Commenters split over whether flat characters are a flaw or intentional
2 Sep 20 3:00 AM · 4d ago · 5 comments · 1 source · development 2 of 2
Several readers reply defending the book, arguing the flatness and lack of explanation reflect an unreliable narrator in a society that cannot retain memory, while others agree the pacing and vague dystopia fell flat for them.
“Instead of thinking of the characters as flat, ask yourself how it would be possible to have a unique and interesting personality in a society where no-one can retain what is needed to express individuality.”
DrDragonQueenYoko Ogawa Author of 'The Memory Police'lexiebeef Reddit user / reviewerCharlie Kaufman Filmmaker mentioned as a planned adapter of the novel
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What people said 5 voices · verbatim
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This, and the fact that the narrative is coming from a fundamentally unreliable narrator. You wont get explanations because the truth is that no-one has them; you can only know what the characters know, and they know very little. Instead of thinking of the characters as flat, ask yourself how it would be possible to have a unique and interesting…
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I generally agree with you that I expected more from this book and it missed the mark for me, but I disagree that R's wife and newborn were pointless.....Throughout the story, R is the champion of remembering things, and he keeps trying to force MC and the old man to remember things by showing them objects and insisting that remembering these…
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I think you wanted this book to be something it isn’t, which can happen sometime. I enjoyed it because I like meandering novels with magical realism. If you were hoping for a fast paced dystopian novel with a plot that leaves you on the edge of your seat, then I can understand why this fell flat for you.
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I was so excited that Charlie Kaufman was supposed to adapt this that I read it, and couldn’t agree more, big disappointment. The dystopia was so vague and generic, and it was supposed to be more about memory and identity but those themes weren’t interesting either
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I didn't really like the book and didn't finish - but I tend not to enjoy slow, melancholic books. However, I loved The Housekeeper and The Professor, and Revenge. So I was a bit surprised to find Memory Police just never grabbed my attention.
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