Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan & Giveaway

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The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan – let me say now that you’ll have to excuse me while I gush over this novel throughout my review because I loved it and could not put it down! This novel had it all for me – friendship, family, love, and drama! I found it at times to be an emotional novel, at others it had me giggling, and yet at other times teary eyed. It’s really a great story that will likely have you flipping the pages as fast as I was and then feeling let down when you reach the end because you really weren’t ready to leave these characters lives yet.

Marissa and Julia have been best friends since they were in high school when the very popular Julia befriended Marissa. Marissa has pretty much spent her life following what Julia has wanted for the two of them and really she’s been pretty happy with that except for a few instances. Tragedy strikes though and Julia is in an accident and suffers memory loss which all of a sudden pushes Marissa into the role that Julia previously carried and she’s not so sure she’s very happy with it.

Julia’s memory loss is taking it’s toll on everyone and Marissa is having trouble trying to figure out how to deal with her. You see Julia is suffering some classic symptoms of a brain injury like speaking whatever comes to her mind with no thought to what it is or how hurtful it could be to the person it’s directed at. She’s also digging up memories of the past – hers and Marissa’s past – and it’s things that Marissa would rather just leave buried in the heap. At the very top of that heap is Marissa’s ex-boyfriend Nathan, and Julia seems bound and determined to get them back together whether or not her best friend Marissa is already dating a man she loves.

All of a sudden Marissa finds herself questioning everything from her relationship and friendship with Julia to her relationship with her boyfriend Dave. He’s a wonderful man – she knows this, but with Julia bringing up all this stuff about Nathan, it really has Marissa wondering what might have been. You see the only reason Marissa even broke up with Nathan was because Julia had wanted her to for the sake of their friendship and Marissa, always putting Julia first, did so. Now with Julia digging all this up, Marissa has to wonder why. Yet she knows that this Julia, the one that it seems they will all have to learn to live with, is not the Julia of the past. The Julia that she has known and loved most of her life is gone.

As Marissa struggles with learning how to build a new relationship with Julia, it also forces her to take a longer and closer look at herself and what she really wants from her life. While a big part of this novel is about the power of friendship, it is also about Marissa’s journey to find herself. Always before Marissa looked to Julia for her opinion on everything but now she isn’t able to do that. Now she’s had to make her own decisions and what she’s found by doing that is that she is expanding her interests and finding that her life can be filled with other people and she’s enjoying that.

At it’s heart, The Art of Forgetting is about forgiving and forgetting. It’s about knowing that you love someone and that you can’t live without their friendship no matter what. It’s about standing beside them in their darkest times and finding a way through it all. It’s about moving on and moving forward. The Art of Forgetting is most definitely a novel worth experiencing and enjoying as I did! It will be one of my favorites this year and I will surely be watching for the next novel Camille Noe Pagan puts out and I sure hope it isn’t a long wait!

I read The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. See what others think of the novel at the other tour stops and be sure to check out Camille’s website as well! Your very own copy of The Art of Forgetting can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan up for grabs. To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you should you win (no email, no entry).
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog. If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I’ll be drawing for the winner on Saturday, July 9/11. Good luck everyone!

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My copy of The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan was received for review from TLC Book Tours and the Publisher.

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Comments

  4. It sounds like a very emotional book. Thanks for the giveaway.
    jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

  6. Oh, this sounds really good. Now I'm sorry I didn't join the tour!

    I'm a follower, and I put the giveaway in my sidebar.

    diaryofaneccentric(at)hotmail(dot)com

  9. What a lovely review Darlene…your words describing this book had me misty-eyed!

    No need to enter me in the giveaway; I'm trying to catch up on my review books 🙂

  12. A book that you don't want to end is a great sign! This sounds so good. I'd love to be entered. kathy(at)bermudaonion.net

  15. Thanks for the giveaway. This one is on my wish list.

    I follow on GFC under Bethie. BLogger is giving my trouble and the only way I can post is under anonymous. UGH!!!

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

  16. I think this book has the lovliest cover. Not that I could ever do that pose, but it's really nice. Please drop my name in the hat!

    janezfan (at) yahoo (dot) come

  17. This is going to sound weird, but the premise of traumatic brain injury also fascinates me. Thanks for the review!

    Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

  18. I'm a GFC follower (ArtsyBookishGal)

    Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

  20. I love the sound of this book, and have been reading such great reviews of it all over the place. It sounds like it really resonated with you and that you enjoyed it immensely. I would love to be entered in your giveaway for a chance to win as well. Thanks, Dar!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  25. I would love to add to my reading pile. It sounds wonderful!
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  29. The cover is beautiful, very mysterious. Sounds like a great story. I haven't read a good drama in awhile and should remedy that.

    I'm a GFC follower as Na.
    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

  33. Awesome! I have been waiting months for this book to come out and I desperately want to get my hand on a copy. Thank you for the chance at one!

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

  45. Have heard many good things about this book. Would love to win. I do follow your blog also.

    cool_beans2000 at hotmail.com

  48. Yay!!!! I really enjoyed this one too and look forward to her next book. I loved the characters and the story line!!! Great review!

  52. I love this cover. That is what usually draws me to a book and then I discovered that this story sounds amazing. This one has been on my TBR list since I first saw it. Thanks for the chance to win it!

    I am a follower.

    Suzebomb(at)gmail.com

  53. I have a friend who read this and gushed over it also. She said I have to read it! Thanks for offering the giveaway, Dar!

    bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com

    I am also a google follower

  56. I'm so glad you loved this one so much! I'm featuring your review on TLC's Facebook page today. Thanks for being on the tour.

  60. From laughing to crying, this book sounds great.
    Thank you for the chance to win it.

    I follow your blog with Google Friends Connect as Carol N Wong.

    I tweeted as @Carolee888

    http://t.co/5zKVMheGiveaway of 'The Art of Forgetting'

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

  64. This sounds awesome, and what a cool cover! Thanks for the give!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

    I also follow!

  78. Sounds like another good one. Thanks for the giveaway. savvyverseandwit at gmail

    I follow

  79. luv how you describe reading this book as 'experiencing' it. sounds like a 'don't miss this' book! thanks for introducing and sharing "))
    infuse at live dot ca

  85. Thank you for hosting this giveaway. I am a follower. The book sounds great. I'll put a link in my blog's sidebar.

    suko95(at)gmail(dot)com

  86. I would LOVE to win this book! Thanks for the chance.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net