The Memory Police
Enigmatic
Profound
Unique

The Memory Police

Yōko Ogawa2019
On an unnamed island off an unnamed coast, objects are disappearing: first hats, then ribbons, birds, roses—until things become much more serious. Most of the island's inhabitants are oblivious to these changes, while those few imbued with the power to recall the lost objects live in fear of the draconian Memory Police, who are committed to ensuring that what has disappeared remains forgotten. When a young woman who is struggling to maintain her career as a novelist discovers that her editor is in danger from the Memory Police, she concocts a plan to hide him beneath her floorboards. As fear and loss close in around them, they cling to her writing as the last way of preserving the past. A surreal, provocative fable about the power of memory and the trauma of loss, The Memory Police is a stunning new work from one of the most exciting contemporary authors writing in any language.
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Reviews

Photo of marlisa
marlisa@marmalade
3 stars
Aug 22, 2025
Photo of Sam Richardson
Sam Richardson@its_damuel
4 stars
Jul 23, 2025
Photo of Ash Hoe
Ash Hoe@ash
Layered
Surreal
Beautiful
Remarkable
Compelling
Conceptual
Meaningful
Photo of kamille
kamille@starlostme
4 stars
Mar 10, 2025
Conceptual
Insightful
Thought provoking
Photo of karina
karina@sunbeam
4 stars
Feb 11, 2025
Honest
Inventive
Enigmatic
Photo of lami
lami@lamilovesbooks
3.5 stars
Jan 20, 2025
Photo of Mika
Mika@stanyeol
4 stars
Jan 15, 2025
Remarkable
Thought provoking
Photo of Eimear O'Connor
Eimear O'Connor @eimear
2.5 stars
Jan 3, 2025
This review contains a spoiler
Photo of rio
rio@lifeindelusions
2 stars
Jul 24, 2024
Photo of Eva Ströberg
Eva Ströberg@cphbirdlady
3 stars
Jul 19, 2024
Photo of Anna
Anna @ann_omalia
3 stars
Jul 13, 2024
Photo of armoni mayes
armoni mayes@armonim1
5 stars
Jun 17, 2024
Photo of Chourouk
Chourouk@chourouk
4 stars
Jun 8, 2024
Photo of tea
tea@cagedvenus
4 stars
May 30, 2024
Touching
Original
Emotional
Photo of Alba Ramos
Alba Ramos@albusdumb
3 stars
May 25, 2024
Photo of Nat Wong
Nat Wong@internat
4 stars
May 23, 2024
This review contains a spoiler
Pure
Unique
Page turning
Photo of micki
micki@micki
4 stars
May 17, 2024
Photo of Marz
Marz @starzreads
2 stars
May 14, 2024
Photo of Maria
Maria@nocturnes
3 stars
Apr 2, 2024
Photo of Isabella
Isabella @iscbella
5 stars
Mar 13, 2024
Photo of Elena Kuran
Elena Kuran@elenakatherine
4 stars
Feb 7, 2024
Photo of Kimberly Gajitos
Kimberly Gajitos@kimberlyriohh
4 stars
Feb 7, 2024
Photo of golde
golde@golde
5 stars
Jan 21, 2024
Photo of Cait🪼
Cait🪼@figs0up
5 stars
Jan 17, 2024

Highlights

Photo of Aina
Aina@ainer
Page 184
Photo of Aina
Aina@ainer
Page 109
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karina@sunbeam
Photo of karina
karina@sunbeam
Photo of aywen
aywen@aywen
Photo of Marz
Marz @starzreads
Page 88
Photo of sazha
sazha @hirenata
Photo of ㅤ
@vuinor
Photo of Gemma McCarthy
Gemma McCarthy@geesmcc
Page 81
Photo of Gemma McCarthy
Gemma McCarthy@geesmcc
Page 17
Photo of Lauri
Lauri@lxurinkx
Page 270
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Lauri
Lauri@lxurinkx
Page 258
Photo of Lauri
Lauri@lxurinkx
Page 184
Photo of Lauri
Lauri@lxurinkx
Page 51
Photo of Lauri
Lauri@lxurinkx
Page 26
Photo of taylor miles hopkins
taylor miles hopkins@bibette
Page 216
Photo of taylor miles hopkins
taylor miles hopkins@bibette
Page 187
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of taylor miles hopkins
taylor miles hopkins@bibette
Page 81
Photo of taylor miles hopkins
taylor miles hopkins@bibette
Page 25
Photo of sina (she/her)
sina (she/her) @sina
Page 180
Photo of Vik
Vik@vik
Page 131
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Vik
Vik@vik
Page 82
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Vik
Vik@vik
Page 78
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Tascha | alllora
Tascha | alllora@alllora
Page 95