Review - The Amnesiac by Sam Taylor

The Amnesiac by Sam Taylor
Publisher: Penguin Books
Paperback 384 pages
Rating:



What is memory? Is what we remember reality or some sort of fiction that our mind conjures up to hide the truer emotions within?

The Amnesiac by Sam Taylor is an engrossing tale of a young man's struggle with the inter turmoil of memory. With many "tales within the tale" Taylor takes the reader on a fantastical ride through the imagination and memory of a young Englishman at the crossroads of his life.

The novel follows the spiral into madness of James Purdew. After his girlfriend leaves James in Amsterdam, he begins to delve into his past, trying to piece together the story of his life, and the years he seems to be missing, by writing it from the present day to the beginning in a book he entitles "Memoirs of an Amnesiac".

While the reader feels a certain sympathy for James, at other times I wanted to shake him by the shoulders and scream, "The answer is right in front of you!". While the storyline is engrossing, one can get lost in the plot and inter-stories that Taylor weaves.

The ending was beyond maddening. After spending almost two weeks reading this book, trying to work through the complex and often labyrinth like plot I felt that a satisfying conclusion would save this book for me. However the author seems to have finished the book 30 pages too soon. After painstakingly taking the reader through this maze of a plot the ending seemed to me to be a hurried attempt at best. Almost like he stayed up the night before a paper was due.

Those who enjoy a more complex storyline, penetrating characters and a read that is more psychologically engaging should have no problem finding this book enjoyable.

Happy Reading!