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There are currently 42 member reviews
for All Is Not Forgotten
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Teresa K. (Broadlands, VA)
All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker
As suggested by the title, this fascinating book deals primarily with lost and recovered memories associated with a vicious sexual attack on fifteen year old Jenny Kramer.The event elicits different reactions from Jenny and her parents, Tom and Charlotte. Unable to handle the crisis, Charlotte insists that Jenny be treated immediately with a new therapy which displaces memories of traumatic experiences like combat and other terrible ordeals, Tom is not convinced that this is the best way to help his daughter get through the aftermath of the attack; however, as usual, Charlotte's wishes prevail.She mistakenly believes that Jenny is recovering although in fact, she is suffering through the emotional effects of the suppressed memories.which leads to her attempted suicide. Dr. Alan Forrester, a psychiatrist, is brought into the case and tries to help Jenny and her family deal more honestly with the situation. He attempts to recover Jenny's memories, thereby affecting a host of characters who have things to hide and some things to reveal. The story is told by Dr. Forrester, who finds himself having a personal stake in her memories. Each character is forced to confront secrets and problems precipitated by Jenny's search for lost memories. The book is written in a crisp, concise style and shows an astute knowledge of human behavior.The author's background as a former attorney and investment banker certainly contributes to these skills. I highly recommend the book.
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Betsy R. (Gig Harbor, WA)
All is Not Forgotten
I started this book intending to skim it - instead, I was riveted for the weekend. The shifts in perspective from character to character (indicated in italics) was a little hard to get used to, but it was very effective in allowing the reader to see various viewpoints. The voice of the narrator, the psychiatrist , was strong; in fact, I kept questioning his reliability. Overall, it all fits together as the book unfolded, however, although I do agree with others that the ending was a little out of left field. Very good and worth reading.
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Janet P. (Spokane, WA)
I was hooked!
Wendy Walker's book lived up to its cover quote ,"The most stunning psychological thriller I've ever read...I loved it!" I was reading another novel when the book arrived, so my husband grabbed it and two days later reported, "it's great!" So Walker drew in both the husband and wife in this family.
I was hooked from the first paragraph: "He followed her into the woods behind the house....She may have turned and seen him, wearing the black wool mask whose fibers were found beneath her nails." The story continued with that degree of intrigue to the final pages.
I spent time trusting the narrator then thinking he/she might be crazy. In the first few chapters, I couldn't stop wondering who the narrator could be and when that narrator's name was revealed I cringed and felt the author's joy in revealing this truth so slowly.
The characters are believable, the plot, plausible. The victim seemed to be a typical teenage girl. The mother and father of the victim both suffer in their own way, which causes the type of pressure the reader might expect in the marriage of the parents of a daughter, Jenny, who was brutally raped. But their treatment by those in the hospital where Jenny was first taken, and their treatment later by a psychologist is anything but normal. And, as the mother and father's secrets, in fact as the secrets of all the characters are slowly revealed we see that just as in living, breathing people, what is behind their actions and interpretations of their daughter's rape goes back to their own childhoods which are also artfully revealed to the reader.
The story weaves back and forth between memories revealed to the counselor and his interpretation of those memories. Some of this began to feel now and then like malpractice...and the plot thickens!
I recommend this book without hesitation. I'm anxious to see what Reese Witherspoon can do with it as a film.
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Janice P. (South Woodstock, VT)
All is Not Forgotten
A tenth-grade girl is brutally raped and tortured; as she lies sedated, her parents are given a choice that opens the fault line in their own marriage: whether or not to use a memory-erasing drug treatment that will spare her PTSD and a difficult recovery, but will also make it harder to find and prosecute her attacker. Right from the start-- for this is only the start-- we see this dilemma as pointing to bigger questions: what value do we place on the truth, even -- especially-- if is painful? Does healing come from forgetting, moving on--or from developing the courage to stand up to your pain? How does memory shape our identity, and what happens when we tinker with that process?
As the search for the rapist unfolds, these issues play out not only in the victim's experience, but for her parents, whose own "forgettings" shape their responses to their daughter's crisis. But there's much more: the mystery itself is skillfully revealed in stages, starting with the reader's first question: Who is telling this story? Once we find out, we need to know why...and that takes us to the heart of this complex story, as we watch a master manipulator at work, struggling to resolve his own woundedness, seemingly, but not quite, forgotten.Amid the twists and turns of events that will keep you from putting this book down, the narrator's voice is an anchor of reason and deception -- and a source of some truly profound statements about human nature, not to mention fascinating details about the brain, memory, personality disorders, police work, and the practice of psychiatry.
The author's note explains that drug therapy to alter memory is already being used by the military and will likely soon become available to civilians, and controversial. Her readers will completely understand why that might be, should be, the case.
This takes the category of "psychological thriller" to a whole new level -- and you will want to read the book before Reese Witherspoon turns this into a movie (rights already sold before publication) because there's no way a movie can capture all of the nuances and thought-provoking issues in this book.
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Brenda S. (Winter Haven, FL)
Can't Cheat the Ending
There are times when we wish we could forget something that happened...pain, embarrassment, need to move on. This book will explain why all memories are needed. I tried reading the ending to relieve the anxiety of this story; however, I read it wrong. This book was great from the sad beginning to the unbelievable ending. One of the best books I read this year. It is perfect for book clubs...great discussion on morality.
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Kathleen W. (New Brighton,, MN)
Don't be SO sure!
Most of us are familiar with this book scenario: Teen girl is persuaded to come to a house party by her desired boyfriend. Boyfriend ignores her at the party. Girl is upset, drinks too much, runs out of the house to be alone...and... Well, I bet most of us could write the rest of the story ourselves. However, when this scenario involves ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN by Wendy Walker, you would be SO WRONG to assume that! Told by the girl's psychiatrist, you certainly get the "what" and the "where" but hang on to your bookmark for the "why" because you won't be needing it. This book is a major mystery ride, my friend, that you will be hard pressed to put down. If you haven't been surprised by an ending lately, and if you love stories that involve successive character and family member ripples after a given event, put this book on your "To Read" list and Run (don't walk!) to claim a copy when it is published. What's that you say? Why, you're welcome!
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Marcia F. (Batavia, IL)
All Is Not Forgotten
It took me about three chapters before the suspense of the novel totally drew me in making it very difficult to put this book down. I really enjoyed this book and am still thinking about the ending. This book is a must read for book clubs as there are so many issues making for great discussions and I can't wait to see the movie!
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