The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa | International Booker Prize 2020 review

It's Kamil here and I'm coming to you with the book number four, Yoko Ogawa's The Memory Police, the fourth book review of the International Booker Prize longlisted book, a dark, feeling like a wrong step away dystopian novel. Probably the most widely read book on the longlist, so far at least. Translated by Stephen Snyder.
This video is part of the project of reading and reviewing all International Booker Prize 2020 longlisted books, the next one coming up, The Eighth Life.

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Goodreads:

Reading Schedule:

Reading and Posting Schedule
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Sunday, 15th of March:
The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar

Wednesday, 18th of March
The Adventures of China Iron by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara

Sunday 22nd, of March
The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, Michele Hutchison (Goodreads Author) (Translator)

Sunday 29th of March
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa, Stephen Snyder (Translator)

Sunday 5th of April
The Eighth Life: for Brilka by Nino Haratischwili, Charlotte Collins (Translator),

Thursday the 9th of April
Mac and His Problem by Enrique Vila-Matas, Margaret Jull Costa (Translator), Sophie Hughes (Translator)

Monday 13th of April
Red Dog by Willem Anker

Saturday 18th of April
Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann

Wednesday 22nd of April
The Other Name: Septology I-II (Septologien #1-2) by Jon Fosse,

Sunday 26th of April
Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor

3rd of May
Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin

10th of May
Faces on the Tip of My Tongue by Emmanuelle Pagano, Jennifer Higgins (Translator), Sophie Lewis (Translator)

17th of May
Serotonin by Michel Houellebecq

#internationalbooker2020 #finestfiction #translatedfiction

[EricKarlAnderson]

Great how you point out how the national curriculum selectively removes information from the history books!
I found the way she presented the philosophical and psychological concerns was so compelling that I wasn't bothered by the plot issues you point out, but I can see how they detract from the novel being elevated to excellent status.

[tumblyhomecarolinep]

Hello, I absolutely loved the Memory Police. I just can’t forget it. I agree with everything you say, the downs as well....tho the downs didn’t bother me at. all. What an interesting point about the war crimes and how they are being ‘forgotten’ ...and how that is something the book could be reflecting on...what an interesting thought. The thing I loved about the book was that there were just so many things to think about and ponder on. ...long after the book was over.

[georgiaborak]

I loved this novel!! Another awesome review. If I like the ideas and themes enough, I usually don’t mind the plot not being as strong. Her writing really resonates strongly with what I see happening today, so I enjoyed it.

[mian]

I really loved the creepy atmosphere of this book, especially as the book-within-a-book story unfolded and started to merge with the main story. It had very ominous vibe. My main issue with it is it sometimes felt inconsistent in how the memory or lack thereof of things really worked (so the things disappear but then people also have to burn them or drop them into the river??). Like apparently people would just totally forget about the stuff that disappeared but then later the narrator will sort of reference a disappeared thing as if it's still part of her consciousness.. rules didn't seem terribly clear on that. I do think it does a really good job of pulling you into the universe regardless of the plot holes and you can make a lot of parallels with what happens when certain cultures get wiped out by oppression/genocide and how people have a hard time venturing out into the world when they've experienced the trauma of losing parts of their identity.

[brookemercer]

Great review, Kamil. I agree with a lot of your thoughts. I loved how subtlety creepy it is. It reminded me of a reverse Mario Kondo horror story. Instead of getting rid of things that don’t bring you joy, you have to “get rid of” or unknow everything.

[shabanac]

Great in depth review! I loved this book and your analysis of the themes was very thought provoking and helped me appreciate the novel further, thank you!

[jaumecrespifiguerola]

Very interesting review! Congratulations for the task you're doing. I'm dying to know how you actually do the analysis of the books you read: the process from the book to the recording. It may be an idea for a video.
Thanks a lot!

[lostalleycat]

This is a very wholesome review. I read this book on January. It was my first book for this year. It was a surreal experience. I felt like the whole book was a gigantic metaphor for schizophrenia.

[victoranolu]

I know I have changed my mind as I go along with the Booker list. This book is great, it is a multilayered book and one could come from different angles to analyse the book. Most people will see it as Orwellian but I feel it would not be proper for in the book the loss of memory starts with the people. It quite shows (in a political sense) a dichotomy of people who remembers their past or their identity contrast to those who don't and how few they are compared the majority who don't possess such gift.

I am probably blabbing, and it is understandable because the book packs a punch. Ogawa is illusive on some important plot questions but as I will agree with you, the delivery was superb.

Concerning the apparent plot, (I think like you also in a way said) is a reflection of the novelist. Was she paralleling herself and situation with her work. Plus I enjoyed how Ogawa doesn't fixate so much on the pains of loss, memory and grief but focuses on its twin – remembrance, hope and survival. Excellent book, I must confess. I think if it wins it would be a surprise.

[inquisitivemind]

Hi Kamil, I enjoyed how the book provoked thoughts on what happens to individuals, people, a society that chooses not to use their voice because of fear and how much of a person's identity is tethered to memory and its associations.
I did not enjoy the flatness of the main character. Even as her passion for writing dwindled and her books were "disappeared" she seemed to react the same or less to other traumas that occurred. I didn't know if that was due to technique, and Ogawa wanted to show her audience how easily conditioned a person can become over time-I do know people like that- however, even with the parallel storyline of the typist there wasn't enough peak with the main character or plot.
Orwell & Bradbury both had masterful peaks: Room 101 and Montag turning the fire on his coworker. Because I have read those books, this one felt like the psychology was handled too lightly. I tend to love her sentences, she does write elegantly, though it is combined with dark subtext, I just wish she would've developed her characters more, I felt the same way as you did with the gaping holes she left in some areas....annoyed. It was still worth the read but not as good as its predecessors.I think The Emissary was written better though much shorter.
*Good video 😊📚

*The Rape of Nanking was a book that I could hardly get through. And no, we did not learn that in any history class.

[john-alanpascoe]

I read the Memory Police a few months back, I quite enjoyed it, but it’s not a new all time favourite for me. I agree with your annoyances, the ‘mechanics’ of the situation obviously work only as required by the plot, and not according to ‘objective’ rules. There’s also the question of how the old man can still live on the ferry and that he remembers just slightly too much about it for example. Another interesting angle to the book is the relationship between writers and editors, both in the life of the main character, and in the story she writes. Although I do hope none of Ogawa’s own experiences with editors informed the typist’s story.
Also happy to report that my copy of The Discomfort of Evening. has arrived and I’m going to be reading it next week.

[shaunm]

Thank you, Kamil. I bought copy of this book to read over the summer (NZ = December - February) but didn't get around to it. Now that we are in lockdown, it is a great opportunity to read it, especially after considering your intelligent review. Memory is indeed an interesting concept for authors and authoritarian regimes alike. for the latter, focusing on memory is an opportunity to exploit and "other" sections of society so that people are distracted by "the other" than the in-roads being made on human rights and institutions. It seems to me that Ogawa renders this phenomenon quite well in her novel, though perhaps more subtly than, say, Milosovic (who became an authoritarian leader as Ogawa was writing this book). I look forward to reading this novel. Stay safe! (P.S. I'm still reading The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree and will come back to you on that.)

[harsharya]

Kamil! I really enjoy your recommendations. I think this was a very interesting book.. however, i don't see it winning the prize. Best of luck reading the rest of the books. I look forward to your reviews :)

[Nyledam]

I only have The Housekeeper and the Professor by Ogawa on my shelves right now, so I will pick that one up first. But if I end up enjoying it, The Memory Police is the next one by her that is on my radar. :)

[LauraFreyReadinginBed]

Hi Kamil, I'm catching up... I had a lot of trouble with this book, but it got to me in the end. Much as that scene when they almost get caught was a cliche, it was effective shes made me care about the story. I also appreciate how she's not drawing direct parallels to real life, yet it all feels a bit "too real", especially now. Food shortages, only going to work and spending the rest of the time at home...
I still much preferred The Housekeeper and the Professor. It had more emotion, better characters.

[tonybennett]

Apologies for being off topic, but I wanted to tell you that I've just read a book you recommended a few weeks ago. It's French Toast, which I had to get directly from the publisher, as even Waterstones knew nothing about it and had no dealings with that publisher. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation, as I enjoyed it enormously. It was a sharp and witty satire that took aim at several targets, and every barb hit home. I'm not sure what the author thinks of Jean-Luc Godard, but the main character, Victor Eaves, at the end of the book refers to Godard's "godawful" films. I have some sympathy for that view. Early on, Godard deconstructed the nature of film, and made some fascinating movies, although narrative thrust was never something he appeared interested in, and finally he backed himself into a corner, as his deconstruction didn't lead to a restructuring of film, just meandering and ill-focused efforts and finally filmic doodlings which few people saw or wanted to see. Much of this is covered in the book, but in a way that is extremely entertaining.

[mpsensha]

Oh nooo.... the German translation will be published in June. 😅 At least it's this year.

[paulaakaazelialopes]

Memory is one of my favourite subjects in literature, but not the fluffy way Ogawa deals with it. I DNFd The Professor and the Housekeeper some years ago because it was too sweet and I DNFd Memory Police last year. Even as a cautionary tale or a nod to the past it seemed very ethereal. I understand why you liked it, but it's really a question of me not getting along with Japanese writers.