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‘Endearing and wise . . . Emmich brings a compassionate, often comical, and always true eye to his storytelling. Ten-year-old Joan says a good song should either make you want to dance or cry, and The Reminders does both’ Eowyn Ivey, bestselling author of The Snow Child
‘In a story that is both startlingly original and deeply familiar, I could not stop reading, and was bereft when the story ended.’ Jacquelyn Mitchard, bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean
‘Val Emmich has created an indelible cast of complex and quirky characters who drew me in for an emotional and humorous ride . . . A book brimming with heart and soul – you really must read it!’ Garth Stein, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
About the author
Val Emmich is an actor with numerous high-profile TV credits to his name, and an award-winning singer-songwriter who has released over a dozen albums. The Reminders is his first novel. Val lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his wife and two children.
Summary
Ten-year-old Joan was born with a rare gift: she can remember every single day of her life in perfect detail. She can tell you how many times her mother has uttered the phrase ‘it never fails’ in the last six months (twenty-seven), or what she was wearing when her grandfather took her fishing on a particular Sunday in June years ago (fox socks).
But Joan doesn’t want to be the girl who remembers everything – she wants to be the girl that no one can forget. When her father’s old bandmate Gavin comes to stay, reeling from the sudden loss of his partner Sydney, Joan is keen to enlist his help in making her name. Even if it means using her extraordinary memory to help him solve the mystery of Sydney’s final months . . .
Told in the alternating voices of two unforgettable characters, The Reminders by musician and actor Val Emmich is a funny, heart-wrenching and uplifting story of friendship, grief, memory and hope.
Foreword
An irresistible debut novel about love, loss, memory and unlikely friendship, for fans of Nick Hornby, Mark Haddon and Maria Semple.
Additional text
This delightful book is perfect for fans of The Rosie Project and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Ten-year-old Joan was born with a rare gift: she can remember every single day of her life in perfect detail. When her father's old band mate Gavin comes to stay, reeling from the sudden loss of his partner Sydney, they both embark on an endearing friendship. With a memorable cast of quirky characters, Emmich weaves a touching, character-driven story of grief and new beginnings. The Reminders is tender without being saccharine and tackles complex themes like relationships and forgiveness with considerable subtlety.
