"The Forgetting Time" an Uninspiring Reflection on Reincarnation

What if we had chance upon chance to love the people we love, to redeem ourselves and make things right?  This is the reiterated core of Sharon Guston's debut novel "The Forgetting Time."  This hogwash remains a sentimental bore. "And tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day. And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death."  (Shakespeare)  Guston references to Shakespeare & to documented cases of conceivable accounts of reincarnation are not suffice to make for a compelling story or strong argument for reincarnation.   Guston has written & produced a documentary "On Meditation."  The book is overflowing with cornball cliches that are meant as profound reflections.  "I can't hold on to hope and I can't hold on without."  And, "You had to be where you were.  The life you're living, the moment you're in."  In retrospect, these alternative truisms are shallow.  Still, this substantively light novel is a swift read due to the mother/son bond driving the narrative.  Janie is a single mother of an emotionally disturbed 4 year old, Noah.  Noah has extreme night terrors, water phobias, unexplained knowledge and a relentless plea with Mommy-mom (Janie) to take him back to his Mama.  Janie's frustrations out of love & concern for her son are understandable.   Help from professionals only offers psychotic medication which she is reluctant to use.  Searching the internet she comes across research by a Dr Anderson purporting evidence of reincarnation.  Desperate to help her tormented son, she reluctantly agrees to meet with the Dr who himself is suffering from degenerative aphasia.  The Dr seizes the opportunity to meet with Noah as his last chance to leave a legitimate legacy of his life's work.  Together they search for answers that lead them to another family & an unsolved murder mystery.   Guston's novel contemplates notions of reincarnation.  More interesting is the focus on the brain: who knows why it remembers what it does.  Also fascinating are glimpses of human nature.  It's a human trait to disregard & dispute evidence.  As an engaging, easy read, Guston succeeds.  As lofty philosophical prose, it sinks.