The Book of Losman

by K.E. Semmel

Meet Daniel Losman— an American in Copenhagen, translating books and living a solitary existence. His longtime girlfriend has left him, and the only highlights in his life are encounters with an offbeat artist he thinks he’ s in love with and weekends with his three-year-old son, whom he worries has inherited his Tourette syndrome. When Losman learns of a new drug designed to locate the root of his Tourette through childhood memories, he’ s lured by promises of a cure and visits the mysterious lab that developed the drug. Initially, what he discovers buried deep within his brain rejuvenates him. But the more Losman takes the drug, the more he needs it. Losman steals some of the pills and locks himself away in his apartment, only to quickly find himself trapped inside his own mind. There’ s a way out of his head, but it will come at a price… With intelligence and humor reminiscent of Matt Haig's The Midnight Library, The Book of Losman explores the depths one man will go to make himself whole.

Genres: Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

K.E. Semmel is a writer and translator. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Ontario Review, Lithub, The Millions, HuffPost, Electric Literature, The Writer’s Chronicle, The Southern Review, Washington Post, and elsewhere. The Book of Losman is his debut novel.

His translations include novels by, among others, Naja Marie Aidt, Karin Fossum, Simon Fruelund, and Jussi Adler Olsen. He is a former Literary Translation Fellow from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Reviews

[K.E. Semmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book!

[Christine Parnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Book you won’t soon forget

This is a superbly written, intriguing novel that you won’t want to put down. Semmel puts a light touch on a heavy subject that will entertain, enlighten, and captivate any reader. In Daniel Losman, we see ourselves (even if we don’t have Tourrette’s syndrome). Don’t we all sometimes wonder why we are the way we are? If we could go back in time to figure it all out, would it really change anything? Does it even matter? There are valuable lessons in The Book of Losman including that there is beauty all around us in the present and that there is hope in looking to the future rather than the past. Read this book. I can’t wait to see what K.E. Semmel does next.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read a book that gave me the perspective of what living with Tourette would feel like or the lengths you might go to to figure out where it started. It was so enlightening and relatable. The novel's characters are so colorfully written that they truly feel like real people with depth, flaws, and redeeming qualities that extend beyond the scope of the book. I enjoyed getting to know each of them. The story was inventive and exciting, with much levity and many humorous moments. In the end, I felt that Losman had really learned from his experience and grew as a person. Overall a very enjoyable and satisfying read!

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting novel about our need to fit in -- not appear different.
The author himself lives with Tourette Syndrone, so his character, Losman, is very believable in his attempts to hide his quirks and the desire to get rid of them entirely. The possibility of getting to the core of the problem almost becomes an obsession. Very entertaining and imaginative.

[Jon Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speculative fiction that feels well grounded and real. Delivers genuine amusement and pathos.

[Jess Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The protagonist, Losman, is a middle-aged American expatriate living in Copenhagen and working as a translator while maintaining relationships with his young son and ex-wife. He's also living with Tourette syndrome, and fears his kid will inherit it. The plot of The Book of Losman steers into soft sci-fi territory after Losman discovers an experimental research project that purports to help him find the source of his disorder through memory regression. I loved this novel's balance of laugh-out-loud absurdity and carefully observed realism, climaxing in an absolutely wild third act that pays off the reader's empathy for Losman in a deliciously uncomfortable way. The author's personal experience with Tourette makes this a more well-rounded portrayal than the sensational, over-the-top coprolalia people usually associate with the disorder. Losman is a fascinating, flawed character who feels entirely real. Meanwhile, there's also a fistfight with a swan, and more unsexual erections than any other novel you'll read this year. Hilarious and touching in equal measure!

[Zachary Fernebok · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What did you think?" Goodreads asks. I'm STILL thinking about The Book of Losman. It's been weeks since I turned the last page, and my mind keeps coming back to it.

This is a deeply personal work of speculative fiction that strips away the usual genre trappings to reveal something raw and intimate beneath. Where many contemporary novels seem to compete for complexity, Semmel offers a tight, compelling story. Its power lies not in elaborate world-building or bloated plot threads, but in the way it burrows into your consciousness and makes a home there.

The climax of the book alone is worth the read - never have I felt such fear and amusement simultaneously. I truly was caught between wanting to laugh and needing to look away.

Ultimately, The Book of Losman is the kind of book that reminds us why we read in the first place - not just for entertainment or escape, but for those rare moments when words on a page make us reflect on the biggest and smallest moments of our own life.

[Deena Lipomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Losman is a single American dad living in Copenhagen, working as a translator, living with Tourette syndrome and fearing his son will inherit it. When he sees a flyer for a drug trial that may help him get to the root of his Tourette's through childhood memories, he signs up, but as his greed for more facts from his past ramps up, he may go too far. The view of Denmark through an American ex-pat's point-of-view offers a cool setting, as does the insight into his translation work. Losman comes across as a depressive character, struggling with his tics that he lets define him to a certain extent, though his love for his son is genuine. The book reads quickly through his perilous decisions and ends with some hope and spirit. A unique and refreshing read.

[Matt Bucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this meditation on memory. An American translator living in Copenhagen, Losman is suffering from Tourette—as well as a lack of confidence and direction. Losman's painful childhood memories become the subject of an experimental pharmacological study. Semmel deftly keeps the reader turning pages as Losman digs deeper and deeper into his past, looking for the skeleton key to unlock his ticcing behavior. As he revisits his memories, I was reminded of the great Albert Brooks film, Defending Your Life. But rather than attempting to enter into the pearly gates, Losman is simply striving for a happy, symptom-free life. Semmel is a talented storyteller and I hope he writes and publishes for many more years to come.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book only because I was so curious as to what this author had written. The storyline itself sounded intriguing and I can confidently say I am excited to have gotten a chance to read this novel. The setting was well laid out as I sat here imagining what I could of being in Denmark, in this man's apartment building, the study he was participating in...it all seemed so very real. I am hoping to be able to read future works. I haven't read a book this fast in quite a long time, it was hard to put down! The Book Of Losman was a joy to read and really opened up my eyes to how someone with Tourette Syndrome may feel. I didn't realize how little everyone knew about it to be honest. I feel for the character and was happy with the way the story concluded.

[Tara Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Semmel has created an engaging, three-dimensional character in Losman, an American translator living in Denmark who turns to an experimental memory excavation program in hopes of determining the cause and potential cure for his Tourette Syndrome. With a deft blend of realism and speculative fiction, Semmel keeps you guessing if/how Losman will be able to extricate himself from the consequences of his own decisions. A slim novel packed with wit, reflection, and susupense.

[Sejal Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel and it made me desperately want to visit Copenhagen. Semmel creates a real sense of place in his depiction and development of the setting. The characters are memorable, the plot is fascinating, the premise is intriguing. Other reviewers will be more usefully granular and specific in their reviews, but what I can say is read this disarming novel and get a copy as a gift for a bibliophile friend while you are at it.

[Aggeliki Pelekidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read from start to finish. I really appreciated the premise of this book, because who wouldn’t want to go back into their memories to understand how a traumatic incident impacted them? The main character is engaging, sympathetic while also being flawed in a relatable way. His trajectory over the course of the book pulls you in while also showing the reader what it’s like to live with Tourette’s. Highly recommend.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Losman is FANTASTIC. I love how much we get inside Losman's head. It's intimate and vulnerable and endearing and fallibly human and funny and thoughtful. The relationships are complex and believable. And Semmel does an amazing job of bringing us inside an authentic experience of Tourette.

[Helen Ishmurzin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started reading The Book of Losman, I couldn't put it down! As well as a gripping plot and a fascinating snapshot of Danish language and culture, it offers a realistic portrayal of life with Tourette sydrome, without sensationalising the oft-misunderstood condition or making it the butt of a joke. I would highly recommend it and am looking forward to K.E. Semmel's next novel!

[Tate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, which gave such an interesting and specific perspective on living with Tourette - what one does to cover it up, to live with it, to come to terms with it. I've also visited Denmark a few times so that was cool to have Copenhagen be a "side character" in the novel. Very relatable, flawed, deeply human portrayals of all the characters.

[Teresa Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An American in Denmark participates in a study designed to help him retrieve his earliest memories with the intention of discovering the genesis of his Tourette syndrome in K.E. Semmel’s heartbreaking, humorous, and hopeful novel. THE BOOK OF LOSMAN is a wonderful read.

[Dana Cann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book a lot. Losman is an engaging character, and the reader is rooting for him. I got caught up in his journey for insights into understanding his Tourette's. I especially like the way the author was able to tie up the threads in the end in a satisfying and unsentimental way.

[Alicia Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible. The characters and setting were vibrant, alive, real. And Losman's journey into his babyhood memories was fascinating and full of humor and wit. I can't wait to read more from this author!

[Sarah Zareva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up with severe scoliosis and undiagnosed mental health issues. k.e. semmel perfectly captures the isolated yet spotlit existence of the odd kid and how that impacts people in adulthood. and he does it hilariously.

[Christine Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a thoughtful and humorous; a true joy to read. Semmel explores how we see and feel about ourselves and how the interfaces with our brains and biology. A must-read for anyone trying to understand themselves and the world around them while also grappling with memory and sense of self.