Terry McMahon's Awesome Blog

So when Aaron Block called and told me that his brother Stefan had written a novel, I have to admit I was skeptical. Stefan, who I'd gotten to know up at their family cottage in New Hampshire and had since moved to NYC, was already in the midst of a burgeoning career in film documentary just a couple of years outside of college. Maybe he'd gotten sick of it or something, but even then, who doesn't want to write a novel?

Then Aaron told me that Stefan had found a publisher, which then reminded me of that annoying old Xerox ad that ends with "and now everyone can get published!" I mean, I could find a publisher. I couldn't find a good publisher, but I could go around calling myself "a published author" if I felt like it.

Then I discovered that Stefan's publisher is some joint called Random House, his book was being translated into 11 languages, he was going on a book tour, and it was getting reviewed by major critics. That sounded absurd, but I thought, well, I'll believe it when I see it.

I've seen it. Stefan's book comes out tomorrow, and courtesy of Aaron, here are some excerpts from reviews:

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Janet Maslin of The New York Times described his novel as:

"[an] emotional roller coaster ... 'The Story of Forgetting' is as
true to the anguish of [its] questions as it is ablaze with love and
vitality ... Mr. Block taps into the life force that gives [his
characters] a human, heart-wrenching answer ... a fresh, beguiling
novel."

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Tina Jordan of Entertainment Weekly claims that:

"Block weaves together his disparate narrative strands with a deft
hand, tingeing his tale with a lovely touch of the fantastic."

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Melissa Katsoulis of The Financial Times states that his novel is:

"Blisteringly good ... The redemptive qualities of storytelling are
gloriously displayed in this astonishing first novel, which confirms
Block as a strong new talent."

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Publishers Weekly in a Starred Review has stated that:

"... this astounding debut captures an air of the fantastical while
presenting one family's heartfelt battle with Alzheimer's ... Block
displays an innate gift for developing believable characters each with
his own distinct voice. The result is a story that's compulsive and
transporting."

---
Mike Shea of Texas Monthly raves that:

"STEFAN MERRILL BLOCK is a talent ... [he] can write big: By tracing
[a] lineage through generations, he gives his narrative scope and
power. But it's the intimate moments--husbands, wives, sons, and
daughters devastated by the effects of Alzheimer's--that make The Story
of Forgetting, well, unforgettable."

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Steve Giegerich of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch claims that Stefan's
novel is:

"nuanced yet intensely personal literature ... [Block's] investment in
vivid character development pays off handsomely in a tightly
structured narrative that moves flawlessly from start to finish ...
The brilliance of 'The Story of Forgetting,' poetic and spiritual, is
undeniable."

---
Kirkus Review claims that

"...what makes this novel special is Block's grasp of the emotional
devastation wrought by Alzheimer's ... the melancholy that must
accompany even the closest bonds once this disease has struck. A
sensitive fictional interpretation of family tragedy."

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So, suffice it to say that Stefan's book is kind of a big deal. I will buy it at the launch party because I'm so awesome and supportive, but I am pretty sure it will be a passable read. The Financial Times said so!