Published: March 2020 by Honno Press
Category: Family Saga, Dual Timeline, Fiction, Book Review
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Today has been a long time coming. Irene sits at her mother’s side waiting for the right moment, for the point at which she will know she is doing the right thing by Rose.
Rose was Irene’s little sister, an unwanted embarrassment to their mother Lilian but a treasure to Irene. Rose died thirty years ago, when she was eight, and nobody has talked about the circumstances of her death since. But Irene knows what she saw. Over the course of 24 hours their moving and tragic story is revealed – a story of love and duty, betrayal and loss – as Irene rediscovers the past and finds hope for the future.
The Memory tells Irene’s story from her perspective, alternating between then and now. Beginning in the now, the story gives an immediate sense of Irene’s life. It’s not at all what she envisioned for herself all those years ago, as she struggles with her full time role as a carer for her mother, with all that entails when someone is incapable of doing anything for themselves.
Everything changed for Irene when her sister was born. She was eight years old. Gone was her happy childhood, the days when her mother laughed and they spent time together, enjoying each others company. Rose was born with Down’s Syndrome and from the first moment Irene loved her, as did her father and grandmother. But seemingly not her mother who rejected Rose, wanting nothing to do with her, and withdrew from the family. Irene sees a side to mother that she never knew existed and it tears their family apart.
A lot of the time, Mum stayed in bed. It upset me; I wanted my old mum back. But, as the weeks went by, it also made me resent her. Nanna said it was because she was sad. I didn’t see why; like I said to Sam enough times, it wasn’t as though we asked her to look after Rose.
Irene became a surrogate mother to Rose, supported by her father and grandmother, and loved her unconditionally. She and her best friend, and later soul mate, Sam, spent as much time as possible with Rose. The prejudices and feelings of the time towards children who were different angered them both, and meant they spent much of their time with Rose on their own. Irene’s life takes many turns, and throughout it all Sam is there for the good times and the bad.
Told sympathetically and with gritty realism, The Memory centres around Irene’s troubled love/hate relationship with her mother, poignant, shocking and compelling in equal measure, as the story evolves.
I’ve been awake for over a day. I glance at the clock with the extra large numbers, bought when she could still tell the time. Now it’s just something else for her to stare at, to puzzle over. It’s actually twenty-seven hours since I slept, and for a lot of them I’ve been on my feet. Not that this is out of the ordinary. This has been going on for the last year: long days, longer nights.
A lovely review of Judith’s book, Cathy. Happy Friday.
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Thanks, Robbie. Happy Friday to you too 🙂
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Isn’t it, Robbie! I love Cathy’s reviews – and I especially am thrilled she liked Irene.
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Wonderful review and I loved the book too… thanks Cathy and congratulations Judith with share in an update next week… hugsx
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Thanks, Sally x
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Thank you, Cathy. I am so glad you liked the book and I appreciate such a wonderful review. For some reason I am unable to’like’ on many sites – and, it seems, I’m being blocked here as well.Sorry.
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You’re very welcome, Judith. No worries about the likes 🙂
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I can’t seem to do ‘likes’ either. Very strange.
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Hmm, that is odd. Must be another WordPress glitch.
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Isn’t it a brillinat review, Val, so insightful and concise. I have been so lucky with the opinions of The Memory, from readers and experienced bloggers, alike… so far. I am grateful to you all. I don’t understand why I can’t ‘like’ posts. it’s frustrating, when trying to show appreciation. Thanks for dropping by and commenting
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Isn’t it just, Sally. I am feeling humbled yet thrilled at the same time. And thank you, as well,your opinion and support always means such a lot. x
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A fantastic review of a book I loved as well. Irene is a truly special character, very real, understandable and lovable too. It’s so beautifully written.
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Thanks so much, Val. It really is beautifully written.
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Thank you, Cathy.
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A great review of a book that was a stunning account of the relationships between Irene and the others in her family. It’s one of those novels that haunts you but also raises a smile.
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Thanks very much 🙂 I agree with your thoughts on the book.
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Thank you, Trish. x
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Wonderful reviews !
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Thank you 🙂
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Thank you, Athira – I’m very lucky, I think, with this great review.
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Great review of The Memory.
I’ve read all of Judith Barrow’s books, so I bought this as soon as it came out. I liked the structure of this book a lot – it’s written in the first person, and each chapter starts with a small section in the present day (2002), with Irene, the main character, taking care of her mother, who has dementia.
Wonderfully reviewed. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, dear Bookish Elf.. So thrilled to read this. I really appreciate your comments on The Memory – and that you enjoy my work. ❤
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Thanks so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it too.
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Another thank you to you, Cathy. With your review and support The Memory has gained a lot of publicity. I’m grateful. ❤
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That’s great to know, Judith 🙂
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