Monday, June 20, 2011

Review + Giveaway: Forgotten

FORGOTTEN
Cat Patrick
Young Adult
304 pages
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Available Now
Received from publisher for review

THE STORY
London Lane has no memory of any of the days that came before the one she's currently living. Every morning her memory of the previous day is wiped clean, and she is forced to rely on detailed notes and messages she writes to herself each night in order to have a semi-normal existence.

Even more unusual is London's ability to remember the future. She knows what's going to happen to those around her, she knows who will be a part of her life and who won't, and she knows what certain actions in the present will lead to weeks, months, and years down the line.

One person she desperately wants to remember in the future is Luke. Luke, who she meets over and over again each day but whom she can't see as part of her life in the future no matter how hard she looks. While she decides to be happy with him each day despite her worries over their relationship long-term, he helps her learn that the future is fluid, and just maybe she has the power to chart a different course than the one she's already seen.

MY THOUGHTS
Forgotten is one of those stories that progresses quietly–no huge dramatic gestures, tragically epic romances, or intricate mysteries–just the day to day life of a young woman in a extraordinarily unique circumstance. There's something inherently fascinating in such a simple premise however, and the subdued quality to London's tale gives us a great deal of time to think as we let the questions raised by her ability to see forward but not back slither into our subconscious, coiling themselves around our minds until we find ourselves thinking about them more often than not. Even when there are powerful moments and serious revelations, the overall feeling is one of tense tranquility, holding us suspended in a state of curious anticipation as we dare not move a muscle for fear of shattering the peaceful chaos and creating a ripple effect we might never be able to undo.

London is a truly sweet girl with a fairly dry sense of humor that tends to pop up at unexpected moments, eliciting a grin from us as we are humored by her cute awkwardness. She approaches her situation with full acceptance, sparing us the drama of any "why me" musings as she organizes her life into select memories she wishes to take with her each day. Despite her rather trite and cliched reaction to Luke on his first day at school, their relationship is adorable and touching, made all the more interesting by the challenges of her condition. There is one moment of extreme melodrama that forces an eye roll from us, but her young age leeches some of the heat of our irritation as we remember the mature approach doesn't often come easy when dealing with first love (and especially a first love that begins anew each day) when in high school.

The ending of Forgotten is much the same as the rest of the story in it's sedateness, presenting us with some interesting information about London and the memories long gone from her mind, but not shifting the story into a sudden frenzy of enlightenment. Instead, we are left to draw a lot of our own conclusions about what the future holds, acutely aware that London possesses the ability to change her memory of the future, and wondering if and how she might fight to alter what we've already witnessed as a temporary truth. This book is an enjoyable read, but not necessarily one that will be forever ingrained in our minds as some others are. It has a lulling quality to it that is a nice change of pace from all the angst and action so prevalent in other tales, though this same quality prevents it from leaving an indelible mark as well.

Rating: 3.5/5

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the amazing people at Big Honcho Media and Little, Brown, I have 2 copies of Forgotten to give away today! To enter, please just leave a comment with a valid email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open to US residents only and will run through midnight on Friday, June 24th after which time 2 winners will be chosen and announced on the blog. Good luck everyone!

Forgotten website
Be sure and check out London's video diaries!

77 comments:

  1. I don't think I will ever be able to make up my mind about whether I want to read the book . Most reviews say that it's not memorable. London doesn't seem like a very memorable character either.

    (Not an entry)

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  2. I keep seeing this book everywhere! It would be nice to see it my own collection :)

    jennimerritt.writing (at) gmail (dot) com

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  3. Thank you for the giveaway :) This looks so good!!!

    twizzlertwist28(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  4. This one looks interesting. Thanks for the giveaway :)

    tiffanyinwonderland(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  5. Oh I'm listening to the audio right now. I love the narrator so I picked it up, I just started though, but I appreciate the humor and the lightness of the story. This could have been a very dark story, but isn't...
    Great Review is usual and I'm intrigued enough to read on:)

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  6. this looks amazing! thanks for doing a giveawy.

    makennahh(at)Gmail(dot)com

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  7. Awww... I SO loved this book. Maybe I was jaded toward all the things that seemed to bug other people about this one! I absolutely adored it!

    *loves* to you!

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  8. Thanks for making this easy to enter!

    marynellie8 at yahoo dot com

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  9. I'd love to read this. Thanks for the giveaway.

    erinberry12 at charter dot net

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  10. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    ekapalmer (@) gmail (.) com

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  11. I think I would like to read this one! The premise is certainly interesting and what you say about what happens in the ending intrigues me. It doesn't really bother me that you say it has a "lulling quality" and isn't very action-packed either. So perhaps I should give it a go! Thanks for the review :)

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  12. Thanks so much!
    GFC follower

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  13. Beautiful review Jenny. I am very curious about this boo and am now wondering what the eye rolling moment could be!

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  14. Please enter me in the giveaway and I enjoyed reading your review. I'm curious about this one ^-^

    fraijikhadija@hotmail.com
    www.blackfingernailedreviews.blogspot.com

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  15. I've heard good things about this one and the premise sure sounds interesting.

    frellathon(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. Would love to read this! thanks for the giveaway!

    fallendream03@gmail.com

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  17. Thanks so much for the amazing giveaway! :D

    Rabiah
    iliveforreading[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  18. This one is so freaky. I would love to see how she manages to write about a girl who can't remember

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  19. Fantastic review, Jenny. I can always count on you to really break down a book's pros/cons. I think this sounds like a mind-candy sort of summer read. Hopefully I can get my hands on a copy over my vacation. Thanks for the giveaway! Chris327@mac.com

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  20. While I love the premise of the book, it sounds pretty tangly to my poor tired brain. Does it require a lot of thinking, or is it one that I can absorb without a lot of work on my part? The end of the school year has been really rough and the kids have left me partially brain dead. :)

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  21. This sounds very interesting. Sure and steady. The ending does sound kind of odd - I prefer having more certainty.

    alisoncanread at gmail dot com

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  22. I like the fact that your mentioned the character accepts her situation instead of going through all the teen angst so many YA MC tend to do. I am however not sure that this is my kind of book. Still I loved reading your thoughts.

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  23. Really want to read this. Thanks.

    lyssad87(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. This book sounds really interesting. Thanks for the lovely review & the giveaway!

    theatredreamer08(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  25. I would like to read it. It sounds like a good book.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  26. This book reminds me of the movie 50 First Dates! I love a character with a dry sense of humor so I will be adding this to my TBR list!

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  27. This sounds like a good read. Sorry you didn't like it as much as I hope I will! LOL

    proudbooknerd(at)gmail(dot)com

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  28. I appreciate the chance to win this book. Thanks!

    stephanie(at)onceuponachapter(dot)com

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  29. Ah yes. I remember that eye rolling scene well, Jenny. It was very reminiscent of the immature first loves often carries. Despite the change in atmosphere, I really enjoyed this book too!

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  30. OMG! I so want to read this book! Enter me please!!!

    bwithbite (at) gmail (dot) com

    Also thanks for the review! I have heard loads about it. And every time I read the review on it I want to read it more!

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  31. I've seen about a million covers for this book. I haven't heard much about it though. Your review gave me a little more insight. Thanks. :)

    iLiveiLaughiLoveBooks@gmail.com

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  32. Looks interesting.

    ceelees(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  33. I don't necessarily mind ambiguous ending with unanswered questions. Eh, such is life, right? Loved your review, Jenny, as always.

    -Linds, bibliophile[dot]brouhaha[at]gmail[dot]com

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  34. Love to read it...

    vidishamun@gmail.com

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  35. I like the sound of London. I am glad she is able to accept her situation without the "why me??". That gets sooo annoying! Even though it doesn't seem like it will be a book to remember, it sounds interesting. Awesome review, Jenny! =)

    angelgirl122193[at]aol[dot]com

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  36. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  37. This book sounds amazing! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
    rivkarno1(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  38. London's story sounds so sad to me because she can't remember her past. I noticed that you didnt mention any parents so I wonder if they're still in the picture.

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  39. Thank you for this giveaway!!!

    ajiehuang1997(at)gmail(dot)com

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  40. I can't wait to read this! Thank you and Big Honcho Media for the giveaway!

    lindsi.bsaot@gmail.com

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  41. I love this book - for me, it's one of the best I've read this year! I thought the premise was so special and unique, but when I posted my review it was pointed out that the plot resembled that of 50 First Dates. It was all new to me, though!

    (Not an entry - not in the US).

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  42. Thanks for the giveaway!

    lacrossex3(at)gmail(dot)com

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  43. I want to read this so bad! Definitely on top of my most wanted list.

    coffeebooksandlaundry(at)gmail.com

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  44. Okay, I didn't expect maturity with a teen so I'm very curious now. It would be a hard situation and I'm afraid I'd be a whiny baby! lol Okay, so I need to know how the book reads. I'm in!
    books (dot) things (at) yahoo (Dot) com

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  45. -Thanks for the review! I really want to read this book! Ever since I first heard of it. :D

    x
    Sierra
    ittssierraily(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  46. Thanks for the review and great giveaway!

    Kara
    Survivorluvr33@hotmail.com

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  47. The premise of this one reminds me of the movie "Memento" that held me spellbound and frustrated all at the same time. The ending does seem a bit odd though, but I'll definitely check it out. Great review, Jenny!

    rummanaha at hotmail dot com

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  48. Thank you for the chance to win! And for the review, I didn't have this on my "to read" list yet!

    methom@earthlink.net

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  49. This book sounds awesome! I can't wait to read it.
    britneywyatt[at]gmail[dot]com

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  50. Thank you for the giveaway, Forgotten sounds very interesting. :)

    liedermadchen(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  51. This book has been getting a lot of attention from the blogging community. Can't wait to read it. The concept sounds really original!

    jj.bonds(at)live(dot)com

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  52. Just read about this on another book site, looks really great! :) Thanks for the giveaway.

    liforda@yahoo.com

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  53. I have been following this book for a while and would love to read it. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.

    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

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  54. This does sound different from most of what is out there and I would love a chance at it! Thanks! wilsondev(At)gmail(dot)com

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  55. Thanks for hosting such an awesome giveaway! :)

    AndyE.1989@yahoo.com

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  56. Thank you!

    tiahmichelle(at)gmail(dot)com

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  57. I really really really want to read this book! Thank you so much for the giveaway!!! :D

    ashley.mckinsey(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  58. Looks interesting! Thanks for the giveaway.

    arallison at gmail dot com

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  59. Sounds so good! Thanks so much!
    misschika4ever@aim.com
    Lauryn B

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  60. Not quiet sure bout this one, but I am willing to give any book a try. Thanks for the giveaway.

    mrs_laura_koehler@yahoo.com

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  61. Please enter me in contest. I really want to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

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  62. Oooh this is on my wish list :)

    contact@taraSG.com

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  63. Thanks for this giveaway.

    I am a GFC follower

    chelle2006(at)aol(dot)com

    -Michelle

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  64. Thanks for the giveaway.

    GFC follower

    valerie(at)stuckinbooks.com

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  65. ever since i heard about this one it intrigued me thanks for this giveaway

    kjfrancis08@gmail.com

    kaitlyn francis

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  66. Thanks for the giveaway!

    alice13188 AT yahoo DOT com

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  67. I would love to win this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
    andreat78@yahoo.com

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  68. This sounds like a new twist on memory loss. Thanks for the giveaway!

    GFC: Candice
    candicerjames (at) gmail (dot) com

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  69. This book sounds SO good!! Thx for the great giveaway!

    spicedice45@gmail.com

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  70. I am seeing this book everywhere, and I really, really want to read it! Thanks for the chance:)

    jwitt33 at live dot com

    Z

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  71. great giveaway
    follow via gfc
    drakebdog@gmail.com

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  72. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    caldellizzi(at)gmail(dot)com

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  73. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Leslie
    workingforthemandroid at gmail dot com

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  74. Can't wait to read this one!

    laurengetsliteral(at)gmail(dot)com

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  75. I read this one and enjoyed it. You are right about it being lulling and it's kind of funny that the name is Forgotten, she can't remember the past and it isn't one of those unforgettable books. That being said, I did really enjoy it. But the ending bothered me. Lulling is a great word for this book. But it is nice for a break.

    Heather

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  76. "sparing us the drama of any "why me" musings"

    LOL! I know it sounds insensitive, but I love it when authors spare us that angst, even if it would be understandable. I wish the book had more action. It sounds like everything moves along at kind of an even keel.

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  77. I've been attending to read Forgotten for quite a while now, I really need to get my hands on a copy soon. The slow progress is something that doesn't sound too appealing, but it's always the relationship and characters that are most importatant to me.

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