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    The Memory Thief
    The Memory Thief
    The Memory Thief
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Memory Thief

    Written by Emily Colin

    Narrated by Carly Robins, Kirby Heyborne and Nelson Hobbs

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Before Madeleine Kimble's mountaineer husband, Aidan, climbs Mount McKinley's south face, he makes her a solemn vow: I will come back to you. But late one night, Maddie gets the devastating news that Aidan has died in an avalanche, leaving her to care for their son-a small boy with a very big secret. The call comes from J. C., Aidan's best friend and fellow climber, whose grief is seasoned with survivor's guilt . . . and something more. J. C. has loved Maddie for years, but he never wanted his chance with her to come at so terrible a cost.

    Across the country, Nicholas Sullivan wakes from a motorcycle crash with his memory wiped clean. Yet his dreams are haunted by visions of a mysterious woman and a young boy, neither of whom he has ever met. Convinced that these strangers hold the answers he seeks, Nicholas leaves everything behind to find them. What he discovers will require a leap of faith that will change all of their lives forever.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateFeb 16, 2016
    ISBN9781515972815
    The Memory Thief

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    Reviews for The Memory Thief

    3.5/5

    78 ratings23 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Emily Colin shattered my assumptions about The Memory Thief from the very first sentence. This novel is more than a romance with a little tragedy to shake up the plot. Colin builds the lives of these characters with such finesse and detail that feels so real I'm starting to wonder whether the story is really an adaptation of a real life experience! The Memory Thief is captivatingly written, taking perspectives from three key characters and connecting them throughout the novel with grace and continuity.Aidan and Maddie have a bittersweet history that makes getting to know them a roller coaster ride of emotions: love, joy, grief and more feelings I couldn't begin to describe. Their story also has a complicated twist involving Aidan's best friend, J.C. J.C. proves to be a rock for Maddie when Aidan doesn't return from their big mountain climb, and to my perspective his presence was heartbreaking and hopeful all at once. His role in The Memory Thief is just one of the things that brought many tears to my eyes because he had his own issues in dealing with Aidan's loss, yet he put Maddie and her son, Gabe, before himself. The family dynamic between Aidan, Maddie and Gabe was adorable. I love that Colin gave little Gabe an unforgettable role in the plot. His occurrence, along with a couple of other characters, gave this novel a positive vibe that could have been focused with darkness and grief, instead. Gabe was one of the spearheads that helped move this story along very imperceptibly.Another spearhead was Nicholas Sullivan, who's perspective readers will find quite enjoyable and inspiring. Nicholas' life changed as he awakened from an accident to find that he can't remember anything about himself, except for his name. While trying to place the pieces of his life back together he realizes that the memories of a woman and child and mountain climbing are the keys to the answers he seeks. I had no idea where Colin would take Nicholas's side of the story but I am thoroughly impressed with where it led. I didn't anticipate the turns that Nicholas brought about in the story, but it made me smile to see the resolution Colin employed to keep this part of the story as realistic as possible. Through all the tears and grief and anger the characters felt, I felt a strong thread of suspense keeping me glued to the pages. While I was able to see from every side of the story, I never felt as though I was waiting for the characters to play catch-up. Colin's pacing is fluid and keeps the story engaging for readers so they'll never feel lost or a loss of interest.The Memory Thief is a contemporary novel with just a dash of mysticism, but I didn't finish the novel focused solely on the impossible events. Emily Colin didn't let the powerful love story become overshadowed or watered down by the surrounding events and actions. The beauty in her words and characters gives one much to think about, but the story doesn't loose its ability to entertain. The Memory Thief will affect me for many years to come, and I certainly hope Colin will pen another hit soon!*Copy of the book provided in exchange for an honest review and blog tour purposes*Also posted on Lovey Dovey Books 
    • 1/5
      If you’re the type who thinks Lifetime movies are actually good, then this book is for you. However, if you prefer to nourish your brain cells with intelligent books that draw you into the story and maybe challenge your thinking, this book will be like eating McDonald’s when you were expecting a five star restaurant.

      From my perspective, a waste of time and resources.
    • 1/5
      This book had potential but turned out to be disappointing. The story line was just too far-fetched to be believable. The characters lacked depth and the authors attempts at humor fell flat over and over.
    • 4/5


      Loved the book. Could not put it down. Will read this author's next book. Loved the characters. A must read!!!
    • 2/5
      I liked the author's writing style, but Maddie's passivity got on my nerves after a while and I didn't like the coy-yet-graphic sex scenes, although this does seem to be standard for chick-lit books. And in other places the prose seemed overblown. Case in point: "He licked first water and then sweat from my skin, drinking us in, and I felt my clenched heart reveal itself like a moonflower, that pale mysterious bloom that opens only at night."Just not my cup of tea.
    • 4/5
      That cover! That Blurb! That Title! OMG. What is there not to love about sitting down to read this book? While I'm a veteran of these types of novels...I really haven't read one yet where one of the main characters dies on a mountain during an avalanche. It was heartbreaking to see Aidan die like that while Madeline tries to reclaim her life, sanity and heart afterwards. Although a bit predictable...there was something comforting and pleasant about reading a book like this. You know what to expect. Tears, laughter, sadness and hope. It's all present in this novel by Colin and again, I'm impressed by her way with words.I can't wait to read more for Colin!
    • 4/5
      A great story. Madeline's husband, Aidan, is a mountain climber. He is getting ready to head out on a big expedition but something tells Madeline that he shouldn't go. She begs him not to go but he promises to come back. She receives a call late one night that changes her life forever. In the meantime, on the other side of the country and man involved in a horrific motorcycle accident dreams of Madeline and her son. He has no memory of his own life when he wakes up but knows he must search for this lady and her son he has been dreaming about. Everyone must choose whether to take a leap of faith and move forward or stay in the present which isn't always good.
    • 2/5
      The Memory Thief by Emily Colin had a great premise but I just had a hard time with it all. I had no desire to finish the book in fact. I didn't connect with the characters and didn't love how jumpy it was - time wise. I was disappointed because I had such high hopes for it. I will say that the writing was good but the story just didn't work for me.
    • 3/5
      When Madaleine's husband, Aiden, climbs Mt. McKinley, he promises her that he will come back to her. But an avalanche happens. Across the country, Nicholas awakens from a motorcycle accident with no personal memories. Aiden's climbing partner, J.C., has always loved Madaleine and feels guilty for surviving when Aiden was killed. And thus the story circles around and around. The same thoughts and feelings are examined again and again for each characters perspective. The circle tightens and they come closer. But it is over and over and after awhile it becomes monotonous. The premise was good. The chapters were told devoted to different characters, but I didn't detect different voices. And I wanted it to end.
    • 4/5
      Thank you Emily Colin and Librarything for sending me a copy of this novel The Memory Thief. Emily is a debut author with a wonderful novel!Synopsis:Maddie warns her husband Aidan that he shouldn’t go on this latest climb. There might be severe consequences. Aidan chooses to go on the climb anyway. While on the climb something happens. Over in another part of the country Nicholas is recovering from a car accident, but does not remember anything. Nicholas wakes up with someone else’s memories. Maddie and Nicholas both have premonitions about what happened to Aidan. Are there any attachments between Nick and Maddie? Will Maddie survive her latest trial?My Thoughts:I enjoyed this novel! I thought the characters are very life like. I also felt the sadness that Maddie, Gabe, and JC experienced. The story had so many twists and turns that I was actually surprised the way it ended. The only aspect of this novel is the numerous intimate scenes within this novel. I feel that a story can be told without having so much of it. Overall a very creative and descriptive novel. I look forward for more from this author.What would you do if you woke up with memories that weren’t yours? Would you be freaked out? Wonder what might have happened? Or could there be a supernatural element? The author uses a supernatural emphasis throughout this novel.
    • 5/5
      I loved the concept of this story. The reactions of the characters to the events were very real, as would be expected for a grieving wife, young child and amnesiac. As the story progressed, I had vivid images of the how the story played out, a testament to the excellent writing of Emily Colin. I thought the ending brought closure to the death. Only wished the story could go on and on.
    • 2/5
      This book was received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers.I chose this book because the premise intrigued me. As I started reading, I discovered that each chapter is written from a different character's perspective. This is a style utilized by some of my favorite authors and I like it because it enables the reader to really get to know the characters.The settings, situations, interactions between the characters, and the characters themselves are true-to-life. The language is readable. The witty, humorous dialogue provides welcome comic relief. Her descriptions are vivid and her metaphors, apt. I especially remember a few :"But the phone doesn't ring again. It's silent in my hand, an innocent-looking instrument of destruction.""This sick aura surrounded him when he got mad, like Pigpen and his cloud of dirt. You could almost see it, dark and rage full and pulsing. It moved the air."The drawbacks for me were that sometimes the shifts in time and dream sequences confused me. Also, because I'm not familiar with the sport of mountain-climbing, those passages slowed me down.In conclusion, although it was pretty good for a debut, the novel wasn't so compelling that I couldn't put it down(which I did -- numerous times).
    • 4/5
      I had more than a few preconceived notions regarding what this book would be about. Based on the title and description alone, I was sure it would read like an entire season of Ghost Whisperer. That being said, Emily Colin managed to throw me off track on the first page. The Memory Thief is a story like no other I have read, or watched for that matter. Halfway through the book I was sure I knew how it would play out and end. I was wrong again. The characters are well described and their feelings are well defined. You can tell that Emily Colin did her research on mountain climbing as well. I extremely enjoyed Aidans character and how complex he was, a mountain climbing artist who fears turning out like the father he deplores. If you enjoy stories about the heart, love triangles, tragedy, faith and the beyond then I highly recommend giving The Memory Thief a chance. It's a great read and I can't wait to share this amazing story with my family and friends!
    • 4/5
      Early reviewer Suspending belief on some level is necessary. However, this book was interesting and readable. Not the best book I read this year but worth the read. I loved Nicolas and his sotry line but without the rest of the people it would of course not work. Flawed people attempting to cope with difficult circumstances.
    • 4/5
      “The Memory Thief” by Emily Colin was a debut novel whose title attracted my attention. I wasn't disappointed. The story is about Maddie, Aiden and J.C. I had just finished reading Anita Shreve’s book “A Change in Altitude” and was taken by surprise when this book started out describing and upcoming climb and Maddie’s husband who was climber. It emphasized the fear she experienced and premonitions she had before his climb. From dealing with the dangers of a serious climb for her husband and the terrible occurrence of a motor cycle accident, Maddie lives her life dealing with loss and sadness. This was a difficult book to review without giving away an important progression of events and creating a spoiler for the reader. It is a book that is exciting, eventful and yet sad. It deals with loss and uncertainty and it’s characters are plagued by memories and connections that are both understood and not understood. I would recommend this book, give it a 4 stars, and thank Librarything for the copy to review.
    • 4/5
      If you can suspend your disbelief, then this is a great story!It is a little distant from reality for my taste, and yet I found myself drawn in. I literally read it in one sitting (although that's fairly typical for me). It's not great literature, but it really draws you into each of the characters, probably helped by the fact that the story is told from each of their perspectives. Although there is the need for suspending reality, I liked that the relationships and characters were imperfect.
    • 2/5
      This book had the potential to be a good story, however, I thought it was very poorly written. The story behind it was interesting- a man dies in a mountain climbing accident and another man who has a near-death experience acquires his memories. The story is told from the view point of several of the characters which I did enjoy, but the quality of the writing was so poor I just couldn't get past it. Even the sex scenes were painfully predictable and difficult to get through. If you like romance novels you may be interested in this book, however, I wouldn't be likely to recommend it to anyone in the future.
    • 5/5
      This was a fantastic book!!!! I have a hard time believing its her first novel, it is so good! From the first page, I was hooked. I loved the little supernatural aspect of the book. It really was very new and unique. Not totally formulaic like most authors. The characters were extremely likeable and was completely sucked into the story. I would highly recommend buying this book!!
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! It is told from the point of view of several different characters which I thought would be off putting, but wasn't. I really felt like I could feel the love between Aiden and Maddie. In fact, I cried several times while reading this book! I just loved it so much! This was a book with a strong message of love and faith without cramming it down your throat. I couldn't imagine dealing with the grief and loss of loved ones that the characters go through in this book. I found it to be an easy read, which I think is good but also throught provoking. I have recommended this book to ALL of my friends and will continue to sing it's praises. I loved it!
    • 4/5
      Free book for Early Reviewers. Enjoyable read - the theme is nothing new but the characters were well developed. Good beach read. Was hoping it would be good enough for my reading group but I think it lacks enough in theme originality.
    • 4/5
      This story is told from the perspective of 3 characters: Maddie, Aidan and Nicholas. The story revolves around the death of Maddie's mountain climbing husband, Aidan, and the emotional aftermath that follows. This is definintely a love story on multiple fronts; From in the now to beyond the grave. I really enjoyed reading this novel and I believe that fans of either Nora Roberts or Audrey Niffenegger would also take pleasure from this book.
    • 3/5
      First a warning. This is first and foremost a Romance Novel. I guess I saw what I wanted to see in the description. I saw a story about a man who died tragically, and another man who woke from a serious accident with memories not his own. Guess whose they were? Absolutely, Aidan himself the fearless mountain climber, now sadly deceased ( sort of ) has taken up residence where Nicholas memories were normally found. Aidan's widow was devastated, ( sort of ) but with the help of a friend managed to overcome her grief and find what could become happiness again. The whole promising story of one man waking with another man's thoughts and memories was nothing more than a backdrop to a new romance for the Widow Maddie. Yikes. I was very disappointed with the execution of the Aidan story. It felt hollow and stilted to me. I am not a huge fan of romance novels, but that part of the story, the relationship between Maddie and J.C. seemed to be without any depth. I honestly don't think that has to be the nature of a romance, as I have read a few that were quite well done. Also, I have known a few four year olds in my time, and Gabe's part in this might have been more believable to me if he were a bit older. I think that he was portrayed inconsistently as a typical four year old part of the time, and as an oddly wise version of himself at others.
    • 4/5
      I received this book on Saturday and stayed up til midnight reading, then finished the rest on that Sunday. It was a captivating read. It is told from the perspective of a married couple and 1 stranger who becomes entwined in their story as an integral participant. Early on in the story the husband (Aiden) dies in a mountain climbing accident. The story really takes you through the experience and the resulting grief and confusion of the main characters. It is well written and provides enough depth to really feel the experience with the characters. It does require a leap of faith, and I do appreciate that the author does not try to spell out the technicalities of this leap. It is a good read, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read about love, relationships and keeping one's promise.