What readers think of The Forgetting Time, plus links to write your own review.

This was a very unusual book - it took a while for me to become involved in the story, but when I did it was hard to put it down. Reincarnation is not something one thinks about - I felt for Janie as she tried to understand her son's fears and behavior. At he same time, Noah's struggles with his "memories" were heartbreaking.

It took me a little while to get into this book as I had a hard time understanding how some of the characters were going to finally intersect. I also did not have an instant liking for the mother or her child.

But, the characters and the story grew on me. As I continued to read, I started to feel their pain, confusion and apprehension. The writing is lyrical and full of great word pictures. Sharon Guskin allowed me to experience all the characters ups and downs, their fears and joys and I came to love each of them.

The story, the writing and the theory of reincarnation could make great discussions for a book club.

By the acclaimed author reviews and plot description, I thought I'd love this novel. Unfortunately it did not captivate me. I have to give the author props for her creative and innovative plot which focuses on reincarnation and how it impacts family and children. This was a very slow paced novel; rather than the page turner I was expecting; though the last third is the best. The theme of existential mortality of lives that continue is incredibly underdeveloped. Finally, it did not even affect the way that I look at the issue of afterlife and possibility of reincarnation.

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin is not one of my favorite novels. I am about half-way through and am finding it hard to complete. A major problem is that I do not find the characters of Janie and Noah very relatable, and I am only mildly sympathetic with them. Jerome Anderson is still something of an enigma, even a considerable way into the novel. For me, this story is taking too long to get to the point, with too much set-up about Noah's problem. I will attempt to finish reading the book, but may end up not doing so.

This is ultimately a pretty engaging story that presents two obstacles the reader must overcome. The situations the main characters - Janie and her troubled son Noah, and Jerry Anderson - are quite bleak at the outset. You want to see a shred of hope that this will all lead somewhere satisfying on some level even if not a happy ending. And the insertion of mini-case studies (it is not clear whether factual or the author's imagination) of a very unusual phenomena (upon which the story comes to balance) is a bit clumsy.
But the story takes off in the last third, against my expectations, with the discovery of the Crawford family. What seemed a bit forced fell away as I became absorbed in the drama.

I understand that this book was based on actual research on reincarnation, but it still required some suspension of disbelief for me to read it. Not only was the story itself a little unbelievable, the characters seemed two-dimensional. The story was obviously plot-driven rather than being character-driven, and the plot was a little contrived.

I read the book several weeks ago, shortly after I received my advance copy, and was unable to write my review immediately due to the holidays and a work deadline. When I received a reminder email, I had to really stop and think hard to recall what the book was about. It just didn't do it for me.

I found this novel compelling as it covered two intricate themes. The complexity of motherhood and the philosophical concept of reincarnation. As a self professed skeptic, it did stretch my ideas about life and what possibly lies after and beyond. Along with its unique story line, it gives a fresh, thought provoking look at the labyrinth of motherhood and the lengths a mother will go to for her child. A well paced, impressive debut.