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The Memory Tree
A heartbreaking story of love and evil. Sam Ellis is a middle-aged stock broker living in Seattle, successful, married to a woman he dearly loves, with everything he could want. But below the surface, there are scars. Then his world changes. For reasons he doesn't understand, Sam is thrust back in time to 1968, the summer he turned thirteen. He meets his parents and his own childhood self. That summer changed Sam's world. Monsters walked the streets of his hometown, and now Sam will come face to face with those monsters again, this time as an adult. Nothing will ever be the same.
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First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 7, 2013
This book was recommended to me by two seasoned horror readers that I trust. They were not wrong. Thanks, Jon and Chris!
I don't even know what to say about this book. A man "dissolves" and wakes up as an adult in the town where he lived as a 13 year old boy. As he wanders around town wondering what the heck is going on, his back story is revealed. It's a disturbing one, and one you won't EVER forget.
There is an introduction in this version by Robert Kelly. I would recommend saving the intro until you're finished reading. Especially if you're like me, and like to discover the story on your own as the author intended. This intro was poignant, but gave away too much of what the story was going to be about. That is the only negative thing I can say about this book.
This story requires a lot from the reader. A lot of courage-to continue reading when things get really bad. A lot of strength- to live through these events with the protagonist. A lot of hope-to stick with the main character hoping that things will turn out to to be...somehow better than they appear to be. A lot of Kleenex, because it's a tear jerker. A lot of faith in the author-that he will take you to a REAL conclusion and not just some words on a page. I invested all of this and the author rewarded me with a story that will never leave me. Read it and it won't leave you either.
I don't even know what to say about this book. A man "dissolves" and wakes up as an adult in the town where he lived as a 13 year old boy. As he wanders around town wondering what the heck is going on, his back story is revealed. It's a disturbing one, and one you won't EVER forget.
There is an introduction in this version by Robert Kelly. I would recommend saving the intro until you're finished reading. Especially if you're like me, and like to discover the story on your own as the author intended. This intro was poignant, but gave away too much of what the story was going to be about. That is the only negative thing I can say about this book.
This story requires a lot from the reader. A lot of courage-to continue reading when things get really bad. A lot of strength- to live through these events with the protagonist. A lot of hope-to stick with the main character hoping that things will turn out to to be...somehow better than they appear to be. A lot of Kleenex, because it's a tear jerker. A lot of faith in the author-that he will take you to a REAL conclusion and not just some words on a page. I invested all of this and the author rewarded me with a story that will never leave me. Read it and it won't leave you either.
May 5, 2013
Absolutely beautiful. This book was so filled with poignant emotion, in all forms. It touched on some truly sensitive issues, and made me feel so deeply for the characters that it is hard to believe this was a fictional book. I can not recommend this book enough--it is truly sensational on so many levels.
October 31, 2013
What a fantastic, sad, sweet, tragic tale of time travel, quantum physics, and second chances with a little mystery thrown into the mix. Although this was a tough story to get through because of the family betrayal, pedophilia, and neglect, it is in some ways very uplifting and positive when you think of how second chances can be so life affirming. Loved it from beginning to end.
April 3, 2012
This book is a Russian nesting doll of a novel. We open one story and learn of another, then another, all dealing with lives torn apart by an unimaginable horror. All of this is framed in a pitch perfect time travel structure utilized to maximum effect.
Memories are like branches of a tree, sprouting off the events and people of our life. Sometimes our memories are accurate, sometimes not. Sometimes they need the perspective that comes from years to see how they fit in with the bigger structure of our lives. Until that perspective comes, we only see the branches and have no real understanding. I am not exaggerating when I say that when you finish the last page of this novel, when you finally are able to step back see the whole story you will be devastated and filled with admiration for this gifted novelist who has tackled one of the most difficult subjects imaginable.
Memories are like branches of a tree, sprouting off the events and people of our life. Sometimes our memories are accurate, sometimes not. Sometimes they need the perspective that comes from years to see how they fit in with the bigger structure of our lives. Until that perspective comes, we only see the branches and have no real understanding. I am not exaggerating when I say that when you finish the last page of this novel, when you finally are able to step back see the whole story you will be devastated and filled with admiration for this gifted novelist who has tackled one of the most difficult subjects imaginable.
June 6, 2012
A heartfelt, complex story of time traveling, the mysterious inner workings of our brains and how they remember certain events and people from our past, recapturing and desperately trying to change history, the power of redemption, and of course love, both familial and romantic. Each and every character has something to give, each subplot revealing themselves shockingly, sometimes in scenes of psychological and physiological horror, which Little handles firmly and directly but with the utmost care.
One of the best books I've read this year, and a tale I'll remember for a long, long time.
One of the best books I've read this year, and a tale I'll remember for a long, long time.
January 21, 2012
A beautifully told tale concerning the lies our memories tell us, how they color our lives, and the dark truths those lies shield us from. John R. Little is a writer to watch.
April 21, 2013
Enjoyable and unusual story with a deep dark theme...
October 1, 2008
We’ve all thought about what we would we do if we ever had the chance to go back and change our past. What defining moments, be it in your own life or in someone else’s, would you consider changing? Would you intercept fate and warn your target? Would you resign yourself to the fact that any tampering could cause more harm than good, and simply stand by as a spectator? And, more importantly, would you tattoo the word, “Google” on your own ass in the hopes that it would work as a trigger when it made its debut on the stock market?
You see, you can’t help but stop and question yourself. Which is why, though this plot has been explored more times than me at the airport (by the way, I’m still owed dinner for that last search, guys) it never fails to captivate you. As you read through Little’s latest, you constantly ask yourself if that’s what you would’ve done? Would you have chosen differently? But while the idea tantalizes, Little falls short of keeping your attention on the characters rather than on yourself.
Though, that might not have been a bad thing, considering this was a cast of straight good and bad people. Oh, Little did try attempting to gray the area a bit; he just wasn’t quite able to pull it off. No, each character looks as if they were clearly defined and were only later added to. Not a one of them is very likeable, not even the protagonist, but at least him you can relate to.
Also, though I can acknowledge that atmosphere would be hard to maintain in a world that’s ever changing, a little background cushioning would have been nice. Hey, it might have even softened the blow when you passed out from the rush-and-stop pace that occurred throughout the book. I swear, you’d think that man was running a long distance marathon while intermittently chugging cans of Amp. Hell, the swaying still hasn’t stopped.
All of this I blame solely on his style. Though I know this is his not his first published work, it feels like it is. His sentences are rushed and abrupt, his descriptions overflowing in one scene and in others, severely lacking. There is no consistent flow from one paragraph to the next. In fact, I spent most of the time screaming at the object of my dissatisfaction, “Slow down! I know you want to get to the good parts, but you’re killing me in the meantime!!!” The only thing that was consistent was the narrative, which constantly flipped from intimate and comfortable to removed and decorative, leading me to believe Mr. Little still hasn’t quite found his own voice yet. But I have to warn you other authors, when he does, the competition out there is going to get a whole lot tighter!
My rating? I give it a 2. If someone gives it to you or you see it at a second-hand store whose proceeds go to a charity, grab it. If nothing else, to say you knew the author when….
-As posted on Horror-Web.com
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February 6, 2009The Memory Tree
By John R. Little
Nocturne Press
Varied editions range from $18.00-45.00
"That was when I realized I needed to trust my eyes and ears more than my memories"
If one line can sum up John R. Little's debut novel, THE MEMORY TREE, from the fine folks at Nocturne Press, this is surely it, as the author illustrates the defects of memory- its cheats and swindles.
Sitting somewhere between Koontz and Matheson, THE MEMORY TREE, tells the engrossing streamlined story of Sam Ellis, an aging, emotionally wounded man, who suddenly gains the ability to 'dissolve' into his own imperfect past to resolve those things that have haunted him throughout his adult life. The catch is that Sam doesn't go back as his child self of those yester years, but as his adult self- a wiser, but still confused man of fifty odd years of age. There, he must confront the parents whom he hated, his lost brother, murdered friends, and a particularly nasty individual who was the true monster of his youth.
Little keeps the story moving at a pace that belies such weighty concepts, while cleverly conjoining major plot points so that the multiple denouements cover several of them at once. Structurally, this is a man who knows how to put a tale together. But beyond that sophisticated literary device, one will find that Little also knows the language, and has a poetic sense of his craft. I'd stack many a phrase captured within THE MEMORY TREE with anything Bradbury or Keene has produced. I mentioned Matheson and Koontz earlier in this review, and I can guarantee his readers will find echoes of both of those masters herein. The pacing, the craftsmanship, the prose- this is a novel that lends itself to being read in one sitting. Little knows the importance of keeping the reader guessing. Sam's flawed memories of all the joys and horrors of his childhood are twisted, one after another, until the mind-bending end, indeed, until even the narrator is unsure of what is real and what is misremembered past.
THE MEMORY TREE puts Little at the top of my watch list for fresh new voices, and I anticipate that his future works will prove me out. He is a writer with which to be reckoned.
--Nickolas Cook
By John R. Little
Nocturne Press
Varied editions range from $18.00-45.00
"That was when I realized I needed to trust my eyes and ears more than my memories"
If one line can sum up John R. Little's debut novel, THE MEMORY TREE, from the fine folks at Nocturne Press, this is surely it, as the author illustrates the defects of memory- its cheats and swindles.
Sitting somewhere between Koontz and Matheson, THE MEMORY TREE, tells the engrossing streamlined story of Sam Ellis, an aging, emotionally wounded man, who suddenly gains the ability to 'dissolve' into his own imperfect past to resolve those things that have haunted him throughout his adult life. The catch is that Sam doesn't go back as his child self of those yester years, but as his adult self- a wiser, but still confused man of fifty odd years of age. There, he must confront the parents whom he hated, his lost brother, murdered friends, and a particularly nasty individual who was the true monster of his youth.
Little keeps the story moving at a pace that belies such weighty concepts, while cleverly conjoining major plot points so that the multiple denouements cover several of them at once. Structurally, this is a man who knows how to put a tale together. But beyond that sophisticated literary device, one will find that Little also knows the language, and has a poetic sense of his craft. I'd stack many a phrase captured within THE MEMORY TREE with anything Bradbury or Keene has produced. I mentioned Matheson and Koontz earlier in this review, and I can guarantee his readers will find echoes of both of those masters herein. The pacing, the craftsmanship, the prose- this is a novel that lends itself to being read in one sitting. Little knows the importance of keeping the reader guessing. Sam's flawed memories of all the joys and horrors of his childhood are twisted, one after another, until the mind-bending end, indeed, until even the narrator is unsure of what is real and what is misremembered past.
THE MEMORY TREE puts Little at the top of my watch list for fresh new voices, and I anticipate that his future works will prove me out. He is a writer with which to be reckoned.
--Nickolas Cook
December 26, 2013
Right from the first line (I was 52 years old the first time I dissolved.) this reader was hooked. Was it a story of time travel? Or was this a question of alternate realities splintering off from every action, every decision, and every result?
This novel starts out with a SciFi feel given that first line. A total fiction. But it never misses a beat, stepping right into the main character's life. People who don't get the concept of reading fiction haven't read a story like this.
There is, within this fiction, so much truth inside these pages...
Ebooks generally are a weak group. But this novel is honed to the bone. It reads like something that's been edited relentlessly to perfection. It's gritty truth wrapped in a fictional coating of wonderful story telling and won't be forgotten easily.
Thanks to John for the telling and thanks to Cemetery Dance for this Kindle edition.
This novel starts out with a SciFi feel given that first line. A total fiction. But it never misses a beat, stepping right into the main character's life. People who don't get the concept of reading fiction haven't read a story like this.
There is, within this fiction, so much truth inside these pages...
Ebooks generally are a weak group. But this novel is honed to the bone. It reads like something that's been edited relentlessly to perfection. It's gritty truth wrapped in a fictional coating of wonderful story telling and won't be forgotten easily.
Thanks to John for the telling and thanks to Cemetery Dance for this Kindle edition.
December 15, 2016
This book... from the moment I picked it up, I very nearly couldn't put it down. Little's narrative has an eerie inertia, and although the tragedies and the darkness at the heart of the book make it something of a horror novel, there's also a lightness to it--as if, after everything, there's hope for innocence and childhood and goodness, even where evidence of the same seems to be lacking.
In truth, I'm not sure how to speak of this book without giving things away. The subject matter is dark, and as speculative fiction goes, the horror is frighteningly everyday, made of what we see on the news and wish weren't true. But Little's plotting is masterful, and the twists here are impressive, more often than not coming out of the blue and with a bit of half-tuned heartbreak.
All in all, this is a dark read, but it's also kind of wonderful. It's not for children, and not for readers who'll want to turn away from difficult subjects... but it is worthwhile, and I'll remember it.
I'll also be looking for any of Little's other writing.
In truth, I'm not sure how to speak of this book without giving things away. The subject matter is dark, and as speculative fiction goes, the horror is frighteningly everyday, made of what we see on the news and wish weren't true. But Little's plotting is masterful, and the twists here are impressive, more often than not coming out of the blue and with a bit of half-tuned heartbreak.
All in all, this is a dark read, but it's also kind of wonderful. It's not for children, and not for readers who'll want to turn away from difficult subjects... but it is worthwhile, and I'll remember it.
I'll also be looking for any of Little's other writing.
May 10, 2013
Let me start off by saying that initially I was put off by the story because of the miserable relationship that existed between Sam and his parents and the gradual revelations of the many abuses that occurred. I struggle with psychological horror. While I like to be scared and horrified, I don't enjoy dealing with emotions that are deeper than those surface emotions.The book dealt in real emotions and the unconscious tortures we all encounter. This author took me there. What enable me to get through this was this the author's presentation of the chance to rid himself of those demons through the use of time traveling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2015
Wow. John R Little has done it again! This is My second JRL read and once more the theme is time travel... my golly gosh, he is incredible at making an unbelievable concept seem plausible!
The key things I loved about this story:
- Plot twists that made my jaw drop and that I couldn't see coming from a mile away.
- Thought provoking themes that made me cringe, which in turn made me respect the author even more. The skill with which he handles such sensitive subject matter is truly outstanding.
- A nice tidy ending with no loose ends.
5 stars!
The key things I loved about this story:
- Plot twists that made my jaw drop and that I couldn't see coming from a mile away.
- Thought provoking themes that made me cringe, which in turn made me respect the author even more. The skill with which he handles such sensitive subject matter is truly outstanding.
- A nice tidy ending with no loose ends.
5 stars!
December 2, 2007
If-you-could-go-back-and-change-your-life theme, well-handled with believable characters and an interesting plot
July 18, 2014
An outstanding story. Very well written. This one will leave you thinking.
July 16, 2023
Gripping from start to finish.
Absolutely loved this.
Absolutely loved this.
December 31, 2013
The Memory Tree by John Little reminded me a lot of Replay by Ken Grimwood. Sam Ellis, a 52-year-old man, dissolves from the present in Seattle to 1968 in Nelson, Montana. There he interacts with his 13-year-old self, his brother, mother and father. He had a nightmarish life being raised by violent, alcoholic parents and suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a family friend. This is the summer that his brother, Marty gets shipped off to Viet Nam and his best friend Mel is killed and the murderer is never found.
The book is told in first person and is told in such an engaging way that it’s hard to put down. The quotes about memories and the past that prefaced each section were well-chosen: “The past is never dead. It isn’t even past” – William Faulkner “Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today’s events.” – Albert Einstein
There were a lot of terrible things going on in Nelson, Montana, and my only complaint about the book is how quickly and neatly everything ties up at then end.
The book is told in first person and is told in such an engaging way that it’s hard to put down. The quotes about memories and the past that prefaced each section were well-chosen: “The past is never dead. It isn’t even past” – William Faulkner “Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today’s events.” – Albert Einstein
There were a lot of terrible things going on in Nelson, Montana, and my only complaint about the book is how quickly and neatly everything ties up at then end.
June 7, 2013
First thing I want to say is that I don't want to give anything away since I feel the mystery In this story plays a very important part. This book will be a real challenge I believe for even the most die hard horror fans since Certain aspects or details will force you to put the Book down and take a deep breath. There are definite parts In this story that you just hope for the best and like a car crash on the highway you will be surveying the area for some possible sign that will lead you to safety. The main idea of this book is that a man in his fifties travels back to the town that he grew up in where he is able to exist with his younger self and learn from his past and figure out what he is supposed to do if anything while living amongst the days of long ago. The book proposes a great question towards the reader about what you would do if you went back in your past. What would you change if you could for better or worse?
November 28, 2012
"I was 52 years old the first time I dissolved."
The Memory Tree is a highly emotional story told thru a series of flashbacks in time and memory. I had been a bit reluctant to start this one because of all the rave reviews, afraid that I may be disappointed. I even stayed away from reading anything about it and did not read any blurbs or even the synopsis. I did not know what to expect. What I found was a beautiful tale of tragedy and mystery.
This one has it all, buried secrets, horror, sadness, redemption, and plenty of emotion, but most of all, it has heart. Reading the afterword, I am left thinking of the courage it took Mr. Little to put this story on paper and it makes the tale even that much more powerful. A very solid read. Highly Recommended.
The Memory Tree is a highly emotional story told thru a series of flashbacks in time and memory. I had been a bit reluctant to start this one because of all the rave reviews, afraid that I may be disappointed. I even stayed away from reading anything about it and did not read any blurbs or even the synopsis. I did not know what to expect. What I found was a beautiful tale of tragedy and mystery.
This one has it all, buried secrets, horror, sadness, redemption, and plenty of emotion, but most of all, it has heart. Reading the afterword, I am left thinking of the courage it took Mr. Little to put this story on paper and it makes the tale even that much more powerful. A very solid read. Highly Recommended.
March 23, 2017
I am a huge fan of such things as Sliders, The Butterfly Effect and the concept of the ripples that could change history as we know it. This was what I was expecting and yes that what I got but much more. The story flowed easily. It hooked me on the first line but what hit me the hardest was the parts dealing with the child abuse. It was so direct and honest that it was hard to read without feeling the despair. If you read the afterword, you will see why. I am really not sure what to say about this novel. It wasn't perfect but it made me feel. made me cry at the loss of innocence and it made me believe that the human spirit can triumph against miserable odds - even if it takes awhile. I think that I might have only given it 3 stars if it weren't for the sincerity of the story. For all the misery told, it ended on a positive note. I was grateful for that. The Memory Tree is worth the time to read.
October 9, 2021
This Bram Stoker nominated and finalist is a novel that was loaned to me by a friend in one of the book groups I am a member. He suggested I read it because it involved time travel. While some shy away from “time travel” novels, this novel, like other favorites, uses “time travel” as a tool and is not centered on tool. This book addresses primarily the sexual abuse of children and not just the victims but those close to the victims who they trust to protect them. Sometimes this trust is warranted; sometimes not. The book also addresses other subjects such racism and loss of family and children. A well written story that I quickly read through and recommend.
June 24, 2017
This is my first John R. Little story. This had some pretty heavy themes centered around child molestation and family dysfunction. The story of Sam Ellis dissolving back to 1968 when he was 13 is not a lighthearted tale.
In the end redemption win out but it is difficult for the reader to ride along in the journey. Sam's mother and father (Marie and Jimmy) are just terrible individuals but we have Claire and his wife Jenny to help balance that scale.
In the end redemption win out but it is difficult for the reader to ride along in the journey. Sam's mother and father (Marie and Jimmy) are just terrible individuals but we have Claire and his wife Jenny to help balance that scale.
January 19, 2021
A riveting and beautiful book. I often regret a lack of editing in novels, but this one could have been a little bit more into the MC's background between his childhood and his adult life. Trying not not spoil, we have hints of several mistakes he made with his wife, several similarities between him and his father, several other traumas besides the most obvious one (Mel for instance) that I would have liked to see more developed. Still, a great read.
May 30, 2023
Krasna knjiga, dirljiva poprilično.
Onako se zamislim, kada bi se ikako uspio vratiti kroz vrijeme i upoznati samoga sebe u trenutcima kada je bilo teško, što bi si rekao?
Osim da bih sam sebe zagrlio i rekao da će biti sve u redu.
Ovo je knjiga za sve koji su imali djetinjstvo sa određenom težinom.
Onako se zamislim, kada bi se ikako uspio vratiti kroz vrijeme i upoznati samoga sebe u trenutcima kada je bilo teško, što bi si rekao?
Osim da bih sam sebe zagrlio i rekao da će biti sve u redu.
Ovo je knjiga za sve koji su imali djetinjstvo sa određenom težinom.
October 20, 2017
An utterly absorbing read. Tragic and thought-provoking. I cared emphatically for the main character. Smashing little twist towards the end.My tiny niggle is the way it ended a little too roses round the gate for my liking, however not enough to reduce the star rating.
July 27, 2017
This book broke my heart. Magnificent.
August 10, 2023
Fantastic story that will wrap the reader up and pull them in.
August 29, 2023
Speechless.
December 13, 2025
Beautiful. Heartbreaking. I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting. I don’t know how else to describe it.
January 30, 2016
I have to admit, this is how I like to see time travel handled in a fictitious setting. We start in the now; we travel only between the now and the past; and the metaphysics is kept to a minimum. In this regard, John R. Little’s THE MEMORY TREE reminds me a little bit of Stephen King’s 11/22/63. It even takes us to a similar time period.
There the similarities end, however. Little’s novel was published several years before King’s and doesn't deal with anything as large scale as the assassination of a United States president. It's a much more personal, more intimate, story than that.
This is the last book you'd want spoilers for. This one you need to let happen to you, so that's what I encourage you to do. If you are unfortunate enough to connect with the subject matter on a personal level, I suspect that you'll find this to be a very powerful novel indeed. Even without such a connection, you’re bound to find it riveting. What else would you expect from Mr. Little?
There the similarities end, however. Little’s novel was published several years before King’s and doesn't deal with anything as large scale as the assassination of a United States president. It's a much more personal, more intimate, story than that.
This is the last book you'd want spoilers for. This one you need to let happen to you, so that's what I encourage you to do. If you are unfortunate enough to connect with the subject matter on a personal level, I suspect that you'll find this to be a very powerful novel indeed. Even without such a connection, you’re bound to find it riveting. What else would you expect from Mr. Little?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews