In "Don't Let The Past Remind Us Of What We Are Not Now," two nostalgic baby boomers, Brian Sparks and Tess Sagan, use special powers to travel back to their youth in 1968, embarking on an extraordinary, sensual, yet challenging journey into their past.
Book Review:
“Garrison Keillor has said, ‘Men can be trained to be monogamous, much as a bear can be trained to ride a bicycle.’ Clearly implied is that while it can be done, it is not natural, nor easy, and the bear should be forgiven if he struggles to keep his balance and occasionally topples over. Same for men, and women too, The tension between sincere, loving fidelity to spouse and family versus attraction to another perfect soul mate is at the heart of Richard Martin’s first novel: "Don’t Let the Past Remind Us of What We are Not Now." Martin presents us with time-travelling lovers, reminiscent of "Somewhere in Time," except Brian, has left a beloved wife and daughter back in 1998. Meanwhile Brian has journeyed back to his college days at Indiana University in 1968 with Tess, a woman who is not merely stunningly beautiful and supremely sensuous but also kind, good, and wonderful in every way. Unfortunately, Brian is haunted by the thought of how hurtful his mystifying disappearance and prolonged absence must be to his beloved wife and child. Along the way you’re likely to be titillated by the sensuality, and nostalgic for the joy of youth set in the idyllic college town of Bloomington, Indiana and the beautiful campus of Indiana University. For all of us Baby Boomers the frequent references to the music of the era are another endearing ingredient. But the heart of the book is that what traditional morality condemns as sinful infidelity can be the result of an over-abundance of real love, that good, decent people can have multiple potential soul mates. For men and women, the choice of one life partner and exclusion others can be as painful as the amputation of a limb. Martin is to be commended for reminding us of the price we must pay for a lifelong exclusive commitment, that the choices we must make and repeatedly reaffirm are not easy, and the bear should not be eternally condemned if he (or she) takes a tumble.” ~ Steven Fleece, retired judge, IU alumnus