The Art of Forgetting [Hardcover]

Camille Noe Pagan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 9, 2011

A moving and insightful debut novel of great friendship interrupted. Can the relationship survive when the memories are gone?

Marissa Rogers never wanted to be an alpha; beta suited her just fine. Taking charge without taking credit had always paid off: vaulting her to senior editor at a glossy magazine; keeping the peace with her critical, weight-obsessed mother; and enjoying the benefits of being best friends with gorgeous, charismatic, absolutely alpha Julia Ferrar.

And then Julia gets hit by a cab. She survives with minor obvious injuries, but brain damage steals her memory and alters her personality, possibly forever. Suddenly, Marissa is thrown into the role of alpha friend. As Julia struggles to regain her memory- dredging up issues Marissa would rather forget, including the fact that Julia asked her to abandon the love of her life ten years ago- Marissa's own equilibrium is shaken.

With the help of a dozen girls, she reluctantly agrees to coach in an after-school running program. There, Marissa uncovers her inner confidence and finds the courage to reexamine her past and take control of her future.

The Art of Forgetting is a story about the power of friendship, the memories and myths that hold us back, and the delicate balance between forgiving and forgetting.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fastpaced and engaging, The Art of Forgetting is deliciously observant and refreshingly honest. Camille Noe Pagán is a welcome new voice." 

-Kate Jacobs, author of The Friday Night Knitting Club and Comfort Food

“Camille Noe Pagán's debut novel is a powerful one about friendship, love and facing the past.” —American Way

“Pagán writes with both a subtle sense of humor and great wisdom about the power of friendship and the importance of forgiveness in her quietly compelling literary debut.” —Chicago Tribune

"Charming and original...a delightful story of friendship, love, and forgiveness while exploring the surprising ways lives are forever reshaped in the aftermath of tragedy."
-Beth Hoffman, author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

"[A] lively, thoughtful examination of a woman's rangles relationship with her closest friend....This book captivated me from the first page, and I couldn't bear to put it down."
-Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Opposite of Me and Skipping a Beat

"[A]n insightful exploration into the nature of friendship and self. This impressive debut is at turns funny, though-provoking, and achingly sad. It is (dare I say it?) unforgettable."
-J. Courtney Sullivan, author of Commencement

“… a beautiful book that weaves the story of two friends and how their friendship changes after one suffers a traumatic brain injury in a car accident.” —Glamour.com

“This page-turner with original, likable, empathetic characters and an identifiable theme will attract readers who enjoy intelligent novels about women's friendships.” —Library Journal

 “Camille Noe Pagán’s debut sweeps the reader up and effortlessly carries them across decades of friendship, heartache, and pain. A poignant story of friendship and controlling your own destiny, The Art of Forgetting is simple, yet well rendered.” —New York Journal of Books

“Smart chick lit.” —SHAPE

“Pagán's dialogue is punctuated with piquant wit and snappy pop culture references, resulting in an upbeat, inspirational novel … A cathartic, thought-provoking story of unconditional friendship and the choices we make on the road to becoming who we're meant to be.” —Shelf Awareness

“This story of friendship and recovery is a must-read.” —Women's Health

“[An] unforgettable portrait of the ups and downs of friendship.” —Woman's World

About the Author

Camille Noe Pagán's work has appeared in dozens of national publications and Web sites, including Fitness, Forbes.com, Glamour, O: The Oprah Magazine, Self, and Women's Health. She lives with her family in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 291 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (June 9, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525952195
• ISBN-13: 978-0525952190
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #988,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Camille Noe Pagán's work has appeared in numerous national publications and websites including Allure, Cooking Light, Forbes.com, Glamour, O, The Oprah Magazine, Reader's Digest, SELF and Women's Health. A former magazine and online editor, she lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with her husband and children. Follow her at twitter.com/cnoepagan and visit her at www.camillenoepagan.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars predictable but fun August 1, 2011

By Samia Khan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I liked this book a lot, but it's basically just a guilty pleasure. I'm a single gal living in NY, and it's pretty fun to read about a 29 year old protagonist who a. works at a glossy NY based magazine, b. is pretty and fashionable without knowing it, c. is dating the dream guy, d. gets closure on old relationships, brand new functional parents via her boyfriend, an emotionally fulfilling job in non-profit that actually pays more than her corporate gig, and wala! also engaged all upon turning 30. I knew exactly what was around every bend in the book. Highly recommended for light and engaging reading - I finished this in 2 days. But let's call it what it is - a guilty pleasure, fun to read. This isn't deep.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars What does friendship really mean? June 9, 2011

By Holly Weiss VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Is your best friend perfect? Probably not. Evidently you love her anyway or you would have abandoned the friendship long ago.

The Art of Forgetting explores the twists and turns in a friendship that is less than harmonious, yet essential for one's well-being. Self-deprecating Marissa and self-centered Julia have been friends since they were fourteen. Although they show their love in very different ways, Julia and Marissa need each other to the extent that their friendship becomes an addiction. Both women are flawed, yet they remain bonded. An accident leaves Julia, a dancer, with Traumatic Brain Injury. While she recuperates their solidarity is tested and strengthened in ways neither Julia nor Marissa understands.

The book is aptly titled. New and long-held hurts are best forgotten. Julia punches Marissa with unflinching, hurtful honesty (a side effect of a frontal lobe injury). Both have issues over a man they tangled with in the past. The sheen on their friendship has been tarnished by the past and tested by the accident, but they manage to move past the old issues and form a new bond.

Marissa, who suffers from a constant need to be rescued and buoyed up by her friends, uncovers a positive self-image that can't be taught. The plot element of coaching an after-school running team comes out of the blue, but is well-utilized in Marissa's discovery that she is the only one who can help her believe in herself.

Author Camille Noe Pagán regularly publishes features about women's health in various national publications. The Art of Forgetting marks her debut in fiction. Pagán admits that fiction is a great departure from journalism. After a day of writing articles dealing with hard science, she spent her nights writing her novel. Writing fiction felt to her "like a wonderful escape; I loved sitting down and digging into my characters' lives." A specialist in scientific inquiry, the author consulted medical journals, medical experts in brain injury and entered chat rooms for first-hand perspectives from people with Traumatic Brain Injury. She provides resources for TBI at the end of the book.

Readers looking for perfect characters to emulate may be disappointed by The Art of Forgetting. The book will appeal to those who have worked hard to earn personal growth and forge strong relationships. The book is a courageous examination of flawed human beings coping with a disturbed equilibrium.

The jacket cover is luminous. Are we looking at a dancer taking her last bow due to her brain injury? Or, perhaps, the image is that of one woman or two attempting to hold themselves together against all odds.

The Penguin Group provided the advance review copy. The opinions expressed in the review are unbiased and wholly those of the reviewer.

Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Friendship June 30, 2011

By bookreader "Melanie"

Format:Hardcover

This is the fictionalized story of a girl, Julia who in her early 30's suffers a brain injury after being hit by a car. As a result, she suffers migraines, mood swings and memory loss, along with a personality change. Her best friend, Marissa is instantly by her side to help her with her recovery.

The interesting part of the story is that Julia was the confident, sometimes manipulative, but the stronger personality of the two friends. Marissa took a backseat in the relationship. However, after Julia's accident, Marissa finds herself learning to find her way without Julia always by her side.

This book is really the story of two friends and their friendship before the accident and after the accident. Their is a fun mix of sarcasm, humor and real life situations that made the entire book a great read. I really liked the characters. Julia and Marissa remind me of girls from high school and the dynamics of their friendship were very believable.

Julia brings up memories from both the girls past that Marisa would rather not deal with. Before the accident, Marissa did not need any other friend except Julia. But gradually Marissa begins to realize she has room in her life for other people now. I had such fun reading this book. It is all about forgiving and letting go and moving on with your life. I thought this was a terrific book!