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Journey through the pages of this heartwarming novel, where hope, friendship and second chances are written in the margins. Perfect for book lovers everywhere and fans of Sally Page's The Keeper of Stories.
For forty-two years, Sally Harrison has been building a library.
Each year, on her daughter's birthday, she adds a new book to her shelves – with a note in the front dedicated to her own greatest work.
But Ella – Sally's only child – fled to Australia twenty-one years ago after a heated exchange, and never looked back. And though Sally still dutifully adds a new paperback to the shelves every time the clock strikes midnight on July 11th, her hopes of her daughter ever thumbing through the pages are starting to dwindle.
Then disaster strikes and Ella is forced to return to the home she once knew.
She is soon to discover that when one chapter ends, another will soon follow.
All you have to do is turn the page…
Did you notice a flaw or discrepancy that made you think another shoe was going to drop?
Haha, still have no clue.
-kim.kovacs
Do you use your local library? If so, what services do you take advantage of that your library offers? Why do you think libraries are important?
The only library in my area is absolutely tiny. They're in the process of building a large one, though, and I'm looking forward to that. I'm hoping they'll have a lot of community programs that'll draw people in. I think some of you volunteer at your libraries, don't you? If so, what kinds of tas...
-kim.kovacs
The question of when we learn to see our parents as individuals, rather than through the lens of being their child, is addressed in the book. Did that resonate with you?
@Janice_W and then there's that really annoying middle stage where we think we know everything and that our parents are clueless, LOL. (Two of my friends have teenagers.)
-kim.kovacs
Have you ever read a novel that changed your view of the world?
@Lloyde_Newman , I was moved by those two books as well, although I encountered Hiding Place earlier - sometime in high school, I think. Have you read Larry Loftis's The Watchmaker's Daughter: The True Story of World War II Heroine Corrie ten Boom ? It came out in 2023 and it's been on my list. I...
-kim.kovacs
If you were to start your own memory library, which would be the first book you choose, and why? Have you considered starting a memory library for someone else since reading the book?
Yes, I like the idea of a Memory Library. I built such a library for my niece, Kate with books I enjoyed I hoped she would enjoy as well. Although I spent countless hours reading books to Kate as did her great grandmother and grandmother, including countless visits to the Library, Kate did not be...
-Lloyde_Newman
Ella frequently thinks that if she were Queen of the World she would take a specific action. What did you think of this strategy? If you were Queen or King of the World, what change would you make?
If I were queen of the world, in addition to restricting guns, I would take away all cancer and other severe illnesses. I would also have only kindness spoken. I didn't take thinking of being queen of the world as a literal thing though - I think of it as how I would wish for my world to be, as i...
-Smsh
How the titles of books are a subtopic of the story
I thought that the books in her memory library were appropriate to the age that Ella would have been on the birthday. Catcher in the Rye was appropriate for a teenager. The choices were great.
-Janice_W
Ella drops everything to help out her mother and straighten out her affairs, at first very grudgingly but later enthusiastically. What do you feel caused this change in attitude? How much responsibility should children take for their aging parents?
I agree with the length of time it took Ella to see Sally and her place in the community. was a bit hurried. However I guess that was needed to get the story on the road. I personally feel that I needed to be there when Mom need more help physically and financially. Both she and my father did wit...
-Carol_N
Why do you think readers gravitate towards books about books?
It promotes reading, it reminds the reader of the joy of visiting your local library for the first time. Often, it also gives the readers titles of books that may have been missed throughout our reading life. In the case of this book I personally came away with 3 titles I was not aware of so I ha...
-Carol_N
Do you think Sally should have told Ella the truth about her father after his death, or even before? Had she known, how do you think it would have changed her relationship with her mother?
Hard question. Was she ready to hear it? I don't think so however I am impatient so I would have taken a chance much earlier than 20 years. What have you to lose, only gains in my thoughts.
-Carol_N
How do you feel about the relationship between Sally and Andrew at the end?
I felt sad for Sally, she gave up so much for her daughter. However, what's that old saying. . . better late than never! Perhaps that saying applies to Andrew and Sally???
-Carol_N
What was your first impression of Ella, and did that change by the end of the book?
As I have said before Ella was not very likable at the beginning of the book. However, as she becomes involved in her mother's life she became more tolerable and by the book's ending she was a caring and loving human being.
-Carol_N
Overall, what did you think of The Memory Library? (no spoilers, please!)
I enjoyed it, but what avid reader doesn't enjoy a book about books. I was enthralled with the daughter for most of the book. I was happy to see her open up and become human. What a disservice her dad did to her and her mother.
-Carol_N
Is there a quote or scene in the novel that stood out for you? Why do you suppose it resonated?
Leisure time is not time wasted. It resonates because the manner in which we spend leisure time provides a valuable and balanced life. Leisure time also causes us to connect and how important that is!
-Beth_B
Reminder messages about participating in the discussion
Hi folks - As most of you know, we moved our book club discussions to a new platform at the end of last year. Well, apparently one of our internal programs didn't transfer properly - the one that keeps track of whether people who've received a book have participated in the discussion. This mornin...
-kim.kovacs
Sally quotes Virginia Woolf to Verity, telling her she needs a room of her own to be successful. What did you think of this advice? Do you have a room of your own, and if so, does it have a special purpose?
It so important to have a room of your own. Life demands so much of women that we too often forget to take time and care of ourselves. In retirement, I now have a Meditation Room of my own!
-Lil_C
How did you feel about Sally’s community? Did the community in the book make you think about your own community and your place in it?
I live in an independent senior living community. People here are very friendly, interesting and helpful. I did not really expect this, as the neighbor I lived in for 40 years was not. I think as I grow older I will appreciate it much more. I also found that I could find similiar characters in my...
-Lin_Z
Do you have a favorite supporting character? If so, why do you think you were attracted to them?
I know he wasn't a big character, but I liked Ella's husband, Charlie. He was open to Ella going home right from the start. I inferred that he had been someone who encouraged Ella to contact her mother all along. He stayed home with their daughter( how many men do that?) for as long as it took. I...
-Lin_Z
Pru tells Ella, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” What do you suppose she means? Do you agree?
@Connie_K I hadn't thought about the quote from that standpoint, but you're right. Thanks for adding another dimension to the question!
-kim.kovacs
Do you prefer books set in real or fictional places? Have you ever been to Greenwich? If you have, do you think it was depicted well?
I actually like books set in real places. If I've been there, it's an added bonus.
-Terrie_J
Do you know someone with dementia, or someone with a relative who has the disease? What did you think of the way the author portrayed Sally’s condition?
I thought the portrayal was accurate for the start of dementia. One with this horrible disease in caught between forgetting and trying to hold onto a sound mental state.
-Terrie_J
About the The Memory Library by Kate Storey Discussion category
It was the sort of mother-daughter story that would be a perfect Hallmark movie. While a bit predictable, a story laced with lost love, misunderstandings and happy endings. I will give this book to my own daughter.
-Linda_K
Is there a book with a special meaning that you would add to Sally and Ella's library? What would you hope they might learn from it?
Not that I can think of, but I'll keep the idea in mind when purchasing a book gift.
-Dorothy_H
What audience would you recommend The Memory Library to? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
I think this book works for all audiences. It's wonderful… and one I will continue to cherish and tell others to read it.
-Sylvia_T
What are your reading this week? (12-19-2024)
THE MEMORY LIBRARY, by Kate Storey – Always love conflicted mother daughter relationships.
-Cindy_R
What are your reading this week? (12-12-2024)
Just finished The Memory Library by Kate Storey. Looking forward to the discussion in January. Just started Where They Last Saw Her by Marcie F. Rendon.
-Dee_Hatcher
What are you reading this week? (11-21-2024)
I started The Beast of the North Woods by Annelise Ryan a couple of days ago, but I'm not too far along. Next up will be The Memory Library by Kate Storey.
-kim.kovacs
"A gorgeous novel that pairs my (and many people's) perennial love for books about books with themes of family – and just how complex they can be." —Platinum
"A lovely story that celebrates books, family and kindness. Touching and beautiful." —Hazel Prior, bestselling author of Away with the Penguins
"The Memory Library is so joyful. Kate Storey writes from the heart and the gut about mistakes and how we can learn from them. Great characters and a truly heartwarming story – I loved it!" —Laura Pearson, author of #1 Kindle bestseller The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
"An utterly gorgeous page turner about the power of books, family and forgiveness." —Phaedra Patrick, The Library of Lost and Found
This information about The Memory Library was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Kate Storey started her career teaching English and Drama, and when she had her family, combined all three to write novels about family drama. Originally from Yorkshire, she now lives in a London suburb with her husband and two teenage daughters, so expects there's plenty more drama to come.
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