This review was originally posted on http://threecatsandabook.blogspot.comUsually, I’m a pretty fast reader. Yet this book took me forever to finish. I liked it, but I guess my expectations were too high to fully enjoy this book.
I had very high hopes for this book, as I absolutely adore Brashares’ The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants-series. Carmen, Tibby, Lena and especially Bridget have a special place in my heart. I was hoping Lucy and Daniel would become as special to me as the Septembers, but unfortunately this hasn’t happened.
Don’t get me wrong, in the end I enjoyed this book. If this had been written by someone else than Ann Brashares, I might even have given it four stars instead of three. The storyline of My Name is Memory is one of those lovey-dovey storylines perfect for those times when you can’t stop eating chocolate. Reincarnation is for real in this novel and Daniel remembers every life he has lived. Unfortunately, his one true love, Lucy, doesn’t. My Name is Memory is about Daniel trying to find Lucy (or Sophia, as he likes to call her) through his lives. This story is very nicely told by switching from Lucy’s perspective, who only knows this life and thus focuses only on this life, to Daniel’s perspective, who tells more about his past lives through flashbacks.
Although I did enjoy the way in which this novel has been written, I do think Brashares could have gotten more out of the characters and the concept of this novel. Daniel has experienced most of history since 520 A.D. , which makes his character rather unique. But other than the fact that he can speak a bunch of languages, including ancient ones, and is able to play a couple of musical instruments, Brashares doesn’t use that special element to its fullest. Hopefully Ann Brashares will try to do so in the rumoured sequel of this novel.
Furthermore, it doesn’t seem like she put a lot of effort in the flashbacks of this novel. She doesn’t write in depth about historical elements and the flashbacks hardly contain details concerning the time and place in history.
Halfway through this book, I just wanted it to be over already. I wanted Daniel to find Lucy, convince her that his story is legit and live happily ever after with her, ASAP. Unfortunately, my copy of this book holds about 400 pages, so that didn’t happen ASAP. But if you’re looking for a nicely written, somewhat original* love-story, I think this is the book for you. But if you’re looking for a hilarious, yet also tear-jerking novel about the best four fictional friends you will ever have, like the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, I’m afraid your quest isn’t over. I know mine’s not over yet. Perhaps The Last Summer will stand a chance?
*I’m calling this love-story somewhat original because it’s supposedly resembling a lot of Fallen by Lauren Kate. I haven’t read that book though, because its cover screams nothing but “YOU WILL FEEL ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE WHILE READING THIS!!” and that doesn’t really sound appealing to me.