Deborah Raney Reviews

Added June 12, 2007

Remember to Forget

Author: Deborah Raney
Publisher: Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: Available now
Genre: Fiction: Contemporary/Mainstream
Format: Trade paper
Price: $13.00
ISBN-10: 1-58229-643-X
ISBN-13: 978-1-58229-643-2
Author Email/Website: http://deborahraney.blogspot.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Remember to Forget places readers at the center of an emotional storm whirling around one woman. Maggie Anderson suffered physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her boyfriend for two years, until a surprising savior showed up in the form of a carjacker. When she and her car went for an unexpected ride, her escape gave her a golden opportunity to start over. After a few bus rides, some hitchhiking and a lot of walking, Maggie ends up in the small town of Clayburn, Kansas. Yet, as she assumes a new identity and blends in with the community, she continues to look over her shoulder in case her past catches up with her.

Sensitively told, this story will touch readers’ hearts with its simplicity and honesty. Maggie’s fear of reprisal from an abusive boyfriend provides the motivation for her actions, and her plight is drawn with poignant descriptions and dialogue. Her trek across the country is chronicled with an array of supporting characters whose interaction with Maggie gives her hope. The town of Clayburn makes a delightful setting for the story line, as the citizenry is small enough to be friendly without being nosy.

However, it’s Maggie’s emotional state that drives the plot. Her feelings of inadequacy, anger and terror affect her at different times and in various situations. An explosive climax leads to an appropriate conclusion and further highlights the crippling aspect of abuse. A sweet romance and the promise of a new day gently graces these pages, and offers a contrast to the sobering reality of violence. The author sends a strong message of hope and deliverance to anyone who is caught in the web of a violent relationship. As Maggie learns to forget, her journey into freedom is definitely worth remembering.

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