♾My brain officially hurts. I haven’t used so much brain power since my Calc 2 class freshman year in college. Recursion might have actually made my IQ rise a few points because of all of my comprehension efforts. Thank you Blake Crouch for making me do allllll the thinking! In short, Recursion was brilliant. It was fascinating. Thought-provoking. And utterly terrifying. If you love the movie Minority Report and all of its mind-bendiness...then Recursion is about to become your best book friend!⁣
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♾Barry is a divorced police officer who has never stopped mourning the tragic death of his daughter. His days are ordinary until the moment he is called in to assist on a suicide attempt. The distraught women is suffering from False Memory Syndrome. An ailment where you have two sets of memories. One set from the life you’re living and another from a completely different life. Only a few are afflicted, but those who are, are driven to the point of insanity as they try to decipher- What memory is real? Helena is a neuroscientist whose spent her life studying and working on restoring memory inspired by her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Working for and with some of the most brilliant minds in the world, they focus on creating a technology that can preserve and recall old memories. As Barry and Helena’s world’s collide, the results are devastating. What started out as a possible medical marvel has resulted in a world on the brink of destruction. ⁣
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♾I truly could not have possibly predicted the turns this book would take. It was brilliant. I couldn’t count the number of times I had to stop reading and take a break, merely to process and digest what I just read. By no means should you speed read Recursion if you truly want to understand what the hell is going on! This was July’s #notyomamasbookclub choice and for that I am grateful. We had the opportunity to discuss the book midway and at the end and really dissect each nook and cranny. And each and every mind was truly blooooown away!

Another excellent dive into physics-related fiction. I can't imagine how the author has dreamed up the ideas for Recursion and Dark Matter as well. An excellent premise, well worth anyone's time.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for a review copy of this book. A fun fast paced book that takes an interesting look at memory, time, and the destructive nature of human beings. I don’t want to give anything away but this novel will keep you on your toes, wanting to keep reading to find out what happens.

I liked this book... it's different from that i normally read. It took my a while to get into it, but once I did it was good.

There is time traveling but it's not the same as "regular time travel" . I'm not sure how best to explain in without giving anything away.

Thanks NetGalley

I do not know how Blake Crouch comes up with these ideas that totally mess with your mind. This is a book you won't be able to put down once you start. Highly recommend.

It’s difficult to write about a Blake Crouch novel without an endless stream of deep, existential thoughts and sheer awe that one person could possess so much imagination and talent. Here’s my best attempt…

Recursion is another time travel masterpiece from the mind of Blake Crouch, taking us into a world where the very understanding of timelines changes drastically. We follow two characters, one who is central to this monumental technology, another who happens to find himself at the center thanks to a strange series of events. Crouch never falters in his storytelling, seamlessly transitioning between timelines, stretching decades in either direction. This is a story that will blow your mind and you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of time to get immersed in this wild ride. I picked it up and plowed straight through to the epic conclusion.

Trek no further if you want nothing spoiled…

I’m honestly floored by how much Recursion changes the concept of diverging timelines in relation to time travel. With most books, events change and most people aren’t aware of alternate timelines. Time travelers hide in alleyways, going on their missions, shaping the future in ways that benefit whatever organization they work for. In this instance, everyone remembers everything. All timelines converge at the moment things were changed, creating a catastrophic explosion of consequences each time. That concept is baffling to imagine. People begin to go insane, the world begins to fall apart, and everything collapses. What starts as an exciting technology with world-changing implications quickly becomes pure horror as millions mentally deteriorate in a matter of minutes. It’s shocking to imagine and, with each failed attempt to save the future, a fearful ending to the book looms.

Crouch has a way of connecting you to his characters on a deeply emotional level. One moment, you’re reading a story and the next, you’re anxiously flying through pages to see if this new acquaintance survives. The two main characters are multilayered at the start and, as they continue to live more versions of the same life, their experiences grow more complicated. By the end, it’s nearly impossible to imagine what each person must be feeling as five or ten or twenty streams of memories come crashing down on them. To see lost children and spouses, missed opportunities and untimely deaths would be shocking, to say the least. Just trying to picture it while reading is discombobulating. Through it all, a deep love story emerges, one that has spanned over a century of combined time. It’s anything but perfect, filled with repeated fights and struggles, but watching Helena and Barry grow closer gives the book the final spark it needs to gain perfection.

I could go on and on discussing the brilliance of this novel and Crouch as a writer. Overall, Recursion is another brilliant addition to his catalog, giving us a story that begs to be discussed for weeks with anyone who will listen. He’s undoubtedly one of the greatest science fiction writers of our time.

I'm not a huge fan of the si-fi Genre , But OMG , this book was AMAZING .
Everything about it ,especially the writing style and the plot , was unbelievable .
I loved it so much .
While Reading I was so immersed in the story , I finished it in one sitting .

Definitely , Blake Crouch is one of my new favorite authors .

Blake Crouch has done it again!

I must admit that I had a hard time getting into this book, but all of a sudden, it was a "whoa.... why did THAT happen" moment, which led me down the road of non stop reading to find out why that DID happen.

AMazing story, just as amazing characters and I have already told ALL my coworkers they need to read this book!

Recursion is the 2nd book I’ve read by Blake Crouch, after 2016’s Dark Matter. If I hadn’t known whose worked I’d picked up, I think I would have picked out Crouch’s storytelling style and particular take on (male) characters. At first, they tend to be a bit stereotypical, but the story quickly subverts many of those notions as the plot picks up pace.

[Aside – I haven’t read his Wayward Pines trilogy, but thoroughly enjoyed the limited series it spawned.]

As with Dark Matter, Recursion relies on a genre audience who will question the “science” in the fiction just enough to give credence to the theories on which the plot revolves, and once you’re there for it, hold on tight.

As a reader, I’m not interested in whether the central conceit could “really happen”. (Just as I’m not watching Ant-Man for a serious, true-to-life depiction of the quantum realm…although if Paul Rudd was in the quantum realm, I’m just saying, it would be worth exploring.) The more interesting question/concern in a mind-bending thriller is how you feel about it. In the case of Recursion, how would you cope if everything you knew, your memories, identity, your life, your self were called into question?

The big baddie in Recursion is False Memory Syndrome, which is introduced as a rare, but terrifying disorder that makes people “remember” a life they never lived. Protagonist Barry Sutton, grizzled NYC cop, investigates an incident and displays bravery (or stupidity – the line between which is always thin) when he tries to save a diseased victim’s life despite not knowing if FMS could be transmitted by touch or even proximity.

From there, Crouch takes the reader on a wild ride. Rarely does fiction force me to consider the fundamental nature of reality in as visceral a manner. In fact, I find the intricacies of real science to be trippy enough. Just don’t try to make Crouch’s fiction line up with fact or you’ll be pulled right out of the story, which makes you contemplate the nature of the universe, as well as the nature of the human heart.

Bonus Recommendations: For another brain-melting plunge into the notion of identity, purpose, & eternity, check out Peter Watts’ The Freeze-Frame Revolution. Recursion also brings to mind Greg Bear, another who has a rare talent for crafting a breathless, thrilling story that takes you on a wild ride into entirely unexpected and uncharted territory.

4.5 STARS! WOW! If you're like me and only occasionally pick up a Sci-Fi book let this be one of them! I couldn't put it down! Just when I thought it was going to end it kept on going and I kept on reading! I hesitated on requesting this on Netgalley and choosing it for my BOTM pick but after reading the reviews that said it was intriguing and you would want to know what happened - that was good enough for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the approval to read!

I received an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review - thanks NetGalley.

Highly recommend this book! I would call this pop sci-fi. I’m not someone who usually reads science fiction and I really enjoyed this. It doesn’t delve extremely deep into the science of it all, and focuses more on the humanitarian effects and social consequences involved with the science. There’s a bit of a love story but the book doesn’t focus on that. If you enjoyed the Butterfly Effect, you would like this. This made me want to go back and read other titles by this author.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an extremely entertaining summer read -- it has heart but it also required you to think.

This mind bending story of a False Memory Syndrome had me pushing the limits on my reading time. The main characters of Helena and Barry were so real that I felt as if I were in the rooms with them as they dealt with the world effect of this affliction driving people mad. The set-up takes a little while and lulls you into the idea of what is happening – but reality and your memories are not the same things as the reader quickly learns.
I gave up predicting what would happen next as the author had so many unique and contrary ideas to what I thought would happen.

What a trippy book! Much like it's predecessor Dark Matter, this was insane, smart, and I had no idea what was going on half the time! I think I liked Dark Matter a tiny bit more, but this was still a fantastic read!

@netgalley #partner

Thanks to #NetGalley for the review copy of #Recursion. All opinions are my own.

I don't usually read science fiction. It just doesn't interest me. But because this was a @bookofthemonth pick, I heard SO MUCH about it. It was all good, so I thought I would give it a shot.

This book was awesome! There were some parts that I didn't quite understand because of the science aspect, but I was able to follow the storyline well enough to appreciate it anyway.

If you're like me and hesitant about trying out a new genre, I would definitely recommend Recursion by Blake Crouch.

I didn't think I could love a Blake Crouch book more than I loved Dark Matter but Recursion was so wonderful!

5 Hearts
SJ, Romance Junkies

From New York Times bestseller Blake Crouch, author of the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy, comes this fascinating, fast-paced, and though-provoking novel about time-travel, memory, and who we think we are in RECURSION.

The story opens with New York City police officer Barry Sutton investigating a condition the media has named False Memory Syndrome, in which afflicted individuals go crazy suffering memories of lives they've never lived.

Helena Smith is a neuroscientist working at a secret location on a project that will change lives. Working to try to solve the mysteries of memory in hopes her research might help her father with Alzheimer's, she ends up creating something wonderful...and monstrous.

But before long, Barry is suffering False Memory Syndrome. Helena realizes she's made a tremendous mistake in judgement but has nowhere to turn and no way out, and the villain grows in power. When Barry encounters Helena, they realize they might be able to stop what's coming. Together, the two make an impossible journey, and fail more often than they succeed.

The pacing in this novel is perfect; the juxtaposition of Barry's trials and Helena's realization of what's she's done is magical. Crouch is a master at revealing secrets, keeping the reader on the edge, glued to his prose.

The romance in the story enhances the plot, but make no mistake, RECURSION is a science fiction thriller driven by greed, hope, and love. It will leave the reader thinking about the ideas of self and memory long after finishing that final page. What an outstanding read!

Recommended Read

An absolutely gripping, mind-bending thriller with "theory, paradox, and possibility" written all over it. The pacing is perfect, the characters are most believable, the story line is very, very cool and the descriptive writing is spot on.
The unusual way Crouch blends the concept of human memory with the illusion of time makes for a tale that is occasionally difficult to keep up with if you're reading casually, but if you pay attention, it snaps into focus immediately.
I was especially impressed with the inclusion of the "Grandfather paradox" without the extraneous mumbo-jumbo often associated with bending the space-time continuum. Using human memories vs. something more Sci-Fi like a time machine made the story much more of a thriller than a sci-fi adventure, but it definitely has elements of both.
After the first night's reading, I was reminded of the conversation between Pinto and the Professor in "Animal House" when they were smoking dope:
"That means that one tiny atom in my fingernail..."
"Could be one.. tiny... little... universe."
But this book is much, much more than a passing reflection on the philosophy and mechanics of memory. It's a page-turner par-excellence.
And just wait until you get to the last 20%. It'll blow you away.

You can't go wrong with anything Blake Crouch has written. Recursion is no different. 10/10. I can't recommend this book enough. Reading the book from two characters points of view makes it flow and keeps you interested. I couldn't put this book down. Hurry up and start reading. This book is unlike anything you have read.

I believe everyone has memories they would like to erase or change. You’d like to take back an insult, tell someone you love them or turn that foul ball into a walk off home run. Could that be done? What would be the consequences?
Recursion, Blake Crouch’s new novel examines the question of altering reality and it’s effects. Police officer Barry Sutton and neuroscientist Helena Smith face the question of memory from very different perspectives and needs. Barry is investigating FMS (False Memory Syndrome) after a woman claims to be a victim of FMS and commits suicide. Helena wants to develop a method of reactivating memories as a cure for Alzheimer’s. Though their approaches and needs are different, Barry and Helena interact as they seek answers to their issues.
This novel is a mystery story. This novel is a love story. This novel is a theoretical science story. This is a complex, thought provoking altered reality novel. You will question what is reality, what is memory, what is time, what can we believe is real and more. Recursion is a thinkers book. You will remember it long after you put it down or maybe you will pick it up and reread it. If you do, your mind will be bent again. This time in a new way. It’s that good. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #Recursion