Memorial

[Amy]

thread to discuss Memorial by Bryan Washington

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Tiny self-promotion in that I was able to interview the author earlier this year, and ask him some of my burning questions I was left with after finishing the novel. (view spoiler)[How are the men missing each other? How does the author understand grief? And more... (hide spoiler)]

Overall I find this book to have a lot of nuance, and space for the reader to decide what happens after the book ends. I still think about these characters....

[Lauren]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Tiny self-promotion in that I was able to interview the author earlier this year, and ask him some of my burning questions I was left with after finishing the novel. [spoilers removed]

Overall I f..."

I'm listening to your podcast episode with Bryan - how fun! Thanks for sharing that. I'm a fan of his after meeting him at a book festival last year, although with both Lot: Stories and this one I'm a little uneasy about the stories playing into the stereotype of (view spoiler)[ promiscuity among gay men in their relationships. Does anyone else have thoughts on that aspect? (hide spoiler)] But I really appreciated the ending of Memorial. I'm curious how this one will do with the judges.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Lauren wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Tiny self-promotion in that I was able to interview the author earlier this year, and ask him some of my burning questions I was left with after finishing the novel. [s..."

I think rather than fulfill some kind of stereotype, the author wants readers to push back their heteronormative expectations for what a longterm relationship looks like. (view spoiler)[Is there room for periods of openness, or separation? Can you still love if there are multiple partners at times? I get the impression he expects Mike to return to Japan but for that not to necessarily break up the pair; and Mike seems amused/okay with Ben's fling with his co-worker. I think in a straight couple literary novel this would be harder to pull off (although surely openness exists in hetero relationships too!)... maybe it's that line of stereotypes based in reality, and what if.... I think Bryan Washington is at his best writing on those edges.

The other untold part of the story I keep thinking about is Mike's Mom, what he'll think about her relationship with Benson, what happens next, I mean she's made more friends in the neighborhood than Ben has. (hide spoiler)]

The biggest surprise to me was hearing about the author's connection to Osaka, and that added a lot to the context of the book.

[Lauren]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Tiny self-promotion in that I was able to interview the author earlier this year, and ask him some of my burning questions I was left with after finishin..."

Good points; I can see that. There is a lot to think about as far as what could be next for these characters. I'm guessing he had no intention of making this a series though. We'll just have to keep wondering. ;)

And yes, so fun about Osaka! I'd love to incorporate some of the other places I've lived into my writing (Chile, for example), but I often find it feeling forced. I remember thinking Osaka seemed a bit random for this story, but it helps knowing the background on where that came from now.

[Lisa]

Bryan Washington is local, and he has written the best short stories and novel about Houston. So many novelists fail at developing the character/sense of place about Houston. The only other novel that has done well is Truth Exercise. Washington captures the diversity, the amazing food, and the beauty of our mutt city. I'm completely prejudiced about this novel. I love that Washington writes about the parts of Houston that outsiders wouldn't know about.

[Gwendolyn]

Lisa, me too! This book really “gets” Houston. Same for Trust Exercise (though it bothered me that the book never mentioned Houston by name). As a lifelong Houstonian, I really enjoy seeing some serious literary fiction set in Houston. It’s so rare!

[Lauren]

Gwendolyn wrote: "Lisa, me too! This book really “gets” Houston. Same for Trust Exercise (though it bothered me that the book never mentioned Houston by name). As a lifelong Houstonian, I really enjoy seeing some se..."

Yes! I'd love to see a lot more Texas represented in lit fic in general. I'm reading Where We Come From right now, set in Brownsville, and I'm planning to incorporate a lot of Austin in the novel I'm working on. If anyone is reading more of the long list, Nights When Nothing Happened has a strong presence of north Texas/Dallas suburbs. But of course Houston and Austin are much cooler settings than Dallas. ;)

[Phyllis]

There is definitely a story going on as Benson and Mike each work through their relationships with their fathers, and for me that was what I felt was actually something the book was trying to explore. But overall I had a hard time liking this book.

I'm becoming more & more convinced that I am just too old -- too far removed from the angst-y young adult stage of life -- to appreciate these stories. I had the same difficulty with Real Life when I read it just a little while back. But then I think: Heck, my own children and many of my coworkers aren't much past that age, and they & their cohort aren't incomprehensible to me. Perhaps someone closer to their late 20s can help me see whether these books are reflecting reality. Is everyone in their 20s really so angry and cynical? Does the dialogue in these books really mirror the way that folks in their 20s talk to each other?

[Ruthiella]

Phyllis wrote: "There is definitely a story going on as Benson and Mike each work through their relationships with their fathers, and for me that was what I felt was actually something the book was trying to explo..."

I didn't particularly gel with this book either. But I'm not sure it is an age thing. I loved Luster and empathized with that main character, even though she is decades younger than I am.

I found the gratuitous cursing in Memorial off-putting and I didn't read any distinction between the voice of Mike and Benson. In fact, everyone spoke in the same tone and they were all pissed off. I also never understood what brought Mike and Benson together or even what held them apart.

But this is what I like about the ToB. Finding out what does work for other readers and why, even if it isn't quite my thing.

[Care]

I didn't read any distinction between the voice of Mike and Benson. In fact, everyone spoke in the same tone."

I just started the audio and am already confused about who is talking. You would think I could figure it out with two different narrators! I wonder if I should send it back and start Leave the World Behind instead.

[Phyllis]

Care wrote: "I just started the audio and am already confused about who is talking. . . . wonder if i should send it back . . ."

I read the book in paper so it was easier (though not completely a breeze) to know which character was speaking. Overall this was pretty much a meh book for me, but I did develop a little sympathy for both Ben and Mike somewhere probably about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way through the book.

[Bretnie]

I almost stopped reading this book a quarter in since it just felt ridiculous that Mike would get on a plane the day after his mother showed up. And so much sex.

But I'm glad I persisted. Definitely teared up a few times in the last 100 pages and came to appreciate the characters more by the end. Not sure how I feel about the ending, but I'm glad I read the book.

[Karin]

I only gave this a so-so review, but this book has really stuck with me. I own both this and Lot, and I'm hoping to do a back to back reread of both this year.

[Mandy]

I enjoyed this book, though I wasn't sure if I would when I first read the description, and probably never would have picked it up if not for TOB. As a queer person who grew up in a suburb in a red state it still feels somewhat novel to me to find fiction like this that deals with internalized homophobia and HIV status in a gay relationship without making that the sole focus of the entire story. It's treated like any other relationship baggage in a book that is chock full of plenty of other family drama and to me that is refreshing.

[Karen]

This is one of those books that I feel may have made a great short story, but there's just not enough here for a compelling full-length novel. Part of the problem may have been that I listened to the audiobook and the guy who read Ben (who I think may have been the author?) was boring me to tears. I often like books better when I read them, because WTH are they actually saying "he said" over and over again? Especially when they are performing the different characters. We know! When you're reading you can ignore that.

[Phyllis]

Mandy wrote: "...deals with internalized homophobia and HIV status in a gay relationship without making that the sole focus of the entire story..."

I agree Mandy. I appreciated how the author just wrote about the people as people, living their lives with the circumstances they have.

[Lauren]

Karen wrote: "This is one of those books that I feel may have made a great short story, but there's just not enough here for a compelling full-length novel. Part of the problem may have been that I listened to t..."

I'll admit this got to me too, as I listened to it as well. Even reading in print I prefer "he said/she saids" to be as limited as possible. Not sure why that still comes up in audio versions sometimes...

[Lauren]

Mandy wrote: "I enjoyed this book, though I wasn't sure if I would when I first read the description, and probably never would have picked it up if not for TOB. As a queer person who grew up in a suburb in a red..."

Yes, I also appreciated that aspect. It felt like the opposite of that awful new movie Happiest Season, which seemed to turn back LGBTQ progress a few decades. We rage watched that in December. Definitely do not recommend.

[Mindy]

I agree that the audio for Memorial leaves much to be desired. This book didn't work for me at all, but I might have liked it better in print. The Benson narrator was terribly monotone. With apologies to those who know the author, here is another example of why authors shouldn't narrate their own books in most cases.

I mostly didn't find the characters or the story interesting, with the exception of Mitsuko and Benson's relationship.

[Martha]

As others have mentioned, the quality of this book being "a love song to Houston" is the biggest takeaway for me. Maybe not enough to sustain an entire novel, but definitely enough to sustain a homesick Texan. I also found the structure of 2 settings/2 voices/2 perspectives satisfying as a way to convey what each character learns (or doesn't) about their ongoing relationship.