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The Memory of Love

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The Memory of Love

By: Aminatta Forna
Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
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About this listen

A poignant story about friendship, betrayal, obsession and second chances – this novel is an immensely powerful portrayal of human resilience.

Sierra Leone: civil war has left an entire population with terrible secrets to keep. In the capital's hospital Kai, a gifted young surgeon, is plagued by demons. Elsewhere in the hospital lies Elias Cole, a university professor who recalls the love that drove him to acts that are far from heroic. As past and present intersect, Kai and Elias are drawn unwittingly closer and into the path of one woman at the centre of their stories.

©2010 Aminatta Forna (P)2011 W F Howes Ltd Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Scary Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Africa
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Like the others I’ve read by this author, this book was beautifully written. Really enjoyed the story which was sad and beautiful in equal measure.

Beautiful book

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Story about love, war and it's effect on the population. Beautifully written with vivid imagery and characters with depth.

very well-written

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I couldn't help but re-live this story through ever sentence read. Narrator did this book justice.

Beautifully written

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I never know how to review a book ....... however, I can tell you this is a great book! The narration is superb and gives life to the individual characters. My heart breaks for Kai. A young doctor who seem to happily breeze through life ... but his heart overflows for a girl and he has no way back to her. Adrian who comes to Sierra Leone and who falls in love with Mamma K and brings with that a whole host of problems back in England ...... Elias Cole .... a very lonely and very sick old man. These characters will be with me for some time to come and this book ...... I shall listen to again some time in the future.

A Truly Wonderful Book

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Sad and depressing book. Wish I hadn't listened to it. Good narrator but a tragic story

Depressing

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Harrowing, moving, beautifully written. The narrator makes the experience even more enjoyable. It is hard to believe that all those voices came from one man! i found the voices matched the characters personality. The strength of individuals following personal and national trauma shines through. It was interesting to think about the personal motives of those going to help in countries recovering from war.

Thought provoking, interesting & wonderfully read

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I loved this book. It is so beautifully written. The imagery and story is exquisite. The plot is interwoven in a way that holds your interest and suspense. If other books by this author are half as good I can’t wait to read/listen to them

Beautifully written and narrated

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A long, often heartbreaking and sometimes tough read, Aminatta Forna delivers an exceptional saga of war, a tale of love in a time of war, examining the consequences of corruption, betrayal and trauma in a country devastated by conflict. There are many layers to this book, but the carefully drawn characters, drawn from two generations: pre- and post-conflict, will captivate and haunt the reader and Leave him or her reeling by the end. A fine read, especially for anyone interested in the 20th history of Sierra Leone.

Extraordinary, harrowing, beautiful

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I have listened to this book during my lockdown walks and have thoroughly enjoyed being able to escape to a different place and meet these amazing characters. The characters are complex and all understandable in their own way, the descriptions are vivid and, although the story is sad and sometimes horrific, it is still uplifting.

A sad and beautiful tale

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struggle to finnish and very predictable well read by the narrator. so overall 3 stars

its ok

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