Told from multiple points of view, in The Memory Concierge we witness the ups and downs, delusions, and realities of families shaken by the force of extreme forgetfulness embedded in brain disorders and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Anosognosia.
The Memory Concierge was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the undoubtful love shown by all characters and the portrayal of Alzheimer’s and Anosognosia diseases and their effect on the people; caregivers, loved ones, and those that are directly affected by them. Lauren W. Roach creates a believable, informative, reflective, compelling, and often frustrating story centered around them. It’s no wonder that I have so much to say in my reaction/reflection/review of this book.
The frustration experienced while reading is a reflection of the frustration that held many of the characters hostage in mind, body, and soul and everything that transpired had me thinking about my familial position with my siblings, spouse, and parents. Ultimately, I reflected on how we show up for each other.
In all that it is, The Memory Concierge is a grab bag of sorts. I viewed it as a character study infused with a mash-up of subjects and genres exploring familial relationships, sociology, mystery, and magical realism; it’s an overall good time. Please read on for more of my thoughts.
BOOK REVIEW CONTENTS
IF I AM TO READ ANOTHER BOOK FROM THIS AUTHOR, THESE ARE MY EXPECTATIONS
FEELINGS EVOKED
This story was heartbreaking. The gradual descent into forgetfulness and characters not knowing what they do not know tugged on my heartstrings. I had stinging eyes and cried throughout many parts of the book. Please have your tissue ready.
On the opposite end, there’s a natural balance of humor that’s peppered throughout the story and I’m thankful for those moments. It evened out the emotions and fortified the expression “laugh to keep from crying.”
THINGS I RESONATED WITH
This story is relatable in more ways than one. I resonated mostly with the sibling relationship that’s portrayed in The Memory Concierge. I am one of three and happen to be in the middle. Often there’s a feeling of isolation when you’re the middle child because you are never quite sure if either or any of your siblings understand or empathize with you.
In particular, this book explores the fracturing or disconnection that occurs when familial relationships are directly affected by health crises.
Considering my position in my family got me thinking about why we feel that there are certain roles according to birth.
- Why does the oldest feel that they have to shoulder all the responsibility?
- Why does the youngest think they can’t handle what the oldest does and why is the oldest surprised when the youngest can show up the same as they do?
- And when it comes to the middle child, why are they usually the ones that are unintentionally left out, or not expected to do much and somehow feed into that and hide their head in the sand when the going gets tough?
These are questions that need answers (lol).
Thinking from the perspective of a parent, I wonder why parents hesitate to ask their children for help. My parents do that with me and my siblings and I often shake my head because it seems silly that they don’t ask when they’ve sacrificed so much for us. When I ask them why they don’t want to bother us when they are in need, I’m met with these responses.
- You’re married and have your own life to worry about.
- Well, I know you are busy, so I didn’t want to bother you.
Or simply put:
- I didn’t want to bother you.
I’m working on changing that because I want them to want our help and not be afraid to ask.
As if I haven’t said enough already, I have more (lol).
Having siblings and worrying about parents is a balancing act. The same goes for dealing with a sick spouse or partner. The Memory Concierge highlights how unsaid feelings and assumptions can disrupt harmony in people’s relationships. I’ve never quite experienced it myself but I can empathize because I wouldn’t want to be the cause of either one of my siblings assuming that I don’t want to be an active participant in helping our parents as they age or become ill. I ALSO do not want to feel alone in dealing with an ill spouse if I have my adult children near me.
The characterization is done well in this book, so much so that the characters in The Memory Concierge started to feel like family to me. As I got to know them and the motivations behind their actions, it became difficult to blame anyone for their response. Everyone had a valid reason and I will never say “never will I behave like that” until I experience what they have.
There’s so much that I could say about this. Please check out my video review where I go into detail regarding the relatability of characters and situations in this book.
WHAT SURPRISED ME
- What surprised me the most was when we experienced the unexpected. This aspect of the book was my favorite and most memorable because the story turns on its head to reveal the machinations of The Memory Concierge. It’s satisfying to witness the creation and existence of it.erything
- Lauren does an excellent job of creating endearing characters with charming, heartwarming, and unforgettable meet-cutes. They are so sweet. The most impactful couple is Henry and Clara. To give you an idea of how it made me feel; I felt like I was him and fell in love with her. <3
IF I AM TO READ ANOTHER BOOK FROM THIS AUTHOR, THESE ARE MY EXPECTATIONS
I would read another book by Lauren W. Roach.
What I would like more of in their next work in progress is better use of space and location in their story’s world. In The Memory Concierge, the characters moved around, but I would have liked for them to commute to or revisit those spaces more. I also think that the pacing may have suffered a little in the last 20% of the book for me because of the use of space and movement. Often, as the reader, we were in the heads of characters who were reminiscing about the past but not moving. Of course, I am speaking subjectively, as I would have liked the characters to move around more to align with the dialogue and scene. I hope I’m making sense here.
To make it plain, it’s like watching a TV show where we know the scene is intense because of the body language and tone of a character’s voice, but if they don’t slam the door, bump into something, or flat-out break something, then I don’t feel that the dialogue matches the scene actions. In other words, I appreciate quiet and intense, but I also want some action to match it. I think it would have made the story more visceral.
And for valid criticism’s sake, as if I have any room to talk (lol), I also acknowledge that typos and grammatical errors happen to everyone, self-published or traditionally published, and debut and seasoned authors. There were some typos in the book, but it did not distract from the story nor take away from the care taken to write it. I thought to mention it because I would be remiss if I noticed and didn’t say anything. Again, the typos were FAR from out of hand, and I hope her upcoming works will have been reviewed closer prior to publishing.
WHO I SUGGEST THIS BOOK TO
This book is a great conversation piece. I can see it being something that helps drive a healthy conversation regarding a working plan of action when dealing with sick relatives and loved ones.
It’s even more perfect for a buddy read. Speaking of which, if you are interested in reading it with a group of people, The Memory Concierge is the Buddy Reads with Reading Beyond the Book Cover book pick for June 2024. Feel free to join us here.
Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read The Memory Concierge. I received an advance review copy for free, and my review/reaction is voluntary, all thoughts are mine and unbiased, and receiving an ARC does not influence my rating and recommendation.
I hope this review of Lauren W. Roach’s The Memory Concierge finds you all well.
Note: 🔗🔗🔗If you purchase a copy of the books mentioned in this post, please consider purchasing through my Bookshop.org affiliate links. If you choose to buy from there, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost. Plus, you’ll be supporting your local bookstores. It’s a win all around.🔗🔗🔗
Publisher: Sunflower Rose Publishing
Publish Date: November 17, 2023
Page Count: 338
Note: The book description is from bookshop.org.
Description
Henry and Clara’s love story is nothing short of extraordinary. It all began decades earlier at a Halloween party and from that moment on, they’ve been inseparable. One day, their world is shaken by a devastating diagnosis: Alzheimer’s disease. As cherished memories gradually slip away, they find themselves desperately clinging to the life they’ve worked so hard to create. Amidst these challenges, Henry stumbles upon whispers of a phenomenon that promises to restore lost memories. How far will he go to preserve the world he and Clara have built?
Meanwhile, in a parallel struggle, we meet Anya, a devoted daughter determined to care for her own ailing father. As the firstborn, the weight of responsibility for her father’s care in the wake of her mother’s untimely passing falls squarely on her shoulders. Balancing her own dreams with the demanding role of caregiver becomes an increasingly uphill battle, especially when her siblings, Deven and Drusilla, offer little assistance. As their father’s health continues to decline, the overwhelming feeling of trying to juggle it all threatens to permanently damage Anya’s relationship with her siblings. Her resilience and patience are pushed to the limit, inching her closer and closer to her breaking point.
