01/07/09

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Posted In: Book Review


Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Release Date: December 9, 2008
Publisher: Delacorte/Random House
Age Group: Young Adult, ages 12 and up
Pages: 212

Sixteen-year-old Erin Misrahe just wants to be like everyone else in her new school. But Erin has more to worry about than passing AP Chemistry or making friends. In times of stress, she has always been overcome by her alter ego, Shevaun, whose violent behavior wreaks havoc on those around her. Erin can never remember anything about these episodes, and she’s grateful to have been spared them for a while.

But when a protective friend comes back into Erin’s life, he insists that Shevaun is a vampire who actually exists apart from Erin. Shevaun has dangerous allies, like the handsome witch Adjila—and they’re determined to sever Shevaun’s connection to Erin once and for all.

Persistence of Memory is my first exposure to the writing of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. I am actually really impressed with her writing but I find the overall premise of the novel wearisome. Parts of the novel where perfectly captivating, such as the connection between Shevaun and Erin. Through this connection Erin posses all these abilities that most “normal” people wouldn’t, she’s knowledgeable of several languages, and she has fighting skills that no untrained 16-year-old would know.

The aspect of characterization is probably my biggest complaint. I think the characters would have been fascinating had they been well developed. Atwater-Rhodes just kept skimming the surface, I was waiting for her to take the plunge and it never came. The supposedly “strong” relationship among the four main characters was so vague, it was unnerving! I just wanted to yell at the book!

At times the plot was confusing. I was able to follow it without any trouble, but I wouldn’t be surprised if younger readers become lost! Perhaps had the novel been longer and more developed, I think I would have more positive things to say about it.

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comments

10 Comments

  1. Just Blinded Book Reviews
    1/7/2009

    You know, I loved Amelia’s earlier work, but I’m not hearing good things about this one.

  2. Lenore
    1/7/2009

    I actually really liked this one. I’ve heard a lot of reviews say they were confused – but I just didn’t feel that way.

  3. Alea
    1/7/2009

    I’m a little unsure about this one…

  4. Zoraida
    1/7/2009

    I started reading her books when I was 14. IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT and DEMON IN MY VIEW are her best. Her shapeshifter series is okay. It get kind of…odd? The first installment, HAWKSONG is beautiful, but as she changes perspectives, it loses me.

  5. Okie
    1/7/2009

    I was kind of looking forward to this one. I’ll probably still check it out as a sort of ‘filler’ read, but we’ll wait and see.

    Thanks for the review.

  6. Emily
    1/7/2009

    I really liked her books the first time I read them. However, they aren’t that great to re-read. I agree that she skims the surface. Her books just don’t quite seem real (in a way other than the fact they have vampires). My favorite was Shattered Mirror because it has a little more emotional depth than the others.

  7. Shalonda
    1/7/2009

    I’ve heard that this one is really confusing. Guess I’ll wait to read it.

  8. Diana Dang
    1/7/2009

    Hm, guess I won’t touch on it then. I like the cover but I never thought it is a vampire novel. I want to lay off on vampires for awhile…

  9. The_Book_Queen
    1/8/2009

    I’ve read all of her previous works, and loved them! And I just finished this one yesterday and I too enjoyed it. I will admit, she could have done better describing and telling us about the characters, but I’ve seen a lot worse organization and depth (or lack of) in other books. Of course, on any book there will always be mixed opinions.

    I would suggest that you might want to try her earlier works, and if you find those ones a bit weak, then you can move on to other books to read. If you find yourself praising them after, well, then you just found another new author to watch for, right? :)

  10. Bookworm
    1/8/2009

    I nominated you: http://bookwormbooklovers.blogspot.com/2009/01/butterfly-award.html

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