This was a Can't-put-it-down book, caused some sleep deprivation! Reasons I liked it:
From my part of the world, I've lived in the Carolina Low Country and the southern mountains.
An unusual "villain" - won't say more on that subject.
And it kept me guessing.
You can tell by my book list, I'm a big fan of mysteries; while this is not remotely a "mystery" as far a genre goes, it does tackle mysteries of life. The two dysfunctional family stories roll drunkenly toward each other, and you feel like a spectator to an accident - can't stand it, can't look away. ( )

I cried when Angel met Hannah ( )

One of those "Picked it up by accident" from the new books shelf. Thought it was something else (who knows what?)
But I'm a trooper and I started and finished it.
Complex plot line with scarred characters and much unhappiness in backgrounds. However, I wanted to know what happened and find some salvation for them. And was not disappointed that I finished it.
Read in 2010. ( )

The Memory Thief written by Rachel Keener is an amazing novel about two truly dysfunction families and the journey they take in the process of connecting with the past. Rachel Keener has woven an incredible tale illustrating the power of pride, love, hate, revenge and madness.

Initially we meet Hannah, a Holy Roller type, who finds herself at seventeen in circumstances she isn’t prepared for. As she struggles to find her own identity she meets Sam a young boy himself who validates her existence as a beautiful young woman. Hannah has been taught that almost everything “good” in life is a “sin” and that her purpose in life is to avoid anything sinful. Meeting Sam leads her down the very path that she has been taught to avoid.

When we first meet Angel, we discover another young girl who is being raised by two very dysfunctional, self-centered, alcoholic parents. She lives in a run down trailer with her sister in “redneck” fashion on a tobacco plantation. The Swarms, owners of this plantation, employ her dad and allow them to live on the plantation. They live there in complete and utter poverty in despicable circumstances always in fear of the State coming to remove them from the trailer life.

As the story unfolds, Hannah and Angel take on the rolls of good vs. evil only to discover that a little of both resides in each of them. However, what they also will discover is that they are driven by a little “madness” too. The voices they hear, the visions they see drive them onward in search of what they have been seeking their entire lives.

The Memory Thief is a well written and thought provoking novel. You can’t help but become fully engaged with the characters and the twists and turns they take in pursuit of their dreams. And you can’t put it down until the very last word and even then it will linger with you for days. ( )

The Memory Thief by Rachel Keener (Rating--5)
Published by Center Street division of the Hachette Book Group
ISBN: 978-1-59995-112-6
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a PB copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: (portions from the book's back cover) When Angel sets fire to her childhood home, it isn't the end-it's the beginning. Left with nothing but a few memories in her pocket, she escapes into the safety of the tobacco fields. She sets her eyes on the mountains where she believes someone waits for her. Angel longs for the answers to what became of her, and whisper, "This is my story." Hannah struggles to tell her own story. The daughter of missionaries who follow the rules of a small and strict religious sect. Slowly, Hannah begins to escape the confines of her strict upbringing and soon makes a choice that will forever change the course of her life. Hannah's past will prove to mean everything to Angel's future.
My Thoughts/Opinion: A poignant and moving story of two (2) girls, who are at the age of adulthood, that make choices that will change their lives. Do choices made, sins, guilt, lies, upbringing of the past form the present and alter the future? The author has an unique writing style whereas she writes a somber plot but allows the reader to see the good and root for the characters as they progress on their journey. She also incorporates a southern dialect and adds a few surprises that this reader did not see coming. A very good read. Highly recommend.
Rating: 5 star