Remembrance of Things I Forgot

“It’s safe to say your relationship is in trouble if the only way you can imagine solving your problems is by borrowing a time machine.”

In 2006 comic book dealer John Sherkston has decided to break up with his physicist boyfriend, Taylor Esgard, on the very day Taylor announces he’s finally perfected a time machine for the U.S government. John travels back to 1986, where he encounters “Junior,” his younger, more innocent self. When Junior starts to flirt, John wonders how to reveal his identity: “I’m you, only with less hair and problems you can’t imagine.” He also meets up with the younger Taylor, and this unlikely trio teams up to plot a course around their future relationship troubles, and prevent John’s sister show more from making a tragic decision. In this wickedly comic, cross-country, time-bending journey, John confronts his own—and the nation’s—blunders, learning that a second chance at changing things for the better also brings new opportunities to screw them up. Through edgy humor, time travel, and droll one-liners, Bob Smith examines family dysfunction, suicide, New York City, and recent American history while effortlessly blending domestic comedy with science fiction. Part acidic political satire, part wild comedy, and part poignant social scrutiny, Remembrance of Things I Forgot is an uproarious adventure filled with sharp observations about our recent past.
This "Gay" BACK TO THE FUTURE is highly recommended! show less

Comic book dealer John has decided to break up with his boyfriend, Taylor, on the day that Taylor perfects a time machine. It's 2006, and the reason for their break-up is because Taylor became a Republican after 9/11. John is sent back to 1986, where he teams up with his younger self and a younger Taylor to prevent three tragedies: his father's death from alcoholism, his sister's suicide and the election of George W. Bush as president. Pursued through time by an evil Dick Cheney, the trio find that you can change some things for the better, while others are inevitable. Alternating between razor wit, poignant realizations and keen political observations, this book was a joy to read. I look forward to more from Bob Smith.

I think most of us ponder what things would be like if only we could go back and change one or two significant events in our personal history. John has been given that very opportunity when his partner Taylor invents a time machine. Unexpectedly finding himself back in 1986, he realizes he might be able to change the future and prevent a family tragedy that has yet to happen. Being the passionate political activist that he is, along the way he decides that he should also try to find a way to prevent George W. Bush from ever getting elected president. He seeks his younger self out and together they travel cross country to accomplish their mission. Mostly hilarious but unexpectedly poignant moments pepper the entire book. John is show more expecting to go back and teach and guide his younger self, when he finds that his younger self teaches him a thing or two that he had forgotten. Bob Smith has a great wit and I look forward to reading more of his work. show less

From the acknowledgments:

"The first person I want to thank is Michael Carroll, who read a time-travel short story I'd written and told me, 'I think this should be a novel.'"

I strongly disagree. This would have been a fine short story, and Smith writes really well, with an acerbic sense of humor that is actually funny. But the relentless digressions and left-wing politics, jokes, and even Dick Cheney showing up with a gun and stalking the narrator into the past—well, it was all a bit too much. The first chapter boded well; it was sort of a plot mess after that.

John has decided to break up with his physicist boyfriend, Taylor, on the day Taylor's breakthrough invention--a time machine--was announced. John ends up using the machine to travel back in time 20 years, where he meets up with his younger self and a younger Taylor and sets to work with them on a course to change the future and avoid the problems that led to the demise of their relationship (while changing a few other key things along the way).

Honestly, this was sort of meh for me. It had the right ingredients to be a funny little story. But it often felt to me like the author tried just a little bit too hard to push it over that line. And it didn't land for me.

An incredibly funny, yet poignant look at life as it was 20 years ago and now. I'd expected humor given Smith's history as a comic, but the depth of emotions in the book was a real surprise. Highly recommended.

I really love a good book. Remembrance of Things I Forgot: A Novel was simply well-written. Funny. Engaging. Developed well. And somehow, believable even when this book was getting through a time-traveling plot. Yes, it was funny and exciting. And clever. And yet, the last two words almost got my eyes all teary.

Definitely recommended.