What a ride!

Our main character, Helena, is a down on her luck scientist who specializes in memories. When she's at a dead end, in walks this billionaire - Slade - with an offer she can't refuse. Hoping to create something to help her mother's failing memories, Helena finally creates a masterpiece instrument that ends up with a few nasty unintended consequences.

I found myself reading this book faster and faster as I got deeper into it. I HAD to get to the ending. I need Christopher Nolan to direct this movie, stat.

I thought I wasn't a fan of scifi. But Blake Crouch has cemented himself as my perfect read of thrilling sci-fi that's not kids flying in spaceships fighting woolly mammoths on frozen planets. Wayward Pines was ok. I really liked Dark Matter, but I think Recursion is his best yet! Add this to your to-read shelves, especially if you were a fan of Dark Matter.

Mad props to Crown Publishing for the advanced readers copy. Really enjoyed this.

I received a free copy of this book through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Wow!!! My mind is so freaking blown right now, I will never find all the pieces! This is the type of book that will keep me up at night, thinking about everything that happened. How am I supposed to go on with my life after reading this book??

I'm not gonna lie it was very confusing in the beginning. We're following two main characters: Barry and Helena. Two POVs, two different time lines and the writing style was not my favorite, which made it hard for me to connect with characters and the story. It's written in 3rd person, present tense and it's overly descriptive of unnecessary things. Such as: he walks to the door, he opens the door, he sees light. It's not the best and that's why I'm giving it 4 stars and not 5.
The first quarter of this story reminded me of that TV show Dollhouse, where people get imprinted with different memories. And I was starting to get disappointed. But then we get to that plot twist and oh my gosh, everything escalates so quickly and it's such a unique interesting concept! It has some butterfly effect vibes. But it's definitely very original and so full of plot twists! Seriously, my mind is all over the place, blown away!
Blake Crouch like to have open endings, just like in Dark Matter, it left me wanting more!
If you love sci-fi, crazy plot twists and something that will make you think outside the box, read this!

Brilliant premise and great characters. Barry and Helena’s love story was complex and complicated and it was challenging for my pea brain to keep everything straight. Blake Crouch has such a way with words as he describes the catastrophic events being experienced.

The first few sections were pretty technical. I enjoyed the parts with Barry the most.

This book is a total mind-bender. Totally addictive and thrilling the whole way through. Some of the gender issues that I had with Dark Matter also appear in this book, but the story is totally compelling.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the first half of the story, but the second half fell flat. It's unfortunate because I absolutely love this author. Still looking forward to reading more books in the future by this author.

I’ll bet Blake Crouch filled up at least five large whiteboards with diagrams trying to figure out the plot for this one.

NYPD Detective Barry Sutton tries to stop a woman about to jump off a high rise building, and she tells him that she’s suffering from the rare False Memory Syndrome which has given her the memories of another entire lifetime including a son who doesn’t exist. Barry become intrigued by the woman’s story, in part because he is mourning his own daughter who died years earlier, and he begins to look into her life. In a parallel story set 11 years earlier, Dr. Helena Smith is struggling to get funding for plans to build a machine capable of recording a human memory, and her project seems dead in the water until a mysterious investor steps in.

That’s all I want to say about the plot to anyone who hasn’t read the book, and I’d urge any reader to go in not knowing more than that because what follows mixes a clever sci-fi concept with an engaging thriller that turns the very idea of existence inside out.

To dig into this deeper without giving the ending away….[ I absolutely loved the time travel aspect of this with the idea that reality is shaped by consciousness so it should be possible to go back into our own memory and change things. The fallout from that, with the other memories eventually kicking in for those affected by it, is a terrifying way of expanding the scope that eventually scrambles the eggs of all of humanity. Helena’s chair is a Pandora’s Box that can’t be unopened even with time travel, and that creates a cruel trap. You can’t make this right without using time travel, but every trip back once things go to hell just means that eventually another timeline comes crashing down on everyone. (hide spoiler)]

I was a little worried about the whole ‘sad Daddy’ aspect of Barry having a dead child at first because my complaint about Crouch’s other reality bending book Dark Matter was that it leaned on the trope of a man-doing-it-all-for-his-family, but I was pleasantly surprised with how the book eventually became a much bigger story without ever losing the emotional component of that backstory either.

Overall, this was mind-bending and horrifying page turner with some very cool ideas that had me on the edge of my seat while reading.

Another great fast-paced thriller from Crouch. I'm not a big sci fi reader, but I really enjoy his books. Some of it was over my head, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Really liked the main characters and the plot was intense. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing house for providing an advanced copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! 

Dark Matter is one of my favorite science fiction book recommendations to give and ended up making my top ten books list in 2016. To say that I had HIGH expectations for the next Blake Crouch novel would be putting it mildly.

I am so happy to say that this book DID NOT disappoint!

In this story, Barry Sutton is an NYC cop who has been investigating the phenomenon the media has called, "False Memory Syndrome." It is a mysterious affliction that makes its victims mad with memories of a life that they never lived.

Helena Smith is also trying to understand memory and wants to find a way that it can be captured, through her work as a neuroscientist. Inspired by her mother's struggles with dementia, she has decided to study memory and focus on a piece of technology that will allow people to preserve their most precious memories.

As Barry begins searching for the truth, he discovers what happens when we play God with memory and how Helena's technology has helped to create this False Memory Syndrome. While sheltering ourselves from our most devastating memories, by rewriting our history, Barry & Helena begin to realize how altering memories can change our identity, our relationships, and how altering circumstances doesn't always yield the results we are after.

When the technology gets into the wrong hands, they realize how it can destroy the world, as they know it, and they will stop at nothing to get it back, forced to repeat their lives over and over again, to try to change their circumstance.

Once again, Crouch blends science fiction with a thriller pace and a beautiful love story.  His storytelling is masterful and the suspense is so incredibly good in this one. I immediately passed this book on to my husband who loved it just as much as me. I am so glad I got to screen this and feel confident recommending this one to our Dark Matter fans.

If you haven't dipped your toes yet into the science fiction world, I have a feeling you will find this to be a compelling read that will pull you right out of your literary comfort zone. What are you waiting for? Be sure to pre-order this for June!

Online Review Publishing on April 1st- http://www.momadvice.com/category/books

The premise is so fascinating. What if we had the ability to remake memories? What if we could go back in time, knowing all that we know now, and relive things. Would we make different decisions? What would the power of having just general knowledge of the future do to us? I think we’ve all thought about it. As a parent who has lost a child I’ve thought about it probably more than is healthy because I can pinpoint the one decision I made that changed my life for the worse. Perhaps that’s why the second line on the back cover caught me so much. It’s ultimately the reason I requested the book.

“My son has been erased." Those are the last words the woman tells Barry Sutton, before she leaps from the Manhattan rooftop.”

So, yeah, the premise hooked me immediately. However, the writing did not. I nearly walked away from Recursion so many times because I just could not get into it. It felt dry and methodical and there were much more gratifying reads that I was working through. However, Blake Crouch is a much-talked about writer, so I kept pushing through. I was determined to at least make it to the 50% point. I think some of the issue was the fact that there were a couple of people’s timelines to keep straight and that has never appealed to me in a book. I also have a gnat-sized attention span.

Thankfully at the halfway point Crouch finally has the groundwork all laid out and the good stuff begins. Once the action starts, it gets interesting quick. It goes from zero to sixty in an eye-blink and plays out like it’s meant for a movie screen. By the three-quarters mark I was wondering where else he could go. Things had gotten pretty much as insane as they could get. He proves his talent, though, and handles the last bit very skillfully by scaling things back and focusing more on emotion and relationships than absolute batshit craziness.

I truly enjoyed the last half of Recursion. However, it didn’t make up for the first half, so I can’t fangirl about the book.

Blake Crouch is a talented writer, but his style just doesn’t match up well with me. I recommend giving the book a try. Your mileage may vary, but it’s worth at least a look-see.

If you liked Crouch's first book, Dark Matter - or if you like Philip K. Dick or Twelve Monkeys or La Jetee - you'll enjoy this fast-paced, philosophical thriller. (Can't wait to see the movie.)

Many thanks for this advance reader's copy of this a-freaking-mazing new novel by Blake Crouch! What he did with the concept of choice in "Dark Matter" he does here, and equally well, with the idea of memory and alternative timelines. Just when I thought it was already creepy and weird (it should be sold with a trigger warning for suicide), it takes a wild turn into sudden global knowledge of what was intended to remain a well-kept secret project. Helena and Barry, the main characters, are matched well and excellent protagonists through whom we are given short, then deep, then longer explanations of the concepts behind Helena's invention of a machine that can not only map and record a person's specific memory completely, directly from the brain, but then can also stimulate that memory at just the right time to send the person back into that moment with full knowledge of what is to come. Of course, despite noble intent, the consequences become increasingly catastrophic. The author deftly handles the many different ways that this technology can be used, delving again and again into a recursive loop that Helena and Barry work desperately to break themselves, and then the world, from its inevitable and tragic ending. I couldn't put the book down until I saw how it turned out.

As an avid Crouch fan I had high hopes for this new novel, and was not disapointed. Although there were times that I was confused between the timelines, this definately got harder to keep track of as the book progressed. I even found myself having to flip back and forth a few tinmes to figure out where I was. That being said I still thoroughly enjoyed this book, it would make a very interesting tv/movie!

RECURSION, by Blake Crouch, is a mind-boggling science fiction thriller that sticks with you long after you've finished reading. Barry, a New York cop, is dealing with people who seemingly have two sets of memories, while Helena, a scientist, is trying to find a way to help afflicted with memory loss; to retain those memories and therefore their identities. As Barry digs deeper, and Helena has more breakthroughs in her work, they eventually cross paths and realize that what they are dealing with is infinitely more complex and layered than they could have ever imagined.
Crouch does a masterful job of building the tension to remarkable heights, while at the same time clearly and succinctly explaining the science behind everything. Without giving away anything, the science in the story is challenging to grasp, but it's complexity didn't keep me from wanting to get it because it was so fascinating to understand and I felt a sense of accomplishment that I got the science. As the excitement built and the plot thickened, the desperation of Barry and Helena was palpable and honestly I felt my heart racing, hoping they would succeed. In the end, the reader can't help but question memory, identity, time, and emotion and how well they are tied together.
Not many books stick with me like RECURSION has, and I think it's a testament to Crouch's ability to challenge the reader's perception and tell an great story at the same time. I think anyone who picks this book up won't want to put it down, but be warned, you won't think about time and space the same way again.

Recursion by Blake Crouch is a pretty wild ride. The synopsis mentions a woman telling Barry that her son has been erased before jumping off of a roof. This is where the story begins. But by the 50% mark you will have forgotten this woman even existed. There is so much book in this book.

Reminiscent of his earlier work Dark Matter, Recursion utilizes theoretical, but not entirely fictional scientific ideas to create a science fiction story that is within grasp of our realistic imaginations. Apart from that, Recursion shares so many themes and ideas with Dark Matter that I wouldn’t be surprised if they had once been a single book in his mind until enough ideas were scrapped that he had enough content for an entirely new book. Changing the past, multiple timelines, near death experiences. All of these are once again explored by Crouch to create a story that gives the reader a look at something we all want: the ability to redo moments of our lives.

Some parts of this book were amazing and some less so. I really feel that this book could have been a series, or at least two separate books. I felt like I was reading the climax of the story and looked down to see that I was only at 43% completion. This is the result of the oddity of this book. There are at least 3 distinctive types of story this book tells. The first part is of an investigator looking into a “mental disorder” with suspicious origins while also seeing the past of the doctor responsible for causing the “disorder” people are beginning to experience. Then the story abruptly turns into a government conspiracy story and describes itself as a cross between Minority report and Batman. And that’s a pretty fair representation of it. Cut to a very brief segment of mass scale terrorism, before it then turns into a love story that spans hundreds of years and half a dozen timelines. It sounds like a hot mess, and it pretty much is. Yet somehow it works. By the last section of the book I felt like I was reading a Frankenstein of various sci-fi subgenres roughly thrown together, but each segment was essential for the overall story, so it is forgivable.

The book mostly focuses on two characters, but both characters experience dozens of different realities, sometimes crossing over with each other and sometimes not. There are other characters thrown in that also weave in and out of the timelines. Top all of this off with a strange set of rules as to when characters can or can’t retain memories of the other timelines, and you will often feel just as mindf***ked as the characters in the story. This book is EXHAUSTING to read, but not always in a bad way. It requires a lot of patience and effort to make it through this book, but it is pretty rewarding.

Ultimately this is a more complex version of Dark Matter, but also much less refined.

Crouch does an excellent job of capturing readers from the beginning with his plot centered around what he calls False Memory Syndrome, in which a mysterious disease impacts people's memory and giving them memories of a life they never lived. I enjoyed this book because while at its core it is a sci-fi novel, I also found myself invested in the characters.

I did find myself having to re-read parts at times, although this is more likely due to my tendency to read before bed. Overall I found it grabbed my attention immediately and I enjoyed the timeline, which alternated between past and present. If you enjoyed Crouch's Dark Matter you will love this book.

Blake Crouch is an amazing author with an incredible imagination. He's created another awesome book that will cause you to question your own reality. Fast paced with twists that will boggle your mind.

Recursion
Book Review | 📚📚📚📚 4/5
Blake Crouch (author) | Crown Publishing

False Memory Syndrome. Neuroscience. Murder. Genocide. Cops. Government. Alzheimer’s. A race against time.

Why I was interested in this book:
While I have not read any of Blake Crouch’s previous works, I did watch the television adaptation of his Wayward Pines trilogy. And, I loved its mind-kerfuffle of a long-play Twilight Zone or Outer Limits storyline. So, given the opportunity to read Crouch’s new book, Recursion, was received with enthusiasm.

My assessment:
This was a rollercoaster-ride story that kept me enthralled at such a quick pace that I didn’t want to go to sleep each night so I could continue with the adventure.

Telling much in detail about what happens in the book would be a review riddled with spoilers, and that’s not my intention. What I can share is that this is truly a fantastic adventure. It was intriguing to learn about False Memory Syndrome and its possible connections with Alzheimer’s patients. It definitely included a thriller-esque storyline of good guys and bad guys, and good intentions and consequences. Like the Wayward Pines story, there was a good dose of science, reality, intrigue and mis-guided direction. Hell, this even becomes a global story of power, fear and solving the world’s problems. Oh, and it’s also possibly a love story. I enjoyed this book, more as a work of science fiction or fantasy and thriller than a book that uses science to answer questions, if that makes sense. But, it really does make you ponder about life.

The only shortfall, for me, was the confusion I experienced with some of the science that was used to justify some of the actions. I got lost, even after reading the paragraphs over and over. But, overall, just go with it and it is a great read.

Stories of the human condition:
This is one of those stories set in current time that explores the human condition at many levels. From love of a parent, love of a child, love of a partner, love of science, love of humanity to the price paid for even caring and wanting to make a difference. The notion of our memories and dreams, and what they mean; even trying to examine the sense of déjà vu connects the characters in this story.

NOTE: In full disclosure, I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.com for an honest review. I would not have asked to review this book (or read it), had I not been interested in the first place.

TAGS:
#Recursion #review-book #book review #CrownPublishing #BlakeCrouch #TuggleGrassBlues #Tuggle Grass Reviews #TuggleGrassReviews #NetGalley

This novel has twists, turns, intrigue, philisophical questioning, ethical decisions. A young scientist devotes her life to coming up with a cure for her mother and her research is taken in an unforeseen direction. Can the chaos be stopped?

Crouch writes the best science fiction with heart. Recursion unfolds like a puzzle while keeping the main characters at the forefront full of fear and love. I would recommend this book to traditional science fiction fans along with someone who loves a great love story.

Received via NetGalley for review.

I've never read Blake Crouch before, but have heard good things about him, and was eager to read his newest effort. And I'm probably going to go out and see what else he's written!

Crouch does an excellent job with characterization and setting, relentlessly driving the plot forward but not allowing the reader to get lost in the details. I don't really care HOW Helena's chair transports people back in time, and neither does Crouch, not really (though it IS a very interesting take that time is such an illusion that we force ourselves to view it in a linear, rigid manner). What matters is that it does.

Some VERY small things that in no way detract from the readability of the book or the enjoyment of it's plot: Helena is VERY against the use of her chair for any purpose, but still allows Shaw to attempt to do good. It's understandable that she'd be wary of it's potential, but she bends to Shaw too easily. That, instead, could be a great motivating factor for how extreme her views get.
There's no explanation of why Slade chose to send Barry back in time - was he just a random choice? Was he getting too close so Slade distracted him?
The idea that coming back from a timeline where you have died should have been explored more thoroughly. It's already a long book, I understand, but it doesn't read long and this seems important. Their first test subject and Meghan killed themselves because they saw death, and wanted to return to whatever perfect moment they saw, and Crouch seems to be setting this up as an insurmountable obstacle... and then there's no other mention of it. Where were the rash of suicides after Shaw stopped the school shooting? Why weren't people (and especially Helena) bringing this up as an unavoidably lethal side effect? Ben and Timoney (the two soldier with DARPA) were said to suffer the mental effects of repeatedly dying, but Helena doesn't discuss these effects or seem to suffer any herself.

The book moves quickly to the meat of the action (False Memory Syndrome is actually a bit of a red herring...) and doesn't let up. The questions Crouch raises about time and memory and being are thrilling and important, and Barry and Helena's romance is tragic and beautiful: they are truly soul mates.