Tabula Rasa

Tabula Rasa is about Sarah Ramos starting over. She's in a hospital where they're going to take her memories from before she was admitted to make her a better citizen. Her final surgery gets interrupted and she's taken back to her cell. Being in a hospital cell rather than a room makes sense. Most of the people in the hospital are violent and/or criminals.Someone secretly helps her get out and then she realizes that the hospital has been infiltrated by people out to kill her.Right off the bat I was intrigued. I love books where you learn as the protagonist learns. Lexicon by Max Barry was like that and it's one of my favorite books to date.Books where the characters are a fighter is also on my list. I love action and guns although I refuse to hold a loaded weapon unless I'm at a shooting range (never been to one though). But just reading the first couple of chapters reminded me of that. The author had an attention to detail that most other authors overlook. It closed the gap between reader and protagonist.It also made me remember what my writing voice is. I've been going down this path that's been leading to unfinished works. It irks me to move an idea into my 'Undecided' folder. This story reminded me of that and gave me an idea of something to write.The fighting scenes were vivid. I could see it happen clearly in my head. And there wasn't too much fighting, like the characters stopped to hide and collect themselves as they tried to figure out what exactly was going on. It was a good balance and it met with the readers want to know why they want her.I'll admit, I kind of did an eye-roll when 'Pierce' was introduced. I was like, "Here comes the love interest like a punch in the face" (If you read the book you'll appreciate that line). I'm always put off by relationships and I was worried that the author was going to ruin the book with the romance. I found that it actually flowed naturally. It had a slow build up. Nothing was forced in your face like some other books I won't name.There were flashbacks in this story and if there's anything I learned in school it's that if you have a flashback, make sure it's lies to a greater purpose. At first I was wondering why Sarah was having certain flashbacks but as I got nearer to the end, I understood. Sometimes Sarah was a little slow when it came to certain things. It was almost agonizing to watch her connect the dots as slowly as she does.I'm so glad there wasn't a love triangle. I can't stress how much I despise love triangles. The Hunger Games ruined it for all because Katniss was so confusing and indecisive. She led everyone one. Bye Katniss.Half way through the book you find out that Pierce isn't Pierce's real name. Really wish it was because I like that name a whole lot better than his actual name. Every time I read his name I thought of a different (popular/also a movie) book series that I've read. Plus it's also my dads name. So... But Sarah also decided to change her name nearer to the end. Hers was a little more understandable, but still. Too many name changes.I liked that the protagonist (Sarah) was hispanic. It was refreshing reading in a non-white perspective. Not that it was different, it's just white people are overused. I'm all for POC characters.The book is the first in a duology. The ending of the first book is pretty conclusive though so I probably won't read the second. I see how there could be a second but I like how this one ended.4/5

I confess, I am hooked on Audiobooks. My dog walking goes faster, my exercising is more palatable, and my drives are more pleasant. Tabula Rasa had a narrator/actress who did an excellent job playing the different roles in the book, which made the story more engaging. So 5 stars for the Audio part.Now about the story. I was engaged from the first chapter. We start in a hospital where a young woman is undergoing brain surgery to eradicate her memories and give her a clean slate (hence, tabula rasa). Did I mention my BA degree is in Psychology, with a minor in Biology? And my MA is in Psychology, specifically Neuropsychology? Hooked, I tell you, seriously hooked. Had to listen to more.Much like the movie Memento, the backstory is told in jagged bits and pieces, creating a jigsaw puzzle story line for the listener/reader. Sarah (aka Angel) is in the hospital because she was a juvenile delinquent. Or so we are led to believe. The purpose of the neurosurgery is to erase her bad memories and behaviors (it seems). Just as she is about to have her final procedure, the power goes out and someone puts a plastic bag in her hand in the darkness. She is taken back to her video-guarded room by the nurse’s aide where she opens the bag discreetly and finds three gelatin capsules and a note: Take one every 24 hours and remain still upon awakening. She takes one, and nothing happens. Or so she thinks. All hell breaks loose and it’s not in her dreams. It’s real.This YA novel, a debut at that, had the Hero’s Journey down cold. An orphan living in the ordinary world (in this case in a hospital) has an igniting incident that leads her on a great adventure. Along the way she finds allies (some not so great), enemies, obstacles she must overcome, and a little bit of romance. There is even a magic elixir that she must retrieve to return to a new world. This is not a bad format to follow, indeed Joseph Campbell told us this was the heart of every epic saga.The good: kick ass Latina heroine, nerdy computer hacker boyfriend, unusual meeting, mysterious backgrounds and hints of powerful, wealthy conspirators out to get the heroine.The not-so-good: action scenes appeared to be pulled from video games; impossible physical accomplishments; epilogue with unanswered questions regarding heroine’s “after-life.”The excellent: non-stop action, a page-turning pace, and I hated having to stop listening to the book when my drive was over, or my dogs were done walking. I stayed up late in bed just to listen to the end and fell asleep. Got up early just to hear the ending---again.Overall, 4.5 stars and congratulations to Ms. Lippert-Martin and narrator on a winning combination for an audio book. I will be looking for more books by this author.

As a 15 year old teen who loves dystopian young adult fiction, I have read all of the latest books including the Hunger Games trilogy and the Divergent series. I have to say that Tabula Rasa is now my favorite. Tabula Rasa is about a girl named Sarah with a past that someone wants to erase by erasing her memories. It’s a fascinating book that keeps you on the edge of the couch turning the pages. It took me only a day to read it because I just couldn't put it down. It’s amazing how the character, Sarah, develops and truly becomes herself. She is faced with challenges that bring back her memories and put her life at risk, but she fights for herself and for her identity. Besides being a classic dystopian book, Tabula Rasa is also great because of the love story that evolves as a side plot, which the reader can see, but the characters are unaware. In sum, Tabula Rasa has the dramatic suspense and humor that we all love, with a great ending that will leave you hoping that author Kristen Lippert-Martin is hard at work on a sequel!

It captured me from the beginning to the end. I couldn’t put it down! It’s a story of a girl who is having her memory replaced but during the process she begins to remember and the place she’s in gets taken over. The way the main character handles herself is truly inspiring. She doesn’t curl up in a corner or say whoa is me. She tackles her problems. I love this book.

The book so appealed to my 15 year old and my 11 year old that I had to read it. It grabs you immediately. The premise of the story is brilliant, the lead character is strong and appealing. I don't usually enjoy YA/teen books but this one is a fun ride with fully fleshed out leads. There is also a love story within the book but not the standard. I would have loved this as a teen. In fact I pretty much loved it now.

Used this book for my dissertation - great dystopian novel and certainly encourages you to think about things.

Great!