonate across several decades, not just as a cracking thriller for 2018.
A chilling and compelling book, The Memory Chamber really is ‘electric’ and I urge you to read it, but be prepared to have to question some of your fundamental beliefs and opinions.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2018/03/03/...
March 9, 2018
Wow, what a book this is! I’m very impressed with this read and it is one that will stick with me for a long time. I’m always intrigued by books that are about heaven and hell and this is a very unique twist to these topics.
Isobel is a Heaven Architect, it’s her job to help dying people create their afterlife from memories from their life. Enter Jarek, he’s come to create his afterlife but he’s still young and married – Isobel falls for him. Everything gets turned upside down in Isobel’s life after meeting Jarek and it makes her question everything she once knew.
Usually I avoid science fiction like the plague, I find them too confusing and I lose interest quickly. However The Memory Chamber has elements of science fiction but it is so much more than that – it’s thrilling, it’s exciting and it really does make you question everything.
Would you want to create your own afterlife from your memories? Before I started this book, I would have quickly answered yes, but reading on I had a different opinion. This book will be an excellent choice for a book club as everyone will have different ideas regarding these thoughts and it would be great to discuss them.
I loved Holly’s writing, she drew me in quickly to the book and within a few pages I knew I was going to love it. Holly’s writing is engaging and it really makes you want to read on. The science parts are brilliantly written and I was able to follow it without getting confused!
At times I did wonder how close are we to this world that Holly has created. The thought of that is scary and I for one hope I don’t see it! I highly recommend this read – even better buddy read it with someone as I guarantee you’ll be wanting to discuss the issues raised with someone else!
It’s addictive, it’s thrilling and it’s completely original.
Isobel is a Heaven Architect, it’s her job to help dying people create their afterlife from memories from their life. Enter Jarek, he’s come to create his afterlife but he’s still young and married – Isobel falls for him. Everything gets turned upside down in Isobel’s life after meeting Jarek and it makes her question everything she once knew.
Usually I avoid science fiction like the plague, I find them too confusing and I lose interest quickly. However The Memory Chamber has elements of science fiction but it is so much more than that – it’s thrilling, it’s exciting and it really does make you question everything.
Would you want to create your own afterlife from your memories? Before I started this book, I would have quickly answered yes, but reading on I had a different opinion. This book will be an excellent choice for a book club as everyone will have different ideas regarding these thoughts and it would be great to discuss them.
I loved Holly’s writing, she drew me in quickly to the book and within a few pages I knew I was going to love it. Holly’s writing is engaging and it really makes you want to read on. The science parts are brilliantly written and I was able to follow it without getting confused!
At times I did wonder how close are we to this world that Holly has created. The thought of that is scary and I for one hope I don’t see it! I highly recommend this read – even better buddy read it with someone as I guarantee you’ll be wanting to discuss the issues raised with someone else!
It’s addictive, it’s thrilling and it’s completely original.
December 8, 2017
Set in the not-so-distant future, The Memory Chamber describes a world where life after death can be decided. Isobel is a Heaven Architect – she designs artificial heavens for her rich clients based on their memories in life. When a charming and handsome client walks in, she begins an affair with a man she knows is dying. Then when his expected death comes, there is something unexpected – he is a suspect in a murder that happened just before his death. And Isobel might be the only one who can solve it through an ethically questionable quest into his heaven.
I really enjoyed this book. I love near-future stories, especially when the new technology in it is something that’s explained so well that it’s believable. I was really enthralled in the story and it’s kept me thinking about the morality of it all and memories.
I really enjoyed this book. I love near-future stories, especially when the new technology in it is something that’s explained so well that it’s believable. I was really enthralled in the story and it’s kept me thinking about the morality of it all and memories.
March 30, 2022
A fascinating idea about engineering a perfect after-life for those about to die - if they can afford it, but also various moral questions arising from it.
A sexy client, a strong willed heaven architect, a murder… all of this promised so much! I jumped on it.
The real dissapointment is the heroine, who is unfortunately just, well - meh…
Great things could have been done with this story. As it is, it’s like we have this main character who we are told is so intelligent, so strong, so conflicted and intense… and still throughout the book she just thinks, talks and behaves like a shadow of a person (maybe of a not very bright teenager), and not a very interesting shadow.
I really could not get invested in this story, although it did get a bit more lively with the whodunit part.
2.5 rounded down
A sexy client, a strong willed heaven architect, a murder… all of this promised so much! I jumped on it.
The real dissapointment is the heroine, who is unfortunately just, well - meh…
Great things could have been done with this story. As it is, it’s like we have this main character who we are told is so intelligent, so strong, so conflicted and intense… and still throughout the book she just thinks, talks and behaves like a shadow of a person (maybe of a not very bright teenager), and not a very interesting shadow.
I really could not get invested in this story, although it did get a bit more lively with the whodunit part.
2.5 rounded down
February 15, 2018
Firstly, thanks to NetGalley, Quercus books and Holly Cave for the opportunity to preview this fabulous read.
This is a book I would ordinarily never have chosen, but, that would have been my loss as I loved it!
I was drawn by the description "you are going to die. You can preserve a handful of special memories for ever. Which ones do you choose?"
However, it's so much more than this description. The writing is almost like poetry in places, so beautifully written. Then, there are the relationships, complexity of moral judgements and murder! It's got it all.
One of those books that has left me stunned and unable, immediately after reading, to even think about starting another.
This is a book I would ordinarily never have chosen, but, that would have been my loss as I loved it!
I was drawn by the description "you are going to die. You can preserve a handful of special memories for ever. Which ones do you choose?"
However, it's so much more than this description. The writing is almost like poetry in places, so beautifully written. Then, there are the relationships, complexity of moral judgements and murder! It's got it all.
One of those books that has left me stunned and unable, immediately after reading, to even think about starting another.
November 29, 2017
Gripping, intriguing and thought provoking. You are not going to want to miss this book.
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