The Memory Cage
by Ruth Eastham
About the book
Ruth Eastham's debut, The Memory Cage was published by Scholastic on January 3rd 2011 and won three important awards (the Inspiration Book Award, UK Literary Association Student Teacher Shadowing Award and Oldham Brilliant Book Award) one year later.
The author's early idea for the book came from working in a Romanian orphanage, so in this case she literally followed her quote 'Inspiration can be anywhere and everywhere!'
The author's early idea for the book came from working in a Romanian orphanage, so in this case she literally followed her quote 'Inspiration can be anywhere and everywhere!'
Are you interested in finding out more about this book? Here's an interview with Ruth Eastham, talking about the idea itself and the actual realization of The Memory Cage:
A short, spoiler free summary
Alex, a Bosnian boy who got adopted by an English family, is facing an overheard problem. His parents are thinking of putting his grandfather, the only person who truly understands him, in a home because of the Alzheimer's disease he's facing. The boy decides to help his grandfather by uncovering the 'forbidden' time of his life, but along the way he starts unsealing the box of his own past he was trying so hard to ignore...
A questionnaire
Would you mind answering on some of my questions? It would really mean a lot to me.
My opinion
Firstly, I was fascinated by the book, but when I started thinking about that boy's age and the way Ruth Eastham described him, I saw there was something missing, or at least something wrong. The way she wanted to show us feelings of a boy with history he did not want to share was something unique and precise, but on the other hand I do not think she made that good connection with the narrator, the main character of this novel. After all, he still is a boy as we can clearly see him from the outside, but she tried to show us his feelings and the way he can recall memories. In my opinion a kid like him would think about it in a much more childish way. This is how I can imagine situations described. I understand his need to help the only person at his new home he can talk to about everything. Grandfather was there for him since the day of adoption but still, he is only a child in his head and the author did not convince with some situations.
Also, the story line was predictable since the first chapter, I think we all knew they were not going to send his grandfather away, but the real question here is why? He has Alzheimer's disease, he is capable of hurting the ones he loves the most or even himself without even knowing what he's doing, and they are keeping him in the same house with children? And just because he was a hero of the day when he saved a baby from a burning house many years ago, not even minding to tell anyone the truth about the war and the fire and the way he felt about the woman his brother was married to? Probably it is just me who does not understand this situation and maybe I'd have a different opinion if someone in my family had a disease like that. But still, there is a potential danger on two legs, walking around freely that can forget a part of their life in a moment? Maybe sending him in a home was not that bad idea after all his medical situation could be treated and its effects slowed down. Alex was the one who could not face it in any form, and that was acceptable after we heard it was his grandfather's idea to adopt someone.
I generally like her writing style, but I think she could do better with connection of the past events, influences around and present life of all involved people in this story. On the other hand, the book was written for children in the age 9 to 12 years, so I understand her need of a happy ending and a story everyone would love to read.
Also, the story line was predictable since the first chapter, I think we all knew they were not going to send his grandfather away, but the real question here is why? He has Alzheimer's disease, he is capable of hurting the ones he loves the most or even himself without even knowing what he's doing, and they are keeping him in the same house with children? And just because he was a hero of the day when he saved a baby from a burning house many years ago, not even minding to tell anyone the truth about the war and the fire and the way he felt about the woman his brother was married to? Probably it is just me who does not understand this situation and maybe I'd have a different opinion if someone in my family had a disease like that. But still, there is a potential danger on two legs, walking around freely that can forget a part of their life in a moment? Maybe sending him in a home was not that bad idea after all his medical situation could be treated and its effects slowed down. Alex was the one who could not face it in any form, and that was acceptable after we heard it was his grandfather's idea to adopt someone.
I generally like her writing style, but I think she could do better with connection of the past events, influences around and present life of all involved people in this story. On the other hand, the book was written for children in the age 9 to 12 years, so I understand her need of a happy ending and a story everyone would love to read.
A word about Ruth Eastham, the author
She was born near Preston in Lancashire, England, but since than she travelled the world for many different reasons, mostly educational. Along the way, she lived and worked in UK, Australia, New Zealand and Italy, mostly teaching creative writing to people of all ages.
Besides writing and travelling she also loves to take pictures and read, as we know from the writing tips on her website. Her 'impressive first novel', The Memory Cage was not the only award-winning book, and since 2011 she wrote three in addition, the latest one The Jaguar Trials was published recently (on May 7th, 2015).
She is always opened for any questions about her books, so if you would like to contact her or just see what else she wrote, a visit on her website will only take you a minute:
http://www.rutheastham.com/
Besides writing and travelling she also loves to take pictures and read, as we know from the writing tips on her website. Her 'impressive first novel', The Memory Cage was not the only award-winning book, and since 2011 she wrote three in addition, the latest one The Jaguar Trials was published recently (on May 7th, 2015).
She is always opened for any questions about her books, so if you would like to contact her or just see what else she wrote, a visit on her website will only take you a minute:
http://www.rutheastham.com/
Using my imagination
I think everyone can imagine a picture of the main characters while reading a certain book, so I'll try to put myself in a position of a film director and find a cast for a movie, based on The Memory Cage:
- Firstly I didn't really have a picture in my head and I don't really think this actor would ever want to play this role, but Ian McKellen seems perfect for casting someone Alex can trust (if we ignore the memory loss).
- Trying to find someone who would play Alex was a bit harder because I don't really know many actors of his age, but the young Elijah Wood seems like the one.
- Young Ryan Gosling as Leonard
- Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox as Alex's parents
If you are interested in buying this book or just really like her writing style, here are some of my recommendations you might want to check out:
Pages where you can buy her books:
And her other books:
Sources
- http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Memory-Cage-Ruth-Eastham/dp/1407120522
- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8663303-the-memory-cage
- http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2011/mar/25/memory-cage-ruth-eastham-review
- http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=The_Memory_Cage_by_Ruth_Eastham
- http://misspageturnerscityofbooks.blogspot.si/2011/01/book-review-memory-cage-by-ruth-eastham.html
- http://brilliantbookaward.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/Reviews/ForBook/336