The Forgetting Time

By: Sharon Guskin

Narrated by: Susan Bennett, David Pittu

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Noah wants to go home. A seemingly easy request from most four-year-olds. But as Noah's single mother, Janie, knows, nothing with Noah is ever easy. One day the preschool office calls and says Janie needs to come in to talk about Noah, and no, not later, now - and life as she knows it stops.

For Jerome Anderson, life as he knows it has stopped. A deadly diagnosis has made him realize he is approaching the end of his life. His first thought - I'm not finished yet. Once a shining young star in academia, a graduate of Yale and Harvard, a professor of psychology, he threw it all away because of an obsession. Anderson became the laughing stock of his peers, but he didn't care - something had to be going on beyond what anyone could see or comprehend. He spent his life searching for that something else. And with Noah, he thinks he's found it. Soon Noah, Janie, and Anderson will find themselves knocking on the door of a mother whose son has been missing for eight years - and when that door opens, all of their questions will be answered.

Sharon Guskin has written a captivating, thought-provoking novel that explores what we regret in the end of our lives and hope for in the beginning and everything in between. In equal parts a mystery and a testament to the profound connection between a child and parent, The Forgetting Time marks the debut of a major new talent. The program features an interview with the author.

©2016 Sharon Guskin (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

Better than I thought it would be

What did you love best about The Forgetting Time?

I didn't love it, but I liked it more than I thought I would. The novel deals in love and loss and motherhood.

What other book might you compare The Forgetting Time to and why?

I've not read a book that compares to this one. I'm certain there are some out there, though I've not come across them.

Have you listened to any of Susan Bennett and David Pittu ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to Susan Bennett before, though she did a wonderful job.
The main reason I downloaded this title was because of David Pittu. His performance of The Goldfinch was one of the top performances ever recorded in my opinion. This performance didn't top it, but it was great.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A journey into the past

Any additional comments?

This is an emotional novel, and while these types of novels usually don't do much for me, this one I enjoyed. This was in large part due to the fantastic duo of narrators. Bennett and Pittu were fabulous. This is a book written by a mother, and it seems like it was written for mothers. It's not my favorite audiobook, but it is quite good.

15 of 16 people found this review helpful

Old souls

We all know some. This is the story of one. No other book has finished all its loose ends like this one. Sometimes I like to ponder the outcomes left hanging by authors. I thought this book ended 5 times when it kept going to give insight to each characters feeling and future, which was surprising refreshing after an amazing story.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Just Read It

Previous reviews told too much, so that I knew where it was going. But, even just having said that, the story really captured my feel for humanity's journey, and I so much enjoyed the suspense as I rooted for the success of each and every character.

22 of 25 people found this review helpful

I'd Like to Forget This

Excuse me for grabbing at the low fruit with my title to this review...but this book is my whipping boy; the book that must bear the blame for many other authors and marketers misled efforts lately -- my snapping point. This is the 16th book in a personal losing streak (6 weeks) all of which have been "chosen for me," or "best-of the month" losers. I've returned 15 without a single review, hoping to put nice-nice into the universe by keeping my fingers off the keypad. I am 0 for 16 in 2016...I haven't read one new release that has been anything more than pedestrian at best. Where have all the good authors gone, the promising new writers, the brilliance and originality? The publishers and editors?!

But, even on it's own merits, this book is maybe a 2.5 at best.

The Forgetting Time is another example of something that shouldn't have made it passed a Lifetime or Hallmark movie. It's an idea that is based on the premise of reincarnation and the transfer of memories from that previous life, propelled more by sentimentality than science. Guskin tries to intrigue the reader with the mysterious events that lead to an unsolved disappearance of another child, but it didn't work for me, it didn't add anything to a premise already explored by better authors. I saw it all coming and at the same time hoped it wasn't really going to slog through the well-worn obvious tracks to ho-humsville.

However--if you are looking for an easy-cheesy read that is well-paced and mildly entertaining -- go for it. Out of 16 stinkers, this was the least ridiculous or intellectually offensive. Other than a random sex-on-the-beach scene (not of the drinking variety -- although they may have been a good attitude adjustment for me pre-listening) it's harmless. Everyone seems to have loved it to the 4 & 5 * level. I did not, and my sister put it down after a few chapters.

70 of 86 people found this review helpful

Same voices for characters

The story left me anguished-but that is good-your writing affected me. I connected.
I wish the audio version would have used the same voices for the characters all the way through, so the person who was Janey always did the voice for Janey, for Anderson and so on. I think the affect would have been even greater. Made me think-there is so much more out there than we realize. Thank you.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not the usual

Interesting, unique story. Very well written, easy listening and beautifully performed.
I will be looking out for the next book

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Fascinating!!

I couldn’t stop listening to this book. They took me on a journey and now that I’m finished, I don’t want it to end. I loved every second.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable and thought provoking

I found this book to be utterly entertaining. The character development was very good. I liked that you heard from the perspective of many characters. The subject is fascinating - rebirth and remembering a past life. The narrators were easy to listen to.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Thought provoking and heartfelt

Super interesting and kept me enthralled throughout. Thinking about new ideas and belief systems - loved this thought-provoking story!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Not as Great as I anticipated

I'm still trying to figure out why this book has gotten 4 1/2 stars from so many listeners. This book has got a great idea and parts of the story are really great but to much of the book was drug out. Anderson had an important part but I think the book would have been just as great without all of his story put in it.
This book could have been much better if tweaked a bit more.
The conversation between Denise and Pauly at the end was by far my favorite part. What a beautiful lesson learned about forgiveness and how we heal by forgiving.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful