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| Remembrance of Things I Forgot
ISBN: 9780299283438
Platform/Publisher: Project MUSE / University of Wisconsin Press
Digital rights: Users: Unlimited; Printing: Chapters; Download: Chapters
Subjects: Gay men; Dysfunctional families; Interpersonal relations; Time travel;
Comic book dealer John Sherkston has finally decides to break up with boyfriend Taylor Esgard after 20 years. However, he decides to do it the day that Taylor completes his masterwork-a functioning time machine, in writer/comedian Smith's (Selfish and Perverse) latest novel. Using this machine, John accidentally travels back to 1986, when he and Taylor first met (and when Molly Ringwald ruled). He seizes this opportunity to give his younger self lots of information, try to save his sister and father from their early deaths, and most daringly, to stop George W. Bush from becoming President. His cohorts-his younger self, "Junior," the younger Taylor, and a group of friends-are pursued by Dick Cheneys old and young and John reaches some important conclusions about life, roads not taken, and what can still be changed. Smith takes an absolutely hysterical romp through our achingly recent history. His characters are sharp, funny, and instantly recognizable in their queer archetypes without being stereotypical. He's not afraid of balancing humor and sadness and manages to combine youthful optimism with the cynicism of age. This will appeal most to a very specific niche audience-LGBT-friendly East Coasters; regardless of scope, Smith executes his tale with witty aplomb. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Bob Smith was born in Buffalo, New York on December 24, 1958. He was a comedian and writer. He was the first openly gay male comedian to star in his own special on HBO, which aired in 1994, and to perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also appeared on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and MTV's Wisecrack. He wrote several collections of essays including Openly Bob, which won the LAMBDA Book Award for humor; Way to Go, Smith; and Treehab: Tales from My Natural Wild Life. He also wrote novels including Selfish and Perverse and Remembrance of Things I Forgot. As a television writer, he wrote for The MTV Video Music Awards, Dennis Miller, Roseanne, and MADtv. He died from complications of ALS on January 20, 2018 at the age of 59. (Bowker Author Biography) |
