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Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan (TLC Book Tour and Giveaway)

The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan (Rated: P)
Dutton (Penguin Group)
ISBN: 978-0525952190
Published June 9, 2011
Hardcover, 304 pages

Marissa and Julia have been best friends since childhood. Marissa is a smart, quiet girl with a conciliatory nature. She has always battled with her weight and lack of self-esteem, and her relationship with Julia makes her feel needed. Julia, on the other hand is gorgeous, charismatic and possessive. They are opposite in character but inseparable as friends. Now, ten years later, they are living their dream of living in New York city—Marissa as senior editor of a glossy health magazine and Julia as a publicist for NYC Ballet. Their relationship changes suddenly, though, when Julia is hit by a cab and suffers a traumatic brain injury that affects her memory and alters her personality.

The Art of Forgetting is a novel about friendships and defining who we are through them. When Julia brings up the past, trying to reunite Marissa with her first love ten years ago because of the guilt she feels at having separated them years ago, Marissa is forced to confront her decisions both past and present. Ultimately, Marissa discovers her strengths, her beauty, and appreciation for what she has in her life.

I liked Marissa right from the start, with her insecurities, her loyalty and devotion, and her kindness. The whole brain injury setting was fascinating and the author even includes resources on traumatic brain injury at the back of the novel, stating that each year an estimated 1.4 to 1.7 million people in the US will suffer a brain injury. Truly a sobering statistic.

I also liked Julia, with her “joie de vivre”, inability to commit in relationships and her possessiveness. My heart ached for her as she struggled to cope with her accident and the changes it brought in her life. The equilibrium of her relationship with Marissa was jolted by the effects of this accident but as with all close friendships, both Marissa and Julia discover a new level of their relationship through forgiving and forgetting—the foundation of any strong friendship.

I found this novel refreshing and thought-provoking. It made me appreciate the wonderful friendships in my life, from my husband to my closest girl friends. The serious topic, the setting, the evolution of the characters and the theme of forgiveness and moving ahead made this a satisfying and memorable reading experience.

Note: This book includes a few f-words.

About the author:
Camille Noe Pagán is the author of the debut novel The Art of Forgetting (Dutton / Penguin, June 2011). She’s also a journalist specializing in health and nutrition; her work has appeared in Glamour, O: The Oprah Magazine, SELF and Women’s Health, among others.

For more information on Camille, visit her website, www.camillenoepagan.com
Buy The Art of Forgetting at Amazon.com.
Read more reviews at Camille's TLC book tour stops.

And now for the giveaway!

The publisher is offering to give away one copy of this book. Entering is easy:

1) Leave a comment with an email address.
2) Giveaway open to Canada and US.

Extra entries:
Each extra entry must be a separate comment.
1) If you are a follower, new or current, leave a comment telling me so.
2) Like me on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.
3) Follow me on Twitter and leave me a comment telling me you did.
*Buttons for following found on top left-hand corner of blog.
Giveaway ends June 24, 2011.

Disclosure: Thanks to Liza Cassity from Dutton and TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.






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32 comments :

  1. This story sounds intriguing, I wanted the review to go on and on!

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  2. I haven't heard of this one yet -- it sounds really interesting! I think stories about brain trauma and memory loss are very intriguing.
    bgh@byu.net

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  3. I am a follower of your blog. :-)

    bgh@byu.net

    ReplyDelete
  4. I also like your Facebook page.

    bgh@byu.net

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds like a great read

    vidishamun@gmail.com

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  6. GFC follower

    vidishamun@gmail.com

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  7. It's always nice when a book makes you appreciate your own life even more ... at least, that's what I think. :)

    I'm glad you enjoyed this one. Thanks for being a part of the tour!

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  8. I had a friend who is a reader ask me about this book. I didn't know much about it but had seen it around. I'm glad you reviewed it. I think this sounds like a book both my friend and I would like. We both like stories about friendships. Thanks for offering it as a giveaway.

    bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Thanks for the com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I also am a google follower

    bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. This sounds like a fascinating book -- and I love your review. Please enter me in the giveaway!

    shereadsandreads(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't know if this counts, but I just became a subscriber to your blog.

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  12. This sounds marvelous! I love to read about friendships! I'd love to be entered. kathy(at)bermudaonion.net

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  13. I haven't heard of this one either, it sounds really interesting. I would love a change to win. I'm a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This book sounds like a great read! I would love to be entered :)

    jo.tee35 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm also a follower of you through GFC :)

    jo.tee35 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  16. The cover is very evocative, bent, but not broken.

    headlessfowl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm an old follower on GFC w/ @headlessfowl.

    headlessfowl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would like to read this book.

    margaretf(dot)fun(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the giveaway! this looks really good!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm also a GFC follower

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have no idea what I would do in a situation such as this.. scary.

    hootowl1978 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I follow via GFC as Jessy

    hootowl1978 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/hootowl1978/status/82605138371547137

    hootowl1978 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sounds interesting. Count me in!
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Follow via GFC as Patricia
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Like you on FB
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have been waiting forever to read this one. Thank you for the chance at winning a copy, it looks so good!!

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm a new GFC follower Tiffany Drew

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  29. Facebook follower Tiffany Drew

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  30. This book has such an interesting storyline that I would love to read it.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am an old follower on google reader as cenya2.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I left a comment a facebook under Marjorie Roy.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

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