Memory and Madness

By Luke Hartwell

A likeable, intelligent high school senior, Mateo Bernard is new to Little Rock. Cody Redan has lived there all his life. Yet, when they meet, there's a familiarity, a sense they've known each other before. By turns funny, romantic, insightful, and sad, this evocative novel brilliantly recreates the landscape of late adolescence, when friendships seem eternal and loves reincarnate. Memory and Madness is a unique contribution to coming of age literature. Earlier versions of the novel were published under the titles of Cody and Clicking Beat on the Brink of Nada. .......... 'A haunting vision of young friendship shattered by an outrageously cruel world. The novel aches with adolescent first loves. It is tender, funny, and true." - William S. Burroughs, author of Naked Lunch .......... "Commands much of J.R. Ackerley's honesty, intimacy, and ease of style. Real warmth." - Jonathan Williams, Musings .......... "A sense of life, the search for identity, intellectual militancy, the ambiguity of human relationships, unsatisfied desire, and weakness in facing existence are just some of the facets of life that the author evokes with precision." - Livres (Brussels) .......... "This novel is a must." - RFD (Asheville, NC) .......... "Poetically evokes the pathos of early friendships and the frailty of adolescent dreams." - The Advocate .......... "The author has given his novel characters with tenderness, wit, and humanity. You should rush to purchase this book-a remarkable novel that deserves wide readership." - Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) .......... "Top of the heap of gay fiction." - Gay Community News (Boston) .......... "The message transcends common reality. ... The author charts the victory of substance over appearance, of everlasting truths over transient physical relationships. His characters give off warmth and forthrightness in equal portions." - This Week in Texas (Houston) .......... "One of the best of its generation, this novel is beautifully written, exciting (and sexy), and full of incident and charm. Even minor characters are treated with Dickensian relish." - Gay Star (Belfast) .......... "A novel about individualism, the right to be whatever you want to be. ... This book should be read by kids and adults alike ... A gay teen coming out classic." - Lambda Rising Book Report (D.C.) .......... "The real triumph of the novel is its portraits of adolescent love. This reviewer can think of no recent novel that has done it better... A very considerable achievement." - English Language Book Review (Amsterdam) .......... "This book is about being gay, and being straight, and a teenager, in Little Rock, Arkansas, but it is about so much more that it defies definition. ... It contains exquisite poetry, beautiful prose, very little sex, and lots of love. ... I recommend this book without hesitation." - SAFE teen (London, Ontario) .......... "I urge everyone to get a copy of this book." - Arkansas Advisor .......... "The realistic loves of young people and the moving plot keep the reader interested throughout the novel." - Tulsa Week .......... "Evokes the pain, strong emotions, and exclusiveness of adolescence. It deserves a broad audience." - Voice of Youth Advocates (Virginia Beach) .......... "Packs a powerful punch in its darkly realistic portrayal of adolescent sexuality; it will leave you shaken in its honest examination of the evolution... of friendship. Don't miss this one." - TLN (Eugene, OR) .......... "This story evolves into a quietly poignant and painful portrait of young love and loss with surprisingly little pretension." - OUT (Pittsburgh) .......... "What takes this novel above the pack is its unique combination of teenage angst, political controversy, and male/male love." - The Weekly News (Miami) .......... "A triumphant portrait of adolescent love." - Just Out (Portland)

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1986877957
• ISBN13: 9781986877954
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"