My Name Is Memory

 

Shirley J.                              Adult Fiction                                              Past Lives, Kindred Souls

My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares    352 pages

Daniel has been reborn many times since the year 552 until present time.  He is one of only a few reincarnated souls that know who he is, remembers his past lives and knows others when he meets them that are also reborn.   Not all reborn souls have this gift or curse depending on how you look at it and the girl he knows as Sofia from their first encounter in 552 never remembers him when they incarnate anew, though, in some lives he was able to bring back memories of their times together.  Daniel has loved Sofia eternally though they have never consummated that love.   Some lives they were related, some strangers of vastly different ages and now they appear close in age, in the same town but their encounters are fraught with obstacles.   Will this time be different?  Will they be able to get past their mutual baggage?  And what about Joachim, Daniel's brother and husband of Sofia in one significant life where he beat Sofia and treated her terribly.   Daniel is not alone on his journey though he has died badly a number of times, there is the elusive, Ben, who pops up in various genders from life to life but who is wise for one who seems so young.   A good story with lots of good points brought up about reincarnation.  I think folks with a bent for the paranormal, reincarnation, past lives regression, sci-fi will deeply enjoy this story, if you are anti reincarnation you will not enjoy this one at all.  I think it is a little deep for the younger set but mature teens may enjoy the whole reincarnation of it all.  The eternal quest for the love of one's life will appeal to the romantic set.  I think I would tend to recommend this to mature teens to adults.