I was really excited to read What Alice Forgot since it came highly recommended by my lovely author friend Emily Gale. The premise is rather like Sophie Kinsella's Remember Me - Alice wakes up on the floor of the gym with a bump on her head. She thinks it's ten years earlier and she's 29, happily married and pregnant with her first child. To her horror, her marriage is all but over, she's fallen out with her beloved sister and she's got three children. In fact, she barely recognises her 39-year-old self at all.
I loved this book. I really felt for Alice, particularly as she struggled to accept that she and her husband, Nick, apparently didn't love each other anymore. And when she met her children for the first time, obviously. Moriarty brilliantly conveys Alice's disorientation, disbelief and just plain sadness at how much she's actually missed.
Interspersed with Alice's own story is that of her sister's battle with infertility (which we learn about through 'homework' she's writing for her psychiatrist) and her grandmother's blog. I wasn't thrilled with the manner in which they were conveyed (both seemed a little contrived) but both stories were interesting, Elizabeth's in particular. (There is one particularly heartbreaking moment in Elizabeth's story, which I know will stay with me.)
The only part of What Alice Forgot that disappointed me was the ending, which seemed oddly rushed. But that may just be because I'd grown so attached to the characters that I wanted to linger. I'll definitely be reading Liane Moriary's other books and soon.
Looking forward to this which jumped into my shopping trolley at the weekend! :-)
Posted by: Teresa (Lovely Treez Reads) | 01 June 2010 at 10:40 AM
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I've since read her "Three Wishes" and highly recommend that, too. She has fast become my "give yourself a treat" author. Also writes children's books by the way.
Posted by: Emily | 01 June 2010 at 10:34 PM
It's shocking when books do that, isn't it, Teresa! ;)
Yep, Emily, I've added her other books to my list. Thanks!
Posted by: Keris | 02 June 2010 at 09:39 AM