Review: Forgotten by Cat Patrick
I remember forwards. I remember forwards, and forget backwards. My memories, bad, boring, or good, haven’t happened yet. So I will remember standing in the fresh-cut grass with the black-clad figures surrounded by stone until I do it for real. I will remember the funeral until it happens – until someone dies. And after that, it will be forgotten. Here’s the thing about me: I can see my future, but my past is blank. I see the future in flashes, like memories. I remember what I’ll wear tomorrow, and a car crash that won’t happen till this afternoon. But yesterday has evaporated from my mind – just like the boy I love. I can’t see him in my future. I can’t remember him from my past. But today, I love him. And I never want to forget how much.
Here’s why:
1. The premise was just so interesting and intriguing. I mean, a girl whose brain re-sets at 4:33am every morning? And she can only remember the future, not the past? Fresh and new.
2. I loved the concept of the notes: see, London writes herself notes every night of what she needs to remember – and doesn’t write what she wants to forget.
3. Speaking of, I am in love with the name London.
4. It was so easy to read yet it was complicated. There were one hundred things going on at once in the plot, but it was never complicated. Instead, it was interesting and lovely to read and I kept thinking it must have been so hard to write. But you can’t tell: it reads flawlessly.
5. Speaking of it being easy to read, I finished it within 24 hours. You will too.
6. On that point, it’s out in June and YOU SHOULD PRE-ORDER IT BECAUSE IT WILL SELL-OUT AND THEN YOU WILL MISS YOU AND YOU WILL BE SAD. Just sayin’.
7. I loved how the voice was so consistent – which was hard as every day London woke up knowing nothing. She had to go back to the start and read whatever her notes told her and if a point wasn’t on there then she couldn’t know it. Patrick managed to pull that off flawlessly.
8. Essentially, it was just a damn good read.
9. Something else I loved was Luke – of course. I’m not one to go gaga over the romantic interest but just: awwwww. I liked his persistence, patience, loveliness, the fact he was human. Which I think is the most important point.
10. I also really liked the extremely well-fleshed out character of her mum. Actually, all sub-characters weren’t 2-D but really well fleshed out. Props to Patrick for achieving that in a small space of words.
11. I could really go on forever about this.
12. Instead, I think I’ll leave you with some closing points.
13. Such as, I really liked the blissful ignorance London had when she purposefully forgot things. It made me smile. (Sounds stupid but true).
14. You can look at something like this at face value but I think it would be fascinating to study. I’d really like to in fact. Why don’t we start a club? Once everyone finishes reading it, we should get together and discuss it.
15. Ok, now I’m just rambling.
16. The bottom line is, it was a fantastically written, interesting, unique, fresh book that you will want.
I HAVE AN ARC (advanced readers copy) OF FORGOTTEN TO GIVE AWAY.
Yes, that’s right! 
The lovely people over at Hardie Grant have supplied me with an extra ARC to give away (as *if* I’ll give away my copy!! I’m going to read it again and again and again).
All you lovely (international and Australia!) people have to do is:
-‘Like’ the Forgotten Facebook page
-Follow this blog
-Answer the following question
In the book Forgotten, London forgets everything and has to write notes to herself every morning. If this happened to you, how would you deal?
I wouldn’t deal very well, I would think. My friends often joke my life is a novel. I have so much going on at any one time that I wouldn’t be able to just read some notes to myself each morning and carry on. My life is too complicated!!
The competition closes 28 April 2011, just leave your answer in the comments below along with a contact email address (VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE, I can’t contact you without an email address!!).
For all other mere mortals, the book is out 1 June and as I said: pre-order it because I guarantee it will sell out.
For more information,
What and awesome premiss. I can't wait to read this book. As for what I would do, I don't know, I guess write myself notes like London. Or make myself a this is your life movie to watch each morning, like Drew Barrymore does at the end of 50 First Dates. But that was a lame movie, and this sounds like an amazing book.
katherine.elliott.scott(at)gmail(dot)com
Oh wow. Really good review, by the way!
This sounds like 50 First Dates, but 1000000 times better! I mean, she remembers THE FUTURE, not the past. Awesome.
The cover is amazing, as is the UK cover. But this cover is way better than the US and UK covers. I can't get over how amazing it is! hahaha
In answer to the question: WOAH – my life would be completely and utterly different. I would not take anything for granted, even the simplest things like family relationships that are founded since being a baby, because I'd have no recollection of them at all.
How could anyone deal well with waking up everyday with no memories of where you've been or how you got in your bed or even who you are?
Even with notes.
It's a situation too complicated and too mind-blogging to ponder thoroughly. I'm already feeling quite freaked out just thinking about it! Lol
Sorry for the super long comment :/
arielle(dot)yeap(at)gmail(dot)com
i liked the FB page and I'm obviously a follower of your blog!
mind-boggling! not mind-blogging..
Answer: Wow. I wouldn't be able to deal unless I wrote about every minute of my day and carried around the huge diary with me. I think I'd have a very lonely life because, hello, I'd forget who my friends were!
pink_sponge_baby@yahoo.com.au
I'm interested that you rave about this book – I've just reviewed it for a magazine and was quite disappointed, despite the hype. It's sweet and funny and a fast read, but the internal logic is really inconsistent (eg. If she remembers the future, why doesn’t she remember what she wrote in her future notes to herself, and thus not need to read them them each morning?) and the crime drama at the end feels tacked on. What did you think about those points?
Hey Anna: I actually loved the crime drama scenes. I was hooked! Couldn't get enough.
However: do you remember the movie Stick It? About the gymnastics girls? Well, for 2/3 of that movie it was about the girl getting back into it and training and the last third of the movie was about how unfair the judging of gymnastics at comps were. I thought it was stupid: it was as if the movie had completely changed direction. It was a whole new movie.
So, I can see your point: there weren't very many (if any) clues about the crime during the book and it was a bit 'tacked on'. But I guess I liked it and liked the twist, so I was okay with it.
In regards to the future, I did have some questions while reading it, such as how did she know where her classes were in the school but didn't remember about what uniform to wear, how did she know about where her bedroom was in the house and, as another commenter suggested, why didn't she wake up each morning scared out of her mind not knowing where she was?
And yes, as you say, if she did remember all those things as I listed above why then not her notes?
As the novel went on I relaxed a little on my questions and wondering and I guess I allowed Patrick some creative license and over-looked things.
(And stupidly enough I was about to write "and if these things were in a Booker-prize winning adult literary novel I would have torn it apart" But that's awful isn't it? Making allowances for a YA book like that?)
-‘Like’ the Forgotten Facebook page – Aik Chien
- Follow this blog @ Aik
- I'd keep a diary so that I don't remember things in the past, and I'd treasure every piece of sweet memories by writing them out.
aikychien at yahoo dot com
Very interesting premise, kind of reminds me of the movie Memento, where the protagonist tattooed his body with things to remember, as each day he forgot everything. Though in this book she also see the future. Fascinating.
It if was me, I'd probably do similarly and leave a reminder note or something each morning, along with a to do list
Of course I like the Facebook page
and follow you via GFC too as Stella (Ex Libris)
It would be hard to deal! Especially since my memory is scary: I can remember tiny details about memories from decades ago, what I would miss the most is remembering experiences and moments: like when we laughed so hard with my little sister we got hiccups when I was a teenager, all the fun I had with my friends when I was in high school, etc.
With all the praise I keep reading about this novel, I can't wait to get my hands on it and read it! It sounds amazing!
Thank you for the chance!!
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
I don't think I would keep notes at all! I think I'd want to experience as much as possible (from my past
) as possible but completely unbiased. Much like now you don't really know what the future brings in real life, I wouldn't want to know what the past brings, so no notes, just new (old) experiences…
oh, forgot: elsdeclercq (at) gmail (dot) com
I liked the FB page!
I've been eyeing this book for forever! London reminds me of Cassel's brother, Barron, in Holly Black's White Cat. Anyway, I think I'd do what London does. Keep a journal/write notes of the things that happens to me so I won't forget.
toprocrastinate @ hotmail.com
I think I'd do the same as London, and write things down for myself. So clever! Maybe I'd also video important things.
- I liked the facebook page
- I'm a (new) follower
handley(dot)skye(at)gmail(dot)com
I'd probably do the same as London, but I don't think it'd be sufficient enough. I'm a completely unorganized, messy person and my notes (when I bother to make them) often doesn't make any sense. I think, I'd also have to take a lot of photographs. Pictures often affect me more than words….
I liked the FB page and I follow you (Judit)
Thanks a lot!
judittten at gmail dot com
I would go absolutely mental! Wouldn't it be horrible? Living life halfway because you know it would just be a lost cause? *sighs*
Thanks for the giveaway!
mssammydean(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'm actually not sure what I would do… I don't think I'd fall apart, as I am nor defeatist. I would probably write a diary or some notes, just like London in the book! Maybe accompanied by some photographs, as visual aid. Somehow, I think I'd manage!
Thanks for the giveaway! It liked the idea of asking a question! It makes it a little more personal than just having us give out our e-mail addresses!
Phanee
funnywool[at]live[dot]com
I think I would write myself vlogs and give myself reminders about homework, and I think I would observe my friends and note my observations, for example: Scarlett bites her nails, is it excitement or anxiety? I think I would try to get to know everyone else extremely well through notes/vlogs to make up for lost memory. Thanks for the giveaway! teenbookfanatics@gmail.com
I think it would be very hard for me too but I'd write only the important stuff I'd had to remember. However, I love life so much that I think I would try to do this every morning and maybe with the time I'd find it easier.
liked the FB page(FB name:Petra Socaciu)
GFC follower
petra_socaciu(at)yahoo.com
I think I would do like her.. or maybe I will record myself and listen to it every morning..
kla505[at]hotmail[dot]com
GFC follower: Rea
Liked Forgotten's FB: Rea Yu
I think my initial reaction every morning is to freak out and I might even think that it's just a dream to be reading some random notes that refer to my life the previous day. In order to cope up with it, I'll be reading the notes thoroughly and probably do some sort of research or investigation regarding the information in the notes so that I can better understand my situation. However, loosing memory isn't a laughing matter; I might end up taking a nap instead if I can't handle the whole bizarre thing.
leposies AT gmail DOT com
umm i think i would be freaking out each morning… that sort of reminds me of 50 first dates how she relives the day every day. but i would be freaking out everytime and i think that i would be using LOTS of notes
thanks for the giveaway!
katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway !!!
Honestly, I have no idea what should I do if that happen to me. It would be very hard for me. Maybe, I would write everything that important to me. And I would make a video for every important moment in my life so I can watch it.
I'm a GFC follower and I liked the forgotten fb(Dinda Lestarini).
dl(dot)love(dot)freedom(at)gmail(dot)com
If I have known what exactly happen to me, I am going to record everything that I do in a day and put it in a place that is easy to see the next morning. Or makes a big note in a huge whiteboard that I will see when I wake up.
+like FB page
+follower
Aleetha
aleetha.ally at gmail dot com
Hi:) Thanks for the great giveaway!
I've joined the FB page as Sarah Bibi Setar
Im a GFC follower: Identity Seeker
I would not be able to live a life like that, especially since I'm a student, as it would mean that if I study for an exam or a test the night before, I would not remember a thing the next day. This would result in inability to gain a qualification, earn money and even have meaningful social relationships. In order to deal with my situation, I'd probably carry around a camera and take photos of new people and situations so that I'd have them right by my side to remind me the next morning. These would be labelled, of course. I would also keep a diary (which I currently do- two in fact, since one is a personal diary and the other is work-related) and I would may be even video things to keep accurate records.
sarah.setar@gmail.com
I would love to read Forgotten!! I most likely would not handle being blind very well, as I go to school, and drive, etc. It would be very difficult, you have to admire the author for tackling such a unique subject. Thanks for the giveaway!!!
liked fbook page: Alexis Salcido
GCF follower: alexis0407
alexis0407@yahoo.com