The Forgetting Curve by Angie Smibert

The Forgetting Curve
by Angie Smibert
Published by Marshall Cavendish
Available: May 15, 1012
Pages: 202
Source: Publisher

Aiden Nomura likes to open doors—especially using his skills as a hacker—to see what’s hidden inside. He believes everything is part of a greater system: the universe. The universe shows him the doors, and he keeps pulling until one cracks open. Aiden exposes the flaw, and the universe—or someone else—will fix it. It’s like a game.

Until it isn’t.

When a TFC opens in Bern, Switzerland, where Aiden is attending boarding school, he knows things are changing. Shortly after, bombs go off within quiet, safe Bern. Then Aiden learns that his cousin Winter, back in the States, has had a mental breakdown. He returns to the US immediately.

But when he arrives home in Hamilton, Winter’s mental state isn’t the only thing that’s different. The city is becoming even stricter, and an underground movement is growing.

Along with Winter’s friend, Velvet, Aiden slowly cracks open doors in this new world. But behind those doors are things Aiden doesn’t want to see—things about his society, his city, even his own family. And this time Aiden may be the only one who can fix things . . . before someone else gets hurt. (from Goodreads)


My Thoughts


With Memento Nora, author Angie Smibert created an world where you could forget your worries and troubles by simply taking a pill. In The Forgetting Curve the world has changed and has become a place where your thoughts may no longer be your own. Let me just say that the world described in both of these books is a pretty scary place and definitely not a world I would want to live in.

The Forgetting Curve gives some back story to what happened in Memento Nora and some of the characters make an appearance along the way. The Forgetting Curve is more of a companion novel than a sequel as a whole new group of characters are introduced and their stories are told. Of the 3 central characters in Memento Nora, only Winter plays a crucial role in this new saga. 

While reading, I lacked a connection with the characters. I think that may be because the story was more action driven rather than character driven and a lot happened in this novel in a short period of time. Plus there were a lot of characters to who appeared throughout the story but for only short periods of time. One character who I did begin to care about was Velvet - a friend of Winter's who had been implanted with an ID chip (the new forgetting pill). Like Aiden, she was major player in "opening the doors" that the government was trying to keep sealed up.

I hate to admit that this book didn't live up to my expectations. The lack of character connection and even a connection to the story, left me a little disappointed. Memento Nora put the fear in me with the possibility of this future world. I mentioned earlier this isn't a world I would want to live in, but I just didn't see the likelihood that this world could exist. 

BUT I do think that The Forgetting Curve does touch on some interesting ideas. Both Aiden and Velvet question authority and are free-thinkers. They trust their instincts and make hard decisions when there are easier, safer ones to make. 

It has already been announced there will be a third book and I will definitely read it too. The first 2 novels are relatively short so when the third one comes out, I'm likely to read them all together.  While it is not a true sequel, I do suggest that it be read along with Memento Nora. There are so many instances in this book that would only make sense after reading Memento Nora. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian, science fiction, and conspiracy theory books.

Disclaimer: I requested this book from the publisher and was provided an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for my honest review. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

The Disenchantments
by Nina LaCour
Published by Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date February 16, 2012











Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall.

But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what's next? (from Goodreads)

Why do I read young adult books? The Disenchantments IS WHY I read young adult. It is the reason I read contemporary. It was like hanging out with my best friends.

Nina LaCour’s sophomore novel, The Disenchantments, is the story of four friends having one last hurrah before going their separate ways after graduating high school. Well that’s the simple, uncomplicated description. But in one moment, Bev’s decision to go her own away, complicates everything.

I felt like I was there with Colby, Bev, Meg and Alexa in the VW bus singing along with them. Hanging out with them before their shows and all of their late night adventures.  I was in the moment. I was there for all of the fun - eating at the diners, stopping at neighborhood lemonade stands, looking for sea glass and other treasures on the beach -but I was there for all of the awkward silences too. Some many things just waiting to be said, that needed to be said. I think this is what I loved most about reading The Disenchantments - really being in the story.

I loved the camaraderie of the characters. It was obvious that they all cared for each other. There were so many tender moments between them to be savored. Sisters spending their last week together before older sister Meg moved away for college. Best friends trying to understand what they really mean to each other. All of them scared that they will become different and their friendships may never be the same. But also, they were hopeful of all of the potential and possibilities of their future.

I’m realizing that I read this book from such a nostalgic perspective that, just maybe, I haven’t really expressed what a fun and adventurous book The Disenchantments really is. And oh boy (or girl) IT IS!! There are late nights spent dancing, a tattoo (or few), music you just want to belt out to - Heart, The Runaways, and always (thanks to Meg) The Supremes, and there’s even a hot tub scene! And the concerts, well, just read this book because there are no words, really.

I loved this book and can’t wait until it comes out so I can get my own copy to read over and over again. It will be like spending time with some old friends.

I received the ARC for review as part of the Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours.

2012 Challenges and Reading Goals

I've joined a few challenges this year. I plan to read a lot of contemporary young adult (my favorite) and I hope to discover some new authors too. I've joined the 2012 Debut Author Challenge which I posted about here and I've also joined two challenges hosted by Shanyn at Chick Loves Lit - Sophomore Author Challenge and Completely Contemporary Challenge. And the last challenge I joined is the YA Verse Books Challenge hosted by Jessica at Shut Up! I'm Reading. Details for each challenge can be found by selecting the links and everyone can still sign up for all of these challenges.

For the Sophomore Reading Challenge, I plan to read the minimum required 10 books. Some second novels that I am looking forward to reading are: The Knife and the Butterfly by Ashley Hope Perez, Never Enough by Denise Jaden, Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard, Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala, Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer Hubbard, The Forgetting Curve by Angie Smibert, The Right and the Real by Joelle Anthony and Thumped by Megan McCafferty.

I've pledged to read 10 books for the Completely Contemporary Challenge. I know that I will read more than 10 Contemporary but since the books have to be published in 2010, 2011 or 2012, I didn't want to commit myself to such a high number. I actually want to complete some of these challenges.

I have signed up to complete the Fan level (5 books) for the YA Verse Books Challenge. I have already some many verse novels that I don't know which ones I will be able to get my hands on in 2012. Some titles that I know I will read are: Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay, Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe and Perfect by Ellen Hopkins.

I will be tracking my challenges here. In addition to these challenges, I have some more reading goals: 

• Read 85 books for the Goodreads Challenge
• read at least 10 e-books
• read 20 books from my bookshelves that I purchased prior to 2012 (doesn't include e-books) 
• read at least 10 library books 
• finally read Pride and Prejudice

So those are my reading goals and challenges for 2012. I just know that it will be a great year and am ready to dive right in!