The Memory Box by Sarah Webb
Published by: Pan (12th Sept 2013)
Received a copy for review from the publisher, thank you!
Blurb:
Can you ever really forget your first love?
Pandora Schuster is about to turn thirty but
that’s the least of her worries. In Dublin she has just been tested for a
hereditary family illness and, expecting the worst, is desperate for
her ex-boyfriend and father of nine-year-old Iris to be a part of her
daughter’s life. There are two major problems: Olivier Huppert lives in
Paris and he has no idea that Iris even exists. So when Pandora secretly
tries to find Olivier during her Parisian birthday weekend, it all ends
in disaster.
As
the agonising weeks until her test results crawl by, Pandora manages to
find some distraction with her kind and sensible boyfriend, Declan, and
with her fellow Shoestring Club members as they time-share a fabulous
new designer dress. Yet matters of the heart are not easily forgotten
and Pandora is determined for Iris to know the truth about her handsome,
charismatic father. So she creates a memory box filled with photos,
letters and mementoes of the magical time she spent with Olivier in
Paris.
But when the past and the present start to collide Pandora finds herself having to choose between her head and her heart...
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Why you would love this:
I've never read any of Sarah Webb's books, but when I got The Memory Box in the post, I was intrigued and really excited to read it. Look at that gorgeous cover, it really draws you in, doesn't it? The blurb really is something, isn't it? Especially when the book is partially set in Paris, which got me really excited!
The Memory Box follows the story of Pandora and Jules Schuster, who lives with their father and grandmother, Bird. In this book, Pandora is the protagonist, where she receives a letter one day, and finds out that she may be carrying a hereditary cancer gene (they lost their mother to cancer). A panicked Pandora is adamant that her ex-lover and Iris's father, would be a part of his daughter's life, as she might not know what the future holds. Therefore, she secretly finds Olivier on her birthday to Paris with her friends, which turns out to be rather disastrous. What with the impending test results and her undecided fate, she decides to create a memory box for Iris, in case she never gets the chance to learn about her biological father.
Pandora, or Dora (to Olivier), is a wonderfully written character, she's warm, sensible and caring. She's a loving mum to Iris, and naturally friendly. I admired how cool, calm and collected she can be when faced with a difficult situation, but at times, I couldn't stand how she could let things go over her head. But nobody is perfect, she's just thoughtful and way too kind to everyone! The other characters were very well-written too, including Pandora's sister, Jules! Gosh, she's a whirlwind to be around, I tell you! She's the absolute opposite of Pandora - funny, wild and full of life! Iris was such a sweetheart - I adored her! The "protagonist" in the book, which would be Declan's ex-wife, could be a bit of a cow, to be honest, so prepare to hate her!
I loved the setting of the book, it's primarily set in Dublin, a city I've grown to love as a few of my favourite books are by Irish authors. There's a part where Pandora and the girls visit Paris on her birthday and it was such a privilege to read about the beautiful city of lights! Though it may seem a bit like a romantic comedy, it has some elements in it that would trigger tears, especially the parts about the girls' mother and the importance of family, especially their mother's heartfelt letters, which were extremely touching!
The Memory Box is fabulously charming book which will leave you wondering about your true love and the ever-burning desire you have for each other. If you read and enjoyed The Shoestring Club, then this book will be an absolute treat for you as it's the sequel! Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews and Jenny Colgan.
Rating: 8/10
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| Gemma Arterton as Pandora and Ben Barnes as Olivier (swooooooooooon) |
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