Imagine Me Gone

IMAGINE ME GONE

by Adam Haslett

 

Award: LA Times Winner 2016

 

Nominations: Carnegie Longlist 2017, Kirkus Finalist 2016, National Book Longlist 2016, National Book Critics Circle Finalist 2016, Pulitzer Finalist 2017

 

Date Read: April 25, 2021

 

Imagine Me Gone is a brilliant delve into the world of mental illness that runs in a family. From the very beginnings of the parent’s, John and Margaret, meeting and courtship in England, to Margaret’s discovery of John’s undiagnosed mental illness, abandoning their relationship seemed never to occur to Margaret. She loves John and their marriage seems inevitable.

 

Fast forward to their times in the States, a future they never envisioned for themselves seemingly preferring England, their three children, Michael, Celia and Alec, grow into adolescence. Yet, for the kindness and openness this family seems to inhabit, there still seems something missing: warmth and tenderness. Celia and Alec form a close bond as Michael, precocious and highly verbal, remains mentally distant.

 

But, Michael. Michael, Michael, Michael. This character is so heartbreakingly beautiful, I have to acknowledge Haslett’s genius here. So incredibly flawed, yet so incredibly brilliant and articulate, I could swear his pulse actually beat. The way he can describe music and the allure of a beat. The way he embraces the painful history of slavery as his own and fights for reparation. The way he can throw is entire heart at someone simply upon meeting them. For all this and more, your heart breaks for someone so intricate yet so out of step with the world. And you know he is never really going to find his way. The world doesn’t know what to do with beautiful creatures like this.

 

The depression and suffering of John seems so different from the sufferings of Michael but perhaps that’s simply because John never articulates his state but slides into the deepest hole inside himself where no one else can enter. Michael is much more articulate in the physical, mental and emotional means of his suffering. Yet, the outcome for both is the same. And the outcome is both a tragedy and a relief.

 

Haslett is so brilliantly expressive and insightful here. I would encourage anyone thinking of picking this up to just shut up and go for it. You won’t be sorry.

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