The Memory Book

I have read each novel stokes has written and i am awaiting more, this was a great story, hard to lay it down.

Fast read. Have you ever wondered about a past relative and your connections with him or her? ...the similarities? ...or wanting to reach back and ask for advice? Phoebe retreated to the home she grew up in to soul search, to try to come to terms with her own life. She finds her great-aunt's memory book and diary and is astounded on the similarities to her own life. She, also, learns of a family secret. In coming to terms with this secret and becoming acquainted with Great Aunt Phoebe, she finds herself and strength to do what she needs to. There are strong Christian undertones but which could be adopted to whichever face of God you may believe in. This book brings up questions that we may all have encountered, like, "Where is God/dess NOW, when I need him/her most?" Great read. It's really made me think in terms of my own life and challenges.

What a wonderful story! I have to admit, from the title, I was expecting something a little "hokey" or "homespun"--which wouldn't be bad, since I like both hokey and homespun. :-) But this book is neither. Phoebe, our heroine, is wonderful: a perfect blend of strength and weakness, she has her own set of nagging worries in her life, a sense of something being "missing," and yet she doesn't whine or wimp out when it comes to facing these challenges (as so many heroines do). The "supporting cast" is wonderful as well, and the time travel elements are handled skillfully and smoothly. The only change I would have made in this book would have been to omit the final "bonus" part that they gave us as part of the book club edition...I thought the section with Phoebe's mother's perspective weakened, rather than strengthened, the book. But that's a small detail compared to the overall experience of this great story. Pick this one up!

The Memory Book by Penelope Stokes -The Memory Book is a tragic story of family secrets and how those secrets affect the generations to follow. What I loved about this novel was how intricately Ms. Stokes linked family members to each other though their paths never crossed. I literally gasped aloud at the twist in this plot. Everything in this novel fits perfectly together, making it one of the best reads of my year.-Traci DePree, author of A Can of Peas