How to Be Remembered
A man under an inexplicable “curse” hopes to leave a worthy legacy behind him in Michael Thompson’s novel How to Be Remembered.
For most children, a birthday is a time to celebrate. For Tommy, it’s a time to be forgotten: at the stroke of midnight on every birthday, all evidence and memory of his existence disappears. His clueless parents give him up to a group home, where he forges fresh bonds with his friends each year. Only his innate optimism allows him to see beyond the tragedy of his situation; he retains hope that he can outsmart the power playing tricks with his life.
By the time he realizes that he is different, Tommy has already endured lifetimes of loss. But as he enters adulthood, he experiments with building a meaningful life anyway, despite the fact that no one will remember how he contributed to the world. He tries planting a garden and outwitting the universe through the clever use of contracts. He even hopes to forge a lasting connection with Carey, the only girl he’s ever loved.
The question of why this annual forgetting occurs is never answered; explanations are far less interesting than Tommy’s struggle to be remembered. He is the ultimate unsung hero, whose faith can only be rewarded if he finds a way to make an impact, succeed in a business that he loves, and find a romantic partner whom he can trust enough to tell the truth about his life. The universe has plans for Tommy; he faces a final, harrowing challenge as he works to cement his legacy and find true happiness.
How to Be Remembered is an inspiring novel about how everyone makes an impact, even after the world forgets them.
Reviewed by
Eileen Gonzalez
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
