The Book of Memory

The outer archives are busy

by Petina Gappah, Victoria Horrillo Ledesma

About this book

Memory, the narrator of Petina Gappah's The Book of Memory, is an albino woman languishing in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare, Zimbabwe, after being sentenced for murder. As part of her appeal, her lawyer insists that she write down what happened as she remembers it. The death penalty is a mandatory sentence for murder, and Memory is, both literally and metaphorically, writing for her life. As her story unfolds, Memory reveals that she has been tried and convicted for the murder of Lloyd Hendricks, her adopted father. But who was Lloyd Hendricks? Why does Memory feel no remorse for his death? And did everything happen exactly as she remembers?

Match Score

Create a free account to see Match Scores on books the community has marked — once you’ve set your preferences.

Create free account

Marks of the Realm

Marks left by readers of this tome

No community marks yet — be the first to inscribe this tome.

Pacing

—out of 5

Horror / Dark Elements

—out of 5

Romance

—out of 5

Spice Level

—out of 5

LGBTQ+ Representation

—out of 5

Social & Political Themes in Stories

—out of 5

Inscribe Your Rating

Mark this tome across each content category