Book Review: The Forgetting Curve by Angie Smibert

THE FORGETTING CURVE is the sequel to MEMENTO NORA (see my review). While it would help to read MEMENTO NORA first, I think the sequel stands on its own pretty well.

MEMENTO NORA was narrated by three different characters: Nora, Micah and Winter.  For THE FORGETTING CURVE, we once again get Winter as a narrator as well as Winter's cousin Aiden and Winter's friend Velvet.

Winter doesn't remember anything of the events of MEMENTO NORA, but before she was brain bleached, she sent Aiden copies of Micah's underground comic MEMENTO.  Aiden comes home from his boarding school in Switzerland to intern at his father's tech company - a company he increasingly suspects may be in bed with the TFC (Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic). Aiden has to put his hacker skills to good use to figure out what sinister acts are going down ... before it's too late.

THE FORGETTING CURVE goes even further down the rabbit hole -- and we start to get a picture of TFC's real endgame.  The implications are chilling. I loved all the musings on memory and how they worked into the overall plot. Very clever.  Take this line:

It was the old Forgetting Curve thing (...) Memories fade over time - unless you periodically reinforce them.


Seems relatively innocuous by itself -- but trust me, context is everything.

Like in the first book, the world building details really immerse you in a near-future world where companies take advantage of people's fears to make money. To me, Aiden was an utterly believable hacker, and his voice was markedly different to Winter's (and Velvet's).  I hope he'll be back for book 3.

THE FORGETTING CURVE will be available May 1, 2012.  Find out more about the series at the official website.

See index of all dystopian reviews at Presenting Lenore

FTC disclosure: I read an eGalley of the book provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Book Review, UK Giveaway & Apoc Love Interview: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

When Sherry's family runs out of food, Sherry and her father venture out of their bunker to search for more. Unfortunately, Los Angeles is now overrun with Weepers, people infected by a mutated rabies virus. Sherry is saved from certain doom by Joshua and meets up with fellow survivors. Despite the dire circumstances, Sherry longs for vestiges of her Other Life, things such as a good meal, sunbathing and a chance at romance.

Probably my favorite part of the novel was the morbid humor.  You have a ton of creepy, scary action oriented scenes with our main characters fleeing the Weepers (zombies, basically), but then you get these funny asides that help balance out the tension.  

Joshua is the love interest, but action is more the selling point than romance.  He's the tough survivor type with a hidden vulnerability, and Sherry seems to fall for him mostly due to proximity.  But hey, in a Weeper world, beggars can't be choosers. (That's not to say they don't have some great scenes together - they do.)

Also? Loved the ending.  It introduced a great twist which I think will take the next book in an exciting new direction.

And because Susanne is an Apocalypsie, we also get an Apocalypsies Love interview today! Susanne tells us what she especially loves about her book.

What is your favorite scene in the book?
Well, my favorite is a scene with Joshua and Sherry close to the end of the book (on the roof) because it is so emotional but I don’t want to give away too much about it. ;)

And I love all the scary scenes. They’re fun to write and I like to scare my readers!


What is your favorite line in the book?
My favorite line is from the scene I mentioned above, so I’ll keep it to myself but I’ll give you my second favorite line: “As far as she knew, Grandpa had spent the last six months happily in heaven and not rock-hard next to our frozen peas.”

I love it because it’s so morbid. Scary, morbid and creepy – that’s what I like!

The US cover is quite scary, morbid and creepy.

Ha - that was my favorite line for sure. What setting was most fun to write?
The bunker Sherry and her family spent the last three years in. It was fun describing the oppressive atmosphere and showing what it did to everyone. No sunlight, no wind, no sky; only the same bleak walls every day.


Who is your favorite supporting character - one you could see getting a spin-off book - and why?
Tyler. He’s only a few years older than Sherry but he’s already gone through many horrible things in his life and it would be fun to explore his character further. It would probably be a dark and sad book for the most part but definitely fascinating to write.


What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey so far?
Getting a glimpse behind the scenes. Before the deal, publishing and the people in it were a bit of an enigma to me. I love working with people (my editor, copy-editor, publicity department etc) who love books as much as I do and who work hard to create the best book possible. I’ve grown so much in the short time I’ve been working with them.

Thanks Susanne!

THE OTHER LIFE is out now in the UK and due in May in the US. Find out more about the series at the author's website.  Check out Susanne's THE OTHER LIFE preview interview from last Dystopian August. 

Curtesy of Usborne, I have two finished copies of THE OTHER LIFE up for grabs to residents of the UK.  To enter, fill out this form by Feb 24, 2012 at 11:59 pm GMT.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

FTC disclosure: I received this book from the publisher.

Author Interview: Susanne Winnacker previews The Other Life + Giveaway

For my spotlight on upcoming dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction series, I interviewed over 20 authors with novels coming out in the genre in 2012/13.  These are exclusive first looks at exciting new works.  Enjoy!

Today is extra special because not only is Author Susanne Winnacker previewing her debut THE OTHER LIFE, she is also giving one ARC away to a lucky reader (internationally too!). THE OTHER LIFE comes out first in the UK (February 1, 2012/Usborne) and then in the US (May 1, 2012/Marshall Cavendish).

Here’s the summary:

Sherry and her family have lived sealed in a bunker in the garden since things went wrong up above. Her grandfather has been in the freezer for the last three months, her parents are at each other’s throats and two minutes ago they ran out of food.

Sherry and her father leave the safety of the bunker and find a devastated and empty LA, smashed to pieces by bombs and haunted by ‘Weepers’ - rabid humans infected with a weaponized rabies virus.

While searching for food in a supermarket, Sherry’s father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a boy-hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a tumble-down vineyard in the hills outside LA, where a handful of other survivors are picking up the pieces of their ‘other lives’. As she falls in love for the first time, Sherry must save her father, stay alive and keep Joshua safe when his desire for vengeance. threatens them all.

The gorgeous UK cover:

And the interview!

Why do you think people are drawn to "dark" stories?

Because, as crazy as it might sound, they give us hope. In The Other Life, Sherry is faced with abandoned, Weeper-infested streets when she leaves the bunker her family spent the last three years in. She must overcome her fear, fight for her life, take care of her family but she grows with the challenge. Dystopia gives us hope because no matter how dark or twisted or inhumane the future is, our protagonists don’t give up. They get out of their adventures stronger. If Katniss can win The Hunger Games, if Sherry can survive Weepers, what are we capable of? Can we maybe get past the little obstacles daily life poses to each of us?

No matter how dark, dystopian fiction gives me hope in the strength that’s buried inside of each of us.

If THE OTHER LIFE had a theme song, what would it be and why?

It would be “Bring me to Life” by Evanescence.

Especially this line:

“Frozen inside without your touch

 Without your love, darling Only you are the life among the dead”

And this one:

“Wake me up inside Save me Call my name and save me from the dark”

They reflect Sherry’s relationship to Joshua, an Avenger who’s determined to destroy Weepers. Through him Sherry discovers her own strength.

What fictional character from another book would Sherry chose as her best friend and why?

Maybe not as her best friend but definitely as her companion: Katniss from The Hunger Games or Katsa from Graceling because they’re badass and know how to survive. Sherry wants to save her dad at any cost and someone like Katniss who survived the Hunger Games or Katsa whose Grace is fighting (killing) could help her.

What are your top 5 Dystopian lit recs and why?

Mortal Engines (The Hungry City Chronicles) by Philip Reeve – How can you not love a book that begins like this: “It was a dark, blustery afternoon in spring, and the city of London was chasing a small mining town across the dried-out bed of the old North Sea...” It’s a steampunky dystopia in which cities are no longer staying in one place but moving around and chasing each other in order to survive.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson – a book that raises many questions and keeps you thinking even after putting it down.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis – I love Star Wars and Star Trek, so a dystopia set in space is like the icing on the cake – too delicious to resist.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Do I need to say more? If you haven’t read it yet, then I have this to say to you: Why the hell not?

Divergent by Veronica Roth – As good as The Hunger Games. Love the protagonist Tris for her imperfections.

What's on the top of your to-do list before the world ends? (you know, in case it ends next year)

Next year? Eeek, that would be far too soon. There are still so many places I’d like to visit. I’m a total travel-addict. I want to visit at least 100 countries before I die. I’ve still got 83 to go. Umm...not possible in less than a year!

What sets your novel apart from other dystopian / post apocalyptic books out there?

In The Other Life the apocalyptic events haven’t happened decades or centuries ago. Only a few years have passed and the survivors still remember the other life vividly. Sherry was in a bunker with her family while everything changed outside and when she has to finally leave she is thrust into a world she knows nothing of. She and the reader have to discover it together, have to learn about the dangers, brave them together. Sherry doesn’t have an advantage over the reader – they’re in this adventure together.

Also, Sherry clings to her memories of the other life – she counts the days, hours, minutes since she tasted an apple or laughed. It’s what keeps her going. The counting motif is an important part of the book and another unique aspect of it.

Thanks Susanne! (oder soll ich Danke sagen?)

Visit Susanne’s website

Follow Susanne on Twitter @SusanneWrites

Add THE OTHER LIFE to your GoodReads wishlist

Susanne also contributes to Brave New Words, a group blog for YA sci-fi debuts in 2012.

Enter to win an ARC of THE OTHER LIFE by filling out this form.  Contest will remain open until August 20, 2011 at 11:59 pm CST.  Open internationally!

Dystopian Novels Out Now (Reviewed last February)

Part of the fun of my dystopian months is getting to read and review new dystopian lit months ahead of time.  I thought a little reminder post was in order...because now you can actually buy these books or borrow them from the library!


First up I want to mention BUMPED by Megan McCafferty, one of my favorite novels of the year so far.

Summary: 16 year old twins Melody and Harmony are meeting for the first time, and their ways of dealing with their world – a world in which a virus has made everyone over the age of 18 infertile – clash considerably. Melody has a lucrative conception contract, but Harmony thinks pregging for profit is a sin.


What I said then: "I loved the word choice, the scene construction, the cast of characters (especially Jondoe and his mysterious motivations), the themes…everything just came together into a damn near perfect reading experience."


Read my full review of BUMPED, a 5 Zombie Chicken honoree! 


Another favorite (and member of the 5 Zombie Chicken club) is WITHER by Lauren DeStefano. 

Summary: Because of some medical tinkering, all females now die at 20 and all males at 25. Rhine is kidnapped and sold into a life of luxury as a sister wife.


What I said then: "There are few highly dramatic set pieces here, yet even the quietest of scenes chilled me and thrilled me. An amazing accomplishment."


Read my full review of WITHER.


And then there's fan favorite DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth.

Summary: On her 16th birthday, Beatrice has to choose the faction she wants to be aligned with for the rest of her life.  But when she takes her aptitude test, Beatrice finds out that she’s a divergent – someone with the strengths of multiple factions. And that divergents are in grave danger.


What I said then: "It’s a high-stakes, clever, compelling novel and I can’t wait to continue Tris’ journey in book two."


Read my full review of DIVERGENT.


And finally we have MEMENTO NORA by Angie Smibert.

Summary: Nora's glossy existence is challenged when she witnesses a car bombing and subsequently meets Micah at a TFC (forgetting clinic). Together with Micah and his friend Winter, Nora puts together graphic novel issues to remind people that some things are worth remembering.


What I said then: "I think the theme (incapsulated in what the play on words the title references, ie Memento Mori = Remember you will die) of "remembering Nora" (the person who self-actualized through the events of the novel) is brill."


Read my full review of MEMENTO NORA.


Enjoy!

Book Review and Giveaway: Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Nora's glossy existence is challenged when she witnesses a car bombing and subsequently meets Micah at a TFC (forgetting clinic). Together with Micah and his friend Winter, Nora puts together graphic novel issues to remind people that some things are worth remembering.

I really liked this one - the conspiracy theory plot works well even for such a short novel and the three points of view are distinct enough I always knew who was narrating. I loved the details interwoven throughout. And I think the theme (incapsulated in what the play on words the title references, ie Memento Mori = Remember you will die) of "remembering Nora" (the person who self-actualized through the events of the novel) is brill.  Though it ultimately didn't succeed in utterly taking my breath away, it is solid effort from a debut author and definitely well worth reading!

MEMENTO NORA comes out on April 1, 2011. Want to read it earlier? I have 1 copy to give away today to one lucky reader anywhere in the world! Just fill out this google form by Feb 28th, 2011 at 11:59 pm CST for your chance to win.

Read interview with the author
See index of all dystopian reviews at Presenting Lenore

Author Interview: Angie Smibert discusses Memento Nora

I'm so excited to welcome debut author Angie Smibert to Dystopian February! I'll be reviewing MEMENTO NORA later today, so for now, I'll give you the official summary:

Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

And now on to the interview:

In MEMENTO NORA, the main characters Nora, Micah and Winter put together a graphic novel of memories they feel should not be forgotten. What are some moments of your own life you'd never want to forget?

It would be easy to say I'd never want to forget all the good moments--falling in love, selling my first short story, watching my first Shuttle launch--but I wouldn't want to forget some of the darker moments either. It all goes into who you are.


Winter loves the kinetic sculptures of Tinguely (I've seen some of his work at an exhibit in Germany), and designs such art herself. Was there a particular reason you gave Winter this hobby?
Lucky you! Winter uses art to deal with everything that's happened in her life. I think I picked kinetic sculpture for her--rather than say painting or pottery--because it combines her technical talents with her artistic ones. Also, she repurposes junk and obsolete electronic to make her sculptures, which is an act of rebellion in itself in a world that values consumerism even more than we do now.

Conspiracy theory is a big part of the plot. Which actual conspiracy theory do you think is most likely to be true?
That's a tough question. I'd like to say it's the one about ancient aliens visiting early civilization and teaching us to make pyramids and such. But no, I think we probably accomplished that stuff all by ourselves. Do I think there's some sort of Illuminati / New World Order-type of secret organization out there running the world? Nope, but there are a lot people and organizations working toward the same end: making money.

How has dystopian literature influenced your own writing?
As a long-time science fiction fan, I've read most of the classic dystopian fare--1984, Brave New World, Handmaid's Tale, etc. So that has no doubt influenced me writing a dystopian story.

Mash-up time! What character from another book would you like to see navigate Nora's world and why? And what book would you love to drop Nora into to see how she would handle it?
I'd drop the Doctor (the David Tennant one) into Nora's world because he'd sort it all out in less than an hour (including commercials). I would drop Nora into To Kill a Mockingbird. And maybe I'd drop Scout into MEMENTO NORA. She'd be unafraid to ask questions.

Thank you so much Angie!

Visit Angie's website.  Visit the MEMENTO NORA website.