Review: The Map of Lost Memories: A Novel

The Map of Lost Memories: A Novel by Kim Fay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received this ARC compliments of Goodreads & Ballantine Books. This was an ARC book with nothing fancy about the cover; my husband said the cover looked like a busy tablecloth. There were no blurbs to whet your appetite and yet it reminded me of the old saying: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” When I received the book, I didn’t remember requesting it but I’m glad that my memory is faulty. So, I went on to pick it up just planning to glance at the first few pages and refresh my memory and the next thing I knew I was on Chapter 3. It took will power to put the book down and I did only because it wasn’t the book I was supposed to be reading next. It scored big points in being an attention grabber and I couldn’t wait to get back to it. After a few hours, I’ll admit that I backslid and read the book.

Lillian Blum had poured her heart and soul into her love of the ancient artifacts of Cambodia. She was the force that put the Brooke Museum of Oriental Art on the international map but that was a little known fact for she always let others take the credit for her work. When she was betrayed by the board members and lost the curator’s position to an old rival, Lillian sets out on what her father’s old friend and Lillian’s mentor, Mr. Simms calls: “One Great Adventure of your life” in search of the mythological scrolls describing Cambodia’s lost Khmer Civilization.

This novel opens in 1925 and its description of Shanghai, China’s European sector during that time period is a rich, colorful place filled with all walks of life. Thieves, poets, writers, philosophers, and religious & political zealots are blended together forming China’s European community. This eccentric and eclectic group come together daily to discuss world events and a revolution for the Chinese people. Lillian Blum travels to Shanghai to enlist the aid of Simone Merlin’s expertise of the area, people and artifacts of Eastern Civilizations. She arrived wide eyed and fresh from America disbelieving and mesmerized by her surroundings because she had only dreamed of being in the Orient.

This novel is an action packed adventure with twists, turns and hidden agendas that kept me entertained throughout its entirety. I was reminded of Indiana Jones because it has a similar characterization, plot & exotic background. I loved the descriptive turn of phrases that Kim Faye used to enmesh me into the characters fictional lives, secrets and ambitions. Although they are all searching for the same thing, each has a different reason and will go to alarming lengths to attain their goal. For Lillian it wasn’t just a lifelong dream but also became a journey of self-discovery.

I liked how Ms. Faye developed the characters to grow and change throughout the book. She kept me entertained and surprised throughout the book. She was the puppeteer & I was happily one of her puppets right along with her characters. Best of all I came away with a bit of history and feel for Cambodia and Shanghai. She did her research and it showed in her well written book.





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