Five years ago, Joah was “culled”—taken by the government and forced to be a soldier.  His memories were erased, but somehow he remembers his name.  He manages to escape, and though he is injured he stumbles upon a farm.  To his shock, the first person he meets, a man named Tobin, remembers him.  Can he regain the life and love they once shared, or will the memory-blocking chip in his head kill him first?

After reading Persistence of Memory, the first word that came to mind was “wow.”  Joah’s first-person narration really sucked me into the story.  The turmoil and fear he feels at his lack of memories is heart-wrenching, as is Tobin’s intense love for him.  The emotion and suspense in the story were compelling.  At times, I felt a bit teary, and other times I was on the edge of my seat.  Although I don’t generally like sci-fi and futuristic books very much, this one had a fascinating premise and the writing was so good I was able to believe in the world J. M. Snyder created.  With suspense, deep emotion, a great premise, and lovely writing, Persistence of Memory is an excellent book.