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This was so unlike anything I've read for a long time that I have to admit that several times I almost gave up. I think I'm glad I carried on with it though, if only as a test for myself.

I found it hard that I was given no real explanation as to why Hope was un-rememberable (I'm not actually sure that that is a real word, but I'm so frazzled I can't think of anything else!). I perhaps would have found it easier if I could reconcile it in my head, that's probably my stupidity though. The book did remind me somewhat of The Handmaid's Tale, I don't know why but it was echoing through some of the chapters, but obviously that isn't a bad thing. Come to think of it I could see this on some reading list for higher education, to be analysed and critiqued in a much more cerebral way than my waffling here.

It's an interesting concept though; how much we are defined by the memories that other people hold of us, and our place in society. I'm sure if I were to approach the book with that mind-frame rather than as just a book to absorb I would have done better. It's almost an extension of the 'what would you do if you were invisible for a day' question we've all surely answered at some point; I'm not sure I could have ever come up with an answer like this though.

The whole 'Perfection' app was really quite disturbing. I have to say it tapped in uncomfortably closely to the seeming ideal that we are presented with in today's society. The celebrity ideal thing makes me increasingly disturbed; what type of people are we teaching our children to look up to and aspire to be? Mind you what kind of world is it now that a footballer can earn such vast amounts of money whilst our nurses, firemen etc. sit towards the other end of the scale - it's dreadful. And now I sound like an old woman don't I? Actually I don't care with regards this opinion; the world is skewed unfairly. Rant over!

'Perfection' didn't seem like such an abstract concept in realism, after all it is only a progression of the reward system and strive for ever more stuff, that preoccupies many lives now. It was perhaps this (un)natural progression that kept me tethered to the story.

I didn't really have any strong image of any of the characters in the book, but perhaps that was intentional and obvious considering the plot. Likewise I was somewhat dizzy and unaware of where in the world the events were taking place. Though again that probably isn't that important.

I suppose though I come back to my initial point, that I didn't understand why no-one could remember Hope (well, apart from those few groups of people that Hope tells us of about halfway through). It is sad really when I look back at it; not being remembered even by her Mum and Dad, but I couldn't find a way to feel sympathetic towards Hope whilst I was reading it.

I suppose I could sit and talk about this book all day - and perhaps that is the sign of a good book rather than my engagement with, or enjoyment of it. I don't know and thankfully it's not down to me to decide.

I'm guessing if you are more a science-fiction fan than me, you would enjoy it more. It would certainly make a good book for a reading group discussion. I just don't think it was for me, but that should in no way be meant as a disrespectful comment to Claire North. It made me think, and it both disturbed and appalled me, which I don't think is a bad thing to have taken away from it.