Nothing Is Forgotten: A Novel

NOTHING IS FORGOTTEN is currently in my top five favorite books of all time, joining A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY, SHE'S COME UNDONE, GONE WITH THE WIND, and MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA. At times, the book is a thriller, others a mystery, and still others, a romance, but at all times, it's captivating, emotional, and incredibly well told. The story opens in Michael's childhood and reads like a memoir until his grandmother is killed, and then it takes off like a thriller wrapped in a mystery as Michael tries to figure out who killed his grandmother and why. His search for the truth takes him to Europe and Russia where he meets and falls for Yuli, a smuggler and defacto spy. Together they seek clues about the death of Emma, which only raises more questions and puts them both in danger. Plot Impeccably  researched, there is as much history as there is storytelling going on between the pages. The story is expertly plotted and moves along at a steady rate. The pace picks up speed at the climax and keeps it up until the very end. And that ending...wow. For me, it's perfect. Yes, I want to know what happens next, but I don't need to know. It's such a satisfying conclusion with just the right amount of uncertainty to allow me to imagine what comes after without feeling frustrated. The Characters The characters are a masterpiece. Michael, Yuli, Der Schmuggler...they're deep, nuanced, and intriguing. Throughout the story, Emma goes from being an enigma to someone fully fleshed out as the reader learns through Micheal's research who Emma really was. The characters seem so much a part of the era (late 1950s to 1960s), that I never once questioned the setting. Top Five Things I Loved About NOTHING IS FORGOTTEN 1. Yuli. She was by far my favorite character. She's so complex, strong and vulnerable, proud with fits of guilt, having lived through the horrors of the second World War, she's hard to identify with, but so easy to root for. 2. Michael. His optimistic Americanism is the polar opposite of Yuli's Eastern European post-war hopelessness. His quest to uncover the truth is both reckless and admirable, making him an absolutely fascinating protagonist. 3. History. I love history, but even more when it serves as a backdrop to a compelling story. The author's meticulous attention to detail made history come alive, leaving me wanting to learn more about the events of that time. 4. The ending. One of the best endings ever. 5. Storytelling. The way the story unfolds kept me glued to the pages, but the characters made me care about what happened. Bottom Line One of my all-time favorite novels. I will be reading more by Peter Golden. Disclaimer I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was entirely drawn into the story of Emma, her grandson, and those who crossed paths during such a terrible time of war. The happy moments were those shared running a family business, growing up in the fifties and sixties, and meeting the community who helped Michael during times of tragedy. It is as fully human a story as I have read recently.

Loved It