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Tell Me an Ending

A New York Times sci-fi book of the year

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Tell Me an Ending

By: Jo Harkin
Narrated by: Tania Rodrigues
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

What if you didn't have to live with your mistakes?

Across the world, thousands of people are shocked to receive an email telling them that they once chose to have a traumatic memory removed. Now they are being given the chance to get that memory back.

For Mei, William, Oscar and Finn there is a piece missing, but they're not sure what. And each of them must decide if the truth is worth the pain, or better left unknown.

For Noor, who works at the memory clinic Nepenthe, the process of reinstating their patients' memories begins to shake the moral foundations of her world. As she delves deeper into the programme, she will have to risk everything to uncover the true human cost of this miraculous technology.

An exploration of secrets, grief, identity and belonging - of the stories we tell ourselves, and come to rely on, Tell Me An Ending is a sharp, dark and devastating novel about the power and danger of memory.

© Jo Harkin 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Dystopian Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Science Fiction

Critic Reviews

Harkin's characters are drawn with wit and economy, and watching their stories dovetail is pure pleasure
Incredibly nicely written . . . [Jo Harkin] writes really well about human beings. I really enjoyed it (Marian Keyes)
This compelling cautionary tale is set in an alternative present where it's possible to have painful memories removed . . . Interconnecting narratives by multiple character . . . weave into an ensemble piece that raises fascinating questions about how we use memory both to create and dismantle ourselves, and the ultimate mystery of who, or possibly what, "myself" actually is
A narrative that is as page-turning as a thriller, and as thought-provoking as an inquiry into the human mind should be
An extraordinary novel-- intelligent and searching, with deep questions about humanity, history and self. Expansive in its scope and themes, but never losing touch with its characters' hearts and minds, Tell Me an Ending is gripping, inventive, and a memory I'll never forget (Emma Stonex)
Beautifully drawn, sympathetic and with complex characters. I stayed up all night - I literally couldn't put it down (Carys Bray)
Tell Me An Ending is a triumph of a novel . . . it asks searching questions about our relationship with memory, and each other. I loved it (Emylia Hall)
A smart, thought-provoking page-turner. I loved it (Marcel Theroux)
Perfect for fans of David Mitchell, it's a twisty and compelling exploration of what might happen if humans were able to erase painful memories
Sharply, beautifully written and punctuated with wry, slanted asides, Tell Me an Ending is one of the most sophisticated works of science fiction I've read recently
All stars
Most relevant
A very interesting story that does keep you on your toes. I enjoyed the diversity of perspectives and characters. However there’s so much detail it feels like the story is happening in real-time. Like an hours conversation feels like it fills an hour.

Interesting story with realistic details.

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There's such an interesting concept here; a little like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", but sadly I got about 3 chapters in before I just had to switch it off; some of the character voices that the narrator assumes were starting to drive me insane- like fingernails on a blackboard. There's no way I could continue with this recording.

Interesting premise ruined by awful narration

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