In typical Anderson fashion, The Impossible Knife of Memory drags us through the darkest parts of mental illness and (in this particular case) PTSD. With a father battling demons collected at war in Iraq and a daughter simply wanting a normal life, this particular book is hard to put down.
If you have read a book by Laurie Halse Anderson in the past, then you are most likely aware of the typical intensity of said author’s work… but if not, you’ve been warned.
The Tale
Hayley and her father, Andy, are trapped in the past. Andy because of the war, and Hayley cowering from memories. Or rather, from her father’s reactions to his own memories.
Hayley’s friend, Grace, and Finn (would-be crush introduced by said friend), have their own minced families and troubles, too. None of the families in this book belong in a fairy-tale.. at least, not one with a happy story arc. These friends (and their families) are real-life material.
Anderson easily pulls you in as a reader, and makes you live the story along with the characters. The sad, scary, and intense parts can make you cry (or throw the book across the room…). You feel the story.
Work By Anderson – A Word of Caution
As PTSD is increasingly more common, I would highly recommend avoiding this book if you are suffering from or in close contact with someone who suffers from this particular disorder. It could be very triggering.
While we are on the topic, Anderson’s books tend to deal with raw, heavy material. Although all of the ones I have read by this author were excellent reads, I would advise the reader to tread carefully with the subject matter (Speak deals with rape and Wintergirls deals with eating disorders) and their own personal experiences.
Have you read and enjoyed The Impossible Knife of Memory? Try A Divided Mind by M. Billiter. Tackling the tough subject of mental illness yet without dramatization or being completely misleading, it’s a personal, in-depth look at a form of schizophrenia.
Christian, wife, “hybrid” mama, I run the site All Behind A Smile to help others like me.
[…] for a read that, in a similar vein, doesn’t gloss over the dark side of things, consider The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson. Anderson drags us through the story as if it were happening to us – real-life type […]