Book Review: Memento Nora

Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

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Let me say first off that Memento Nora blew me away in the best way possible. Don’t be fooled by it’s small size. This book packs a massive punch! In fact it had me so hooked in that I didn’t set it down at all until I was completely through it. Trust me, this book is one that you’ll want to pick up.

The plot of this story unashamedly grabs you by the shoulders and pulls you straight in. Nora’s world is fascinating, a world that is built around the ability to forget. Anytime that something bad happens, anytime something might scar your otherwise happy life, you can take a pill and start over from square one. Completely care free and new. “Glossy” as Nora calls it. The government even gives the people incentives to use the service. Control anyone? This concept really drove the book home for me.

Add in the fact that Nora is a fabulous main character, and there’s no turning back. Nora is bold, vivid and strong. Her choice to remember everything is really what made me appreciate her. The strength that she radiates is admirable. In a world where everyone else wants to forget, Nora chooses to remember. I was totally smitten with her! Nora’s two friends each also have their own quirky and fantastic personalities. I don’t want to give anything away, but it is these two people who really bring out the best in Nora. I really enjoyed how much they complimented her, and yet challenged her at the same time. Angie Smibert has built a gorgeous trifecta of character personalities, and I guarantee they’ll draw you in too.

I know that I’ve already been gushing, but let me share with you what really made me love Memento Nora. It is all about the power of comic books. Nora and her friends use their skills and their ingenuity to host a revolution, based on a simple homemade comic book. I can’t explain how much that struck me. It might seem a bit silly, but I think this book really shows what you can do if you put your mind to it. It may not be the main focus of the book, but the simple fact that these three characters were willing to put their lives at stake to accomplish something massive really struck me. 

I’ll end my rambling here and simply say that I loved this book. I 100% recommend it to you. Beg or borrow a copy! You won’t be sorry that you did. Angie Smibert has built a unique and engaging world that is sure to pull you in and not let you go.