Remember This

John Martin is a talented graphic designer who has left behind his alcoholic mother and Texas to work as a word processor for a prestigious New York investment bank. He meets Alena Marino, an Italian immigrant who shares his hustle and grit, and they begin an affair. When his oldest sister arrives in town, he is forced to confront his damaged past and his history of relationships with beautiful women. His relationship with Jeremy Crawford, Alena's closest confidant, helps him understand the roots of his compulsion to "save" those around him, and he learns how to open himself to true friendship and loss. The novel is set in the midst of cultural upheaval and reverberates across the decades.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 11 October 2022
Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press

John Martin, a talented graphic designer working as a word processor for a prestigious New York investment bank, has bid farewell to Texas and his alcoholic, emotionally absent mother. It is the era of the personal computer revolution and the AIDS epidemic, and gentrification is sweeping the city. Alena Marino, John's supervisor, is an Italian immigrant who shares his determination and resilience, aggressively carving out a new life for herself. Their affair begins, and John imagines himself the perfect lover for Alena, fulfilling her desires without expecting her to leave her husband. However, when his oldest sister unexpectedly arrives in town, he is compelled to confront his troubled past and a series of relationships with stunningly gorgeous, emotionally complex women.

John's quest to understand the origins of his compulsion to "save" those around him is both aided and hindered by his relationship with his colleague, Jeremy Crawford. Alena's closest confidant, Jeremy, shares an intimacy with her that fuels John's jealousy. Meanwhile, Jeremy finds himself drawn to John and, as his confidant as well, becomes entangled in the drama of John and Alena's relationship. As John gradually begins to grasp the flawed and wounded experience of love that has followed him throughout his life, he learns how to embrace genuine friendship and face the inevitability of loss.

Set against the backdrop of cultural upheaval, this powerful novel resonates across decades.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780299339241