Normally, I don't "write" book reviews. I talk about books a lot with my friends, making suggestions about new ones to read or getting suggestions about ones to try. I read the Goodreads newsletter each month with a pen and paper ready to write down titles of new books to read. I get newsletters from Tyndale house, I read reviews in magazines. I am a bibliophile - I love books. I still haven't completely migrated to e-readers yet, but I have a small stash as my "back-up books".
I am also not a genre snob - I have my favorites - inspirational fiction, general fiction, YA - yes, I read YA, and some non-fiction. If it sounds good, I'll read it. I also have a tough time quitting a book in mid-read - even if it horrible. There is something about the world that my imagination creates while I read - I can put away mine and fall into one that is completely different for a while. It's always been that way for me. I read so much as a child and it continued as I grew. I married a reader. Some of our children are readers.
My son (who is Autistic), is my only non-reader. He reads books, but they don't have the same power over him. I've been told that it's because Autistic people can't see the pictures in their heads the way other people do. They only see words, so why would reading be a magical adventure for them?
So, I had heard about the book, "What Alice Forgot", and I became curious. The summary is that a woman hit her head one day at the gym and forgot the past 10 years of her life.
The story is told from Alice's perspective, her sister's, and at times her grandmother's. She was at a spin class, fell off the bike and bumped her head. When she came too, she thought it was 10 years earlier. What she doesn't know is that she is in the midst of a bitter divorce and custody fight over the 3 children. The last thing she remembers, she was pregnant with the 1st and very much in love.
As you can imagine this leads to all sorts of issues. How do you respond to a spouse that despises you when the last thing you remember is being in love? How on earth do you manage a household full of children you don't remember, but who remember you? How do you live your life? Carry on relationships with people you don't know? And it goes on and on.
A lot of things seem to trace back to a friend of Alice's named Gina. They got too attached to each other - they were overly involved in each other's lives. Alice internalized Gina's issues and redirected them onto her husband. She pulled away from him and then when the pressures of life built, she took it out on him. Not that he was perfect himself by a long shot. It did make it easier for them to separate from each other though.
Watching her try to fight for the marriage during the book is bittersweet and heartbreaking all at the same time. She is still in love with him and he has to decide how he will interact with her. Like the Alice of 10 years ago, or the Alice that she doesn't remember being over the last 10 years.
Through the story, we also learn about the life stories of her family members and their struggles. I won't spoil all of the story, but it is worth the read.
What really got to me are the themes of redemption and forgiveness. The idea of how we change over time. What would life be like for me if I woke up and forgot 10 years of my life. My friends are different now, but my closest ones were still at least 2 years away from my meeting them. Life was so different for me. I had a newborn and a 2-year old girl. Just like Alice, I've lost the friend I was closest too at that time in my life.
Would I like to know the Amy that I grew into? What could I change if my perspective shifted - still holding onto my ideas of my early 30's while living with and interacting with the people in my life today.
I just love the idea of getting that chance to re-frame who you are. Isn't that what God gives us the chance to do repeatedly? As we live for Him, we change and grow - or at least we should. I know my faith was different 10 years ago - but where have I grown calloused over the years? What lessons have I managed to learn? What kind of witness have I turned into for Him? Would the people around me be able to reconcile the Amy I am now vs. the younger Amy? Alice's husband had to put aside a lot of pain to decide how to interact with current Alice. So did a lot of other people.
Give it a try. It's not from the "inspirational" shelf, but I bet it will inspire you too - if you are open to the idea of second chances and recognizing the mercy God grants us to change and mature.
