The Art of Forgetting...Review

About the book:
A moving and insightful debut novel of great friendship interrupted. Can the relationship survive when the memories are gone?

Marissa Rogers never wanted to be an alpha; beta suited her just fine. Taking charge without taking credit had always paid off: vaulting her to senior editor at a glossy magazine; keeping the peace with her critical, weight-obsessed mother; and enjoying the benefits of being best friends with gorgeous, charismatic, absolutely alpha Julia Ferrar.

And then Julia gets hit by a cab. She survives with minor obvious injuries, but brain damage steals her memory and alters her personality, possibly forever. Suddenly, Marissa is thrown into the role of alpha friend. As Julia struggles to regain her memory- dredging up issues Marissa would rather forget, including the fact that Julia asked her to abandon the love of her life ten years ago- Marissa's own equilibrium is shaken.

With the help of a dozen girls, she reluctantly agrees to coach in an after-school running program. There, Marissa uncovers her inner confidence and finds the courage to reexamine her past and take control of her future.

The Art of Forgetting is a story about the power of friendship, the memories and myths that hold us back, and the delicate balance between forgiving and forgetting.

Julia and Marissa have been best friends since high school.  As is often the case in friendships there is an alpha personality who drives things and Julia always took this role.  Marissa rode along in her wake, letting herself be defined by other people.  When Julia suffers a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, the parameters of this friendship change.  As Marissa comes to terms with this change, she also begins to discover herself and who she is and what she ultimately wants out of life.

This is a fascinating look at friendship. It took me a bit to get into it, but ultimately I enjoyed it.

I really came to like Marissa.  In many ways, I could relate to Marissa and her insecurities.  I loved the truthfulness of how she viewed herself as unworthy and incapable, when those around her saw her as smart, beautiful and successful.   As she comes to discover her own self-worth I found myself cheering.  Especially when she stood up to her mother.

There is mild, unnecessary profanity.  There is also a great deal of information about traumatic brain injury explained throughout the story and references at the end of the book.  The explanations were very much a natural part of the narrative and very informative.

Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book.  You can learn more about Camille Noe Pagan here.  You can purchase your own copy here.

You can see other stops on the tour here:
Monday, June 6th:  Luxury Reading
Tuesday, June 7th:  Book Club Classics!
Wednesday, June 8th:  Book Addiction
Thursday, June 9th:  That’s What She Read
Friday, June 10th:  Life in the Thumb
Monday, June 13th:  Rundpinne
Tuesday, June 14th:  The Brain Lair
Wednesday, June 15th:  Book Hooked Blog
Thursday, June 16th:  Library of Clean Reads
Friday, June 17th:  Dolce Bellezza
Monday, June 20th:  Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, June 21st:  BookNAround
Wednesday, June 22nd:  Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
Thursday, June 23rd:  2 Kids and Tired
Monday, June 27th:  Stiletto Storytime
Tuesday, June 28th:  The Well-Read Wife
Wednesday, June 29th:  Bookworm with a View
Thursday, June 30th:  Unabridged Chick

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Read  3/11

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4/5 Stars

Comments

  1. I would love to be entered in the giveaway. I would love to read this. I think living with a brain injury would make for an interesting subject.

    I am a google follower

    my email is visible.

    bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. I would love to win and read this book, the storyline is very good.

    cenya2 at hotmail DOT com

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  3. I follow by google reader as cenya2 and I also follow by email.

    cenya2 at hotmail DOT com

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  4. I'm glad that you enjoyed this one in spite of the flaws. Thanks for being a part of the tour!

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  5. I have been waiting months to read this book since first hearing about it. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Thank you for the chance at one!

    My email is visible in my profile :)
    GFC follower Tiffany Drew

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

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  6. Sounds like an interesting read, count me in.

    I just became a follower and my email is in my profile, as well as here, now, too.

    Thanks for adding your book giveaways to my B-Y-G-B list!

    ruthcox at abitosunshine dot net

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  7. Hi, thanks so much for the chance to win what sounds like a fantastic book!

    I'm already a follower, and I'm going to tweet about this giveaway (@wateredgarden11), and my email is visible. :)

    Thanks again!

    -Eva
    (storybookreviews@hotmail.com)

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  8. I'm already a follower, love your blog!

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  9. -This definitely sounds like a book I could relate too. Please include me in your giveaway. :) I think it would be very uplifting.

    -My email address is visible in my profile.

    -I am a new follower. :)

    -I tweeted your giveaway too.

    http://twitter.com/#!/kellyblackwell/status/86602290584223744

    thriftyways(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. I'd love to read this book. It sounds great.

    I'm a new GFC follower

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Chrissie123123/status/87196752200990720

    Christie
    swaggirl01 at gmail dot com

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  11. I'd love to win this giveaway. Thanks!
    diamond in the ruf 31 at gmail dot com

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  12. I would like to win this.And I would love to read this.

    Thanks!
    Jenn
    learnquilling@gmail.com
    I Love Making Hair Bows!

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  13. I so want to read this!!! Thanks for the giveaway! I'm a follower and thanks for keeping it simple!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

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  14. I'm looking for a good read and this sounds perfect, thanks for the chance!
    pokergrl8 at gmail.com

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  15. follow by gfc mandy83
    pokergrl8 at gmail.com

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  16. So excited about this book! I've always been fascinated by memory... I've got my fingers crossed for this one.

    My email should be visible when I comment (I think I did that right!) and I'm a GFC follower.

    marthasweeps at gmail dot com (in case that email visibility thing didn't work)

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  17. looks interesting
    robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com

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  18. follow you on gfc
    Robin Scott
    robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com

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  19. this book sounds truly great - i'd love to check it out

    penguinjo99 at gmail dot com

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  20. GFC follower - Jo Penguin
    penguinjo99 at gmail dot com

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  21. Thanks for the giveaway! This sounds interesting.

    disneykayla(at)gmail(dot)com
    Not sure if mine is visible yet...

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  22. I am a new GFC follower!

    disneykayla(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. https://twitter.com/#!/Disney_Kayla/status/90073190835036161 Tweeted!

    disneykayla(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Thank you for the opportunity to win this book!
    Terry
    timk0113@aol.com

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  25. Sounds look a good book. I'd love to receive it! iwant2save26 at gmail dot com.

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  26. Would love to win this book.

    nono916@gmail.com

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  27. My Irish ancestors did not have it quite so good as Ellie I am afraid. Would love to read this book.

    nono916@gmail.com

    follow you through Google Reader

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  28. Would love to read this book

    ontariohappychick at gmail dot com

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  29. follow you with GFC - Denise G

    ontariohappychick at gmail dot com

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  30. I would love to win this giveaway! Thanks for having it!
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

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  31. I follow you via gfc as mamabunny13
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

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