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roannasylver's review against another edition
5.0
“That isn’t funny, James.” His exasperation was music to my ears. I felt them wheeling me away, lights passing overhead, bursts of white against my eyes.
“I’m laughing anyway.”
* * *
...I usually begin a book review (if I liked it!) with a favorite quote. With this one, another one popped into my head. Like the story itself, it's hard to get out of my head.
"If life ain't just a joke, then why are we laughing?"
- My Chemical Romance, "Dead!"
That sure is the question, and IN MEMORIAM might be as good an answer as I've found yet.
First of all, I nabbed this one for free (thank you, Twitter!) and it turned out to be an even more incredible bargain than I originally thought. This one is very short, but packs a hell of a punch on the illness rep, romance, AND writing style fronts. It stays with you.
First off, major warning for unreality, dissociation/hallucinations/mental deterioration, inconsistent narration - but not in a bad way, or even an "unreliable narrator" way. Our MC is doing his best to keep everything straight, but... he's having a pretty hard time, given the obvious. Equally obviously, warning for cancer, medical trauma and discussion of death.
That said, this is a starkly raw and emotional look at (what MAY be) someone's last days as he tries to make sense of his life and the people in it. And the loss of people in it. The MC here has what might kind of be a unique opportunity - he's reliving his most important moments, but differently than they originally occurred. (Or are they?) He quickly comes to realize that although he may not be entirely certain which versions are real, some are definitely better than others.
Honestly this story is a bit hard to describe. It's about half to 2/3rds flashbacks, and it's all about trying to reconcile memory with reality, and how all of these disjointed parts all blend together to make... a person. A life. Meaning. Isn't that what so many stories are about at their core, the search for meaning, redemption and hope amongst chaos and despair? The conclusion here isn't clear-cut, but I do believe the protag here (and, hopefully, the writer/reader) did indeed find it.
And laughter. Sardonic and extremely gallows, but the humor in this is quick and extremely effective. And as the MC navigates this confusing, frightening new-old life... incredibly relatable.
Finally, IN MEMORIAM did precisely what I assume the job of every short-story freebie is: made me want to read more by this author. I don't believe it's a series (that would kind of spoil the intentionally-ambiguous ending, I think!), but if it's any indicator, I'm sure the rest won't disappoint.
“I’m laughing anyway.”
* * *
...I usually begin a book review (if I liked it!) with a favorite quote. With this one, another one popped into my head. Like the story itself, it's hard to get out of my head.
"If life ain't just a joke, then why are we laughing?"
- My Chemical Romance, "Dead!"
That sure is the question, and IN MEMORIAM might be as good an answer as I've found yet.
First of all, I nabbed this one for free (thank you, Twitter!) and it turned out to be an even more incredible bargain than I originally thought. This one is very short, but packs a hell of a punch on the illness rep, romance, AND writing style fronts. It stays with you.
First off, major warning for unreality, dissociation/hallucinations/mental deterioration, inconsistent narration - but not in a bad way, or even an "unreliable narrator" way. Our MC is doing his best to keep everything straight, but... he's having a pretty hard time, given the obvious. Equally obviously, warning for cancer, medical trauma and discussion of death.
That said, this is a starkly raw and emotional look at (what MAY be) someone's last days as he tries to make sense of his life and the people in it. And the loss of people in it. The MC here has what might kind of be a unique opportunity - he's reliving his most important moments, but differently than they originally occurred. (Or are they?) He quickly comes to realize that although he may not be entirely certain which versions are real, some are definitely better than others.
Honestly this story is a bit hard to describe. It's about half to 2/3rds flashbacks, and it's all about trying to reconcile memory with reality, and how all of these disjointed parts all blend together to make... a person. A life. Meaning. Isn't that what so many stories are about at their core, the search for meaning, redemption and hope amongst chaos and despair? The conclusion here isn't clear-cut, but I do believe the protag here (and, hopefully, the writer/reader) did indeed find it.
And laughter. Sardonic and extremely gallows, but the humor in this is quick and extremely effective. And as the MC navigates this confusing, frightening new-old life... incredibly relatable.
Finally, IN MEMORIAM did precisely what I assume the job of every short-story freebie is: made me want to read more by this author. I don't believe it's a series (that would kind of spoil the intentionally-ambiguous ending, I think!), but if it's any indicator, I'm sure the rest won't disappoint.
gillianw's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
From the blurb, I was afraid this would be kind of depressing but actually turned out to be funny and quite lovely. The Sliding Doors-like premise was really well done. This was my first book by this new-to-me author, but it sure won't be my last.
From the blurb, I was afraid this would be kind of depressing but actually turned out to be funny and quite lovely. The Sliding Doors-like premise was really well done. This was my first book by this new-to-me author, but it sure won't be my last.
caitgauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Some people can write a tome and not really tell a decent story, but then authors like 'Nathan Bourgoine can create an entire lifetime (or two) in a short work of fiction that cuts right to the soul. I'm so moved by this funny, heartbreaking, and poignant piece. It's masterfully crafted and makes me want to tell the people closest to me how much I treasure them. A must read. I'll not forget this story in a hurry. It might be the first work I've read from the author, but it won't be my last.
chaos_and_chapters's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical content, and Cancer
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual content, Homophobia, Violence, Pregnancy, Car accident, and Grief
ryanpfw's review against another edition
4.0
Spoilers for In Memoriam.
This short story is about James Daniels, who receives a terminal brain cancer diagnosis. Filled with regrets over his past actions, having seizures that rob him temporarily of memory and self-identity, he relives past events. Is he changing his past, or is it all the brain tumor?
This one sells itself based on narrative structure alone.
This short story is about James Daniels, who receives a terminal brain cancer diagnosis. Filled with regrets over his past actions, having seizures that rob him temporarily of memory and self-identity, he relives past events. Is he changing his past, or is it all the brain tumor?
This one sells itself based on narrative structure alone.
breadedbookpages's review against another edition
5.0
Holy shit I just read the most magical thing ever.
Content warning for mc with cancer. This has time travel and it ends happily don't worry.
Content warning for mc with cancer. This has time travel and it ends happily don't worry.
eicart_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Delightful, heartbreaking, hopeful short novella. Queer, funny, with a touch of magic. I cried, I laughed, I sighed with pleasure at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Medical content
Moderate: Death of parent
leannj's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
welkinvault's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Oh my god, this was just perfect. It made me tear up. For such a short novella it was the perfect length. Best impluse purchase.
bookedinsideout's review against another edition
3.0
I found the humour in this book top notch and I really liked the idea, but I had some trouble navigating the nonlinear structure listening on audio and for me I think it would be better suited for a print read. The narrator also fell into the trap of annoyingly high narration for women characters, but even with that it was a good story and I will definitely read more ‘Nathan Burgoine and probably this one again too, just in print.