Adam Haslett

From a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist, a story of a family facing the ultimate question: how far will we go for those we love the most? When Margaret's fiancé, John, is hospitalized for depression, she faces a choice: carry on with their plans, or back away from the suffering it may bring her. She decides to marry him. IMAGINE ME GONE is the unforgettable story of what unfolds from this act of love and faith. At the heart of it is their eldest son, Michael, a brilliant, anxious music fanatic, and the story of how, over the span of decades, his younger siblings-the responsible Celia and the tightly controlled Alec-struggle along with their mother to care for Michael's increasingly troubled existence. Adam Haslett has given us something rare: a novel with the power to change how you see the most important people in your life.

Imagine Me Gone

Casper

Excellent examination of multigenerational mental illness. Anyone who has experienced mental health issues or has family members with mental health issues will likely find aspects of this book to be relatable. It was a difficult read, not only because the content is sad, but also because the writing itself has a lot of time jumps and the narration by one of the characters who has a mental illness can he difficult to understand (which was undoubtedly intentional). 

I'll definitely be thinking about these characters for some time to come. Highly recommended for those who like books with mental health themes, especially in relation to family dynamics.

Tasma Zieser

Francine Corry

Gigi V

SHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS 2017 Universal and essential, the heart-breaking story of an ordinary American family shaped by tragedy Michael is a precocious kid, smart and funny, obsessed with books and music. His sister Celia is the sensible one in the family: tougher than the boys, unshakeably certain about how the world works. And then there's Alec, the most ambitious and also the most sensitive, growing up in the shadow of his older siblings. While all three are still young, the course of their lives is changed forever. In a family marked by tragedy, Michael, Celia and Alec struggle for years to save one another from the destructive legacy of guilt. Weaving together the voices of five family members, Adam Haslett imagines how a single event can define many lives, unfolding a rich and painful novel that has all the makings of an American classic.

Imagine Me Gone

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