The One Memory of Flora Banks
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| The One Memory of Flora Banks |
Flora
Banks is a 17-year-old girl, who has spent her entire life living in Penzance,
Cornwall. Flora has anterograde amnesia, her mind resets itself several times a
day, and has done since she was a little girl, due to a tumor she had removed when she was 10. Thankfully, Flora’s parents had
given her a journal, telling her everything she needs to know. Along with this,
Flora is accompanied by her best friend, Paige, who has been a helping hand
with Flora’s memories.
On
an everyday basis, Flora forgets the simplest of things; where she lives, what
she last ate…all she remembers is that she must be brave. Until Drake.
Flora
kisses her best friend’s boyfriend and she
remembers.
Flora
sets off on the most fantastic journey of her life – to the land of the
midnight sun. Through many highs and lows, Flora discovers who she really is.
I’ve
wanted to write a review on this book for a while now, but I haven’t been able
to put my thoughts into words. There were so many things I loved about this
book, but then so many things I just couldn’t get along with.
Initially,
I was very worried this would be overly cliché and follow the pattern of “boy
meets girl and inevitably saves girl” but this wasn’t the case…or not in the
way you expect. Even though Flora kissed her best friend’s boyfriend, I couldn’t
help but feel so much sympathy for her – she knew she had crossed the line, but
she remembered. It was one of those
situations when you were happy, even though you shouldn’t be.
The
One Memory of Flora Banks is a fantastic ‘self-discovery’ book for more than
one character, which is only something I have thought about whilst writing a
review. Flora, Paige, Flora’s parents – all of them discover something about
themselves and the person they need to be, and I think, whether intentional, it’s
a fantastic addition to the book.
The
one thing that I just couldn’t get along with was the writing style. I understand
why it’s written in the way it is, but, I found it incredibly hard to read. Due
to Flora’s amnesia she has to remind herself 4 or 5 times in the same day, who
she is and she has to remind herself of little aspects in her life – and although,
I understand that we have to endure through this information, every several
pages – it did frustrate me an awful lot.
The
ending of the book was the reason I enjoyed it the most. It was so unexpected
and contained to many twists and turns considering the book, at times, was so
incredibly slow. Want to know the main twist?? – You’ll have to read the book
then…won’t you?
ps... Can we go to Flambards?
hey guys! thanks for taking time out of your day to give my little blog post a read - and if you're here from Bookstagram - a massive hello and a HUGE thank you, you guys are amazing!
See you soon,
Chels x
instagram; @lookingforchels
enquiries; chelseysteward96@gmail.com
enquiries; chelseysteward96@gmail.com