Super Short Summary

The Book of Memory by Petina Gappah details the nonlinear recollections of Memory, a Zimbabwean woman on death row in Harare, following her conviction for the murder of her adoptive father. Through her writings, which form her court appeal, Memory navigates complex themes of identity, privilege, race, and colonialism, juxtaposing her childhood in a poor township with her elite education in Cambridge and the harshness of her current imprisonment. The novel addresses sensitive issues such as violence and trauma.