4.2, rounded for Goodreads

In a dystopian future wherein China is the world’s leading and only super power, we start off learning about an inheritance the main narrator receives from his recently deceased mother. Except it’s not any sort of tangible goods. And it’s not today’s world out there (or is it in some respects…?). He’s received a series of memories from her, believed to be highly illegal for him to even possess in one’s oft surveilled mindbank, and the clock is ticking on him being found out. What is a person to do? Why were these stories given to him? What do they mean? Why would these have been censored? With this overarching thread tying these memories together, we begin diving in to these short story memory episodes, causing us to question what is so sensationalist about these stories that they’re that dangerous to possess.

This book tackled its themes the best. It’s quite a short read/listen, but it packs a punch in making you think. And while it’s set in the “far-off future,” I think it’s especially thematic in many ways to today, because the allure of power and control is ever present. Perhaps that makes these themes ever-relevant. Some of the short stories show corruption and ethical degradation outright, while others feature this more subtly, showing how propaganda has seeped into the culture and education systems, bleeding into the beliefs of many common folk. Though throughout our short stories, in addition to the quite dissidence of the everyday man, I do see nuggets of hope, forgiveness, and encouragement to fight for beauty, for loved ones, for more.

I could have done without the hard-hitting final message of the book, after the final memory episode. I think the author got caught up in making sure we got the point of the book in the end, leading to the breaking the fourth wall, and talking directly to those listening (of the mindbank memories, which in this case is us the reader/listener). I understand wanting to drive the point home, though I feel like it was too hit-you-over-the-head. I would have opted for more subtlety, allowing for the questions to be asked and answered more organically, and therefore with more impact.

The audiobook listening experience: this featured a great ensemble cast. the book being narrated this way was very helpful going from one short story to the next. The voice actors showed their emotions and acted out the lines well. One of the voice actors has a barely perceptible lisp, but it did not take away from the experience at all.

There was no shortage of valuable quotes in here. I could see myself tackling this book again, next time on kindle or a physical book so I can highlight all the easier.

Special thanks to the author Yiming Ma, Mariner Books, and Netgalley for a copy of the audio to listen to and review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book. All the thoughts below are entirely my own.

The premise of a world where our memories aren't even our own was truly fascinating to me!! That concept of the memory bank and how it could be used for good or evil was interesting to read about. This is a book that leaves you thinking!! I will say there is a lot of jumping around in time and in writing structure, which could lead to a confusing reading experience for some people. Overall, though, I think the social commentary on surveillance states and living under fascism comes across loud and clear throughout the entire novel!!

I want to add that I really enjoyed the multiple narrators for the audiobook; they brought this story to life.

The best sci-fi makes you think. It builds on ideas you’ve probably had in passing, expands them, and turns them into something meaningful. That’s exactly what Yiming Ma has done here. It felt like this book was written with me in mind. Set in a near future where China stands as the sole global superpower, citizens now have the ability to record and transfer memories between minds. If that premise appeals to you, stop reading and buy it. What a hook.

Before you even start, your brain sparks with questions: How would this affect society, culture, identity? The book explores many of these questions and more, particularly those related to inherited memory and the permanence of memory after death. In nature, instinct is often passed through generations. Birds migrate without being taught. Turtles return to the beach where they were born. If instinct can be inherited, why not memory too?

The structure is loosely connected short stories tied together by a central theme, much like The Three-Body Problem meets Ken Liu’s short fiction. It is immersive, wide-reaching, and yet deeply personal. A diverse cast of characters brings the world to life. I won’t spoil them here. The excellent audiobook production only deepens the immersion. A full, talented cast makes each voice feel grounded and real.

The book prompts me to consider the age-old debate between fiction and nonfiction. Fiction isn’t just escape; it is a vessel for truth. Stories are how humans have survived, passed down values, and built civilizations. Now imagine transferring not just words but entire experiences. How would governments respond? What about individuals? How would that affect society? Would memory become another tool of control? Would regimes seek to erase or rewrite memories to maintain control over citizens? What would rebellion look like in a world where your own past might not even belong to you?

Although this is a dystopian sci-fi novel, the book centers on the human experience. The prose is beautiful yet clear, never overwrought. And the final pages carry a message that resonates far beyond its imagined future, touching on present-day politics and power in ways that hit close to home.

A must-read from a new favorite author.

This was very unnerving in that it felt very real and relatable. I completely understand the comparisons to 1984 and Cloud Atlas, but I'd say it's more like the latter in terms of format. Personally, I found it hard to follow but I still enjoyed it.

The stories link together but I think this only becomes clear around the middle and some were better than others.

The narrators did a fantastic job and I would listen to most of them again.

Overall, it's a clever concept, beautifully written, albeit somewhat confusing.

My thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the audio ARC.