Book Review: What Alice Forgot
Hey!! If you’re in the same boat as me, I really hope you are doing something to enjoy the last day of your holiday vacation!
Today, I’ve got a book review for you. By the way, if you’re one of the many that has set a goal to read more in 2013, check out my book reviews and this post of my all-time favorite books.
I’m reviewing What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty; which was the Peanut Butter Fingers book club pick for the month of December. Julie from pbfingers.com will be reviewing the book tomorrow and other bloggers, including me, will be linking up our book reviews.
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A little rundown of what the book is about…..
This summary is brought to you from amazon.com.
Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.
So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, , she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over…
My thoughts on the book……
I really liked this book and it definitely kept my interest. However, it wouldn’t rank as one of my favorite books and it wasn’t one of those books that you just can’t wait to pick up and read. But it made me really think and I love books that keep me thinking even after I put them down. All in all, it’s a fun breezy book that would be the perfect beach or pool read. Moriarty does a good job of balancing humor and depth. There are many serious issues brought up, but Moriarty keeps the story light enough that I never felt really sad or depressed…..I’m really not into those books.
I listened to this book on audible.com and it was a great book to listen to. The woman’s voice that spoke as Alice had a slight Australian accent and she was pleasant to listen to. This is not always the case with audible books.
The premise of the story is so interesting to me. I cannot imagine not remembering the last 10 years of my life, especially not remembering my kids. It really made me think about my life, past and present and the memories that I’ve made….good and bad. It also got me thinking about what I sometimes take for granted and what’s really important in my life. It made me examine the way that I’ve handled things that have happened recently.
If you looked back 10 years from now on the decisions you are making today, what would you think? Or better yet, if 10 years ago you were able to see into the future and take a look at your present day life, what would you think?
I personally think Alice needed a blog to help her remember the last 10 years!! 😉
From a few other reviews I’ve read, many readers didn’t like the epilogue. Spoiler alert– When I read a book, I enjoy when the ending is wrapped up nice and neat, like this book, so you have a good idea how all of the characters’ lives turned out. I wish all books did this!! And I actually liked how everything turned out in the end.
Overall, this is an enjoying read that is well worth your time, but don’t expect it to be the best book you’ll ever read.
Something to think about…..
Have you read What Alice Forgot? If so, what did you think?
Any reading goals for 2013?
What is one of your all-time favorite books?
I’ll see you back here, tomorrow, for a little Marvelous in my Monday!!
My reading goal for the coming year is simple: to simply read more fun/leisurely reads! The past 24 years of my life have been filled with school work, and now that I just graduated with my Master’s degree and do not have school work (what a weird feeling!!), I cannot wait to have more free time to dedicated toward blog reading and reading books that are not required of me. I am not quite sure exactly where to start because there have been so many books lately that I have heard are great. Possibly Gone Girl if I can get my hands on a copy?
Gone Girl is on my “to read” list too! I know how you feel about not having school work. I graduated with my Master’s degree in 2008 and I felt the exact same way….when you’re in school, it’s really hard to find time to read for fun.
You’re cracking me up with your comment that Alice should have had a blog! I guess I’m protected (at least back until last year) if I ever get amnesia. Even though I was super grumpy about this book, I enjoyed reading it. The story definitely kept me wanting more. Even though I didn’t like the few pages where Alice’s memories all came back to her, I’m actually a huge fan of epilogues, too! They give me closure.
I definitely agree that the story was kept very light considering some of the things that the book dealt with. I love listening to books, but it is definitely the person speaking that makes or breaks the book!
Totally with you on that!
I read your review on this book and I thought I would try it and I completely agree with your review. It was an ok book but not my favorite. I also prefer books that make you think afterwards. I just read Cutting For Stone and I thought it was a really great book.
Thanks for the reply! I’ll have to look up Cutting for Stone….I’ve heard that title brought up before. I’m reading Go Girl right now and I really like it.