My Memories of a Future Life

From Build Another Bookcase – 5 stars ‘I need to talk to someone about this book’

Last night my wife went off to her local book club and I was so jealous. Not for the normal reason, that her book club is in a pub and I was missing a few pints. No, because she was going to have a chance to discuss with a peer group the book they had all read. I had just finished reading Roz Morris’s novel and it has left my head in a spin, with no pub full of cronies to help out.

As a musician, author and reader of literary fiction myself, this book was potentially right up my street. I know the author is a ghost writer and her blog posts are usually along the theme of music in fiction or writing advice. But what if it was crap? What if it was over-stuffed with in-your-face musical references and a writing style like a paint-by-numbers exercise?

I needn’t have worried. From the first few pages I was in comfort. Then I began to experience discomfort. Not with the prose or undeniable musical influence, but a shared discomfort with the protagonist as she battled with a debilitating, lifestyle threatening malady. As the literary themes developed it became difficult to put the book (well, ebook, I read it on my kindle) down.

The main themes that came across to me in this book were threefold: how much a life can be impacted by devotion to a single pastime or occupation; the draw of mysticism and the subtle line between belief and cynicism; and the trust that we place in others through relationships.

Being a multi-tasker myself when it comes to hobbies and occupations, I often envy those who can dedicate themselves to one particular pursuit. They achieve a level of immersion and eventual expertise that unavoidably places the ‘amateur’ label on others less devoted. Morris exemplifies this very well in the character of Carol, yet her very way of life is under threat as the problem with her hands begins to marginalise Carol from her own society.

The overt chicanery of the hypnotist Anthony Morrish contrasts well with Carol’s therapeutic experiences of Gene, and the other-worldly setting of Vellonoweth adds sinister elements reminiscent of The League of Gentlemen and The Prisoner. This balance between intrigue, mild terror and charlatanism is perfectly maintained throughout.

Carol’s friendship with Jerry is a cornerstone of her life. The Gene thing is dysfunctional but Carol clearly yearns for that excitement. Both she and Gene are pretty screwed up compared to ‘normal’ people. She’s very reluctant to give herself, he’s an enigma and the whole thing goes on above a buried nuclear power station.

Metaphors abound in this story. The reader is regularly invited to take things on face value, push them away as fake or adopt a Zen approach to the Andreq future life and Vellonoweth shenanigans.

Morris presents the whole like a crossroads where each and any direction can make sense. My Memories of a Future Life is a wondrous book.

From Bibi – 5 stars ‘A great read’

A highly original premise delivered with aplomb. This ‘when worlds collide’ story is both haunting and compelling. High quality writing, as you would expect from an already commercially successful author. A novel that stays with you long after the reading.

multi-story.co.uk

From Wench – 5 stars ‘A Jealous Professional’

I have had to wrestle with monsters of professional jealousy to review this book. It is SO good.

Even the premise is one of those striking ideas that seems so beautiful and right, even obvious, but that you know you would never have thought of yourself: – if, by hypnosis, you can be regressed into a past life, could you be progressed to a future life? My immediate response was: Wish I’d thought of that! But I didn’t. Roz Morris did.

It’s far more than a great idea. From the very first page, the prose is a sheer pleasure to read. It’s a first-person narration by Carol Lear, and her voice is alive, witty, perceptive, expressive. I laughed aloud several times at her dry, neat nailing of a situation or person.

Carol is a classical pianist, passionate about her instrument and music, raging against the limitations placed on her by repetitive strain injury (the pain of which is so well described, it made my hands ache.)

She’s frustrated because her pain doesn’t respond to treatment. A close friend, suffering from panic attacks is in a similar situation – but his problems seem to be solved when he undergoes a past life regression. The unresolved trauma of his previous life has spilled over into his present life, causing his attacks; and only when he faces what happened in his previous existence can his panics be controlled. Carol is so desperate to be free of pain and to play again that, although sceptical, she is drawn to the idea of other lives – and, indeed, to the hypnotist, the elusive, attractive Gene Winter.

Carol experiences not a past life, but a future one. If the trauma of the life you’re living is shaping the life of an unknown stranger in a future you can’t recognise, what should you do?

It’s not a book easily categorised. Should I call it a literary novel? Science Fiction? Romance? You could make a case for including it in any one of those genres.

While reading, I several times thought I could predict the ending. I was always wrong. But the ending, when I reluctantly reached it, was beautiful, thoughtful, and right. It brought a realisation that the novel had never been about what I thought it had been about, and made me want to read it again, so I could enjoy the skill with which it had all been handled.

It isn’t about attacking and solving problems. It’s about, I think, the way we cause our own problems, but hide from them, preferring to fall over them and hurt ourselves again and again, rather than see those problems clearly, or – that thing we dread – changing.

It’s about resolution, about picking ourselves up, sorting ourselves out, and going on. Not, perhaps, solving the problem – which may be insoluable – but doing that very hard thing, changing, and walking away, leaving old things behind. Not, after all, memories of a future life, but – life in the future.

From The Book Witch Kathleen – 5 stars ‘Feisty heroines and devious heroes’

My Memories of a Future Life explores the world of professional classical musicians and the less respectable world of the mediums/spiritual healers who specialise in regressing people through their past lives. Roz Morris’ original take on this was, what if, under hypnosis, the subject wanders into a future life? `I thought ….. Who would do that? Why? What would they find?’ Having read Hilary Mantel’s Beyond Black, which also explores the murky lives of charlatans preying on the vulnerability of their clients, I was quite intrigued by the subject matter. What I got was a first class page-turner.

It’s a romance and thriller woven together. Some reviewers have compared it to the The Time Traveller’s Wife. The writing is strong and original and the plot really carries you along. As a writer who has suffered from RSI, I really could empathise with the feisty Carol, a gifted pianist whose wrists hurt too much to play and who doesn’t know what else to do with her life. Through her flatmate she comes into contact with a spiritualist healer and begins to experience the dark underworld of the paranormal. She is thoroughly sceptical and manages to keep her common sense intact while her life suffers a number of earthquake moments. It was an excellent read and I’d recommend it to anyone. It kept me guessing right to the end.

From Indie e-book review – 5 stars ‘Remarkable’

Cally Phillips of Indie Ebook Review writes:
Two, or is it three, worlds collide in this remarkable novel where nothing is quite what it seems. I have a pathological dislike of the piano and a personal distrust of mediums (both instilled by my mother) but strangely, this was enough to keep me interested in the central character who narrates the story, as she was forced to try and reconcile the her personal trauma as a concert pianist disabled by RSI with the bizarre world of hypnosis and clairvoyancy which claims to be able to `heal’ her. The central conceit of the novel, that past lives interests people – there’s big money in it as Carole’s flat mate discovers- is offered an interesting twist by the consideration of what happens if you discover that you are the past life?

Carole is forced to address this issue and reflects `If I’m somebody’s past, if I was delivered into a future life, I know the rules. It means this life is done. It’s all over.’However, in her case it is far from all over. Her life appears to be falling apart and her relationships are never what they seem. The brooding, doctor/therapist Gene who claims to be helping her deal with the physical and psychological issues arising from being a regression of Andreq, is by turns romantic lead and demonic villain. In Andreq we find a character from a future which keeps the reader in a state of dis-ease throughout the four episodes of the novel. There was an interesting juxtaposition and blending of reality and fantasy and it’s a clever way of getting us to empathise with the central character. I loved the insight into the `alien’ worlds of the pianist, medium. My interest in what exactly xeching might be went a long way to propel me through the narrative. And of course, the ending couldn’t be predicted!

From Jessica Bell – 5 stars ‘ Words that make music’

Another book I will forever cherish. It is officially the FOURTH book on my shelf with underlined sentences. FOURTH. As you can imagine, it takes a lot for a book to make it to that corner of my bookshelf. The corner which embodies inspiration. The corner I turn to when I need to remind myself that words don’t just make a story, they make music. An amazing, stunning, beautiful book.

Favourite lines are:

Page 46: The champagne gave off a biscuity smell. The bubbles sparkled and jumped over the rim of the glass like a breath on my hand.

Page 103: The sun was a nicotine stain across the clouds.

Page 253: He drew the curtains and put a lamp on a low table. When he switched it on the shadows flowed like water into the hollows of the woman’s face.

Page 268: … the pain beat a metronome in my bones.

From The Kindle Book Review – 5 stars ‘A stunning achievement’

Roz Morris’s “My Memories of a Future Life” consists of four parts, which can be purchased separately or as one volume. But however you’d prefer to buy it, please do. Though technically a new novelist, Morris claims an extensive background in authorship, and judging from the impeccable quality of her writing there is no reason to doubt her.

I suppose on some level it must be said that her story deals with reincarnation–both past and future lives–and for that matter begins in a yoga studio. But if you’re not into this type of thing, don’t let it scare you away. Because what Morris is really writing about is the difficult challenge of life itself. You do not have to believe in reincarnation to enjoy or be enriched by this book. Whatever lifetime she is in, Carol Lear, a pianist whose seemingly physical condition is keeping her from playing, is a finely nuanced character. All of her thoughts, emotions, and deeds ring true. The point is not whether reincarnation happens, but that life happens. In fact, while reading it you may find yourself wishing that reincarnation doesn’t exist. For just one lifetime can be more than enough to deal with. Morris eschews the narcissistic or self-pitying attitudes that sometimes accompanies an interest in other lifetimes, and instead makes the idea of reincarnation–living forever–seem an inescapable element of the human condition. At times, the novel reminded me of Doris Lessing–though at the risk of committing a sacrilege, Morris is much more readable.

The book is surprisingly suspenseful, because you never know where Morris is going to take you next. And the ending is like the crescendo of a symphony. Bravo!

From JAW – 5 stars ‘Class, style and profundity – a rare combination’

‘Memories…’ is one of those books (appropriately enough given the title) which you just know, even only part-way in, will linger in the mind, for pleasurable pondering and turning-over in times to come. That is due to the rare combination of what I can only, if inadequately, describe as ‘muscular’, i.e. strong and effortlessly assured, writing, melded to ‘major themes’ and an author fully (but not obtrusively) in control of her creation. In short, the author knows exactly where she is going but the reader does not. The quite unforeseen ending met me like a brick wall – only pleasurably so.

So, although this is her first published work of fiction, so far as I’m aware, the author has hit the ground running at the considerable height of her abilities. There’s not a wasted line here, no slack or redundant passages (hence the ‘muscular’ description), but instead stark little lines or paragraphs that bring you up short with admiration and send you directly back, bungee-style, to re-read. Just to give one example, a two or three paragraph, almost throw-away, description of a London street-scene as near as dammit had me standing there seeing it myself. Such ability is rare. Other writers would take pages to attempt the same thing and still fail.

I should here declare an interest, insofar as I know Ms Morris personally. But so do a lot of people, not least via her must-read ‘writing advice’ web-site. Quite regardless of that, I nevertheless maintain that this is classy, stylish writing, conveying a profound tale in page-turning fashion. Unreservedly recommended.

From Victoria Mixon – 5 stars ‘Groundbreaking fiction’

In this intriguing reversal on reincarnation, best-selling ghostwriter Roz Morris turns the tables on all of us who have ever dabbled in past-life regression (and other New Age aspects of metaphysics). Don’t expect just another fable of “who I was.” Expect a complex, intelligent journey into the heart of Western understanding of reincarnation: what it is, what it could be, what it perhaps is not.

Morris is a pleasure to read, an accomplished writer with a clear, polished voice and vivid insight into character and place. Is her novel fantasy? Is it sci-fi? Is it a new, groundbreaking mix of fiction genres? What’s the truth behind the story of an injured concert pianist taken further into a dark–even surreal–future than she can handle?

From Mrs Helen Burton – 5 stars ‘Painfully accurate’

This week even the fiercely sceptical New Scientist magazine investigated the use of hypnosis to treat pain and concluded it is strangely effective, so it is an opportune moment to delve into the dangerous powers of mind over matter. In this novel with a heroine desperate enough to get into situations we’d prefer to experience vicariously. But somehow the adventure does take over the reader’s mind too: don’t plan to read just a few pages and try not to start reading it alone in the dark. Well it starts off very grounded in the grime of London’s Clapham Junction railway station and the twinges of a very modern affliction, RSI, keenly observed, but it gets darker.You have been warned.

From James H Byrd – 5 stars ‘A tale of learning to redefine your life’

I envy you, good reader, if you are about to read My Memories of a Future Life. When I started Roz Morris’ book, only Part 1 was available. I consumed it, and I wanted more. Rinse and repeat for the next two segments. When I downloaded Part 4, the final part, I was giddy with relief and anticipation. You, however, get to read the entire story without stop, and I believe that is exactly what you’ll want to do.

You can read the book description for a synopsis of the plot, so I won’t repeat that here. I’ll just tell you why I enjoyed reading it (without spoilers).

First, let me applaud Ms. Morris for her voice and style. MMoaFL pulls you in immediately with a relatable tale and a compelling protagonist. She paints an experience that is at times amusing, mysterious, surreal, and intense.

The book includes themes relating to repetitive stress injury and reincarnation, but those elements are just the backdrop for a dramatic story involving an obsessive woman who must face some of the biggest challenges of her life.

As someone who helps fellow fiction writers improve their craft, one would hope that Roz Morris would be capable of weaving a rich story full of detail and emotion; she does not disappoint on that score.

If I could change anything about the book, it would be that I wanted more. The ending wraps up the story in a satisfactory way, but perhaps a little too quickly and tidily. To say more on that subject would violate my promise of no spoilers. Just read the book and decide for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

From Y Johnstone – 5 stars ‘If music be the food of fiction’

Roz Morris’ novel ‘My Memories of a Future Life’ was rather different from my usual reading matter. I read mainly crime and historical novels and tend not to read anything that could be remotely described as ‘fantasy’. However, I was hooked from the start of this novel and kept on reading it while it got more and more ‘weird’ as the protagonist, Carol (the novel is written from a first person point of view) fell under the spell of a mysterious hypnotist she vaguely remembered from her schooldays. While in hypnosis Carol does the opposite of regression (‘progression’ perhaps?) and becomes a man called Andreq, an inhabitant of a future underwater city. All this happens against the backdrop of everyday London and a fictional coastal village in the south-west.
The novel is pacy and the characterisation is subtle and intelligent. I enjoyed the strongly musical theme which ran through the novel (Carol is a concert pianist who is suffering from RSI) and even learnt something new – the novel had me Googling the topic of ‘enharmonic pianos’.
I have now read many novels in Kindle format (I read this in its original 4 episode format) and have to mention the fact that this novel had the fewest number of typos I have ever seen in an e-books. There was some excellent proofing & editing done here!

From Joanna Penn, author of Pentecost – 5 stars ‘Unusual, stays with you after reading’

This book is disturbing in a way that keeps you thinking long after reading it. I found it an uncomfortable read, in that I thought about some of the challenges it raised as I read. The book centres around the idea of past life regression and we see that Carol, the main character, could potentially be the past life that a future self is regressing to. Or is she the product of a hoax escalated by the mysterious Gene Winter, a man I was fascinated with. With that much psychological power, I’d like to see a book that focuses on him as a protagonist. The writing is beautiful, evocative. The book is definitely literary fiction – in that there is more internal progression than action or traditional plot. It is original and I particularly enjoyed the aspects of music, as a non-musician, that seems so magical.

From Geoff Anderson – 5 stars ‘A symphony in words’

This is a must-buy novel. It is the best I have read this year, a beautifully written absorbing story. It is a rich immersive read, a wonderful blend of modern and traditional styles. Words woven and crafted with skill draw you into a world where you are never quite at ease with what is happening to Carol the relatable lead character; obliging you to read on to find out. I loved the musical references; in many ways Memories has a musical quality about it, light and dark textures with faster and more considered passages.

From Paul R Drewfs – 5 stars ‘Psychoactive literary fiction’

Roz Morris’s impeccable writing and leading lady’s intimate narrative literally Mesmerizes the reader into “My Memories of a Future Life.” No question about it, Roz is a shooting rock star of rarest literary resonance. Still, I think the book should come with a warning label. A cautionary note akin to that associated with the Kabalistic insight meditation practice of “running and returning.” The label should read, `If your heart races, quick focus on something material, lest you be engulfed in a profusion of symbolism and never emerge from it.’ The label is advisable as the book’s hypnotic kaleidoscope is woven of disturbingly psychoactive prose from which some unprepared readerships may never return.

From Matt Kelland – 4 stars ‘The end is an absolute rip-roarer’

I almost feel like I should be doing a proper literary criticism, of the sort I haven’t done since school: Synopsis, Themes, Characters, Style, Symbolism, Summary. That’s because this feels like a proper bit of “literature”. That’s a word I use with some trepidation: usually “literature” means “stuff I feel like I ought to have read but probably won’t actually enjoy” – whether it’s modern lit or classic lit. And don’t get me started on “chick lit”. This isn’t one of those bits of “literature”, though. It’s intelligent, thoughtful, and heavily character-based, yes, but it’s also very easy to read and it’s got a damn good story. That’s because most of Roz’s books are very different. She’s written under a number of well-known names, including [REDACTED] and [CAN'T TELL YOU OR I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU], and she knows how to tell a rattling good yarn. She’s not your usual literary novelist.

One of her other readers summed it up best – Memories is like John Fowles’s The Magus. I loved that book when I was a teenager, and I’m now getting a hankering to read it again. It’s the sort of literature I enjoy reading, combining a slightly unsettling plot with hints of more beyond. It’s not the depressing realism of your typical Booker novelist or the light fluffiness of a slice of middle class city life.

Memories is about a pianist who can’t play any more who goes to a hypnotist and starts channelling, not a past life, but a future life. Anything more would be a spoiler, so I’ll stop right there. Roz’s writing is some of the sharpest I’ve read in a while. She uses short, punchy sentences, punctuated by powerful metaphors and vivid descriptions. The result is some of the most readable prose I’ve come across in a while.

I read this in four parts as it came out, and I will admit that after the first episode, I was slightly dubious about where it was going. I was enjoying it, but once she introduced characters who were regressing to past lives involving Jack the Ripper, there was a small part of me inwardly groaning and hoping it wasn’t going to turn into some cheesy From Hell scenario. By the end of the second episode, I still wasn’t much reassured. But I’m glad I stuck with it, because the end is an absolute rip-roarer. (Her husband Dave popped up on Twitter when I mentioned my concerns, and assured me I wouldn’t anticipate the end. He was right. I should have known Roz wouldn’t resort to cliche without good reason. She’s better than that.)

I enjoyed this immensely. I’m torn between 4 and 5 stars, but that’s only because I’m really, really picky when it comes to giving out 5-star ratings, and I’d have enjoyed it more without the enforced breaks in the middle. However, it’s an easy four and a half. Memories is sharp, well-written, and a damn good read, and I’m looking forward to whatever Roz does next.

From Smudge – 5 stars ‘Beautifully written, evocative and absorbing’

Beautifully written, evocative and absorbing: Have now finished the whole book (reviewed part one previously). Early on it reminded me a little of The Time Traveller’s wife; like that book the imagery is strong and it too has layers of story within a story. However it developed, changed and grew into something quite different. The characters are believable and many are appealing: Eleanor and Jerry, but not all are likeable: Gene Winter. Despite not being musical myself or having RSI I really could empathise with Carol: brilliantly drawn. At times it was dreamlike and surreal and others down to earth and done with a great sense of humour. The most innovative book I have read this year: recommend you read it and see for yourself.

From Siddhartha Herdegen – 5 stars ‘Fascinating read, powerful writing’

Dynamic, well-rounded characters are what drive this brilliant story. All too often I have started reading a story only to find the author lazily slip into the well-worn rut of cookie cutter, single dimensional, stock characters. It’s at that point I usually put the book down. But “Memories of a Future Life” is filled with characters as individually interesting as real people.

Roz Morris masterfully creates not only memorable, unique characters but pulls you into their world and guides you along their journey. It’s an interesting and compelling trip through what is both familiar and bizarre, with every turn both organic and surprising. I found I could scarcely put it down. I have to say, Roz has a winner here. A masterful work of fiction.

From Anita King ‘Raven’ – 5 stars ‘Why do I keep thinking about it?’

When I first read this novel, it was broken into four parts and it was painful having to wait for the next installment. I was hooked from the start and was intrigued by the characters and what their motivations were, especially that of Gene. I still think about him fromtime to time, but little things in my daily life remind me of Carol Lear and what she went through. If I touch a piano, I know how she feels at not being able to play again, how 5min fingering the keys will mean a pain that could last the entire day. What would one do not to have to live in pain.

Carol’s journey was portrayed in such a realistic manner that it is impossible not to be there with her, feel for her. The other characters are also mesmerizing and intriguing, which gave the novel its intesity. At times I wanted to react for Carol and even protect her. But alas, this story is about Carol, her struggle and eventually, making peace with herself and her condition. I absolutely loved it.

From Mr P South ‘Snouty’ – 5 stars ‘Wonderful, disturbing and cinematic ride’

Once again I should state for the record that I know Roz personally, and I have reviewed the episodic version of this book before. My review in no way should be construed as me pumping her work as a favour because I’m not comfortable doing that. Of course I will recommend work by friends as a favour but this usually extends to just that. This was something different, I genuinely believe this is a great book and deserves a wider audience. So the disclaimer is that, I know Roz and like her a lot but I’m writing this review because the book itself is worthy of praise.

Now I’m glad we got that out of the way, and having read the whole book and having had some time to think it over I feel ready to write a proper review of the piece overall.

You know how sometimes you read a book and it lives in your mind for ages afterwards? And how sometimes you read a book and can’t put it down until it’s finished and when it is finished you feel slightly bereft? This book is like that. So many questions in your mind, so many memories of events and thoughts you had when you were reading it.

Of the many thoughts I had while reading this book:

1. Damn she’s good. As a writer myself I was very jealous of how well realised and entertaining and yet thought provoking her story was.

2. What an interesting thought. I can’t really tell you what that thought was because knowing that up front would possibly ruin the surprise.

3. I love it when a story introduces you to a world (in this case the world of professional classical musicians) that you are aware of but not fully involved in. All the flavour and nuance of the world adds to the atmosphere and leaves you with the pleasing (but probably hilariously false) idea that you know this world inside out.

4. On the last page I just sat there looking at it. That’s it? It’s over? But what about…? And did they? I mean don’t get me wrong the book ends entirely as it should, a piece of art should always pose more questions than it answers. I think the lack of total complete closure is a stylistic flourish and one that as time goes on I am more and more happy with.

For starters it might open the way to another book, which I’d love by the way, but more than that I think it’s singlehandedly responsible for the high regard I hold this story. It’s not answering all questions, so unlike mainstream trashy novels, the point is not to “find out what happens” because what happens is less interesting than “why happens” and “when happens”. It’s also treating you like a grown up with a brain and enjoining you to use it to sift the facts of the story into a pleasing order so that you can enjoy the cultural aftertaste for months and even years to come.

Plus because the truth of the story is not obvious, you come away satisfied but feeling you could easily read it again to get a bit more juice out of it.

That said it is a phenomenally easy book to read, relaxed, easy and sensory style, lots for your visual cortex to chew on. Which is what would make this book such a good film. It’s very visual, and in this modern computer graphics era totally doable.

Add to all this the fact I read the book on my iPhone Kindle app, not the most comfortable reading platform for someone as visually challenged as me, but totally doable. In those circumstances the text has to be riveting or you will give up. Actually provided I used my reading glasses I found the whole kindle experience to be a delightful way to read this book. On a larger screen like an actual Kindle or an iPad it would be even better.

So when Roz first pointed the book out to me and asked if I cared to read it and give my opinion I thought it would be a commitment of a few minutes flipping the pages and a tweet or a mention on Facebook. Actually it was hours of reading and even more hours of thinking, and a considerable amount of enjoyment.

Roz has ghost written many books under famous names, and so as a writer I can understand that writing under her own name for the first time, no mask, nowhere to hide, would be a daunting task. Add to that the worry about the book being good enough and doing her justice must have been similarly troubling. But I can say she has nothing to worry about. This is an original, substantial, entertaining read from someone who knows how to tell a story which entertains, provokes and in an odd way soothes. You’ll understand that last word better once you’ve read the book.

A wonderful, disturbing and cinematic ride. I wish her every success with it!

From Mr Julian Woodward ‘Woowar’ – 5 stars ‘Captivating’

How to review this book without giving too many spoilers for those who’ve not yet read it?
I found this a really compelling read. The way in which the plot gradually develops and darkens, and keeps throwing surprises at you, is thrilling, and kept me hooked until the very end. The author has taken a mundane (although genuinely horrid) medical issue – the RSI from which the main character suffers – and woven it into an imaginative and unnerving psychological journey. Highly recommended.

From Dark Side of the Covers – 5 stars ‘So good it made me late for work – twice’

Reading this novel was like experiencing life through another person’s body and mind. I repeatedly found myself falling into the lyrical language and haunting, twisting plot, only to surface with surprise and realize I was now late for work, because far more time had passed than I thought.

Morris is truly a wordsmith, blending description and dialogue into a compelling story that draws you in, plays with your mind, and leaves you a little breathless when it’s over. She possesses an uncanny ability to communicate not just what’s happening, but how it feels.

Carol, the protagonist and first-person narrator, is a woman struggling with the loss of her life as she knew it: she’s a lifetime pianist with a repetitive stress injury that has taken away her ability to play and left only pain. This is a scenario that could have easily led to a whiny narrative, but that’s not the case here. Instead, we find a poignant story steeped with melancholy, edged with a desperate hope, and twisted throughout with both darkness and humor.

In many ways the story defies classification: it is not a paranormal, but it flirts with the possibility of “other,” it is not a romance, although there is a relationship, it is not a mystery, although there are endless clues to be unraveled. What is it? Haunting, compelling, mind-bending, and definitely worth reading.

From Tahlia Newland – 5 stars ‘Wonderfully different’

I loved it. Interesting, thought-provoking themes, characters that range from mysterious to fantastical and a nice twist at the end.

From Michael I Levy – 5 stars

Rarely do I read a book that book that holds my interest from the 1st page to the last. My Memories of a Future Life  is not only well written, but has the kind of complications that forced me to try and figure what will happen next. The characters have a uniqueness and as I kept reading i wanted to know more about them. In the end I felt satisfied and my time was well spent.

From James P Kelly – 5 stars ‘Hang on and be prepared’

Roz Morris hooked my wife and I on page one of “My Memories of a Future Life.” By the end, I’d realized she had cleverly taken us on a journey as profoundly unexpected as the life-path challenges her protagonist endures. Brilliant and brave! Recommended!