The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan
Young Adult, Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson April 2009
Review Copy
Book Synopsis:
Charlie West is a good kid. He studies hard, trains in martial arts, has just gotten the number of the prettiest girl in his class, and wants to join the air force after graduation. At least, that's the last thing he can remember. But he has woken up in a nightmare. He's strapped to a chair, and someone outside the door just ordered his death. By calling on his deepest reserves of strength and focus, Charlie manages a desperate escape . . . only to find out that this nightmare isn't ending. There's a whole year of his life that he can't remember--a year in which he was convicted of murdering his best friend and working with terrorists.Now, with the police hunting him and a band of killers on his trail, he's got to find the answers to some of the deepest questions there are: Who am I? What do I stand for? And how am I going to stay alive? (GoodReads)
Memorable Quote's
Turn the other check doesn’t mean let yourself be killed. It doesn’t mean let yourself be ruled by bullies, or stand by and do nothing when big guys are picking on little guys or when men are hurting women.
Pg. 36
I don’t think I have ever seen anything as beautiful as what I saw then. That circle of sunlight and blue sky. I thought it must’ve been something like what Lazarus saw when Death lost its hold on him.
Pg. 172 (Charlie's thoughts after escaping)
Review
Just hearing those quotes should give you a small glimpse of Charlie’s character. I mean- wow- a seventeen year old guy who respects women, respects his parents, believes in God and can deliver a round-house kick better than Keanu Reeves in The Matrix- those boys are hard to find!!
Charlie wakes up in the beginning of the novel in a torture room. His memory is gone, and the last thing he remembers is going to sleep after the best day of his life. He was the king of school when he dazzled his classmates with a karate demonstration and had the girl he’s loved for months agree to go out with him.
As Charlie tries to make sense of the situation he soon realizes he’s about to be killed and with a little luck and a little karate he manages to escape….only then when he’s running for his life does Charlie learn of the horrible reality as it crashes down around him. In the midst of the shootouts, spinouts and hand to hand fight scenes do we get the full effect of Jason Bourne meets Shooter in which Charlie faces incredible oppositions and takes us down this non-stop, fast paced action thriller. It grabs your attention with a hero to cheer for and delivers a first person narrative of a strong believable character.
The ending is explosive but leaves the reader with a tremendous amount of unanswered questions. Although I really liked the book, when I finished, it almost felt as if I’d read a really long prologue. Yes the dire circumstances were addressed but all the unresolved issues are left. Luckily the second book is out so I won’t have to wait too long for some answers!!!!!
Rating
Apart from violence this is a great book for teen readers and adults alike. Recommended for 13 and up.
4/5- YA, Action
Copy provided by Other Shelf Tours
oh sounds like a good book
ReplyDeleteLOL.. I love starting a series when there is already like 5 of them out.
ReplyDeleteLove your reviews!
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