The Memorist by M J Rose/Wondrous Words Wednesday

Title: The Memorist
Author: M J Rose
ISBN: 978-0778325840
Publisher: Mira Books/2008
Pages: 464

The Memorist is a novel which amalgates mystery, time and music so beautifully and intricately that nothing feels out of place. Set in Vienna, both the present and the nineteenth century, we get to know the world of Beethovan and the music he created. It is not only the music but also memories that transcend time.

Meer is a woman in her early thirties, She is tormented by her memories from her past life since she was a child. She keeps hearing certain piece of music. Her father tries to help but somehow fails. She herself does not believe that she is hearing something from her past life. However, on her father's behest she arrives in Vienna to look into a music box which she has only seen in her memories and drawn pictures of it.

But people who are involved with the box are attacked and killed. It seems that there are many people who are interested in the box and its mystical powers. The box has something which conjures up memories of past lives.

The there is this Journalist David Yalom, who has lost his family to terrorism is tormented by his memories. He has a diabolic plan to make the world notice his losses. Yet he somehow feels some kind of afinity for Meer, whom he had never met. How both are connected is very intriguing part. Each of the characters around Meer has some sort of past connection with her. That also includes a FBI agent.

Going back on forth from past and present, The Memorist is journey beteween centuries, countries and cultures. What appealed to me most is how it travelled to India and Hinduism. The flute is so symbolic. With a touch of mystery, suspense, mysticism, spirituality, it is very good read.

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Wondrous Words Wednesday is hosted by Kathy of BermudaOnion

I take the following words from The Memorist:

1) Potentate (page 34): Seated in club chair as if he were a potentate and it was his throne, with thousands of leather bound books behind him.....

n.

1. One who has the power and position to rule over others; a monarch.
2. One who dominates or leads a group or an endeavor: industrial potentates.

2) Reliquary (Page 35): In a church , an object this precious would be in a gold-tooled reliquary but the memorists's relic had no power and promised no magic...

n., pl., -ies.
A receptacle, such as a coffer or shrine, for keeping or displaying sacred relics.