Review of The Memory Keeper

[Julie Marie Basil]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Memory Keeper" by Marilyn Land.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Do you enjoy reading historical fiction novels that also include a present-day timeline? Are you a fan of the city of New York who is interested in learning more about its history? Do you believe that family can include the people who you choose to keep in your life just as much as those who are related to you by blood? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should read The Memory Keeper by Marilyn Land.

This story chronicles the life of Lillian Asher, an artist living in New York City who was chosen to be interviewed for a special episode of a TV series called Profiles of New York. This series profiles not only famous and influential people with ties to the Big Apple, but also significant locations and attractions in and around the city. Lily has been chosen to be interviewed by Sam Meyerson, the executive producer and creator of the series. He knows about her because her son was one of the many lives that was cut short in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, but soon learns that there is so much more to her story. You’ll have to read this book to learn more about what led Lily to end up in New York and how she persevered in the face of grief and obstacles throughout her life.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this story, but I give it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. There were a number of grammatical and typographical errors, as well as random instances of unnecessary capitalization that were distracting while reading this story. For these elements, I deducted one star from my rating. There were also aspects of the plot that were fairly predictable from the first chapters of the story. Some ways that connections were made between people from Lillian’s past and those in her present felt too good to be true to the point of being unrealistic. Lastly, there was an instance towards the end of the story in chapter 25 when entire paragraphs from chapter 10 were repeated nearly verbatim. I understand that Lily was telling part of her story again, and there were some more details added in the second telling, but the copied paragraphs felt inauthentic, particularly given that Lily was speaking with the same person in both scenes.

Despite the drawbacks of this book, I did find the story to be an enjoyable read and a heartwarming story.

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The Memory Keeper
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[Shaniz Tobiaz]

I have never enjoyed reading historical fiction but i will give this one a try.

[Sarah Zain]

The story really seems full of emotions. Even with the flaws you mentioned, the story still has an engaging factor. Thank you for the recommendation. Enjoyable review.

[Gerry Steen]

I answered yes to all three questions that you posed in your review. I will enjoy reading this book. I hope the author takes your critiques to heart and improves the book. This story could have a five-star rating.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

I am a fan of historical fiction and would like to give this book a go as NYC was one of my favorite cities to visit.

[Priya Murugesan]

I am quite interested by your review. The book sounds unique. But your negative aspects about the book is a concern for me. So I am on the fence regarding this book. Thanks for your review!

[Pearl Flourish]

Lily’s story sounds heartfelt and compelling, but the predictable plot and editing issues seem like they might take away from the experience. Still, I like the idea of exploring personal history alongside New York’s rich past.

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

Great review! It has piqued my interest in the book. I like to read this genre once in a while and this book sounds like it would be a good read.

[RJ Reviews]

Your rating seems fair. After reading your review I realized that this book isn't my cup of tea. Although I am curious about Lily's story, the genre isn't my preferred one. And the flaws you mentioned would definitely hamper my reading experience. A great review, as always. Thank you.

[Anu Anand]

This review really gives a clear picture of the book’s strengths and a few areas where it falls short. I like the idea of exploring Lily’s life in New York and how she overcomes challenges. The editing issues and predictability seem frustrating, but I’m still intrigued by the heartwarming story.

[Amy Luman]

It looks to me like Lillian had a very eventful life. The novel also seems to bring in some real-life events. Thanks!

[Seetha E]

Your review give a fair opinion on what to expect. When the story is captivating, I dont mind having to go through the errors and reducing the rating accordingly. Hence, I am interested and will look out for this one. Great review. Thank you.

[George Bastem]

A touching story with a strong emotional core, though some parts sound a bit too predictable. The connection to New York’s history and the theme of chosen family make it an interesting read.

[Jeff Kanda]

You have written a very detailed review of this book. This book seems to be really captivating, especially because my answer was YES for all the questions that you asked. I am curious to read this book. Thanks!

[Elizabeth-Tush4Christ]

First off, this is not a book that catches my fancy at a glance, but I like to see how Asher got her big girls shoes on and walked through struggles as a star in the city. I feel there is more to learn from her journey than I would see on the face value. These grammatical errors can be a drawback, but I get a little comfortable with such books when I get a heads-up. The review is well written and captures all the important details.