Memorial

by Bruce Wagner

Book Overview

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER

In Memorial, acclaimed author Bruce Wagner offers his most extraordinary and affecting book to date -- a profound story of family and faith, and a masterpiece of American fiction.

Joan Herlihy, a young architect desperate to win the commission for a highly coveted Tsunami memorial, has a secret with life-changing consequences. Her brother Chester is keeping secrets as well: he's become addicted to Internet-prescribed...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743272366
• ISBN13: 9780743272360
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 3.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Memorial

Ditto on the book keeping one up at night and thinking about it all day. I was an awe at the wordsmithing, even with stuff that had little or no provence to me. They usually found some sort of mental allocation with me, in the end, which is half the fun of it. The pills Chess and other's were dropping were all unknown to me bar one or two, which had the effect on me of making them more toxic. So I wouldn't go so far as to suggest that glossaries be made by the author for his books, but it might add to the chase. Big question for me is what the hell was really segueing in the end? I Truly experienced the sight of the guardian columns protecting no-thingness. Peculiar about this book is that it is dream from end to end without a single snap-to, while still maintaining a healthy professional writer's edge. The sort of concentration necessary for that is something I dip my hat to. Most of all though I sense something older than civilisation here that lends the language/intent the ability to envision the future very precisely and unbiasedly, which is something of great value right now, and the reason why this book is as morninghorrifying as it is crepuscularly joyous. K Gibran said, 'We live only to discover beauty, all else is a form of waiting'. I also enjoyed the love story part of it - very lightly eluded to (by the author and the characters)- with Marj and Ray, very sweet.

A Unique Voice

Bruce Wagner is a truly original novelist, capable of gargantuan humor, horror and pity all on the same page. His voice is unique and as the critics have noted, Memorial evidences a growing sense of compassion towards his tortured characters.That said, this novel needed a lot of editing! It could have been cut by a third.

Wagner's Opus

I am a big fan of Bruce Wagner's work. I have read all his previous novels so I eagerly awaited his latest. I was not disappointed. This novel is witty, tragic, beautiful, gritty and somewhat horrifying. Like life, right? Wagner's characters are so three-dimensional, they are so fully alive. You get into their heads and understand their motivations. His references to pop culture and arcane matters keep your head reeling. He writes with such passion and humor. If you are searching for a book that will keep you up all night and thinking about it all day, I suggest "Memorial."

Uncle Frank!

It was John Updike who said, "Bruce Wagner writes like a wizard" and Updike, no slouch as a writer, chose his words carefully. Wagner can take his fiction to wildly different places with God-like ease. 'I laughed, I cried' is the teeny tiniest tip of the iceberg. There were places in memorial I dropped the book on the ground and walked out of the room, afraid of its power. but also equally afraid of being done with the book, which around 40 pages in I wished were a thousand pages instead of 500, the way a little kid at Disneyland might wish Disneyland were the literal size of Texas. In all of Wagner's books, there will be one or two scenes that take the act of reading to truly new heights, drawing on the power of cinema, religion, gossip sheets, and horror--of the pulp variety and the everyday variety (usually the worse of the two). opposites pull at each other throughout, if it weren't so obscene it wouldn't be so beautiful. If it weren't so funny it wouldn't be so heartbreaking. If it weren't so mundane it wouldn't be so mystical. I really envy those who haven't read it yet, as all I can do is pore over certain chapters like people with the bible on the subway.

Wow! Amazing!

In a world where truthful contemplation might be valued over cheap sentiment, Bruce Wagner would be considered a prophet or great spiritual leader. In this world, well... a LOT of people will probably be offended by this book; it's mordant humor isn't for everyone. Read the first few pages on line or in the store and see if you are up to the challenge. Bruce Wagner writes with the recklessness of the best young writers (like Chuck Palahniuk) but always holds his magnificent structure in close regard. His riffs on drugged psychosis, grand delusions and guilt dredged regret are as spectacular as anything I've ever read. There are a lot of writers who try to impress with their "smarts" and usually come off as stiff and overthought. It was great to read a book that really is by someone who is a lot smarter than I am, who brings his considerable experience (and a lot of remarkably APPALLING jokes) into play to tell a complicated atory that steers clear of cliche. I didn't know that people were even allowed to write such exciting material in the "post 9-11 world" but were rather required to simplify and coddle the frightened masses! This book is harsh and terrifying. It is as clear and surprising as monologues from under the influence of morphine. I laughed but kicked myself for it! I cried and nearly couldn't stop. I am haunted by "MEMORIAL" and delighted to have been jolted into such a visceral and emotional response. This book is MAGNIFICENT! Mr. Wagner- I can't thank you enough!