The Memory House

Great book to remind us to love and have faith. This book definitely has a way of getting you to reflect.

I love books about amnesia. Get this book! You will enjoy reading it from cover to cover. There is a book I will always remember. This is the second time I have read The Memory House!

This book is a glowing example of everything I love about Rachel Hauck's writing. An English class would have a heyday with the themes of this novel: loss of innocence, forgiveness, mercy, motherhood, a person's sense of worth, marriage, and loyalty go along with the overarching focus on both good and painful memories. There’s even a subtle but beautiful pro-life message. Several small storylines are mixed in with the larger ones, and she weaves them all together perfectly with threads of spiritual lessons (and you never get confused jumping between the stories---amazing). I enjoyed all of the characters and found myself pulling for all of them as if they were my friends. We can all relate to the ways that life will take a sharp left on you and you don’t end up anywhere near where you thought you would. Everleigh, the historical protagonist, starts out as an innocent, slightly naïve girl in love, and through her life’s circumstances, you watch her transform into a woman of character and even a spiritual mentor. I found myself wishing for more chapters to see even more of her story. We first see Beck as a tough girl with street smarts--and she retains that strength, but she becomes more relatable and feminine as the story goes on. I thought I would have a hard time connecting with Beck because her life is so vastly different from anything I’ve ever known, but only a few pages in, she felt like someone I’d want to know. (I loved the descriptions of her TV binges!) I appreciate that the author didn’t sugar-coat or sanitize Beck’s character before she met the Lord. The men are likeable, and their individual stories and growth as people are just as compelling. The house feels like a character as well (as does Beck’s dog, which I loved!) This type of story can’t be easy to write. The ending is everything I was hoping for, and you’re left knowing that the characters have all changed for the better—but clearly none of those changes could have happened without God’s mercy. Rachel Hauck is my favorite author; not only is she an amazing storyteller, but she’s an incredible writer also—her word choices are so perfect and beautiful. (I highlighted several quotes that I’ll add to my journal later.) If her name is on it, I’ll happily devour every word!