Several years ago, I went on a tear, trying to find more books on amnesia. I was really in a mood to read them. Alas, I never could find any lists.

Then, as it happened, 2 years ago, I fell and gave myself a concussion and amnesia, which lasted for several days. I didn’t know it at the time. I lived alone and I have no memory of what happened during that time.

It was my sons, through a series of calls and visits that realized what happened. I had a huge knot on my forehead and a badly bruised face.

I look back on that time now as pretty awful. In fact it still scares me that I didn’t know now or then what happened. But that’s just another amnesia story, another way to look at it, I guess, though I would have wished my story were a bit more romantic.

Then, quite a few years ago, I wrote a book with amnesia as a theme. I did this, as many of you said. It was the one way I could think of to get two people back together again. For them, or for her, to forget the bad things that had happened to them as a couple, to give her time to heal mentally, so that they could rebuild their life.

Aw, well. I would love to chat with you all more on the subject, but it’s very close to Christmas now, and I imagine we’re all busy.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Fayrene

Anyway, when I saw the subject of amnesia, I just had to respond. I love the subject. And, if I may, there’s one amnesia book you’ve left out. One of my all time favorites.

A Man like Daintree by Margaret Way. I read it twice a year faithfully.

Thanks to several of you who have mentioned books I haven’t read but will soon.

Kate — one of my very favorite books is Constantine’s Revenge. I hope this loop isn’t closed yet. I don’t know how it works, so bear with me.

Fayrene

I had to laugh when I read that about thinking we’ll always have our memories. I used to be proud of my fantastic memory, and then I started getting older…

But, I really liked this book, even though the conflict was more serious than most Harlequin romances. In fact, as I remember more now, this was the first HP book that I had read in about 10 years, after reading them like crazy when I was in high school and college. Then, after reading that book, I started with my HP obession again and am still going strong.

Cheryl

Thanks for checking your spreadsheet for me. I might actually have the book laying around the house in my various “keeper” piles, I will poke around to see if I have it and let you know what the title was if I do.

Cheryl

Cheryl, sorry but that book is not on my ssheet.

Lidia

I’m pretty late to the topic, but wanted to pop in to say that I really like most amnesia plot HP books, I’ve read quite a few over the years. I will always pick up books with this plotline, no matter how many I’ve read.

Like Chantal, one of my favorites is The Greek’s Christmas Baby, it made me cry also. Another favorite in my keeper pile is The Second Mrs. Adams and I also like The Twelve Month Mistress. Kate, I’ve read TGTUW a couple months ago, very good book, I really enjoyed it.

Another one of my favorite amnesia books was written by Susan Napier, but I can’t remember the title, maybe Lidia can help me. The h was living on an island and had amnesia. The H came to see her (maybe in a rain storm?) and she thought he looked familiar but didn’t remember him right away. He stayed for a while and eventually she remembered that he was her husband and why she had amnesia. It was a pretty emotional book, made me cry quite a bit at the end, but that’s what I like about my favorite HP books!

Cheryl

Lorie – I am so with you on the fact that an amnesia story (well – yes – any story ) must be well written to work. A long time ago there were books where a quick bang on the head meant instant loss of memory and another bang brought it back! So I did a lot of research before I wrote anything about amnesia. Most of the time, there is such a large emotinal content in the loss of memory – that it’s something the sufferer doesn’t want to remember that really gets wiped. And that’s what fascinates me.

And the way that the memopry comes back isn’t just one flash of inspiration and all is remembered – it comes back slowly and in patches most of the time.

But it aways fascinates me. We think our memories are there for ever, in our heads but to find that they can be wiped away is quite amazing.

Lidia – as always you have an amazin g memory (!) for great books. I will look for the ones you’ve mentioned – you are so sweet to offer to lend me Violet’s book but I’ll havea good look for it first.

Must get on the way again – we have another 3 hours driving ahead of. us

I know I’ve been a little quiet for a bit. My laptop died and I was working from my pda for a time, and I don’t have a keyboard for it, so while I could read, it was difficult to comment.

Before I touch on the topic of amnesia in a story I want to remind you all that not only can you find many re-released books via our eBook Boutique You can pop over to the Backlist Books thread on eHarlequin.com and let me know what you’d like to see if you don’t find it.

I have mixed views on amnesia in a story. For me it all depends on how it’s done, but that goes for any book. As long as it’s an engaging and believeable story pretty much anything goes.

I do like the element of the unknown, and watching the struggle while the character comes to terms with their past and current difficulties. I also like how the level of frustration impacts the story.