The Memory of Love is one of the best books I have ever read! It was hard to understand at first. Each chapter reveals another character, past and present events of their lives, and the effects of the Sierra Leone war upon all of them. Once I got past the confusion, Aminatta Forna brilliantly wove each character’s life together with another character. Each chapter revealed another “connection” that stunned me, the reader, and unraveled the hidden mysteries of each character.I began to care deeply about each character and longed to know their stories. There were many main characters. The war dictated their futures in various ways. Aminatta revealed how rage caused the war. People had nothing left to lose. The rebels during the coup were merciless. One horrifying event after another left people with post-traumatic syndrome. Each character reacted to their war experiences in varying degrees. This novel includes horrifying war events, deep love, yearnings, rejections, and betrayal. Aminatta explores the inner depths of each character. Their innermost feelings were told throughout the novel and brought me closer and closer to each character. Kai is a surgeon who puts peoples’ physical lives back together after the war. He finds himself shaking during operations as he recalls his own war events. He lies night after night, sleepless, for when he sleeps his nightmares are unbearable. Elias is a university professor, obsessed and in love with another man’s wife. As he gets caught up in the politics of the war, Saffia becomes his wife. Their marriage is loveless. Saffia is in love with the ghost of her husband and Elias cannot compete with the ghost. His story is revealed, story by story, to a Senior clinical psychologist as Elias is dying, an old man, in a hospital. His hidden lies are revealed at the end of the novel.Adrian is the clinical psychologist who left his wife and daughter behind in England to pursue a more meaningful career in Sierra Leone. He did not come to Sierra Leone for happiness, but he finds it in his work, then in a woman. He successfully and unsuccessfully tries to repair the inner lives of the victims of war. Agnes, one of his patients, also has a war story that is revealed, little by little which forces her to lose her memory and start to wander away from home. Adrian’s mission is to find out what impels Agnes’ journey. Each character’s story was painful. As the novel continued, I was totally surprised how each character was directly connected to another, yet I had no idea there was a connection. I was deeply immersed in every main characters’ lives and their memories of love. Bravo, Aminatta Forna!!!!!! Beautiful. I absolutely loved it, and it’s definitely one of my faves. I learnt so much, it made me think about things, it made me feel grateful that I can read, and more grateful that I enjoy reading. My favourite part of this book was that they stayed. By they, I mean, Kai stayed. Tejani came home. Mamakay wanted to stay and even Adrian almost did. We may wander, we may explore but Africa is ours and the solutions to our problems lie with us. It’s not easy to love a place that has not given you plenty. It’s a little crazy to want to live and die in a world where having a baby is so bluddy risky, where people die senseless, totally avoidable as Sefi Atta calls them “African deaths”. This is even more difficult where you know better conditions await you elsewhere, especially when you aren’t just looking for green pastures but your energy and your talents would actually have opportunities to thrive.It’s not that simple, I know, but whatever the medicine is, we are the ones that have it. Only we can fix our failing countries, it’s not easy, but I think the best thing to do (probably not for ourselves, but the best thing to do for our countries sakes) is to come back, is to stay.The main narrative is in the voices of Adrian, an English psychiatrist working in the country, and a dying man Elias Cole. Still, you get to hear the stories of dashing doctor Kai Mansaray, Mamakay and the other characters who make this story. The individual stories were good, and at some point I was wondering “What’s up? How do these go together?” and at the right time, bam- the dots were connected.I enjoyed the mental trip to Sierra Leone, and I hope to visit someday. :) And now, having stalked her on Wikipedia, I need to find everything else Aminatta Forna has written! #fan #stan #thisislove
What do You think about Fantoomliefde (2012)?
This book was a very slow burn and almost gave up but so glad I didn't! Beautifully written.
—Potato
The best of the best. One of the finest, challenging and stunning reads in years.
—bobby
Didn't finish it. A bit seedy the way Elias stalks Staffa
—hannnah
