I really enjoyed participating in this meme several months ago so I thought I’d try it again!
Bookish Memory Check is hosted by Tanja @ Where Stories Lie and is a way to test your memory of the books you’ve read. There are 3 simple steps to participate:
- Go to your Goodreads read shelf
- Sort by random (drop-down bar at the bottom of the page)
- Test your memory of the top 5 books
The Time Hackers by Gary Paulsen
My rating: ★★★★☆
When I read it: 2008
Initial thoughts: I have only the vaguest of memories of this one and that’s that it involves time travel, which I could also guess from the title. Apparently I enjoyed it but I have no idea what this book is about.
After the blurb: I am more confused than ever. Based on the blurb, this is a time travel/prank story as the MC keeps finding strange things in his locker, like a dead body, that then disappear. I definitely don’t remember this book but I did note that it’s worth a reread so perhaps one day!
Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples by Linda Tuhiwai Smith
My rating: ★★★★★
When I read it: 2018
Initial thoughts: One of my favourites, of course I know this one! This book was part of one of my classes in grad school and much like the title says, the author talks about the history of research with and about Indigenous peoples and, importantly, how to move towards more ethical, respectful approaches to research.
After the blurb: Very, very familiar with this one so nothing surprising in the blurb. Worth a read whether you do research or not!
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
My rating: ★★★★☆
When I read it: 2018
Initial thoughts: I remember this one too! I’d vaguely heard of this one over the years but a friend recommended it to me as it’s her favourite so I read it one summer. It’s such a cute and quirky book, I can see why so many love it and I still love the little sheep and its rose.
After the blurb: Another one with no surprises in the blurb! These ones get my confidence up so I can fail hard at the remaining books.
A Foreign Field by Gillian Chan
My rating: ★★★☆☆
When I read it: 2009
Initial thoughts: I can’t remember this one except that when I look at the cover, I can picture myself in my old public library, holding the book in my hand. I think on that trip I’d actually made note of the title to come back to later (around the same time I checked out Mr. g – a physics take on religion). The most I can remember is that it’s about war and there’s a flashback portion? Like maybe a soldier in the war and then his son or another relative years later?
After the blurb: Okay it seems it’s not a flashback but there are two perspectives, a girl taking care of her family during WWII and a British pilot. Less of a family drama and instead a historical fiction, perhaps with a touch of romance. I don’t remember the story any better now but the title did help in guessing this one.
What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones
My rating: ★☆☆☆☆
When I read it: 2010
Initial thoughts: I have not a single memory of this book but it seems I really, really, disliked it. And I can offer no other insights on this one.
After the blurb: So this one’s a book of verse and in my review I compared it to Jinx so that does remind me of the time period when I was reading a lot of YA poetry. I think my issue was this one was a more annoying narrator but it seems it’s a lot of poetry about a young girl with lots of romantic interests and who doesn’t necessarily get along with her mother. Maybe other teens would like this one but I think there are better poetry collections to choose from.
Still a fun challenge months later to see how many books that I’ve read I can actually remember.
Have you read any of these?
How well can you remember books you’ve read in years past?
Cover images from Goodreads.
Spines in a Line 
Oh this is fun, I might do this! I always think it’s interesting to think about what I remember about different books. There are some on my GR shelf I have truly no memory of ever reading. And I love that for one you remember being in the library, cuz I also have some books I don’t have much memory of, but I do remember a place where I read them or something. Anyway, that first one actually sounds fun!
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Yeah there are so many interesting memories I can tie in with a book, whether or not they’re actually of the book lol
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Ahh this looks like a good challenge for someone who hasn’t read a book in a long time……….. I like to think I have a good memory for the books I read (once I’m reminded they exist :P) so I might give this a go! I have not read any of these. I looked up What My Mother Doesn’t Know cos you made me curious. All my Goodreads friends rated it 2 stars or less so it sounds like you’re not off base with that recollection, haha.
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It’s a fun test! I think the blog has probably helped with my recent reads but middle school books are so far gone, it’s tough to remember
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