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Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her "Chief." She'd know about her mom's new family. She'd know about her dad's fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn't have wanted to kiss him back.
But Naomi picked heads.
After her remarkable debut, Gabrielle Zevin has crafted an imaginative second novel all about love and second chances.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
But Naomi picked heads.
After her remarkable debut, Gabrielle Zevin has crafted an imaginative second novel all about love and second chances.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2007
409 people are currently reading
45888 people want to read
About the author
Gabrielle Zevin
21 books18.7k followersGABRIELLE ZEVIN is a New York Times best-selling novelist whose books have been translated into forty languages.
Her tenth novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was published by Knopf in July of 2022 and was an instant New York Times Best Seller, a Sunday Times Best Seller, a USA Today Best Seller, a #1 National Indie Best Seller, and a selection of the Tonight Show’s Fallon Book Club. Maureen Corrigan of NPR’s Fresh Air called it, “a big beautifully written novel…that succeeds in being both serious art and immersive entertainment.” Following a twenty-five-bidder auction, the feature film rights to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow were acquired by Temple Hill and Paramount Studios.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry spent many months on the New York Times Best Seller List, reached #1 on the National Indie Best Seller List, was a USA Today Best Seller, and has been a best seller all around the world. A.J. Fikry was honored with the Southern California Independent Booksellers Award for Fiction, the Japan Booksellers’ Prize, and was long listed for the International Dublin Literary Award, among other honors. To date, the book has sold over five-million copies worldwide. It is now a feature film with a screenplay by Zevin. Young Jane Young won the Southern Book Prize and was one of the Washington Post’s Fifty Notable Works of Fiction.
She is the screenwriter of Conversations with Other Women (Helena Bonham Carter) for which she received an Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best First Screenplay. She has occasionally written criticism for the New York Times Book Review and NPR’s All Things Considered, and she began her writing career, at age fourteen, as a music critic for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Zevin is a graduate of Harvard University. She lives in Los Angeles.
NOTE: Apologies, but Gabrielle doesn't reply to messages on Goodreads.
Her tenth novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was published by Knopf in July of 2022 and was an instant New York Times Best Seller, a Sunday Times Best Seller, a USA Today Best Seller, a #1 National Indie Best Seller, and a selection of the Tonight Show’s Fallon Book Club. Maureen Corrigan of NPR’s Fresh Air called it, “a big beautifully written novel…that succeeds in being both serious art and immersive entertainment.” Following a twenty-five-bidder auction, the feature film rights to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow were acquired by Temple Hill and Paramount Studios.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry spent many months on the New York Times Best Seller List, reached #1 on the National Indie Best Seller List, was a USA Today Best Seller, and has been a best seller all around the world. A.J. Fikry was honored with the Southern California Independent Booksellers Award for Fiction, the Japan Booksellers’ Prize, and was long listed for the International Dublin Literary Award, among other honors. To date, the book has sold over five-million copies worldwide. It is now a feature film with a screenplay by Zevin. Young Jane Young won the Southern Book Prize and was one of the Washington Post’s Fifty Notable Works of Fiction.
She is the screenwriter of Conversations with Other Women (Helena Bonham Carter) for which she received an Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best First Screenplay. She has occasionally written criticism for the New York Times Book Review and NPR’s All Things Considered, and she began her writing career, at age fourteen, as a music critic for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Zevin is a graduate of Harvard University. She lives in Los Angeles.
NOTE: Apologies, but Gabrielle doesn't reply to messages on Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,971 reviews
November 3, 2019
there may be spoilers*, but mild and gentle ones, not "it was earth all along" spoilers. this is a book i was reading for school, not because i am a big fan of realistic teen fiction. if you are a teen girl wondering if you should read this book, this is probably not going to be the review for you. in fact, you should stay away from most of my reviews because i am careless and i don't want to be responsible for shattering any beautiful innocence about life or anything. stay gold and all that.
the brain is a complicated organ. duh. well, it is. and i can only assume that gabrielle zevin did her brain-research to get all the facts about amnesia and memory loss and its potential for recovery into fighting shape. but amnesia in general seems like such a contrivance - a staple of soap operas and romantic comedies, it never seems real, even though it happens every day. how does the brain selectively lose chunks of information but retain others? please don't tell me - this is just a rhetorical musing- my brain does not even want to begin to think about it. instead, i am choosing to interpret amnesia here as more of a metaphor for the formlessness of adolescence, where a girl can fall for the tennis jock one day and see no conflict in then developing feelings for the moody and tortured artist and then deciding her goofy best friend is the next logical move. where hobbies are acquired and dropped with regularity and friends change with the season. i mean, obviously the character in this book has actual amnesia (mind those stairs, kids!) but i'm am talking big-picture, the value of this book to readers. i mean - who is the most logical audience for this book?? amnesiacs?? they won't even remember having read it, so too bad for them.
the audience is just everyday teens, either exercising their schadenfreude muscles, or who can relate to the feelings of confusion and freedom that this amnesiac experiences. adolescence is already filled with infinite possibilities - where so many things are still new and untried, but imagine starting over within this already emotional and hormonal time and being given a free pass to do anything and be able to blame it on amnesia? score!! she writes this part exceptionally well.and i love teen fiction with flawed protagonists. most teens i come into contact with are selfish assholes - it's just that stage in development. i'm pretty sure i was a selfish asshole at fifteen as well. so i appreciate it when the characters aren't all noble virgin peacemakers. i think that the discovery of the unreliable narrator is one of the joys of development as a reader, and there are not many in teen fiction - it marks a transition into adult literature, like "look at the possibilities." this narrator isn't unreliable per se, not intentionally so, but she is awfully unlikable, presumably contracting a heavy dose of jerkiness with her head trauma.
so at the end of the day, i think she wrote a fantastic book about being emotionally unmoored. whether she wrote a great book about amnesia is debatable, but i think the emotional ups and downs of youth are captured well, and it is a book teen girls will probably eat up with a spoon. (because i know you guys are still reading this, just because i told you not to)
* a note on spoilers from my textbook (literature for today's young adults - nilsen and donelson 8th edition) that i think puts it well:
come to my blog!
the brain is a complicated organ. duh. well, it is. and i can only assume that gabrielle zevin did her brain-research to get all the facts about amnesia and memory loss and its potential for recovery into fighting shape. but amnesia in general seems like such a contrivance - a staple of soap operas and romantic comedies, it never seems real, even though it happens every day. how does the brain selectively lose chunks of information but retain others? please don't tell me - this is just a rhetorical musing- my brain does not even want to begin to think about it. instead, i am choosing to interpret amnesia here as more of a metaphor for the formlessness of adolescence, where a girl can fall for the tennis jock one day and see no conflict in then developing feelings for the moody and tortured artist and then deciding her goofy best friend is the next logical move. where hobbies are acquired and dropped with regularity and friends change with the season. i mean, obviously the character in this book has actual amnesia (mind those stairs, kids!) but i'm am talking big-picture, the value of this book to readers. i mean - who is the most logical audience for this book?? amnesiacs?? they won't even remember having read it, so too bad for them.
the audience is just everyday teens, either exercising their schadenfreude muscles, or who can relate to the feelings of confusion and freedom that this amnesiac experiences. adolescence is already filled with infinite possibilities - where so many things are still new and untried, but imagine starting over within this already emotional and hormonal time and being given a free pass to do anything and be able to blame it on amnesia? score!! she writes this part exceptionally well.and i love teen fiction with flawed protagonists. most teens i come into contact with are selfish assholes - it's just that stage in development. i'm pretty sure i was a selfish asshole at fifteen as well. so i appreciate it when the characters aren't all noble virgin peacemakers. i think that the discovery of the unreliable narrator is one of the joys of development as a reader, and there are not many in teen fiction - it marks a transition into adult literature, like "look at the possibilities." this narrator isn't unreliable per se, not intentionally so, but she is awfully unlikable, presumably contracting a heavy dose of jerkiness with her head trauma.
so at the end of the day, i think she wrote a fantastic book about being emotionally unmoored. whether she wrote a great book about amnesia is debatable, but i think the emotional ups and downs of youth are captured well, and it is a book teen girls will probably eat up with a spoon. (because i know you guys are still reading this, just because i told you not to)
* a note on spoilers from my textbook (literature for today's young adults - nilsen and donelson 8th edition) that i think puts it well:
The more you read, the more your pleasure will come not so much from being surprised at how a book ends but from your recognition of all the things the author did to bring you as the reader to the end of the story. As discussed in the following section, “Stages of Literary Appreciation,” reading is similar to a journey where what you experience along the way is often as important as what you experience at your final destination.
come to my blog!
January 26, 2018
It was a fun enough book, read well enough - I got it because I hoped it would measure up to author Zevin's later novel for adults, "Young Jane Young," which shows how far Zevin's writing has improved.
March 8, 2008
This is the kind of book that reminds me why I am not a middle school or high school librarian. I need to be able to choose two-and-a-half stars. There were things I really liked about this book, and other things I really did not like.
The idea of a teenager who has, basically, "lost" 4 years of her life is compelling and thought-provoking. That would be so strange. Interesting to think about, and I liked that part of the story. I wanted to find out what happened to Naomi. But the more I read, the less I liked her.
Yes, yes, she'd been through a terrible, confusing ordeal. But the more I got to know her, the more I thought of her as selfish. It didn't really matter what anyone else wanted, just her. Lie, lie, lie. Same goes for Ace and James. Ace was self-centered and was too intent on getting Naomi back in bed, and James was just... incredibly annoying. Mr. Cool-Mood-Swing-Dude. And Naomi just let him treat her like crap and didn't do anything about it because she loved him because he was so tortured. Gimme a break. 5+ hours abandoned on a beach??!! And she's not even mad? Get real. No stinkin' way.
The only characters I actually liked were Will and Mr. Porter, and even they got annoying at times. And in what high school on earth does being on yearbook staff actually take up that much time?? I was on yearbook staff. We got out of school to sell ads, and never worked outside of that one class period a day. Ever. Ever ever.
Last, and most personal and picky: I realize that lots of teenagers use profanity and lots of teenagers have sex, but, ick. I don't wanna read about it. That's not to say that these things were rampant in this book; they weren't. It's just that Naomi's participation in both made me like her less. I guess this is one reason I tend to stick with the PreK-5th grade arena....
The idea of a teenager who has, basically, "lost" 4 years of her life is compelling and thought-provoking. That would be so strange. Interesting to think about, and I liked that part of the story. I wanted to find out what happened to Naomi. But the more I read, the less I liked her.
Yes, yes, she'd been through a terrible, confusing ordeal. But the more I got to know her, the more I thought of her as selfish. It didn't really matter what anyone else wanted, just her. Lie, lie, lie. Same goes for Ace and James. Ace was self-centered and was too intent on getting Naomi back in bed, and James was just... incredibly annoying. Mr. Cool-Mood-Swing-Dude. And Naomi just let him treat her like crap and didn't do anything about it because she loved him because he was so tortured. Gimme a break. 5+ hours abandoned on a beach??!! And she's not even mad? Get real. No stinkin' way.
The only characters I actually liked were Will and Mr. Porter, and even they got annoying at times. And in what high school on earth does being on yearbook staff actually take up that much time?? I was on yearbook staff. We got out of school to sell ads, and never worked outside of that one class period a day. Ever. Ever ever.
Last, and most personal and picky: I realize that lots of teenagers use profanity and lots of teenagers have sex, but, ick. I don't wanna read about it. That's not to say that these things were rampant in this book; they weren't. It's just that Naomi's participation in both made me like her less. I guess this is one reason I tend to stick with the PreK-5th grade arena....
October 20, 2011
FINAL RATING: 1.5 STARS
Where to begin?
First off, I suppose I should say that I wanted to read this book the moment I laid eyes on it in the bookstore. I bought it that same day and squealed as I took it home. Yes, I was that eager to read it.
Before I could do that, I had to get through City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, Clockwork Angel, Paranormalcy, and Supernaturally. Each of these books was exquisite and original, so maybe that's why this book sucked so much.
Oh, yes, and this review will contain major spoilers. Consider yourself warned.
WTF. This was not a love story.
Onto to my actual review… I'll come back to that later.
THE HEROINE
Naomi was whiny, annoying, and selfish. No matter how hard I tried to like her, I just couldn't. all she does the entire book is whine about her freaking amnesia. WE GET IT. YOU LOST YOUR MEMORY. Now get over it and move on with your life. Sure, it can be difficult to accept that you've forgotten things, but you don't have to be so whiny about it; it only makes it worse. Naomi was also so, so stupid. Like, ridiculously stupid. She couldn't seem to decide what to do about ANYTHING. Because of her amnesia. Riiiight. And her voice is irritating, but I'll come to that later.
THE LOVE INTERESTS
ACE
Ace was actually not so bad. Sure, he tries annoying hard to get Naomi back into bed, which I find somewhat disturbing, but at least he's pretty nice. Naomi can't remember why she fell in love with him until she gets her memory back, but even then it feels like she's fuzzy on the subject. He's polite and actually pretty sweet. If not for him being so lusty, I might've actually wanted him to stay with Naomi. Except, I wouldn't wish that on him. Although, he has no real depth. He's a very shallow character, like most of them are.
JAMES
James is my favorite character and the only person even remotely interesting in this entire book. Sure, he has problems, some which are never really made clear, but there are people like that in the world. One of my ex-boyfriends, for example, went to jail once. For what? I don't know, and now I never will. But I don't doubt for a second that he has a good heart. A person doesn't have to be flawless in order to be safe and loving. James actually has feelings, and conflict, and an actual freaking plot line. I love that he isn't perfect, and I love that Zevin was at least not afraid to make his character just the slightest bit dangerous.
WILL
Will annoyed the freaking hell out of me. He's so uncomprehending of the difficulties of amnesia. This might seem to conflict with what I said earlier about how Naomi needs to get over her amnesia, but that's not what I mean. If Naomi should've been less whiny, Will should've realized that amnesia means you can't remember things. so if she doesn't remember what her nickname for your was, give the girl a freaking break! Will was so annoying selfish and indecisive. He'd welcome Naomi back, then give her the cold shoulder, and then suddenly feel like talking to her again. I say: What. The. Hell.
THE ROMANCE
Like I said before, this isn't a love story. It's true that Naomi and James fall in love, and then Naomi and Will, but there's no real substance, at least to the second romance. Naomi and James fall in love over her lost memory, but once it returns there's nothing to hold them together. What kind of love is that? One based off of lies and forgotten things? Naomi believes she loves him, but she isn't exactly going to win the Nobel Peace Prize in Physics anytime soon, or ever. I don't believe there was even a real love there at all, just kisses and lust and shallow, shallow physicality. You can't have a love story without love.
And if the loves story Naomi refers to is the one with her and Will rather than her and James? Um, can you say cliché? Really? Ending up with the best friend? Isn't that so original? It might've been sweet, except Will was so cruel to Naomi at times that I couldn't fathom how he claims he loves her, or why she would ever love him.
THE WRITING
The novel is written from Naomi's point of view, and is annoying as hell. Her voice isn't anything better than her personality. She either describes too much or too little, and it's so frustrating. Her voice is one of the main reasons I disliked her so much. If this novel had been told from third-person point-of-view and I hadn't had to hear Naomi whine every thirty seconds, I might've actually enjoyed this book more. Maybe it would've gotten an extra half-star. I really can't say much more here without launching into a speech to rival William Henry Harrison's inauguration address.
(Look it up. The guy wrote like people breathe.)
THE ENDING
WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!? There is no freaking closure! Maybe Zevin thought she had enough conclusion, but I tell you she did not. Half of the plot lines are left open-ended, and there were so many loose ends. Everything is not okay just because you say it is!!! You need answers, and solutions. I don't care if Naomi's amnesia is gone; that does not automatically make everything freaking better. In order for a stand-alone book (or the last book in a series) to end well, you have to have freaking resolution! This entire book felt pointless and I honestly have no clue what story Zevin was trying to tell or even what point exactly she wanted to make. All I got out of this book was fluff, a headache, and a ton of wasted time. But she and Will are together! So that's, like, soooooooo good!
Not.
FINE.
Find this review and more on Sparkles and Lightning!
Where to begin?
First off, I suppose I should say that I wanted to read this book the moment I laid eyes on it in the bookstore. I bought it that same day and squealed as I took it home. Yes, I was that eager to read it.
Before I could do that, I had to get through City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, Clockwork Angel, Paranormalcy, and Supernaturally. Each of these books was exquisite and original, so maybe that's why this book sucked so much.
Oh, yes, and this review will contain major spoilers. Consider yourself warned.
WTF. This was not a love story.
Onto to my actual review… I'll come back to that later.
THE HEROINE
Naomi was whiny, annoying, and selfish. No matter how hard I tried to like her, I just couldn't. all she does the entire book is whine about her freaking amnesia. WE GET IT. YOU LOST YOUR MEMORY. Now get over it and move on with your life. Sure, it can be difficult to accept that you've forgotten things, but you don't have to be so whiny about it; it only makes it worse. Naomi was also so, so stupid. Like, ridiculously stupid. She couldn't seem to decide what to do about ANYTHING. Because of her amnesia. Riiiight. And her voice is irritating, but I'll come to that later.
THE LOVE INTERESTS
ACE
Ace was actually not so bad. Sure, he tries annoying hard to get Naomi back into bed, which I find somewhat disturbing, but at least he's pretty nice. Naomi can't remember why she fell in love with him until she gets her memory back, but even then it feels like she's fuzzy on the subject. He's polite and actually pretty sweet. If not for him being so lusty, I might've actually wanted him to stay with Naomi. Except, I wouldn't wish that on him. Although, he has no real depth. He's a very shallow character, like most of them are.
JAMES
James is my favorite character and the only person even remotely interesting in this entire book. Sure, he has problems, some which are never really made clear, but there are people like that in the world. One of my ex-boyfriends, for example, went to jail once. For what? I don't know, and now I never will. But I don't doubt for a second that he has a good heart. A person doesn't have to be flawless in order to be safe and loving. James actually has feelings, and conflict, and an actual freaking plot line. I love that he isn't perfect, and I love that Zevin was at least not afraid to make his character just the slightest bit dangerous.
WILL
Will annoyed the freaking hell out of me. He's so uncomprehending of the difficulties of amnesia. This might seem to conflict with what I said earlier about how Naomi needs to get over her amnesia, but that's not what I mean. If Naomi should've been less whiny, Will should've realized that amnesia means you can't remember things. so if she doesn't remember what her nickname for your was, give the girl a freaking break! Will was so annoying selfish and indecisive. He'd welcome Naomi back, then give her the cold shoulder, and then suddenly feel like talking to her again. I say: What. The. Hell.
THE ROMANCE
Like I said before, this isn't a love story. It's true that Naomi and James fall in love, and then Naomi and Will, but there's no real substance, at least to the second romance. Naomi and James fall in love over her lost memory, but once it returns there's nothing to hold them together. What kind of love is that? One based off of lies and forgotten things? Naomi believes she loves him, but she isn't exactly going to win the Nobel Peace Prize in Physics anytime soon, or ever. I don't believe there was even a real love there at all, just kisses and lust and shallow, shallow physicality. You can't have a love story without love.
And if the loves story Naomi refers to is the one with her and Will rather than her and James? Um, can you say cliché? Really? Ending up with the best friend? Isn't that so original? It might've been sweet, except Will was so cruel to Naomi at times that I couldn't fathom how he claims he loves her, or why she would ever love him.
THE WRITING
The novel is written from Naomi's point of view, and is annoying as hell. Her voice isn't anything better than her personality. She either describes too much or too little, and it's so frustrating. Her voice is one of the main reasons I disliked her so much. If this novel had been told from third-person point-of-view and I hadn't had to hear Naomi whine every thirty seconds, I might've actually enjoyed this book more. Maybe it would've gotten an extra half-star. I really can't say much more here without launching into a speech to rival William Henry Harrison's inauguration address.
(Look it up. The guy wrote like people breathe.)
THE ENDING
WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!? There is no freaking closure! Maybe Zevin thought she had enough conclusion, but I tell you she did not. Half of the plot lines are left open-ended, and there were so many loose ends. Everything is not okay just because you say it is!!! You need answers, and solutions. I don't care if Naomi's amnesia is gone; that does not automatically make everything freaking better. In order for a stand-alone book (or the last book in a series) to end well, you have to have freaking resolution! This entire book felt pointless and I honestly have no clue what story Zevin was trying to tell or even what point exactly she wanted to make. All I got out of this book was fluff, a headache, and a ton of wasted time. But she and Will are together! So that's, like, soooooooo good!
Not.
FINE.
Find this review and more on Sparkles and Lightning!
October 21, 2009
Once in a while you come across a book that grabs your attention by its profound understanding of human nature and skillful characterization. "Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac" is one of these books.
This book is not your standard YA novel with first love and boys and kissing. When I opened the book, I expected to get something like an YA version of Meg Cabot's "Remember Me?" but ended up with a story of a girl who loses and then finds a piece of herself.
Naomi forgets 4 years of her life and is forced (in a way) to get to know herself. She gets an opportunity to reinvent her persona when she finds out that her former self wasn't that great and some of her life choices are questionable. We follow our heroine on her journey of self-discovery until the moment her old and new personalities finally come together, and a new, wiser and happier Naomi emerges.
Zevin does a great job of portraying a person who is lost and directionless in life and who is trying to get a grip on her own self. But what is the most impressive is the realness (if there is such a word) of all characters. They are flawed, they are damaged, they are often unlikable, but ultimately very real.
It's not an uplifting or cheerful read, but hopeful nevertheless. The ending is satisfying and truthful. I enjoyed this book more and in a different way than I expected to, and Zevin is definitely an author whose books I will check out in future.
Reading challenge: #1 - Z
This book is not your standard YA novel with first love and boys and kissing. When I opened the book, I expected to get something like an YA version of Meg Cabot's "Remember Me?" but ended up with a story of a girl who loses and then finds a piece of herself.
Naomi forgets 4 years of her life and is forced (in a way) to get to know herself. She gets an opportunity to reinvent her persona when she finds out that her former self wasn't that great and some of her life choices are questionable. We follow our heroine on her journey of self-discovery until the moment her old and new personalities finally come together, and a new, wiser and happier Naomi emerges.
Zevin does a great job of portraying a person who is lost and directionless in life and who is trying to get a grip on her own self. But what is the most impressive is the realness (if there is such a word) of all characters. They are flawed, they are damaged, they are often unlikable, but ultimately very real.
It's not an uplifting or cheerful read, but hopeful nevertheless. The ending is satisfying and truthful. I enjoyed this book more and in a different way than I expected to, and Zevin is definitely an author whose books I will check out in future.
Reading challenge: #1 - Z
January 7, 2008
Naomi Porter regains consciousness as she is being put into an ambulence. She hears an unfamiliar voice claiming to be her boyfriend and opens her eyes to see him sitting beside her on the way to the hospital. The pain in her head is so severe that she doesn't worry about the fact that she has no idea who the guy is holding her hand and telling her everything is going to be okay.
In the hospital, Naomi learns that she fell down the steps of her high school and hit her head hard enough to cause brain trauma. The mysterious boy who kept her company in the ambulence and stayed in the hospital with her until her father arrived turned out to be a boy she didn't really know. James is a boy with a troubled past and new to her high school and just happened to be there when Naomi fell. He didn't want her to be alone so he lied to the paramedics in order to get permission to ride to the hospital with her. Naomi feels an immediate attraction to him especially after she realizes she can't remember anything in her life from the past four years. She can at least remember James since she met him after he woke up.
The next several months are difficult for Naomi. Her father, a writer by trade, calms his nerves in the hospital by starting a list of things Naomi doesn't remember. Things on the list include:
1. Will Landsman - her best friend and her co-editor on the high school yearbook.
2. The divorce of her mother and father.
3. The fact that her mother has had a child with her new husband and she now has a sister.
4. Ace - her boyfriend.
5. How to drive.
When her father is finished with the list it is five pages long and contains one hundred and eighty-six items on it.
Once Naomi starts the school year everything becomes more complicated. She has to deal with people that knew her as she was before the accident and change her behavior based on their cues. She begins to analyze her life and make decisions about what is important to her now - and sometimes she realizes that what was once very important to her might not be as important to her now and visa versa.
MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC is another wonderful novel by Gabrielle Zevin. The characters come alive on the first page and find a place in the reader's heart. It is a love story without being a "love story." Pick it up and you won't be disappointed.
In the hospital, Naomi learns that she fell down the steps of her high school and hit her head hard enough to cause brain trauma. The mysterious boy who kept her company in the ambulence and stayed in the hospital with her until her father arrived turned out to be a boy she didn't really know. James is a boy with a troubled past and new to her high school and just happened to be there when Naomi fell. He didn't want her to be alone so he lied to the paramedics in order to get permission to ride to the hospital with her. Naomi feels an immediate attraction to him especially after she realizes she can't remember anything in her life from the past four years. She can at least remember James since she met him after he woke up.
The next several months are difficult for Naomi. Her father, a writer by trade, calms his nerves in the hospital by starting a list of things Naomi doesn't remember. Things on the list include:
1. Will Landsman - her best friend and her co-editor on the high school yearbook.
2. The divorce of her mother and father.
3. The fact that her mother has had a child with her new husband and she now has a sister.
4. Ace - her boyfriend.
5. How to drive.
When her father is finished with the list it is five pages long and contains one hundred and eighty-six items on it.
Once Naomi starts the school year everything becomes more complicated. She has to deal with people that knew her as she was before the accident and change her behavior based on their cues. She begins to analyze her life and make decisions about what is important to her now - and sometimes she realizes that what was once very important to her might not be as important to her now and visa versa.
MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC is another wonderful novel by Gabrielle Zevin. The characters come alive on the first page and find a place in the reader's heart. It is a love story without being a "love story." Pick it up and you won't be disappointed.
April 27, 2017
Audio narrated by Caitlin Greer. (6h 40m)
A different plot for a YA novel that opens with the main character, Naomi, in the back of an ambulance with a boy that claims he's her boyfriend. Of course, my mind filled with a repertoire of suspense thrillers immediately went to "OMG, he tried to kill her", but no, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is not that kind of book. Honestly, I wish it had been a little more like that. Instead it was full of teen angst, choosing between three different guys, and trying to regain memory. Well, maybe the last one isn't something we see too often.
I am left feeling so-so about this book. I'm considering that my reading experience may have been different if I had read the book instead of listening to it on Audible. Honestly, it's not because of Greer's performance either, she played the teen angst role really well. I just failed to ever to feel much empathy to Naomi. She was quite whiney.
A real hit and miss for me!
A different plot for a YA novel that opens with the main character, Naomi, in the back of an ambulance with a boy that claims he's her boyfriend. Of course, my mind filled with a repertoire of suspense thrillers immediately went to "OMG, he tried to kill her", but no, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is not that kind of book. Honestly, I wish it had been a little more like that. Instead it was full of teen angst, choosing between three different guys, and trying to regain memory. Well, maybe the last one isn't something we see too often.
I am left feeling so-so about this book. I'm considering that my reading experience may have been different if I had read the book instead of listening to it on Audible. Honestly, it's not because of Greer's performance either, she played the teen angst role really well. I just failed to ever to feel much empathy to Naomi. She was quite whiney.
A real hit and miss for me!
May 4, 2020
The story is actually sad but the author managed to make it light and fun even because I thought it was very entertaining. The dialogues are laced with humor and philosophical truths that are so simple and yet so relatable on a personal level.
I also could never guess where the plot was headed and that was a pleasant change in a YA contemporary. It's really so easy to get fond of Ms. Zevin's writing. It's honest, smart, and witty and I really enjoyed it like I did her first novel I read, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry. Now I'm actively on hunt for her Elsewhere.
I also could never guess where the plot was headed and that was a pleasant change in a YA contemporary. It's really so easy to get fond of Ms. Zevin's writing. It's honest, smart, and witty and I really enjoyed it like I did her first novel I read, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry. Now I'm actively on hunt for her Elsewhere.
August 29, 2010
This book really could have been good if I hadn't disliked the main character and her love interest so much.
Towards the end, it got a little bit better, but up until then, I was mostly feeling annoyed by Naomi and her behaviour. Especially since she decided to treat the characters I really liked, namly her dad and Will, rather badly. And didn't even care enough to apologize to them later when she realized she had been mean.
Towards the end, it got a little bit better, but up until then, I was mostly feeling annoyed by Naomi and her behaviour. Especially since she decided to treat the characters I really liked, namly her dad and Will, rather badly. And didn't even care enough to apologize to them later when she realized she had been mean.
July 31, 2018
2.5
I don't know how I feel about this book. I liked the idea, it only bored me a little bit, but I hated the main character. She was such an asshole to everyone, before and after her memory loss. All I know is that if I ever acted like her when I was a teenager, I would've gotten my ass kicked by everyone I love. No one would've put up with this behaviour.
Also, I hated her entire relationship with James. I liked his character, and I understand why he acted the way he did, and what he was going through, but I didn't like their relationship.
OH. OH. AND. The whole thing in the car where that guy (Alex?) was groping whatsherface (Brianna?) in the back seat and then fucking Ace turns up the music, PROBABLY BECAUSE HE'S SICK OF HEARING HER SAY NO?! EXCUSE ME?! EXCUSE. THE FUCK. OUT. OF. ME. And then Naomi turns and tells him maybe he should stop because, oh, I don't know, UNWANTED ADVANCES? And then everyone in the fucking car is mad at her because she told him he should listen to a girl telling him to say stop? ANd then Naomi just thinks to herself, maybe I shouldn't have, a girl like Brianna can stick up for herself. THIS WHOLE ONE PAGE SCENE WAS A BIG FUCKING NO.
If this rating was based just on the main character and nothing else, I would find a way to give this negative stars. I loved Will though, and it was a good story. But Naomi. She pissed me off like no other. Definitely lowered the overall rating by being a fucking piece of shit.
I don't know how I feel about this book. I liked the idea, it only bored me a little bit, but I hated the main character. She was such an asshole to everyone, before and after her memory loss. All I know is that if I ever acted like her when I was a teenager, I would've gotten my ass kicked by everyone I love. No one would've put up with this behaviour.
Also, I hated her entire relationship with James. I liked his character, and I understand why he acted the way he did, and what he was going through, but I didn't like their relationship.
OH. OH. AND. The whole thing in the car where that guy (Alex?) was groping whatsherface (Brianna?) in the back seat and then fucking Ace turns up the music, PROBABLY BECAUSE HE'S SICK OF HEARING HER SAY NO?! EXCUSE ME?! EXCUSE. THE FUCK. OUT. OF. ME. And then Naomi turns and tells him maybe he should stop because, oh, I don't know, UNWANTED ADVANCES? And then everyone in the fucking car is mad at her because she told him he should listen to a girl telling him to say stop? ANd then Naomi just thinks to herself, maybe I shouldn't have, a girl like Brianna can stick up for herself. THIS WHOLE ONE PAGE SCENE WAS A BIG FUCKING NO.
If this rating was based just on the main character and nothing else, I would find a way to give this negative stars. I loved Will though, and it was a good story. But Naomi. She pissed me off like no other. Definitely lowered the overall rating by being a fucking piece of shit.
March 21, 2008
If you happen to be one of those teens who just wants to forget what has happened the last few years, here is what you do: throw yourself down a flight of stairs!
Crazy I know! but this is a sweet book. Here is one of my favorite passages:
page 259:
"It happens, baby." Dad nodded and patted me on the hand and then he read my mind. "You forget all of it anyway. First, you forget everything you learned-the dates of the Hay-Herran Treaty and Pythagorean Theorem. You especially forget everything you didn't really learn, but just memorized the night before. You forget the names of all but one or two of your teachers, and eventually you'll forget those, too. You forget your junior class schedule and where you used to sit and your best friend's home phone number (339-4962, I think) and the lyrics to that song you must have played a million times. For me, it was something by Simon & Garfunkel. Who knows what it will be for you? And eventually, but slowly, oh so slowly, you forget your humiliations-even the ones that seemed indelible just fade away. You forget who was cool and who was not, who was pretty, smart, athletic, and not. Who went to a good college. Who threw the best parties Who could get you pot. You forget all of them. Even the ones you said you loved, and even the ones you actually did. They're the last to go. Anbd then once you've forgotten enough, you love someone else."
wow, i guess that was kind of long, huh? Sorry.
Crazy I know! but this is a sweet book. Here is one of my favorite passages:
page 259:
"It happens, baby." Dad nodded and patted me on the hand and then he read my mind. "You forget all of it anyway. First, you forget everything you learned-the dates of the Hay-Herran Treaty and Pythagorean Theorem. You especially forget everything you didn't really learn, but just memorized the night before. You forget the names of all but one or two of your teachers, and eventually you'll forget those, too. You forget your junior class schedule and where you used to sit and your best friend's home phone number (339-4962, I think) and the lyrics to that song you must have played a million times. For me, it was something by Simon & Garfunkel. Who knows what it will be for you? And eventually, but slowly, oh so slowly, you forget your humiliations-even the ones that seemed indelible just fade away. You forget who was cool and who was not, who was pretty, smart, athletic, and not. Who went to a good college. Who threw the best parties Who could get you pot. You forget all of them. Even the ones you said you loved, and even the ones you actually did. They're the last to go. Anbd then once you've forgotten enough, you love someone else."
wow, i guess that was kind of long, huh? Sorry.
August 26, 2016
Such an interesting concept ... and yet I stopped reading at page 90. The trail of unfinished books I've left behind me since the beginning of this year starts to become alarmingly long. Still I refuse to read on when processing the scenes becomes an effort instead of fun.
Although I can understand the heroine's motivations - forming a stance, an opinion on something, coming to terms with personal calamities, growing really fond of someone takes time, and therefore it is natural that somebody who has to restart at a later point in life with an earlier set of experiences takes different turns and comes to different conclusions than her first alter ego - I simply cannot get warm with her. I am not sure, but I partly explain this by her strange lack of interaction skills. For instance she yawns in the middle - smack in the middle - of a telephone conversation with her best friend, who is in the process of patiently answering one of her questions, says "Night, Will" and puts down the receiver immediately. A bit rude, don't you think? Naomi must have mastered the rules of politely ending a phone call when she was twelve. So, in my opinion losing her memory is no excuse for cutting someone off this way. This situation is only one of many equally irritating.
Although I can understand the heroine's motivations - forming a stance, an opinion on something, coming to terms with personal calamities, growing really fond of someone takes time, and therefore it is natural that somebody who has to restart at a later point in life with an earlier set of experiences takes different turns and comes to different conclusions than her first alter ego - I simply cannot get warm with her. I am not sure, but I partly explain this by her strange lack of interaction skills. For instance she yawns in the middle - smack in the middle - of a telephone conversation with her best friend, who is in the process of patiently answering one of her questions, says "Night, Will" and puts down the receiver immediately. A bit rude, don't you think? Naomi must have mastered the rules of politely ending a phone call when she was twelve. So, in my opinion losing her memory is no excuse for cutting someone off this way. This situation is only one of many equally irritating.
February 29, 2016
When you hear people talk about voice, this is what they are talking about. The voice in this book is fabulous: strong, funny, and intelligent. I loved it, and I loved that Zevin tells us absolutely nothing. She shows it to us. She never tells us whether to like Naomi or always what she's thinking or what to expect her to do or want or become. I can see how that could be frustrating for girls who are used to books that tell them what to think, but I thought it was refreshing and made the book all that much more powerful.
Incidentally, I didn't like Naomi, not really. I could sympathize with her and root for her, but she was an authentically selfish teenager and her choices often bothered me (as did, once again, the sex in the book). All the characters are very vivid and very real and multi-dimensional. My favorite character was Will. I adored him and his quirky personality and his banter with Naomi. Every time he was in a scene, I smiled.
I was so into this book that when I got to the last page, I furiously turned the last page and said "Nooo!" But no. It was the end. And so is this.
Incidentally, I didn't like Naomi, not really. I could sympathize with her and root for her, but she was an authentically selfish teenager and her choices often bothered me (as did, once again, the sex in the book). All the characters are very vivid and very real and multi-dimensional. My favorite character was Will. I adored him and his quirky personality and his banter with Naomi. Every time he was in a scene, I smiled.
I was so into this book that when I got to the last page, I furiously turned the last page and said "Nooo!" But no. It was the end. And so is this.
December 20, 2016
It is such a rare treat to read such remarkable and undeniably realistic characters. Zevin weaves the tale of Naomi’s self discovery with extraordinary skill and creates characters that are so alive, I feel like I know them and experienced the events of this story right along with them as opposed to merely reading about them.
In one misstep, Naomi lost years' worth of memories. After hitting her head on the steps after school, she wakes up in an ambulance, more aware of the pain than what actually happened. The only thing she knows is that she is grateful to the boy sitting beside her, though she has no idea who he is. She soon realizes that she doesn’t remember who she is or rather, who she has become.
Further examination shows that she can't remember select memories from the past four years of her life. She knows who she is, or rather who she was, but as she has no recollection of more recent events, and she must rely on her family members and friends to fill in the blanks. She is shocked to learn what has happened to her family and uncomfortable around her boyfriend Ace and her best friend Will. She is strangely drawn to James, the boy who found her and rode with her to the hospital, who up until the moment he found her, had never met her.
Like memory itself, the book has many layers. Naomi knows she is lucky to be alive, but she is unsure how to live that life. She feels like a stranger in her own home, in her own body, and with her family and friends. As others, especially her father and Will share their memories of her with her, Naomi wonders if her own memories will compare to these stories. She wants to get back to herself, but who is she now compared to who she was then and does she even like the person she was before?
What follows is more than just a tale about an amnesiac recovering her memories. It’s a story about remembering who you were, being who you are, and shaping who you will become. Great Book!
In one misstep, Naomi lost years' worth of memories. After hitting her head on the steps after school, she wakes up in an ambulance, more aware of the pain than what actually happened. The only thing she knows is that she is grateful to the boy sitting beside her, though she has no idea who he is. She soon realizes that she doesn’t remember who she is or rather, who she has become.
Further examination shows that she can't remember select memories from the past four years of her life. She knows who she is, or rather who she was, but as she has no recollection of more recent events, and she must rely on her family members and friends to fill in the blanks. She is shocked to learn what has happened to her family and uncomfortable around her boyfriend Ace and her best friend Will. She is strangely drawn to James, the boy who found her and rode with her to the hospital, who up until the moment he found her, had never met her.
Like memory itself, the book has many layers. Naomi knows she is lucky to be alive, but she is unsure how to live that life. She feels like a stranger in her own home, in her own body, and with her family and friends. As others, especially her father and Will share their memories of her with her, Naomi wonders if her own memories will compare to these stories. She wants to get back to herself, but who is she now compared to who she was then and does she even like the person she was before?
What follows is more than just a tale about an amnesiac recovering her memories. It’s a story about remembering who you were, being who you are, and shaping who you will become. Great Book!
June 30, 2010
I wasn’t expecting this book to be funny, but much of it was quite amusing.
I’ve always been interested in amnesia. To me, we are our memories. If we lose our memories are we the same person? Do we like and dislike the same things/people, have the same beliefs? It’s one reason I was so interested in reading this book, and I think the story did a good job of addressing this issue.
This book had been languishing on my to-read shelf so I’m very grateful that the YA Book Club here at Goodreads chose it for their July book because it motivated me to finally read it.
There was one false note for me when a character addresses another character by first and last name when a person in real life would address that person by first name only; I’m always annoyed when authors do that. (not Rosa Rivera, but Naomi Porter) But, overall, most of what happened rang true, though possibly not all of it was completely plausible.
Naomi is not the type of girl I’d want to be friends with. In fact, she doesn’t seem to have many girlfriends that she does things with. (I did like her two sort of friends who were a lesbian couple and appreciated that that subplot was told without any fanfare.) I did appreciate Naomi’s honesty about herself. And I enjoyed reading about her, and the other people in the book.
The book is well written, and there are some incredibly lovely lines. I wanted to write a bunch down to put in my review but I decided not to interrupt the flow of my reading.
I expected to really like this book and I did.
Addendum: I've always loved The Beatles song I Will, and now I can't get it out of my mind; it fit within this story perfectly.
I’ve always been interested in amnesia. To me, we are our memories. If we lose our memories are we the same person? Do we like and dislike the same things/people, have the same beliefs? It’s one reason I was so interested in reading this book, and I think the story did a good job of addressing this issue.
This book had been languishing on my to-read shelf so I’m very grateful that the YA Book Club here at Goodreads chose it for their July book because it motivated me to finally read it.
There was one false note for me when a character addresses another character by first and last name when a person in real life would address that person by first name only; I’m always annoyed when authors do that. (not Rosa Rivera, but Naomi Porter) But, overall, most of what happened rang true, though possibly not all of it was completely plausible.
Naomi is not the type of girl I’d want to be friends with. In fact, she doesn’t seem to have many girlfriends that she does things with. (I did like her two sort of friends who were a lesbian couple and appreciated that that subplot was told without any fanfare.) I did appreciate Naomi’s honesty about herself. And I enjoyed reading about her, and the other people in the book.
The book is well written, and there are some incredibly lovely lines. I wanted to write a bunch down to put in my review but I decided not to interrupt the flow of my reading.
I expected to really like this book and I did.
Addendum: I've always loved The Beatles song I Will, and now I can't get it out of my mind; it fit within this story perfectly.
October 20, 2007
I didn't find this book as appealing as her earlier book, "Elsewhere." The protagonist, Naomi Porter, was barely likeable, and came off as extremely selfish, cranky, and just generally bitchy for no apparent reason. I'm not even sure why this book is called "Memoirs" since we get very little insight into her amnesia (she loses her memory and has to deal with the resulting high school drama, or lack of). I also disliked how there was very little resolution w/the mother-daughter issue--it's almost as though Zevin kind of glossed over that part. Lastly, the ending was a bit rushed, and overall, the love stories were not that convincing. Still, it's an interesting concept and I would recommend this book to teens who are interested in angsty romance.
January 28, 2018
I adored this novel. Mainly due to the author's beautiful writing style and fluid storytelling. If I were to make one complaint it would be that I wish one of the characters, whose name I shall not state due to my fear of spoilers, had more of a resolution. I fell in love with them and my mind is reeling, wondering what will become of them and if they move on, find happiness, and heal. This is one novel I am dying to read a companion to.
July 9, 2010
My initial reaction to this book was a look of disbelief at the title. I mean, how could an amnesiac have memoirs? I opened the book and started reading and I was captivated. What an interesting concept for a book.
Naomi Porter loses a coin toss and must return to school to pickup a camera. There, she falls down the stairs and hits her head. When she regains consciousness, she can't remember anything that happened in the past 4 years. Important things, like her parents are divorced, her father is engaged to be married, she has a little sister, and that she has a boyfriend.
So begins Naomi's journey to discover who she was. When she returns home from the hospital, she looks through her things and is surprised at the type of person she was. Throughout her recovery, she learns more about herself, some good, some bad.
Naomi's best friend, Will is always around during Naomi's recovery. Will is one of those good guys, the sensitive kind, the best friend. Will constantly creates play lists for Naomi so that she can remember her past. There is also a bad boy character - James, who found Naomi after her fall. James is a perfect boyfriend for Naomi as long as she can not remember her past. Naomi's before the fall jock boyfriend Ace, is your typical teenage boy. Naomi can't remember why she was attracted to Ace in the first place.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac was a memorable book for me. There were moments of humor, sadness, and relief. Naomi's journey of self discovery led to many opportunities for her to change her life for the better and to rebuild her relationships with her family and friends.
Naomi Porter loses a coin toss and must return to school to pickup a camera. There, she falls down the stairs and hits her head. When she regains consciousness, she can't remember anything that happened in the past 4 years. Important things, like her parents are divorced, her father is engaged to be married, she has a little sister, and that she has a boyfriend.
So begins Naomi's journey to discover who she was. When she returns home from the hospital, she looks through her things and is surprised at the type of person she was. Throughout her recovery, she learns more about herself, some good, some bad.
Naomi's best friend, Will is always around during Naomi's recovery. Will is one of those good guys, the sensitive kind, the best friend. Will constantly creates play lists for Naomi so that she can remember her past. There is also a bad boy character - James, who found Naomi after her fall. James is a perfect boyfriend for Naomi as long as she can not remember her past. Naomi's before the fall jock boyfriend Ace, is your typical teenage boy. Naomi can't remember why she was attracted to Ace in the first place.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac was a memorable book for me. There were moments of humor, sadness, and relief. Naomi's journey of self discovery led to many opportunities for her to change her life for the better and to rebuild her relationships with her family and friends.
January 17, 2017
Rounding up to 4 Stars
Everything about this book was appealing: characters, story, hint of mystery, language....except for the ending! It was one of those where you flip the page and your mouth gapes open with confusion. That's it? Huh? The story seemed to just stop. Admittedly, I'd prefer my endings tied up with a silky red ribbon. I can guess, of course, but ugh! (My Kindle is most definitely to blame, as well. I was at 89% when I suddenly hit the acknowledgement pages. I've noticed this happens when the author offers discussion question and a preview to an upcoming novel. Tricks me every time!)
Everything about this book was appealing: characters, story, hint of mystery, language....except for the ending! It was one of those where you flip the page and your mouth gapes open with confusion. That's it? Huh? The story seemed to just stop. Admittedly, I'd prefer my endings tied up with a silky red ribbon. I can guess, of course, but ugh! (My Kindle is most definitely to blame, as well. I was at 89% when I suddenly hit the acknowledgement pages. I've noticed this happens when the author offers discussion question and a preview to an upcoming novel. Tricks me every time!)
August 12, 2010
I really wanted to like this book. The premise is really intriguing-- the title alone made me pick it up, but I just dont think I could have hated it more.
The MC was seemingly always in a bad mood (I think she wanted to throw out every single gift she'd ever been given-- and she was given something like 5 gifts in this book). Basically, the girl was an intolerable bitch. I hated her. Haaaaated her. She was rude to everybody who was nice to her and a saint to her moody brooding boyfriend who was so "emo" and "alternative" and "dark" who treated her like crap. They talked a lot about being in love but I didnt buy it for a second. And the fact that it was so quickly swept under the rug once it was over really didnt sell me on the "love" either.
Also, the characters spoke with kind of stiff dialogue. Really stiff dialogue. I think making Will an "old soul" type of guy fit for the way he was speaking (or maybe it was just an excuse cuz he sounded like such an old man) but it doesnt excuse anyone else.
The story lost focus. There could've been so much done about a girl who wakes up in the hospital with her memory wiped, but it just didnt follow through. I wanted to know more about why she'd gone out with Ace and how she could really reexamine that now that she was a "new" person, but it felt so glossed-over. I wanted to know more about the girl who kept a food journal.
The voice was blah. The characters were blah. (when not completely annoying). And there was so much telling rather than showing. I feel bad for hating on this book so much, but it was ust so uninspired.
I wanna punch Naomi in the teeth.
The MC was seemingly always in a bad mood (I think she wanted to throw out every single gift she'd ever been given-- and she was given something like 5 gifts in this book). Basically, the girl was an intolerable bitch. I hated her. Haaaaated her. She was rude to everybody who was nice to her and a saint to her moody brooding boyfriend who was so "emo" and "alternative" and "dark" who treated her like crap. They talked a lot about being in love but I didnt buy it for a second. And the fact that it was so quickly swept under the rug once it was over really didnt sell me on the "love" either.
Also, the characters spoke with kind of stiff dialogue. Really stiff dialogue. I think making Will an "old soul" type of guy fit for the way he was speaking (or maybe it was just an excuse cuz he sounded like such an old man) but it doesnt excuse anyone else.
The story lost focus. There could've been so much done about a girl who wakes up in the hospital with her memory wiped, but it just didnt follow through. I wanted to know more about why she'd gone out with Ace and how she could really reexamine that now that she was a "new" person, but it felt so glossed-over. I wanted to know more about the girl who kept a food journal.
The voice was blah. The characters were blah. (when not completely annoying). And there was so much telling rather than showing. I feel bad for hating on this book so much, but it was ust so uninspired.
I wanna punch Naomi in the teeth.
July 11, 2018
⭐⭐⭐ ┊ 3 stars
Not really sure what to say. I was disappointed. I am disappointed.
Most of the characters were not all there. Naomi was a selfish and bratty 17-year-old kid. Ace (what a name, of course he had to be good at tennis too) didn't care about anyone but himself and was so one-dimensional. James treated the people around him like crap and used his depression as an excuse to get away with it.
The only character I liked was Will. So sweet and romantic and caring and loyal.
The concept of a teenage girl who loses her memory was so intriguing I guess I was let down by the execution.
I guess each to their own.
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Not really sure what to say. I was disappointed. I am disappointed.
Most of the characters were not all there. Naomi was a selfish and bratty 17-year-old kid. Ace (what a name, of course he had to be good at tennis too) didn't care about anyone but himself and was so one-dimensional. James treated the people around him like crap and used his depression as an excuse to get away with it.
The only character I liked was Will. So sweet and romantic and caring and loyal.
The concept of a teenage girl who loses her memory was so intriguing I guess I was let down by the execution.
I guess each to their own.
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"You could tell everything about people...from the kinds of signs they put up."
September 30, 2013
Picked up @ Basement Books for $3. (Hooray for short days at uni and being able to drop by BB on the way to the train station!)
I'm kind of already engrossed in the voice, narration and story. I'm already reading so many books right now though... :/ Oh, screw it.
This book was published first, but I'd like to say that I feel a resemblence to IF I STAY. In every sense. The overall feeling is just awesome.
--------------------------------
5/5
Perfection. This story is kind of bittersweet, beautiful and magical.
Highly highly recommended for readers who love realistic/contemporary fiction.
And I have apparently forgotten how to talk about books that I read so... list time!
+ Naomi feels like a real, fleshed-out person. She has her flaws and characteristic quirks, and after reading the last page I feel like her story does go on, that she's out there living her life...
+ Will
+ Naomi and Will's friendship ~ they know absolutely everything about the other person and are inseparable. So sweet. I knew their 'ending', and I loved their journey.
+ Naomi's dad and the whole orphan plot arc. This book is very 'coming of age'-y, very 'finding yourself'-sy. Just brilliant. The concept of losing one's memory allows the reader to wonder how they would cope if they forgot absolutely everything about themselves, contemplating on the essence of one's identity... all those good things associated with adolescence and growing up.
+ The pacing, and how the book was set out ~ MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC is set out: "I was", "I am" and "I will". Fitting in more ways than one. It's also very fitting to Naomi's personality that she would set her story out in this way... props to Zevin for the forethought!
I'm kind of already engrossed in the voice, narration and story. I'm already reading so many books right now though... :/ Oh, screw it.
This book was published first, but I'd like to say that I feel a resemblence to IF I STAY. In every sense. The overall feeling is just awesome.
--------------------------------
5/5
Perfection. This story is kind of bittersweet, beautiful and magical.
Highly highly recommended for readers who love realistic/contemporary fiction.
And I have apparently forgotten how to talk about books that I read so... list time!
+ Naomi feels like a real, fleshed-out person. She has her flaws and characteristic quirks, and after reading the last page I feel like her story does go on, that she's out there living her life...
+ Will
+ Naomi and Will's friendship ~ they know absolutely everything about the other person and are inseparable. So sweet. I knew their 'ending', and I loved their journey.
+ Naomi's dad and the whole orphan plot arc. This book is very 'coming of age'-y, very 'finding yourself'-sy. Just brilliant. The concept of losing one's memory allows the reader to wonder how they would cope if they forgot absolutely everything about themselves, contemplating on the essence of one's identity... all those good things associated with adolescence and growing up.
+ The pacing, and how the book was set out ~ MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC is set out: "I was", "I am" and "I will". Fitting in more ways than one. It's also very fitting to Naomi's personality that she would set her story out in this way... props to Zevin for the forethought!
July 25, 2015
This was a refreshing read. I found it to be humorous at times, but at other times it was very sad & serious. I really enjoyed how the book was separated into three parts which each told a piece of Naomi's story of memory loss and then regaining it. She was a very dynamic character and I enjoyed seeing her mature and change through the many things that happened to her and around her.
I found her character, as we know it, from before her head injury to have been awful - I don't think I would have liked her if she had been in my school, but after her injury when she had to renavigate the whole friends in high school thing, I really liked that she was much nicer and kinder to those around her.
I found her character, as we know it, from before her head injury to have been awful - I don't think I would have liked her if she had been in my school, but after her injury when she had to renavigate the whole friends in high school thing, I really liked that she was much nicer and kinder to those around her.
September 9, 2016
4/5 I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed seeing through the main character's eyes as we went through her life with her without her memories. I also enjoyed that this story was extremely realistic when it came to teenage relationships. No insta-love or soul mate stuff, just honest to goodness real first love stuff. Highly recommend in the plot intrigues your interest.
May 21, 2016
2.5/5 stars
Meh. This wasn't anything special. Although I liked it enough to read it to pass time between classes. I felt like I was waiting for something to take place the entire time. There was barely any conflict, the whole story was missing something for me. But I loved the music playlists(its why I decided to give a half star bumping it to 2.5)
Meh. This wasn't anything special. Although I liked it enough to read it to pass time between classes. I felt like I was waiting for something to take place the entire time. There was barely any conflict, the whole story was missing something for me. But I loved the music playlists(its why I decided to give a half star bumping it to 2.5)
July 20, 2016
My rating is 3.5 or 3.75 stars, but I rounded up. The premise and character background was intriguing. Our main character, Naomi, lost four years of her life and now needs to rediscover who she is (and why).
Be Sure To Check Out My BookTube Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72C1...
Be Sure To Check Out My BookTube Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72C1...
June 8, 2009
After not enjoying Elsewhere, I was hesitant to read this book, but decided to go through with it anyway. I'm not sure that was the right decision. While Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac isn't a terrible book, I finished it with a profound feeling of "So what?"
The premise is interesting: Naomi Porter is a teenage yearbook editor who hits her head when she falls down the steps at her school, causing her to forget the last four years of her life. Well, sort of. Zevin uses a good deal of creative license when it comes to Naomi's amnesia--which she's allowed to do, both because it's her book and we still don't precisely understand the workings of the brain anyway. So Naomi begins the book not-quite-tabula-rasa, and you expect her to grow and change as she becomes a brand new person, right? Not so much.
If anything, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac remind me of why I'm glad my years as a teenager are coming to an end: way too much drama. And not the funny-yet-vicious sort of drama I enjoyed watching in Tina Fey's Mean Girls; no, this is the pointless-yet-ubiquitous drama created as a byproduct of our own struggle to discover who we are. Unfortunately, Zevin seems to focus on this byproduct while ignoring the end goal--the whole self-discovery thing.
Naomi eventually regains her memories. Up until that point, we've gotten hints that she wasn't exactly the nicest girl at school but was apparently nice enough to be best friends with a genuinely "nice guy", Will Landsman. With the return of Old Naomi, this plot point gets lost in the shuffle, as Naomi now has to deal with the memory of Will kissing her even as she addresses her feelings for the school's "troubled kid", James. James has every stereotypical condition that would cause a teenager to be labelled as troubled--depression, antisocial behaviour, obsession--you name it, he's got it. The fact that Naomi had the gall to first fall in love with him and then practically devote herself to him made me lose what little respect I still had for her.
The book shifts gears for a third (and last) time toward the very end. Will suffers a spontaneous plot-induced case of hospitalizing pneumonia; predictably, Naomi must return to the yearbook staff to take over his position as editor at this crucial time of the year. As the book ends, she and Will (now recuperated) leave the yearbook office, reminiscing about the day Naomi left the yearbook office and lost her memories in the process. They're apparently friends again, and as far as I can tell, the sexual tension is never fully resolved.
So, in essence, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac begins and ends at the same place. It's a zero-sum book, because its main character never really changes. She loses some of herself and regains it, but for what? Zevin uses too many characters and has too many different plot points to effectively orchestrate a coherent theme about life in high school. Perhaps ironically, there's little about this book that's memorable. Go read something by Douglas Coupland instead.
The premise is interesting: Naomi Porter is a teenage yearbook editor who hits her head when she falls down the steps at her school, causing her to forget the last four years of her life. Well, sort of. Zevin uses a good deal of creative license when it comes to Naomi's amnesia--which she's allowed to do, both because it's her book and we still don't precisely understand the workings of the brain anyway. So Naomi begins the book not-quite-tabula-rasa, and you expect her to grow and change as she becomes a brand new person, right? Not so much.
If anything, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac remind me of why I'm glad my years as a teenager are coming to an end: way too much drama. And not the funny-yet-vicious sort of drama I enjoyed watching in Tina Fey's Mean Girls; no, this is the pointless-yet-ubiquitous drama created as a byproduct of our own struggle to discover who we are. Unfortunately, Zevin seems to focus on this byproduct while ignoring the end goal--the whole self-discovery thing.
Naomi eventually regains her memories. Up until that point, we've gotten hints that she wasn't exactly the nicest girl at school but was apparently nice enough to be best friends with a genuinely "nice guy", Will Landsman. With the return of Old Naomi, this plot point gets lost in the shuffle, as Naomi now has to deal with the memory of Will kissing her even as she addresses her feelings for the school's "troubled kid", James. James has every stereotypical condition that would cause a teenager to be labelled as troubled--depression, antisocial behaviour, obsession--you name it, he's got it. The fact that Naomi had the gall to first fall in love with him and then practically devote herself to him made me lose what little respect I still had for her.
The book shifts gears for a third (and last) time toward the very end. Will suffers a spontaneous plot-induced case of hospitalizing pneumonia; predictably, Naomi must return to the yearbook staff to take over his position as editor at this crucial time of the year. As the book ends, she and Will (now recuperated) leave the yearbook office, reminiscing about the day Naomi left the yearbook office and lost her memories in the process. They're apparently friends again, and as far as I can tell, the sexual tension is never fully resolved.
So, in essence, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac begins and ends at the same place. It's a zero-sum book, because its main character never really changes. She loses some of herself and regains it, but for what? Zevin uses too many characters and has too many different plot points to effectively orchestrate a coherent theme about life in high school. Perhaps ironically, there's little about this book that's memorable. Go read something by Douglas Coupland instead.
March 13, 2011
I was surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did. Surprised because despite loving the premise of
I kinda got bored in it.
I think to enjoy a head trauma/amnesiac book, it's best just to go along for the ride and read the story not getting all caught up in the logistics of the scenario, yeah?
About the book:
Naomi was a popular girl, with a jock boyfriend and a goofy best friend, Will. When she loses four years worth of memories, she doesn't really get who she turned out to be. Doesn't find anything appealing about her boyfriend, or even her favourite hobbies. She doesn't remember that her mum and dad are divorced -- or that her mum is remarried with a four year old daughter (her half-sister) and her dad is engaged to a dancer. She can't remember how to drive or if the pills in her bedside table means she's not a virgin any more.
It definitely sucked me in.
Around about the middle of the book, I started feeling the restless-want-to-start-skimming feeling. But then, the book kinda changed direction (in the coolest of ways) and I was super into it again. And it occurred to me that while I could see how some plot threads would be resolved, I really had no idea where the book was headed.
And I like that feeling.
I also wasn't sure how I wanted things to be resolved, which is another feeling I like - because it feels like various outcomes could satisfy me.
I didn't connect all that well to Naomi (same problem-o I had with Zevin's début novel). This didn't stop me from enjoying it, but it does stop me from raving about it. There's plenty going on plot wise, and I especially like how well drawn some of the other characters are -- it makes them interesting and their actions unpredictable yet still realistic.
Random stuff:
It was slightly unnerving continuously seeing my name in print.
I kept getting James (new bad-boy crush) and Will (best bud) mixed up in the first half. Odd, I know. The names don't even really resemble each other, apart form being one syllable slightly generic names.
The back of the book has deleted scenes and extras, which greatly amused me.
Included in the extras is a few pages of all the CD mixes Will made for Naomi - complete with all the title tracks. Love it :)
Overall: I had a good time reading it despite not caring about it that much (if you get what I mean).
And I love amnesia type novels - provides a compelling platform for conflict and mystery. It's definitely an original read and also makes you think... about life and stuff :)
(My fave amnesia/thriller novel is
~ loved that the first time I read it ... a while ago now)
I kinda got bored in it.I think to enjoy a head trauma/amnesiac book, it's best just to go along for the ride and read the story not getting all caught up in the logistics of the scenario, yeah?
About the book:
Naomi was a popular girl, with a jock boyfriend and a goofy best friend, Will. When she loses four years worth of memories, she doesn't really get who she turned out to be. Doesn't find anything appealing about her boyfriend, or even her favourite hobbies. She doesn't remember that her mum and dad are divorced -- or that her mum is remarried with a four year old daughter (her half-sister) and her dad is engaged to a dancer. She can't remember how to drive or if the pills in her bedside table means she's not a virgin any more.
It definitely sucked me in.
Around about the middle of the book, I started feeling the restless-want-to-start-skimming feeling. But then, the book kinda changed direction (in the coolest of ways) and I was super into it again. And it occurred to me that while I could see how some plot threads would be resolved, I really had no idea where the book was headed.
And I like that feeling.
I also wasn't sure how I wanted things to be resolved, which is another feeling I like - because it feels like various outcomes could satisfy me.
I didn't connect all that well to Naomi (same problem-o I had with Zevin's début novel). This didn't stop me from enjoying it, but it does stop me from raving about it. There's plenty going on plot wise, and I especially like how well drawn some of the other characters are -- it makes them interesting and their actions unpredictable yet still realistic.
Random stuff:
It was slightly unnerving continuously seeing my name in print.
I kept getting James (new bad-boy crush) and Will (best bud) mixed up in the first half. Odd, I know. The names don't even really resemble each other, apart form being one syllable slightly generic names.
The back of the book has deleted scenes and extras, which greatly amused me.
Included in the extras is a few pages of all the CD mixes Will made for Naomi - complete with all the title tracks. Love it :)
Overall: I had a good time reading it despite not caring about it that much (if you get what I mean).
And I love amnesia type novels - provides a compelling platform for conflict and mystery. It's definitely an original read and also makes you think... about life and stuff :)
(My fave amnesia/thriller novel is
~ loved that the first time I read it ... a while ago now)
January 14, 2018
To be honest,this book didn't thrill me at all.The writing was dull and lifeless;I'm amazed I didn't DNF it. MOATA follows the story of a teenage girl who,like the title suggests,loses her memory by tripping down the school stairs after retrieving her camera from the school building.It starts with her waking up in hospital and having to face new,or maybe not so new, people and situations which she has vague,indistinct and futile memories of.This book deals with amnesia in a unique way despite being intended for teenagers.Imagine waking up to people from a previous life,who expect so much from you?
What if you can't live up to their visions and hopes of you regaining your memory?Having a boyfriend whom you no longer like or even know?Starting afresh in the most vulnerable stage of adolescence and high school?I am really resentful for the fact that I didn't like this book;it just felt kinda like there was nothing going on.No message,no plot,no lessons.Nothing.Perhaps the characters are a metaphor for adolescent angst.
A story where the girl falls for the tennis jock,then catches feelings for the emo,tortured artist,then focuses her affections to her nerdy bestfriend. The characters weren't even commendable. I strongly dislike being critical of authors in specific,but I guess this one just wasn't for me.The only reason why I even picked it up was because of the lovely,lively and teenagery-looking cover.However,if you're into amnesia or related issues particularly in YA,this might be for you.
What if you can't live up to their visions and hopes of you regaining your memory?Having a boyfriend whom you no longer like or even know?Starting afresh in the most vulnerable stage of adolescence and high school?I am really resentful for the fact that I didn't like this book;it just felt kinda like there was nothing going on.No message,no plot,no lessons.Nothing.Perhaps the characters are a metaphor for adolescent angst.
A story where the girl falls for the tennis jock,then catches feelings for the emo,tortured artist,then focuses her affections to her nerdy bestfriend. The characters weren't even commendable. I strongly dislike being critical of authors in specific,but I guess this one just wasn't for me.The only reason why I even picked it up was because of the lovely,lively and teenagery-looking cover.However,if you're into amnesia or related issues particularly in YA,this might be for you.
May 14, 2013
First of all, if you bought this book thinking it's a good, teen romance, I would say stop right there!
Also, I've marked this at having spoilers, but it has big spoilers. I even talk a bit about the end, so if you haven't read this book yet, I would suggest you halt. Unless of course, you want to know about it before deciding to read it. If that's the case, carry on!
This novel is not a romance. In fact, I'm I’ve only finished the book minutes ago and I'm feeling let-down, irritated and puzzled. The latter because I'm still trying to figure out the point of the novel.
You have here a girl, Naomi. She's fallen down a flight of stairs and suffered a head trauma. She's forgotten the last four years of her life. Significant things have happened in that four years and she spends majority of the first part of the book coping with those changes.
I know from reading other reviews people thought of Naomi as whiney. I can't say I disagree, but I can't agree totally either. She was unreasonable, true, when it came to the relationships between her father and his fiancée. Her mother's new husband. Her new sister. She was insensitive at times, like when she promised her stepfather that she would meet him and the sister after a show they both had come to see. Then Naomi digs out and leaves him standing there. I chalk this up to typical teenage behavior. Sometimes as teens, we make decisions that are insensitive, cruel and sometimes downright mean. It's not nice, but if we all dig deep, we will reluctantly acknowledge that this is sometimes what happens in that growing up stage. We make mistakes and learn from them.
My last comment I believe, says a lot about this book and Naomi. She's making mistakes. Or I should say, she made mistakes and is continuing to make mistakes. By the end of the book perhaps she's figured things out, but then again, maybe not. She's definitely learned a few truths and was able to right a few wrongs.
Now, with that being said, I'll tackle the romance part of this book.
Absolutely hated it!
My favorite character was James, although he did concern me at times. I immediately knew that he and Naomi were doomed. Even adults who are dealing with mental issues have trouble making their romantic relationships work. I felt that there was no hope for Naomi and James because he had to deal with his own inner demons before he could be free to love and be with a girl for the long haul.
I'm disappointed though. I was hoping that James would fight those demons and he and Naomi could find a way to make things work. Yes, I am naive. I'm a romantic at heart and I can't help think this way. tend to latch on to the romantic interestsintersts
I've read some reviews on the subject of Naomi and James and I reluctantly admit that others are right about them. People have said what brought them together was the fact that James wanted to forget his past and Naomi had literally forgotten hers. So when she got her memory back, there was nothing there, because what had attracted them to each other in the first place was gone.
I'm still troubled by this theory though. In the novel, Naomi goes so far as to track James down and make clear to him that it wasn't only her loss of memory that had her with him. She admitted she had gained her memory back months ago but still wanted him.
Unfortunately, she lied.
Yes, she lied big time. Because once James was able to face Naomi again, she realized that what had been there was gone. Poof. That heartfelt love Naomi professed? Nowhere to be found.
So my question is, what the heck was that all about? Was that just typical teenage drama that the author threw in there for us? A way to get Will and Naomi to see each other because she enlisted his help in going to see James? Just fluff for the author to entertain the reader?
Overall, I felt like this book went full circle. It appeared to me that it ended at the same point it had started. Naturally Naomi has learned something. But really? I have to ask, what the heck? During her year, she dumped her boyfriend. She quit tennis. She quit yearbook. In the end, she didn't patch things up with the boyfriend, but she joined tennis again. Even admitted she missed it. She didn’t' re-join yearbook as a full-time worker, but she did in a way because she had to fill in for Will while he was out sick. Will and her were back to being chums and no doubt more, although they hadn't quite gotten to professing it out loud.
So as you can see, I'm puzzled. Other than telling a story about a girl who lost four years of her memory, what was the point? I'm guessing that's why the title is Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, because it's just telling a story that really has no end. It's explaining the life of a girl that lost her memory and the ensuing months that led to her getting it back.
This review is already essay-long, but I can't finish before I touch on Naomi's relationship with her parents. The thing that troubles me the most is that Naomi feels like that girl left in a typewriter case when she was an infant during her father's wedding ceremony. She feels like that orphan again that was giving up for adoption. Perhaps this is also part of teenage immaturity, but to me I think her father has more than proven that rather than losing a daughter, she and her dad are gaining a family. I know this is a very cliché and possibly adult thing to say, but it's true. So if the other reviewers about Naomi claim she was selfish and whiney, this is the one part of the book I will agree with that she was annoying to me.
And for Naomi's mother, I can only say that I thought that knot was one left untied. She interacted more with her mother and new family than she had in the early part of the book, but I never saw any great epiphany about them. Or even a begrudging acceptance of them in her life. If Naomi was really making all these breakthroughs about James and Will, what about her father and mother? Perhaps it wasn't important or necessary to put in, but in my opinion, if this was just to tell a story about a girl who lost her memory and of her getting it back, then I would have thought it would most certainly be important to slot in.
In closing, as you can guess, I didn't care for this book. I enjoyed the writing, but the story itself left me feeling hollow. I didn't feel any satisfaction. I believe that if Will had been more a part of the book, and we didn’t' only see him either arguing with Naomi or shutting her out because she didn't remember him, I would've been more pleased with the ending. Or perhaps if James had been the friend and Will the almost-romantic interest from the start, as I said, I would've been more satisfied. However, I can't give this book a higher rating then I did. It simply left me feeling like something was missing.
Also, I've marked this at having spoilers, but it has big spoilers. I even talk a bit about the end, so if you haven't read this book yet, I would suggest you halt. Unless of course, you want to know about it before deciding to read it. If that's the case, carry on!
This novel is not a romance. In fact, I'm I’ve only finished the book minutes ago and I'm feeling let-down, irritated and puzzled. The latter because I'm still trying to figure out the point of the novel.
You have here a girl, Naomi. She's fallen down a flight of stairs and suffered a head trauma. She's forgotten the last four years of her life. Significant things have happened in that four years and she spends majority of the first part of the book coping with those changes.
I know from reading other reviews people thought of Naomi as whiney. I can't say I disagree, but I can't agree totally either. She was unreasonable, true, when it came to the relationships between her father and his fiancée. Her mother's new husband. Her new sister. She was insensitive at times, like when she promised her stepfather that she would meet him and the sister after a show they both had come to see. Then Naomi digs out and leaves him standing there. I chalk this up to typical teenage behavior. Sometimes as teens, we make decisions that are insensitive, cruel and sometimes downright mean. It's not nice, but if we all dig deep, we will reluctantly acknowledge that this is sometimes what happens in that growing up stage. We make mistakes and learn from them.
My last comment I believe, says a lot about this book and Naomi. She's making mistakes. Or I should say, she made mistakes and is continuing to make mistakes. By the end of the book perhaps she's figured things out, but then again, maybe not. She's definitely learned a few truths and was able to right a few wrongs.
Now, with that being said, I'll tackle the romance part of this book.
Absolutely hated it!
My favorite character was James, although he did concern me at times. I immediately knew that he and Naomi were doomed. Even adults who are dealing with mental issues have trouble making their romantic relationships work. I felt that there was no hope for Naomi and James because he had to deal with his own inner demons before he could be free to love and be with a girl for the long haul.
I'm disappointed though. I was hoping that James would fight those demons and he and Naomi could find a way to make things work. Yes, I am naive. I'm a romantic at heart and I can't help think this way. tend to latch on to the romantic interestsintersts
I've read some reviews on the subject of Naomi and James and I reluctantly admit that others are right about them. People have said what brought them together was the fact that James wanted to forget his past and Naomi had literally forgotten hers. So when she got her memory back, there was nothing there, because what had attracted them to each other in the first place was gone.
I'm still troubled by this theory though. In the novel, Naomi goes so far as to track James down and make clear to him that it wasn't only her loss of memory that had her with him. She admitted she had gained her memory back months ago but still wanted him.
Unfortunately, she lied.
Yes, she lied big time. Because once James was able to face Naomi again, she realized that what had been there was gone. Poof. That heartfelt love Naomi professed? Nowhere to be found.
So my question is, what the heck was that all about? Was that just typical teenage drama that the author threw in there for us? A way to get Will and Naomi to see each other because she enlisted his help in going to see James? Just fluff for the author to entertain the reader?
Overall, I felt like this book went full circle. It appeared to me that it ended at the same point it had started. Naturally Naomi has learned something. But really? I have to ask, what the heck? During her year, she dumped her boyfriend. She quit tennis. She quit yearbook. In the end, she didn't patch things up with the boyfriend, but she joined tennis again. Even admitted she missed it. She didn’t' re-join yearbook as a full-time worker, but she did in a way because she had to fill in for Will while he was out sick. Will and her were back to being chums and no doubt more, although they hadn't quite gotten to professing it out loud.
So as you can see, I'm puzzled. Other than telling a story about a girl who lost four years of her memory, what was the point? I'm guessing that's why the title is Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, because it's just telling a story that really has no end. It's explaining the life of a girl that lost her memory and the ensuing months that led to her getting it back.
This review is already essay-long, but I can't finish before I touch on Naomi's relationship with her parents. The thing that troubles me the most is that Naomi feels like that girl left in a typewriter case when she was an infant during her father's wedding ceremony. She feels like that orphan again that was giving up for adoption. Perhaps this is also part of teenage immaturity, but to me I think her father has more than proven that rather than losing a daughter, she and her dad are gaining a family. I know this is a very cliché and possibly adult thing to say, but it's true. So if the other reviewers about Naomi claim she was selfish and whiney, this is the one part of the book I will agree with that she was annoying to me.
And for Naomi's mother, I can only say that I thought that knot was one left untied. She interacted more with her mother and new family than she had in the early part of the book, but I never saw any great epiphany about them. Or even a begrudging acceptance of them in her life. If Naomi was really making all these breakthroughs about James and Will, what about her father and mother? Perhaps it wasn't important or necessary to put in, but in my opinion, if this was just to tell a story about a girl who lost her memory and of her getting it back, then I would have thought it would most certainly be important to slot in.
In closing, as you can guess, I didn't care for this book. I enjoyed the writing, but the story itself left me feeling hollow. I didn't feel any satisfaction. I believe that if Will had been more a part of the book, and we didn’t' only see him either arguing with Naomi or shutting her out because she didn't remember him, I would've been more pleased with the ending. Or perhaps if James had been the friend and Will the almost-romantic interest from the start, as I said, I would've been more satisfied. However, I can't give this book a higher rating then I did. It simply left me feeling like something was missing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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