Member Reviews
4.5 ⭐️
Wow, I really enjoyed this book! The Imagined Life follows Steven as he searches for his missing father. As the reader, we follow Steven as he reflects on and comes to terms with trauma that he endured as a child. The writing is beautiful and the story is heartbreaking and I enjoyed all of it.
This is my first book by Andrew Porter, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced copy of this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. The Imagined Life is a though-provoking work of literary fiction unlike any that I've read . Steve, who is on the cusp of turning 12 at the beginning of the book, lives with his parents in California in the early 1980's. To Steve, his parents marriage and his father's job as a professor seem solid but beneath the surface of a charmed life is a world that Steve won't understand for years. His parents throw pool parties, in which his father's colleagues come over to drink, swim and party. He starts noticing more and more men at the parties and a relationship developing between his father and one of the other male academics. When Steve is 12, his father takes him out of school for the day to see a movie in Los Angeles and its the last time he sees his father. The story delves into Steve's adult life with marriage on the brink of breaking and a son of his own. Forty years after his father's disappearance, he sets out to find out what happened to his father. by visiting his uncle and former colleagues of his father's. The Imagined Life tells Steve's story with realistic and touching language.
This novel truly packs a punch. *The Imagined Life* follows our protagonist, Steven, as he investigates his father's disappearance during his early adolescence in the mid-'80s. Like many neglected latchkey kids of that generation, he narrates his parents' complicated relationship as if he were a fly on the wall—left to his own devices.
Now an adult, Steven reflects on his past. He shares many similarities with his father: he is queer or not quite straight, is a writer, has lost his job, and is currently separated from his family. This prompts him to seek answers about what really happened back then. With his mother now deceased, he turns to relatives and old colleagues of his father to help fill in the gaps.
As Steven narrates his journey, we gradually piece together both his father's life and Steven's own experiences. This slow revelation to readers mirrors his own learning process. Through this investigation, he hopes to break free from his father's patterns and stop his cycle of self-sabotage.
If you loved the movie *Aftersun* as much as I did, you should definitely check out this novel. It’s filled with cultural references to movies, books, and music that explore similar themes of nostalgia, loss, memory, complicated relationships, and redemption. I highly recommend this read. Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley.
If you live in Northern or Southern California…have memories from the 70’s or 80’s influence …and/or have a special thing for Stevie Nicks … this book will have your heart just from the barebones aesthetics: [the setting and time period]
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg…
Our protagonist, Steven Mills, is 40ish. He’s trying to come to some type of closure with his father.
Anything I say from here on out won’t possibly communicate my deepest feelings of this novel —
“The Imagined Life” might even be the most affecting - even life altering novel I’ve read a year!
Note: I’ve read every Booker Prize nominated book this year - both long and short list.
I loved MANY BOOKS…. I’m a daily reader junkie. Often — easy to please — but some books are OURS.
Yes, we want to share ‘our’ book with friends - with the world - have worthy discussions very much…..but we also know THIS BOOK BELONGS TO ME. The author wrote it for people like me. I can honesty cry here as I type this — I’m sincerely thankful to Andrew Porter.
A personal share after finishing it around 2am… after a few tears ….
For the first time in 43 years. I had the most vivid dream of my oldest daughter whom I’ve not seen or talked with (other than a few birthday text sentences) in ten years….
Something happened to me so profoundly—
and may I also say my dream was so beautiful…
so real and vivid …
tears are streaming down my face again now —
Heck— I had tears reading the acknowledgments!!
But do I dare post ‘this’ type of review in the question?
Hmmmm…
I’ve got notes. I did more highlighting than needed …
I looked up the Italian film Noir of L’Avventura … (with plans to watch it).
I was interested in every single aspect of this novel ….
I lived inside our protagonist’s head … such a beautiful soul Steven Mills was….
….but instead of a more ‘content’ review … I hope readers who value these types of books - will read THIS ONE ….
I already wrote a few words on Facebook — thinking I’ll write a ‘real’ review later ….
But what I wrote ‘is’ enough … it came quickly from my heart immediately after finishing it - following that morning dream of my daughter.
In my dream I hugged Katy so tightly (she had fallen- not hurt but I saw it happen) I ran to her and said … “may I please comfort you - love you?” I said a few more things holding her precious beautiful
face in my hands — so sorry for all of it — all the ‘stuff’.
I am sorry I failed her - told her - she knew - she sincerely loved me back.
So — re- creating a few things I said on my Facebook page about “The Imagined Life” . . .
…..this novel is a great choice for those who have a son - were a son — or have a daughter- or were a daughter - are a mother or father —
Maybe you experience grief as a child - during your pre- teen or teen years -
Maybe you experience grief now as a parent associated with a child you love -
Maybe closure and forgiveness seems hopeless -
There are themes spread out - mental illness - best friend bonding - identity/ gender confusion and secrets - great books - music - film noir’s mentioned (that left an impression on me too) — pool gatherings - astute observations from a young teen towards a parent - both parents - abandonment- marriage -
College academia— tenure pressures - aging — LOVE — —- definitely LOVE …
There are a few quotes in this book sooo good — I must come back and include a few — or — well readers: you’ll find them.
I’m writing this review on my iPhone during my 46th wedding anniversary in Kauai… relaxing by the pool —
I’m a little emotional and feeling sensitive at the moment —
Most ….
…..so very thankful for my own marriage—my husband…
We both did our best as parents — it wasn’t enough - but we did our best. We would never abandoned our kids at any age — we are always open to them …in any way we can serve …
But … truthfully … looking back we didn’t come from the ‘right stuff’ as orphan-type latchkey kids.
I verbally yelled at Katy - we fought - but I was the parent — I should have known better.
I’m at least comforted she’s successful- independent-incredibly gifted and talented and living alive she was born to live.
I’m sorry though — forever sorry!
Doesn’t change a thing —
But this book made a great difference to be —
I hope others love it half as much as me.
I hope my friends read it. I hope to have those meaningful discussions with others from it.
Last — I can’t thank Andrew Porter enough — I’m a diehard fan of your work — and to Knopf publishing - I love you guys too!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!
Wow - the writing in this book blew me away! This is a story I will never forget. It read more like a memoir than a novel. A truly unique storyline between father and son that’s unlike anything you’ve read before. 5/5 stars. I’ll definitely be checking out previous work by this author.
P.S. As a big Fleetwood Mac fan, the book’s Stevie Nicks references never got old :)