The Book of Memory
Ratings4
Average rating3.5
15
Ratings4
Average rating3.5
Memory, the narrator of Petina Gappah's The Book of Memory, is an albino woman languishing in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare, Zimbabwe, after being sentenced for murder. As part of her appeal, her lawyer insists that she write down what happened as she remembers it. The death penalty is a mandatory sentence for murder, and Memory is, both literally and metaphorically, writing for her life. As her story unfolds, Memory reveals that she has been tried and convicted for the murder of Lloyd Hendricks, her adopted father. But who was Lloyd Hendricks? Why does Memory feel no remorse for his death? And did everything happen exactly as she remembers?
Reviews with the most likes.
Memory is on death row in Harare, Zimbabwe for killing her guardian - who bought her from her poor parents when she was a child.
I find it difficult to rate this book. The first third was very frustrating - there were no definitive plot points, just hints and inferences to the major drama that lead Memory to her current situation. It felt like a slice of life from the prison and her childhood. It was very disjointed and difficult to follow.
The the last two sections really took off. We learnt about Memory - she grew as a character and the plot points finally fell into place. It was tragic, shocking and insightful.
