27 - The Story of Forgetting; Stefan Merrill Block

The Story of Forgetting: A Novel is an amazing debut novel. The story is about a family that is genetically predisposed to early onset Alzheimer's disease.

The story alternates from Abel, and elderly hunchback who lives somewhat as a recluse on the family farm which surrounds a suburban neighborhood. We also hear the story of Abel's early life including the fact that he had fallen in love with his brother Paul's wife. Then some 100 miles away in Austin, Texas we are introduced to Seth Waller. Seth is a skinny - pimpled teenager who just does not seem to fit in with other kids his age. When Seth's mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease at an early age, he is determined to find the genetic root of this illness within his family which seems to be tied to a specific gene: EOA23.

Although these Abel and Seth do not know each other initially, they each have close family members who have been stricken with the same disease.

Also woven into this novel is a story of a fantasy place called Isadora, a land where memory is never possessed, so it can never be lost.

This book is best read slowly; the writing is beautiful, and the story is very touching as well. I will be looking for more books by this talented young writer.

RATING - 4.5/5 - COMPLETED - 2/12/08
WHERE FROM: Library