Remembrance of Things I Forgot by Bob Smith

If you're closer to New York than Wyoming, cancel whatever you're doing and attend tonight's launch of Bob Smith's second novel, Remembrance of Things I Forgot [[No Kindle]] at Barnes & Noble on Broadway at 82nd. Bob will be joined on stage by Susan Blackwell, Lea DeLaria, and Eddie Sarfaty for a reading of his funny, ranty book. Like many works involving magic or science fiction, in this case a twenty-year leap of time travel, Bob's novel is really two books. One is a wry and moving account of a 46 year-old going back in time to meet his 26 year-old self and the lost world of New York in the 80s in an attempt to avert one or both of the tragedies that befell his family in the intervening years. The other is an exuberant acid spray against Dick Cheney and George Bush. In 2006, comic book dealer John is ready to break-up with his longtime boyfriend Taylor who has become a republican and has invented a time machine for Cheney, who pushes a button and sends John back to 1986. Teaming up with his younger self, Junior, he hopes to prevent his beloved sister Carol's suicide some years hence and his father's subsequent death from alcoholism. In one of the book's very best scenes, John nervously telephones his future boyfriend, who is such a science geek he seemingly readily accepts that he built a time machine, but is in fact is so perpetually frisky he thinks John is role-playing for phone sex. Together the three of them embark on a cross-country road trip to warn their family and save Carol. Possibly the book's very best character is their mother, a blunt, comic mix of anger, confusion, and love. Readers will not want the visit home to end, but the characters decide they have to prevent Bush from becoming president and detour to Midland, Texas for brain-bending hysteria involving one wasted young W and double Dicks, double Johns, Taylor, and an awesome lesbian. Some readers may find the intrusion of abhorrent politicians into the sacred world of fiction like plutonium: a little goes a long way. But Bob is a natural born comedian and laughs are laughs. Eventually, of course, the lads make it to Carol in California. Not everything goes to plan but a wise John says it's not the failing you mind, it's never trying. Bob Smith aims high and succeeds.

Comments

[Chris]

Thanks for posting about this book. It sounds like a lot of fun. I wish I could make the reading tonight . . . and I really, really wish there was a Kindle version of this.

I hope I'm not a broken record about the lack of Kindle editions of these books. Kindle is become a larger part of Amazon's business and I don't want LGBT voices to be shut out of this!

[Dean Van de Motter]

Chris, there is an e:edition of this title available. It's not nook or Kindle, but you can definitely download it onto your computer or iphone and if you know someone who is a geek about this, maybe you can download it onto your nook or Kindle. Wisconsin Press is doing a fabulous job with this--so you might want to get in touch with them. And even if you have to purchase a hard copy of this book, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed. QueerReader.com strongly recommends this book. All the best.

[Cynthia]

The reading was standing room only and hilarious of course. Long, long line for signing. The party was terrific. Charming people. Missed you. I was all ready to tell you about the last book I read. Oh well, next time.

[Chris]

Thanks for the ereader tip, Dean. I found that this book is available on Google Books here: http://books.google.com/books/about/Remembrance_of_Things_I_Forgot.html
It looks like you can read Google book on iPad, but not on Kindle without some tech tricks.

I was hoping I could only take my Kindle on vacation, but I just might throw in my iPad too.

[Chris]

Hey, I just had to comment on this book one more time. I had it in my head that I wouldn't like this book . . . well, I LOVED it. I think it will end up being one of my favorites of the year. Excellent, excellent, so exciting and fresh! Thanks for suggesting it, or I never would have picked it up.