Title: The Memory Tree
Author: Glenn Haybittle
Genre: Adult Science fiction
Format: eARC from Netgalley and Cheyne Walk
Series: NA
Star Rating: 2 stars

tw: blood, animal attack, drug addiction, sexual assault, animal abuse, drug use, cheating, murder, gun violence, bullying, holocaust horrors, torture, arrest, and false imprisonment

A special thank you goes to Netgalley and Cheyne Walk for giving me a copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.

In an effort to get my Netgalley percentage up so I can be on St. Martin’s Press auto-accept list for arcs, I am going through my Kindle and catching up on all my eARCs. This book has been on my Kindle since 2017. So it’s been on there a good while. I had every intention of reading it and being a good noodle, but I think this was around the time when the Kindle I did have started to crap out on me, and at the time, I didn’t realize I could read books on my phone thanks to the kindle app. Plus I also think I was in the process of switching schedules or something. I honestly can’t remember. All I know is that I was naughty and didn’t read the book until now.

I am going to be completely honest. I had absolutely no idea what this book was about at all. The plot made zero sense. In the synopsis, it said that the three different stories of the main characters would be connected but they literally didn't. Or they did but I didn’t understand how they did. It was just a mess of different characters and they were all just intolerable. Not to mention, the characters were obsessed with sex or the anatomy of the opposite sex's body parts. I couldn’t read one page without one of the main characters thinking about having sex with another character or getting all hot and bothered by another character.

I think one problem was the so much Native American lore and tradition. It was like you had to have an extensive knowledge of Native American practices, which I honestly don’t. But since it was such a major part of the story, I was lost. It would have been lovely if they had taught you a little bit about the Native American lore, like why they were doing the things they were doing. I was just so lost.

The world-building also wasn’t good. I had no sense of what the world was supposed to be. Is it supposed to be dystopian? Was it futuristic? I literally couldn’t tell you. Our main characters were so unreliable, that I couldn’t trust anything they said. Plus, they were so sheltered, that they had no idea of the real world. So, of course, as the reader, we must suffer from the main character's lack of knowledge.

In my notes, I also mentioned how sexual this book is. I do not have a problem with sexual books but they got to have a reason behind it. I read a ton of erotica and romance books. I may know a thing or two about sexual things relating to books. There were so many sexual acts; a lot of touching that for sure wasn’t consensual. It was very hard to tell what was considered consensual because no one knew how to talk to anyone. I think they were supposed to be part of the different spells or whatever. It was just really out of place and not needed at all.

Overall, this book wasn’t it. I had no idea what was going on for almost the entire book. It was weirdly sexual and I was getting some anti-immigrant vibes as well. The stories of the main characters didn’t connect in the slightest. It was just not a good book at all.

DNF @ 18%

Not enough worldbuilding, not enough description. There is only telling and not showing, and the telling isn't sufficient either. It seems as though the author had a good picture of the world they were writing, but forgot to tell us about most of it.

But that's not the problem. I stopped reading at the part where a guy wonders if a woman is an android, and to prove she is not, she strips bare (outside..?) and puts his (actually dirty) hand between her legs to show it's not plastic. (Before that, she blindfolded him with her panties. Just because, you know. To obscure where they were going.)

YEP. Done reading. Thanks, but no thanks.

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

I picked up this book because I enjoy looking into who we are as humans and the impact our memories have on us. Are they what makes us? what happens when they are lost, or changed?
The memory tree is a fast paced novel, of action and adventure. I enjoyed the alternating character points of view and time jumps. Though it usually took me a few minutes to change from one time to another.
I'm not usually a big fan of historical fiction but with fantasy/scifi elements thrown into the mix it turned out to be an intriguing novel.

DNF @25%, I started this book a handful of times and just couldn't get into it. Just not my cup of tea apparently.

The Memory Tree has so much potential, however, I always at loss and can't understand what's going on. I couldn't connect with the characters. So, I decided to DNF this book. I give it so many chances but before I could really hate it I had to stop reading.

Wow, this one is a doozy!

There is a lot going on in this novel, but most of the time, that's a good thing. I was honestly a bit confused and disoriented for the first section of the novel. But, I believe that was intended. There are a ton of terms and questions thrown at you and not explained. If readers can just go with the flow and get over this hump, they'll be pleased with the rest of the novel.

While I was insanely curious about the future world of 2084 that is introduced in the first section, my curiousity was never really quelled. I wanted to learn and understand more about this very dystopian society! On a positive note, I did really enjoy the following sections that all took place at some point in the past (until the very end). I'm always a sucker for well written historical fiction and the author did a great job! But, my absolute favorite aspect of the novel is how all the character's stories are woven together! It was exciting to start to see the pieces fit together as you read.

A final gripe I had was the ending. It was far too abrupt! Perhaps there could be a sequel in the future? I don't know, but it was a bit frustrating to have the novel just stop so suddenly. It felt like there should have been a bit more. And perhaps that "bit more" could have explained some of the confusing mechanisms that the story used, like the memories.

All in all, a very interesting and enjoyable read!

Thank you to Cheyne Walk for providing an ARC of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Please see my full review on Goodreads.

This book was not for me. Did not finish as I could not get into the story. It lacked depth and was more fantasy than sci fi which did not appeal to me.

This was an interesting book that I’m having trouble gauging how I actually feel about it.  The setting and world building, in the parts of the book set in the future, are interesting. The characters are, for the most part, well done. The story overall is intricate and precisely meticulously plotted. Yet, there are things I found challenging about reading it.

The main idea of the book, about memories and how they work, and interconnecting the storylines is interesting.  The stories flowed together well enough and made the overarching plot of the book interesting and fun to read.  Sadly, the book did not stop with just that.

There are just too many twists and turns.  Each timeline has different characters with different motivations.  The book doesn’t just break from the traditional structure of a novel but destroys it.  Halfway through the book, it became a slog as I had to stop and think ‘wait, which guy was this again.'  It can be daring to break the rules, but if you’re going to do it, you have to do it very well, or it falls flat.  The Memory Tree came close but didn’t quite get there, leaving the story muddled and, while not difficult to follow, somewhat exhausting.

I also had some issues with the setup of the dystopian future.  The book had too much to accomplish with its various story lines to really do justice in explaining the world.  This made the explanation for why and more importantly how the mega-corporations ran everything unsatisfying.  One of the key things to do in a dystopian story is to ensure the setup for that world makes sense internally, and this one just didn’t do that.

I didn’t hate this book.  It wasn’t bad, and I could see how some people would enjoy it.  I just didn’t find it overly enjoyable to read either.  The think I was left with after finishing it was mostly a feeling of frustration.

Which isn’t really a good way to end a book.

This is one of those books that you finish and still think about weeks later.

This is one of those books you know you will end up re-reading because there is SOO much to wrap your mind around.

Part historical fiction, part sci-fi, part dystopian and all of it truly worth reading so why aren't you reading it yet???

This beautifully written and challenging novel by Glenn Haybittle takes the reader into the future and then back through the ages following one family tree and their search for identity and meaning.

The writing is very robotic. There’s too much She did this. She did that. She did that. The boy said this. The other boy said that. And maybe that’s the point, but I’m just not engaged by it.

This had so much jargon that I couldn't get into the story. It was off-putting.

The Memory Tree has four timelines and narratives. All of them connecting to each other through memory or first nations spiritual rituals.
Part one starts with Alowa not remembering anything from her past.

"Look how beautiful the flames are, Alowa. Look how beautiful my naked body is, Alowa. Are you looking at my naked body? I’m dancing towards you."

The only thing she remembers is a boy’s voice in his head asking her to look at the flames and sees him. She escapes UNICorp and meets Janitor a mysterious old man who knows her. With the help of him she starts to dream and knows about Solstice, the boy she hears. It’s kind of a spiritual journey for Alowa and Solstice.

Part two is nowadays world in London. Zinnia has lost his father and her son Felix is being bullied in the school. She also fears that her husband is cheating on her. To run away from all misery she decided to have a trip to Italy to also knows more about her roots having a Jewish grandmother who herself is a daughter of a Indian. The only guide she has is a man named Max. She is trying to find him.
Part three is from view of Max. How he fell in love with Ada the Jewish girl, and how he was twisted into games of Nazis.
The final part is about ghost dance, people who have been killed and those who tried to flee. It connects all three previous parts and gives a clean ending to the book.
I found this book imaginative and liked it. It not an easy read though. Don’t get it to read it on a beach. It’s more like to be read in a quiet place absorbing it.

Excellent book! Great characters and a brilliant storyline. I would highly recommend this book.

I absolutely devoured this book. Recently I have found myself more and more drawn to Historical fiction and this was more than I could of hoped for.
With a wonderful mix of historical fiction, fantasy and sci fi it really does everything you could need. This is coming from someone who rarely picks up fantasy or sci fi. The description sold it to me and I was so pleased it lived up to the premise.
The writing was perfect and was fluid from start to finish.
An exciting book that I can see myself recommending to many friends and rereading in the future.

There was a lot going on with this book, it jumped around and I had to concentrate to keep up with the story but that's not a bad thing,I like complex books.I also like this genre when it is well done and this one was and kept me interested.Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

"Tell me what it was like working for The Black Snake".
"The Black Snake?"
"UniCop. It's what we call them here in the reservation. They fucked up the whole world. They are a freemasonry of the rich and powerful. A complicit and elite minority
of greedy power-crazed executives. For decades they sponsored and organized terrorism and hazardous environmental projects that caused catastrophic natural disasters. And when they had whipped up enough fear and division and poverty they took over. One by one sovereign countries were replaced by militarized authoritarian states. All run by UniCorp. And that what we have now. The ethos of UniCorp is short term gain at the expense of long term consequence. Short term memory at the expense of any kind a detailed overview. Obviously they've erased your memory. I'm curious to know what it's like to be on the inside".
"Alowa has no idea what he's talking about. THE THINGS I HAVE THOUGHT. GONE.
THE THINGS I HAVE SEEN. GONE. THE THINGS I HAVE DONE. GONE. Her ignorance leaves her without a voice".
"That was their weapon. Ignorance".

Glenn Haybittle, author of "Way Back to Florence", one of my FAVORITE BOOKS has gone a little cuckoo with "The Memory Tree"

Science Fiction is a stretch for my mind - always is. I'm a little 'cuckoo', too,....for thinking I'd be a perfect match for "The Memory Tree".
I'm going to be gut honest here. I wanted to read this book because I kinda fell in love with author Glenn Haybittle. I melted over "Way Back to Florence". Loved it!!
This was harder for me to understand- but damn- I've such respect and thankfulness to this author - I just had to work a little harder.

To be honest - what stands out 'most' for me are the AWESOME DESCRIPTIONS- but I had NO IDEA WHERE THE BOOK WAS GOING. I wasn't sure how to contain my thoughts. There is a lot going on - I found it best just to keep reading and role with the ride as I read about:
swimming with Sharks - wagon trains - dancing with fiddles, banjos, and harmonicas, dancing girls, lions, a woman with beaded hair and bright painted clothes, smoke, fire, dance, friends and enemies, an Indian tribe, bare-chested old man wearing buffalo horns, panic in bodies, peyote dreaming medicine, eagle feathers, ghost shirts and ghost dance, the Elephant Mother, birds, spiders, ponies, decorated tepees with animal symbols, a sweat lodge, nakedness, 'teachings' from dreams about death, how to be a warrior, and salvation.....
etc. etc. etc. ITS A WHOLE NEW WORLD... in 2084!

A boy name Solstice not only has Alowa's memories - but he has his own troubles. He is having trouble formulating thought. He feels like a "weightless ball hurtling through eternity". - Why? Solstice is being controlled by a terrorist group.
and meanwhile Alowa was trying to figure out who she was and how to live in a new world....and trying to figure out who to trust.

Alowa had the feeling that she was not inside her body but rather hiding somewhere out in stillness all around her. MY GOD.... now I can relate!!!
At some point - when reading this nutty -story ... I put myself in nature with different elements: water, earth, fire, and air. I've had the experience of not being inside my physical body. No wonder Alowa had such a hard time 'feeling' her feet when she first escapes the glass dome - then has to swim into her new life.
Is it possible there is a message here in this book about us not being who we think we are? And worse yet - we haven't a clue about how we are being controlled by leaders of our world? If we have been captured by our own memories - what other trees in our community have captured us? - Just some thoughts which started to bounce around in my thinking.

Why would the literary gifted author dedicate his time with whimsical chaos - letting his wild imagination flow onto the page 'without' a purpose? I'm pretty clear he did had a purpose. I was raking my brain trying to understand Glenn Haybittle's message. Clearly the descriptions alone are wildly outrageous- fun once you 'get-in-the-mood'....
which I did after some shit news about the bomb threat at my Jewish Community Center yesterday --- but I hope I didn't fail in understanding Haybittle's bigger messages. I honestly enjoyed it at the level I did....taking longer to read it than most books this length.
I've taken away some special memories! ..... Like I was in a dream.....being dreamed by someone else.

Thank You Netgalley, Cheyne Walk, and Glenn Haybittle

Part One begins in the year 2084. A post-apocalyptic world, overseen by UniCorp, a conglomeration of the most powerful corporations. There’s a sense of absolute control, a sense of sameness that permeates everything, only harmony without discord. They must follow the ideals of the sacred Unity pledge of obedience. And then, of course, there are those who are in charge, who create the rules.

Alowa is without any memories. An incident occurs and in the process she is no longer inside the tightly controlled sphere of UniCorp, and has to learn to fend for herself. She knows only that she needs to find a boy named Solstice who is holding her memories for her, but first she will have to enter History to retrieve them.

The things I have thought. Gone. The things I have seen. Gone. The things I have done. Gone. My face in the glass.

Part Two begins in the year 2010, delving into history, at the funeral of young Felix’s grandfather, and Felix’s mother, Zinnia. After the funeral, going through old memorabilia, Zinnia comes across some of older photographs, a young woman, her father’s mother in a fine summer dress, another - a young man astride a bicycle, a marble statue behind him. On the back in faded ink is written Max, Lerici, 1942. She recognizes the image of her grandmother, Ada, but neither Zinnia nor her mother recognizes the young man. Within a year, the Nazis will arrive in the village when they were forced to move, leaving England for this sleepy little village when Mussolini declared war on Great Britain.

Another time, another era, this time the 1890s at Standing Rock reservation the stories follow the time after Sitting Bull has been killed and the Lakota have tried to flee. The ghost dance, and the ghost dance shirt are both factors that lead back and connect this era to the 1940s, to present day and beyond to 2084.

There were parts where I could visualize the story, the people, and there were a few parts where I felt where the story felt a bit too disconnected to me, too jumbled. Overall, I enjoyed this very imaginative glimpse into one possible version of the future. I genuinely appreciated getting to know the characters, their personal connections to other generations and their individual stories through different eras. Overall, when I was finished, things came together tightening the connections – perhaps a bit too quickly and a lot too late, but while reading it I found it to be too disjointed.

Our past, our great-grandparents past is part of our today, part of our tomorrows. Our memories connect us to our past, and if we’re lucky, our parents stories, our grandparents stories connect us to their past. Like an endless chain, today becomes tomorrow. Today affects what tomorrow becomes.

Memories. We like to believe we will hold onto ours forever, will have them forever, but for every experience there is a new memory crowding out some older, or less significant one. I’d like to believe that collectively we remember things, including historical moments, which should never be forgotten. I’d like to believe we’ve learned to be more tolerant, respectful, and humble. Kind.


Pub Date: 30 Mar 2017


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Cheyne Walk

Fast paced without ever losing the reader, this reminded me of some big players in the genre. Definite must read for fans of David Mitchell or William Gibson.