Review by k2rugman -- The Stealer of Memories

[k2rugman]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Stealer of Memories" by Mois Benarroch.]

---

2 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

It is difficult to put into words how I feel about Mois Benarroch’s The Stealer of Memories. This book is about a person who feels like a thief of memories and he can no longer discern between his memories and other people’s memories. There was no driving plot so it is difficult to give even a brief synopsis. I feel like the tone of the book can be summarized by this quote, “That’s why I stopped trying to compose a life of my own memories, and felt free to leave to the memories of the others running through my mind, let them be part of me, because they were and were not my life, because the life was the moment that you remember a memory . . .” (p.65). The memories brought up are often grim, intimate, and private. I feel like that is why the “stealer” feels like a thief because they are memories that people would not share with others, let alone want to remember themselves.

I give The Stealer of Memories 2 out of 4 stars. This was a difficult book to follow. I had to read it in very large chunks because I was worried if I stopped I would completely lose the weak grasp I had on what was going on. I would have given it three stars if there had been better differentiation between the memories or even if there had been a plot or direction.

The editing was very poor and the format confusing. There was no character development because you were constantly reading about other people’s memories. I would have given it one star but I did like that it made me think about my memories and how they are formed and kept. It made me question how I remember events and if they are genuinely my memories.

I feel like people who enjoy existentialism would enjoy this book. Despite its confusing nature, it provoked thoughts on the existence and origins of memories. Our memories and experiences make up who we are as a person so I feel like that kind of mental self evaluation would appeal to existentialists.

I did not enjoy reading this book because I wanted to understand to whom the memories belonged, how they resolved, and why they were thought of in that sequence. I didn’t feel like there was any resolution in the end. I would not read this book again but I can see it attracting a more philosophical reader.

******
The Stealer of Memories
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes

Like k2rugman's review? Post a comment saying so!