The Map of Lost Memories: A Novel

I am not one of those pretentious reviewers who believe they must include a synopsis of the novel. Redundant, as a synopsis is part of the description included by Amazon. That aside, I found this novel to be drenched in texture and layered in imagery. It does exactly what a novel should ... it whisks the reader into the world created by the author. It is not plodding or slow although I do admit that there are some threads which deserved more attention or were left hanging, but then I've yet to read a book in which all threads were perfectly woven into the story and tied up with a bow. The ending, while not the expectation set in the beginning, is still oddly satisfactory. I'm rather bored with period pieces these days and approached this one tentatively, but I got it for free, so why not read it? Pleasantly, it did not feel as though I was personally being dragged kicking and screaming through a laborious version of a bygone era. There were certain concepts which seemed a bit implausible but that is the best thing about a book ... it doesn't necessarily have to be completely plausible. A highly recommended read.

And there were parts of the book I really enjoyed and then there were other parts that I thought felt flat. I really wanted Simone to be a different kind of woman

I was tremendously impressed with this exciting and novel excursion that the writer takes us on. It has intrigue, a little romance, deep secrets, and interesting history of an area few people, at least me, know much about. The approach the writer takes peaked my interest page after page and I found myself getting lost on the streets and in the jungles of Cambodia. The descriptions of the locations made you feel you could sense the sights and smells for yourself. I kept thinking what a fantastic movie this book would make. For all the complicated weave of story, the book was simply written and easy to follow and I truly did not want to finish it. I am hoping that Kim Fay writes another novel very soon. I would recommend this to anyone interested in intrigue, travel, history, and human frailties and relationships.

"The Map of Lost Memories" seemed to have the right ingredients - Shanghai, 1925, treasure hunt, Cambodia.....but the book just didn't work for me. Parts of the last third were well done, but even the climax fell short. I read descriptions of this book claiming that it was "character driven". Maybe so, but I didn't care for any of the characters. The protagonist, Irene, doesn't get the key job at her Seattle based museum and she walks out in a huff. Her mentor, Mr Simms, offers to sponsor an expedition to Cambodia to pursue a rumored history of the Khmer people etched on ten copper scrolls. The story starts satisfyingly enough in Shanghai but seems to fall short early on. There is a lot of sermonizing among 4 or 5 principal characters debating their responsibilities with respect to cultural artifacts. On the one hand Irene condemns the colonial powers who have stripped their subject countries of ancient treasures while at the same time she plots to liberate scrolls from Cambodia as a way of restoring her reputation in the museum world. At times, the book reminded me of one of those zealots who attempts to sell a personal philosophy by building a novel around a point of view. Well, too oten "The Map...." was repetitious, boring and preachy, but most of all dull.

Very much enjoyed the book which takes place in Shanghai and Cambodia, both areas I've not tread much about.The story is compelling and I bought into everything but certain slices of the main character Irene. At times she came off as a petulant child when referring to her reason for embarking on the adventure - being passed over for an important role - and the expectations she had of the people involved in the adventure.Loved the supporting characters - very interesting and diverse.Overall really enjoyed. Great read!Ps typed on iPhone. Please excuse any typos in this review. :)

I really liked reading this book. The story is nice, and especially the discriptions about the country and tempels got me interested. I looked up Angkor Wat on Tripadvisor and found thousands of pictures.There's also an interesting article on a trip to the places mentioned in this book, but it's in Dutch, so probably no use to English people.As there are a lot of reviews about the book already I will not say anything about the story itself. Only some of the characters were a bit unbelievable. I cannot judge if they could have existed.

A sentence written early in this novel perfectly captures its essence: "The one thing to remember about an adventure is that if it turns out the way you expect it to, it has not been an adventure at all." I never would have expected the story to end the way it did, leaving me satisfied yet wanting more at the same time. The twists and turns to reach the conclusion are exciting, beautiful, mysterious and leave me yearning for more! The characters are multi-dimensional; the way they are developed is genius, peeling back layer upon layer to reaveal enough about each person without giving too much too soon. I didn't want tot put this book down, and yet I am sorry to have reached the end. I hope there is a sequel! Regardless, I look forward to reading more from this author.

I was drawn to the theme of finding lost texts of the ancient Khmer culture of Cambodia, and the book started out promisingly. However, it got bogged down in the middle with a side story involving European ex-pats in Shanghai. Instead of a archeological adventure, it has turned out to be an insider's look into the Kuo Min Tang's and the communists' fight for control of China. I must confess, I lost interest and put the book aside. As with other books I have left unread, I will most likely take up the story again when the time is right. The writing is good and the story will be riveting for lovers of early 20th century China.

Not all is as it seems. The Map of Lost Memories is not your typical adventure story. It may feature the search for lost copper scrolls deep in the jungle of Cambodia and it may be steeped in the mysteries of a lost history but all of this serves as the grand and evocative backdrop for the tale of two young women back in the 1920s who are searching for the clues to an even greater puzzle - their own heritage and their purpose in this difficult and masculine environment.The story begins in Shanghai in 1925. It focuses on Irene, a museum curator who has been cheated from what is her due because of her sex. She seeks vengeance in the form of making a great archaeological discovery that no-one can steal from her. When her elderly patron Mr Simms reveals that her recently deceased father has left him (not her) clues to a lost temple and its scrolls, she sets off on what becomes a trail of breadcrumbs. She is advised to seek out the well know Khmer linguist and archaeologist - or treasure hunter - Simone, a young Frenchwoman who was born in the east and has married a man that many believe will be the instigator of a socialist rebellion that will finally rid Cambodia of its western overlords. Charismatic leader he might be, but he is also a brute of a man and a monster of a husband. Simone is no longer the woman she may once have been.The Map of Lost Memories follows Irene and Simone, and the men who love them, on a slow and winding trail through the hot, wet and insect-ridden jungle, pausing for tantalising glimpses of hidden villages, meandering cool rivers and Angkor Wat. The dangers come from local chiefs or officials who want to safeguard their resources as well as threats closer to home, some exaggerated by opium and alcohol and self-loathing.The mystery of the scrolls might steer the course of the novel but The Map of Lost Memories investigates many large themes - the place of women in a man's world, the future of the people of Cambodia, drug addiction, the theft of antiquities and the relationships between parents and children, husbands and wives, between lovers.If you were after a pageturning quest thriller, I doubt you'd be entirely satisfied. The pace is leisurely and the novel is very much about the journey rather than the destination. There are many little details about the history and environment of China and Cambodia and there is in depth scrutiny of Irene's aspirations and needs. Set against that is Simone, a deeply damaged and unsympathetic individual. There are elements of melodrama - we are put in a famously enigmatic and romantic place and time after all - but often the mood is quiet and complex.Irene and Simone are memorable characters, as is the jungle itself. It is vividly brought into colour for us. The women are the force behind The Map of Lost Memories and if there is any criticism it would be that the men are less well-rounded and real. I would also suggest that the novel is a little too burdened with over description. An upside of this is an enormously detailed picture of the jungle and other places, but the downside is the potential to stall the story and slow the read. Nevertheless, this is a fine novel, a literary adventure, that lingers in the mind, thanks to the wonderful portraits of Irene and Simone, and the atmosphere that seeps through the novel, evoking so strongly another place and time. If you can't appreciate the passion and courage of Irene or feel the heat and damp of that jungle, so beautifully described by Kim Fay, I'll be very surprised.

This book needs to be read at least the first third in one go as it would be quite easy to put it down after a couple of chapters and not go back to it.The descriptions of the surroundings makes you feel as if you are in there with Irene the main character. I thought this was going to be more of an Indiana Jones adventure but it was more political , murder mystery with a bit of adventure.A good book to get into once you are half way through for me but some would prefer the first half of the book some all of it.

I’m sorry I did not enjoy this book at all. It was my friend’s Bookclub choice and I thought it over discriped and tried to be exciting but it didn’t work. All of us agreed

not my cup of tea

This book is very exciting. Well written and interesting for those who don't know about places in Shanghai and Indo-China from before.