What Alice Forgot
Book - 2011 | 1st American ed.
What would happen if you were visited by your younger self, and got a chance for a do-over?
Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she's actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce.
A knock on the head has misplaced ten years of her life, and Alice isn't sure she likes who she's become. It turns out, though, that forgetting might be the most memorable thing that has ever happened to Alice.
Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she's actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce.
A knock on the head has misplaced ten years of her life, and Alice isn't sure she likes who she's become. It turns out, though, that forgetting might be the most memorable thing that has ever happened to Alice.
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Publisher:
New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2011.
Edition:
1st American ed.
ISBN:
9780399157189
0399157182
9780425247440
0399157182
9780425247440
Branch Call Number:
FIC MORIARTY, L.
Characteristics:
426 p. ; 24 cm.
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Quotes
Add a QuoteAnd that's when Ben said, "Lots of children must have lost their parents." He said it solemnly, but also with a definite hint of cheer. As in, hey, how handy! Lots of dead parents! Lots of spare kids up for grabs! Maybe a cute violin player is crawling out of the rubble right now.
- Page 243
"Good luck," said the nurse as I left.
She's the one who always says "Good luck." In a sort of patronizing way.
"Oh, f**k off with your good luck," I said, and punched her in the nose.
- Page 265
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DanglingConversations
Nov 22, 2014
DanglingConversations thinks this title is suitable for 18 years and over
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Add a CommentNice, light, easy read. The addition of the letters added a great perspective to the story.
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Loved it! I had been in a bit of a reading rut so it was so refreshing to read a book I actually enjoyed again.
This book really had me assess myself and look back on the past to see how much I've changed (good or bad) and how people in my life 10 years ago would view me now.
I almost completely hated the ending of the book (I still wish it had gone a little smoother) but the epilogue really tied it all together and made it okay. I do think the book was a bit long for the ending to be as choppy as it was.
I never expect to enjoy Liane Moriarty’s stories so much. I have to admit that I always go in with a biased opinion of her books, mainly due to the topic — I just can’t imagine a story of “family life” to be so riveting.
But Liane Moriarty spins a narrative that is so compelling even if the storyline appears to lack extravagance or thrill.
What Alice Forgot is a story meant to make you realize that everything in life is based on perspective, and your perspective on things is ever-changing. The perspective you have today will differ from the perspective you had even a year ago. Your experiences throughout your life mold and shape you, and although you may remain the same person at the core, you are molded over time to view things differently. Let’s also never forget one of the few truths in life — THINGS CHANGE.
Through this novel, Moriarty is able to make us consider the importance of perspective by spinning a story where the main character, Alice, forgets the past ten years of her life. Using this framework of a narrative, she is able to make you question your own life and consider what are the things that are truly important?
I do appreciate the happy ending that comes with this book. I feel it is important with these sort of stories to end on an optimistic point of sorts. Mainly so that we, the reader, can practice realizing that turmoil does not always have to end badly.
“The only thing in life that is constant is change” — Heraclitus
Love it! Great summer read.
This book made me want to throw it across the room many, many times. If the characters would just TALK TO EACH OTHER, 95% of the drama could be avoided. (Of course, I guess that would kind of kill most of the book, so...).
Book Club selection.
Recommended by Karen
Recommended by Karen
It’s hard to rate this book. There were some really good parts and some not-so-great parts. For instance, I was losing my patience with the droning of Alice not having her memory, but then it got rather interesting and the story developed.
The end simply see-saws all over the place. It’s a somewhat interesting and blasé read.