I really am hard pressed to put into words any thoughts or reactions to this book. I mean, at base, I respect the hell out of the author for tackling such HUGE themes with such a totally original and creative method, but I almost think she tried too hard in some ways. The concept is phenomenal - a woman who is forgotten by everyone after she leaves their presence - just utterly fascinating. And the author's imagination in creating this character, her interactions with others, even though objectively it should be impossible to write about a person who leaves no mark, is so impressive. The relationships Hope made with Luca, with Filipa (so sad!) with Byron, with Gauguin and the methods of "remembering" by notes or recordings and the entire concept of "remembering the attempt to remember" was mind boggling. At times I think to the extent that reading about it became a bit of a mental chore, perhaps part of the reason I didn't like the book more. Also, the commentary on our current lives that she makes: impossible standards and the willingness to reach "Perfection" even if we lose ourselves, our individuality, in the process and fundamental beliefs/ideology that people will do anything for (up to and including mass murdering) without remorse because we believe it is right and cannot see another view, another way. Alone each of those is enormous in score, but together...they create a novel of philosophy and exploration and truth that borders on overwhelming. I can see why this story was touted as "poignant" and "little short of a masterpiece" because it's breadth absolutely is. But within that, I felt a bit like Hope, always an outsider. My engagement with the story was objective and never crossed enough into the subjective piece that I personally need to make any given book a favorite. The pacing was good but got tripped up with words I think. So many words. Sentences that trailed off into nothing and picked back up later and lead you in circles and back again. Perhaps that was the point - to make us feel like Hope, or to feel the confusion of those who interacted with her. But for me at least, there was so much filler narration that my interest lagged. I both wanted to read to see what happened because the story was so intriguing, so imaginative, and also wanted to never pick up the book again because my brain felt too bogged down. All in all, there was something magical and something frightening here, but for me, that final piece that would have catapulted this novel into my top favorites was buried somewhere in there too deep to find. A pity. But still a compelling commentary that should, and I think will, prompt readers to re-examine who they are and what they want and how far they are willing to go to get it.