Everything I Don't Remember
CBC Books | Posted: June 8, 2018 5:41 PM | Last Updated: June 8, 2018
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles
A young man named Samuel dies in a horrible car crash. Was it an accident or was it suicide? To answer that question, an unnamed writer with an agenda of his own sets out to map Samuel's last day alive. Through conversations with friends, relatives and neighbours, a portrait of Samuel emerges: the loving grandchild, the reluctant bureaucrat, the loyal friend, the contrived poseur — the young man who did everything for his girlfriend Laide and shared everything with his best friend Vandad. Until he lost touch with them both.
By piecing together an exhilarating narrative puzzle, we follow Samuel from the first day he encounters the towering Vandad to when they become roommates. We meet Panther, Samuel's self-involved childhood friend whose move to Berlin indirectly cues the beginning of Samuel's search for the meaning of love — which in turn leads Samuel to Laide. Soon, Samuel's relationship with Laide leads to a chasm in his friendship with Vandad, and it isn't long before the lines between loyalty and betrayal, protection and peril get blurred irrevocably. (From Simon & Schuster)
From the book
I had definitely pictured what it would be like in here, too. You know, more like in the movies. Thick iron bars, a disgusting toilet in the corner, bunk beds, and steamy showers where you have to be careful not to drop the soap. I thought I would have to walk around with a razor blade in my mouth twenty-four/seven to be prepared. But you can see for yourself. This is more like a hostel. The people here are chill. The toilets are clean. There's even a workshop where you can make stuff out of wood. I was lucky to end up here.
From Everything I Don't Remember by Jonas Hasen Khemiri ©2018. Published by Simon & Schuster.