Memorial (novel)
.png) First edition cover | |
| Author | Bryan Washington |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Bryan Washington Akie Kotabe |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Set in | Houston and Osaka |
| Publisher | Riverhead Books |
Publication date | October 27, 2020 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover), e-book, audiobook |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | 978-0-593-08727-5 (hardcover) |
| OCLC | 1128065538 |
| 813/.6 | |
| LC Class | PS3623.A86737 M46 2020 |
| Website | brywashing |
Memorial is the debut novel by Bryan Washington.[1] It was published by Riverhead Books on October 27, 2020,[2] to acclaim from book critics.[3]
Plot
Benson lives with Mike in Houston. Mike goes to Osaka to take care of his estranged father who is dying. Meanwhile, Mike's mother Mitsuko is visiting and staying at his place in Houston, with Benson.[4]
Characters
- Benson – a black day care teacher
- Mike – a Japanese-American chef at a Mexican restaurant
- Mitsuko – Mike's mother
Reception
Memorial received favorable reviews from critics, with a cumulative "Rave" rating at the review aggregator website Book Marks based on a sample of 21 reviews.[3]
In its starred review, Kirkus Reviews called it "vividly written" and wrote, "Washington's novel is richly layered and thrives in the quiet moments between lovers and family members."[5] In its starred review, Publishers Weekly wrote that Washington applied "nuance in equal measure to his characters and the places they're tied to."[6] Michael Schaub of NPR called the novel a "masterpiece" and praised Washington's "ability to draw the reader's attention to what's not said as much as what is."[7] Ron Charles of The Washington Post praised the novel's narration, writing, "Washington inhabits these two men so naturally that the sophistication of this form is rendered entirely invisible, and their narratives unspool as spontaneously and clearly as late-night conversation."[8]
In December 2020, Emily Temple of Literary Hub reported that the novel had made 14 lists of the best books of 2020.[9]
Television adaptation
On October 13, 2020, A24 announced it had purchased the rights to adapt the novel for television, with Washington adapting his novel.[10]
Awards and nominations
- Honor, 2021 Stonewall Book Award - Barbara Gittings Literature Award Honor [11]
- Longlist, 2021 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction[12]
References
- ^ David Canfield, "Bryan Washington on why he's calling his debut novel a 'gay slacker dramedy'". Entertainment Weekly, February 14, 2020.
- ^ "Memorial by Bryan Washington: 9780593087275". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ a b "Memorial". Book Marks. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
- ^ Simon, Scott (October 24, 2020). "Yes, There's Conflict — But No One's The Bad Guy In 'Memorial'". WAMU. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ "Memorial by Bryan Washington". Kirkus Reviews. July 1, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Fiction Book Review: Memorial by Bryan Washington". Publishers Weekly. June 1, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ Schaub, Michael (October 28, 2020). "'Memorial' Is A Debut Novel That Feels Like The Work Of A Master". NPR. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
- ^ Charles, Ron (October 27, 2020). "Bryan Washington's 'Memorial' is a tender look at modern family life". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Temple, Emily (December 15, 2020). "The Ultimate Best Books of 2020 List". Literary Hub. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 13, 2020). "A24 Wins Hot Novel 'Memorial' By Bryan Washington For TV Division". Deadline. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
- ^ "2021 Barbara Gittings Literature Award and Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award of the Stonewall Book Awards Announced". American Library Association. February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ Saka, Rasheeda (October 26, 2020). "Here's the longlist for the 2021 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction". Literary Hub. Retrieved October 17, 2022.