Saturday, January 29, 2011

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Memento Nora

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In Nora's world everything is glossy. Thanks to the TFC (Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic), we no longer have to live with the crippling fear that accompanies traumatic experiences. Take a chill-pill and it's gone. Forgotten. Just like it never happened. This may sound a little disturbing, but according to Nora's Dad it's necessary these days due to the seemingly constant acts of terrorism by the Coalition.
The book is set up as a series of journal entries from Nora (the preppy-rich-girl), Micah (the rebellious-skater-artist), and Winter (the hyperactive-creative-punk). Make sure you read the chapter headers, otherwise you'll get totally lost. 
In the beginning Nora witnesses a bombing in close proximity. Her father urges her mother to take her to TFC to erase the nightmare causing horror. When Nora is in the waiting room for her first ever visit she meets Micah who, true to his rebellious reputation, spits out his pill in front of Nora on his way out of the clinic. This sets off a train of thought for Nora that ultimately turns her perspective of her seemingly normal, privileged life thoroughly inside-out. She starts to remember events, overhear things she never noticed before, and questions the legitimacy of this "safe" world her father actually holds her captive in.
The story is a roller-coaster of mystery, intrigue, personal and social revolution. Smibert writes the suspense so craftily that I thought I may have figured something out, but when I discovered what really was going on it was even bigger than I'd imagined. There's just a touch of puppy-love. Huge amounts of scandal. Mystery enough to keep reeling you in.
In Memento Nora we witness the dissolution of an apparent Utopia through the minds of three very different teens connected by fate and a need to share their nightmare's rather than just forget them despite certain brain-washing as consequence.



Pre-Order from Border's (haha, that rhymes)

5 comments:

  1. I can't wait to read it! An ARC is coming to me. Thanks for the preview...

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  2. This sounds awesome! The mind is an insane organ, and memory is crazy intense! This book sounds beyond fascinating! Great review!

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  3. I've got this one on my wishlist and now can't wait for it to come out!

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  4. Great review! I totally agree -- this book was a mind-bending thrill ride!

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