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A review by ps_stillreading
The Mechanics of Memory by Audrey Lee
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
3.5 ⭐
“The impermanence of memory can be a troubling fact for some. As a species we want to believe that our memories are infallible because they make us, us. However, consider the liberation in embracing this fluidity and instead allowing your mind to retain only what is most cherished.”
Hope Nakano is receiving care at a state-of-the-art, very high-end Copeland-Stark treatment facility. She has lost her memories from the previous year due to a traumatic event, and she is at the facility in order to regain memories from that lost year. But after staying for months at The Wilder Sanctuary, Hope still hasn’t made progress. Instead of helping her remember, the treatments reveal inconsistencies between what she does recall and what they say happened to her. Things are Wilder are not all what they seem to be, and Hope begins to search for the truth. And what she finds is bigger than what she expects.
✨
I enjoyed reading this book. Memory has always been an interesting topic for me, especially because for so many of us, our identity is closely intertwined with our memories. We all know how unreliable our memories can be, and how they can be influenced. This book really plays into that.
What I liked:
- Audrey Lee’s compelling writing. The hints, the early planting of the seeds of doubt made me want to keep reading because I wanted to know what happens next. Lee has done a wonderful job of creating this atmosphere of suspense and mystery. All the revelations had me gasping and rethinking about the build-up that got me to those moments.
- The interesting premise, and the blend of themes that Lee chose: memory, neuroscience, psychology, technology, ethics, research, big pharma, and corporate greed.
- The characters and their relationships. I love how Hope had so much love for her partner Luke and his daughter Charlotte. Hope’s friendship with other Wilder residents was also a highlight for me. I love Quinn, and Spooky, and Carter, and Jonah.
- Hope and Luke ❤️ Yes this is a sci-fi book, but underneath it all is this undeniable love between these two people, and the lengths they would go to to protect each other and the people they care about.
What didn’t work for me:
- The moments in the Butterfly Box and in The Shade were a little confusing. It took me a while to understand what was happening and how it all worked, especially when there were other characters involved.
- Pacing felt a little off to me?? Major revelations happened in the middle of the book that took quite a while to resolve.
✨
Overall, I did have a good time reading this book. If you want a compelling read, with characters that you care about, then The Memory Mechanic is for you. I would also recommend this book to people who want to dip their toes into sci-fi. I think readers who are interested in the combination of memory, technology, and ethics would also enjoy this book.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley and CamCat Books in exchange for an honest review.
“The impermanence of memory can be a troubling fact for some. As a species we want to believe that our memories are infallible because they make us, us. However, consider the liberation in embracing this fluidity and instead allowing your mind to retain only what is most cherished.”
Hope Nakano is receiving care at a state-of-the-art, very high-end Copeland-Stark treatment facility. She has lost her memories from the previous year due to a traumatic event, and she is at the facility in order to regain memories from that lost year. But after staying for months at The Wilder Sanctuary, Hope still hasn’t made progress. Instead of helping her remember, the treatments reveal inconsistencies between what she does recall and what they say happened to her. Things are Wilder are not all what they seem to be, and Hope begins to search for the truth. And what she finds is bigger than what she expects.
✨
I enjoyed reading this book. Memory has always been an interesting topic for me, especially because for so many of us, our identity is closely intertwined with our memories. We all know how unreliable our memories can be, and how they can be influenced. This book really plays into that.
What I liked:
- Audrey Lee’s compelling writing. The hints, the early planting of the seeds of doubt made me want to keep reading because I wanted to know what happens next. Lee has done a wonderful job of creating this atmosphere of suspense and mystery. All the revelations had me gasping and rethinking about the build-up that got me to those moments.
- The interesting premise, and the blend of themes that Lee chose: memory, neuroscience, psychology, technology, ethics, research, big pharma, and corporate greed.
- The characters and their relationships. I love how Hope had so much love for her partner Luke and his daughter Charlotte. Hope’s friendship with other Wilder residents was also a highlight for me. I love Quinn, and Spooky, and Carter, and Jonah.
- Hope and Luke ❤️ Yes this is a sci-fi book, but underneath it all is this undeniable love between these two people, and the lengths they would go to to protect each other and the people they care about.
What didn’t work for me:
- The moments in the Butterfly Box and in The Shade were a little confusing. It took me a while to understand what was happening and how it all worked, especially when there were other characters involved.
- Pacing felt a little off to me?? Major revelations happened in the middle of the book that took quite a while to resolve.
✨
Overall, I did have a good time reading this book. If you want a compelling read, with characters that you care about, then The Memory Mechanic is for you. I would also recommend this book to people who want to dip their toes into sci-fi. I think readers who are interested in the combination of memory, technology, and ethics would also enjoy this book.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley and CamCat Books in exchange for an honest review.