The Sudden Appearance of Hope

Great page turner, and I loved the concept of how an individual exits whilst always forgotten in the world.This is the second book I've read of Claire North's and unwittingly had already earmarked [b:84K 35511975 84K Claire North https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508570699s/35511975.jpg 56923809] (also by North). North's writing style is pretty unique with half completed sentences and almost a stream of thought put down on the pages. It wouldn't seem to work, but it reads brilliantly.Hope Arden has a unique condition that she is forgotten. I loved that the book looked at the effect of being forgotten and the loneliness that goes hand in hand. There's also the practical impact of being forgotten such as medical treatment or anything requiring long term attention.The opening chapters explain Hope's early life and though the story is told from Hope being (I think) mid/late-30s, the times that she's forgotten by her family is truly heartbreaking - and that's just the beginning!The first half of the book is pretty evenly paced, by which point I couldn't quite see how the story would end (it sort of has a half-ending in the middle), but then the story goes up several gears and races forward, twisting around questions of sanity and reality (if you're always forgotten, do you exist? Did they exist? What don't you know?).Definitely recommend.

You fear it, no? The dangers of being alone. Of having no one to help you find your path. No friend to say ‘you went a bit too far', no lover to say ‘you could be tender with your words', no? No boss to say ‘work harder' and no shrink to say ‘work less', no... no society, to tell you how to choose, or what to wear, no... no judgement, to help guide your own? You fear it?

— About perceptions and how we should not let society fully define us, having freedom to be ourselves and to have our own choices. I liked the ideas presented, but the book was really boring/wasn't as thrilling as the author's previous works, and it was unnecessarily long.