Borrowed Memories
In a world where identities are in flux, and memories hold the power to shape destinies, "Borrowed Memories" by Mark Foss emerges as a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the search for self. This captivating novel, set to launch in June 2024, promises readers a literary journey that transcends borders and time.
Finalist for the 2020 Guernica Prize for Fiction
"An Ontario couple in the depth of their winter years is juxtaposed against the rage and hope of the Arab Spring. Ivan Pyefinch, a freelance translator, becomes the custodian of family memory as he cares for his aging parents in the Thousand Islands. His father, a World War II pilot, fights for his driver’s license, while his mother wages a losing battle against Alzheimer’s. Their lives take an unexpected turn with the arrival of Mia Hakim, an immigrant filmmaker with dreams of her roots and a scenario that binds their stories in ways they never anticipated."
In the midst of the Arab Spring's upheaval, "Borrowed Memories" unravels a tale of shifting identities and the profound impact of memory. Meet Ivan Pyefinch, a freelance translator seeking solace in the Thousand Islands in Canada as he tends to his aging parents, Horace and Aida. Horace, a former World War II pilot, fights to reclaim his driver’s license, while Aida grapples with the relentless advance of Alzheimer’s. Their borrowed time is both a burden and a gift, and Ivan is determined to make the most of it.
Enter Mia Hakim, an immigrant filmmaker from Quebec with a penchant for other people's memories and an unyielding quest for her Sephardic roots. When she seeks Ivan's help in translating her scenario for a research trip to Tunisia, the collision of their worlds becomes inevitable. As Mia unexpectedly arrives at the Pyefinch home on the eve of Remembrance Day, a family health crisis sets in motion a profound narrative that explores the intricacies of love, loss, and the perennial search for identity.
Praised by the Guernica jury as "an evocative and nuanced story," "Borrowed Memories" immerses readers in Ivan's poignant journey. His ambivalence and longing, caught between the echoes of his parents and the enigmatic Mia, create a captivating internal odyssey.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Ivan Pyefinch, a freelance translator, is the self-appointed custodian of family memory. He moves home to the Thousand Islands for the summer to care for his aging parents and escape the sting of his failed marriage. His father Horace, a former World War II pilot, is fighting now to regain his driver’s license, while his mother Aida wages a losing battle against Alzheimer’s. They are living on borrowed time, and Ivan is there to lend them some more.
Mia Hakim is an immigrant filmmaker in Quebec who has always preferred the memories of others, even as she dreams of her Sephardic roots. She plans a research trip to Tunisia in search of her lost childhood and enlists Ivan to translate her scenario. When Mia arrives unannounced at the Pyefinch home on the eve of the Remembrance Day parade, a health crisis in the family puts all their stories on a collision course.
“... an evocative and nuanced story. Ivan’s ambivalence and longing, caught between his parents and Mia, past and future, make for a fascinating internal journey.”
--Guernica
About the Author:
MARK FOSS is the author of the novels Molly O and Spoilers, as well as the short story collection Kissing the Damned. His fiction and creative non-fiction have also appeared in The Fiddlehead, The New Quarterly, subTerrain, Numéro Cinq, carte blanche, Montréal Serai and elsewhere. A radio drama, "Higher Ground", was broadcast on CBC. He lives in Montreal.