"I Remembers" from the Staff at Godine: Megan

In celebration of Godine's new publication of Georges Perec's I Remember, the office staff reflected on a few of our own I-Remember moments. 

I Remember is the last of this essential writer's major works to be translated into English. Consisting of 480 numbered statements, all beginning identically with "I remember," and all limited to pieces of public knowledge—brand names and folk wisdom, actors and illnesses, places and things ("I remember: "When parents drink, children tipple"; "I remember Hermès handbags, with their tiny padlocks"; "I remember myxomatosis")—the book represents a secret key to the world of Perec's fiction. As playful and puzzling as the best of Perec's novels, I Remember began as a simple writing exercise, and grew into an expansive, exhilarating work of art.

Here are a few reminiscences from publicity manager Megan Sullivan:

1.     I remember driving around in the ’84 Toyota Camry that was passed down to me when I was in high school.

2.     I remember watching Star Wars: the Empire Strikes Back and immediately wanting a Princess Leia action figure afterward.

3.     I remember misdialing our rotary phone constantly and having to start all over again.

4.     I remember the dinginess and odd smell of the Waltham Tap in the South End, Boston.

Check out I Remember and other Perec titles from Godine on our website!