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If You Find Emory Walden
"If you like pop punk... and are aged 30 to 40 I expect you will enjoy this story." - reader review
Eight years ago, James' friend Emory disappeared, leaving behind his memoirs and the promise of a hidden cache of $3 million. James published the memoir and became a famous professor. But his obsession with Emory's disappearance destroyed his personal life. He never went to find the money.
Years later, James' former student, Melanie, knocks on his door with a clue that Emory might still be alive. Together, they take to the road with a copy of Emory's memoir and a taunting riddle someone sent them. Is the riddle a hint from Emory? Why is he reaching out? And what happened to the money James never went looking for?
A "treasure hunting epic" - reader review
"Hop in the Westfalia with us and buckle up - it's going to be a wild ride!" - reader review
"I felt like I was on an adult scavenger hunt! Excellent character development. You’ll grow to love a few and despise a couple." - Audible review
If You Find Emory Walden is author James Wallace Birch's long-anticipated follow up to the reader-acclaimed Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical.
Join James and Melanie on a journey through claustrophobic cities, suburban nightmares, and wide-open roads as they chase down the riddle of the disappearance of a notorious fugitive. Follow their van life on the road. Sing along with them to early 2000s pop punk and emo bands. But don't trust everything you read in this fascinating blend of suspense, mystery, adventure, and nostalgia.
Eight years ago, James' friend Emory disappeared, leaving behind his memoirs and the promise of a hidden cache of $3 million. James published the memoir and became a famous professor. But his obsession with Emory's disappearance destroyed his personal life. He never went to find the money.
Years later, James' former student, Melanie, knocks on his door with a clue that Emory might still be alive. Together, they take to the road with a copy of Emory's memoir and a taunting riddle someone sent them. Is the riddle a hint from Emory? Why is he reaching out? And what happened to the money James never went looking for?
A "treasure hunting epic" - reader review
"Hop in the Westfalia with us and buckle up - it's going to be a wild ride!" - reader review
"I felt like I was on an adult scavenger hunt! Excellent character development. You’ll grow to love a few and despise a couple." - Audible review
If You Find Emory Walden is author James Wallace Birch's long-anticipated follow up to the reader-acclaimed Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical.
Join James and Melanie on a journey through claustrophobic cities, suburban nightmares, and wide-open roads as they chase down the riddle of the disappearance of a notorious fugitive. Follow their van life on the road. Sing along with them to early 2000s pop punk and emo bands. But don't trust everything you read in this fascinating blend of suspense, mystery, adventure, and nostalgia.
390 pages, Paperback
Published April 10, 2020
4 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
James Wallace Birch
2 books30 followersJames Wallace Birch is an author, occasional commentator, and full-time over-analyzer from Northern Virginia, just outside the U.S. capital. His writing has been described as smart, elegant, insightful and poetically bittersweet.
James is best known for his debut novel, Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical. James' long-anticipated follow-up novel, If You Find Emory Walden, is now available.
His favorite novel is Coming Up For Air by George Orwell.
James is best known for his debut novel, Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical. James' long-anticipated follow-up novel, If You Find Emory Walden, is now available.
His favorite novel is Coming Up For Air by George Orwell.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 3, 2021
2021 reads, #35. It was literally ten years ago now that I had the opportunity to read and review the debut novel of James Wallace Birch, the "John Galt meets Woke politics" thriller fantasy Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical, which...um, I didn't like at all; so needless to say, I was surprised to hear from the author a decade later, asking if I would take a look at his newest book, a direct sequel to that novel entitled If You Find Emory Walden. I'm happy to say, though, that this book is much better than that original; because this is not actually a continuation of that story at all, but rather is a metafictional story about the fallout of that original novel being published in Birch's fictional universe. See, Birch presents himself as a fictional character in that first book, claiming that all he was doing was reprinting the journal of his old high-school buddy turned notorious countercultural hero, the Emory Walden of this second book's title; and so this follow-up novel takes all that a step further, mostly concentrating this time on "Birch" (the fictional version), and all the ways his life got both better and worse after that first book supposedly became a surprise bestseller and rallying cry for fed-up liberals everywhere.
As such, then, this newest novel reminded me a lot of a movie I really loved in my youth but that has sadly become semi-forgotten, the fellow artistic mystery tale Eddie and the Cruisers, in that that story as well is not really about the fictional revered 1960s pioneering rock-and-roll band of the movie's title, but rather about the lead singer's mysterious disappearance and the effect it had on all the people around him. That's a major theme of this novel as well, "Birch's" attempts to reconcile his own slowly failing middle-aged life with this astoundingly weird stroke of luck he had had a decade previous, as he and one of the students he teaches at a local college end up on a road trip to discover whether the fabled millions of hidden dollars Walden mentions at the close of the first novel really does exist or not, a journey that takes the two (and several others they pick up along the way) all the way across the country and back, ruminating on the ways the US both changed and stayed the same in the wake of Walden's ascendency as a nationally admired dark antihero.
It has its problems to be sure -- like the previous novel, the prose style here is only serviceable, and the plot can get clunky at various points, plus I grew tired quickly of the main character's inordinate pride on how great his music tastes are, given that he listens to an unending litany of forgettable 1990s corporate pop bands (is there really that many people out there claiming that Jimmy Eat World is one of the greatest musical groups of all time?) -- but I have to say, this was a big improvement over the previous book in this series, a novel that kept me engaged and interested all the way to its deliberately ambiguous ending. It comes with a solid recommendation today to a general audience, just the ticket for those who enjoy stories about storytellers telling stories about storytellers.
As such, then, this newest novel reminded me a lot of a movie I really loved in my youth but that has sadly become semi-forgotten, the fellow artistic mystery tale Eddie and the Cruisers, in that that story as well is not really about the fictional revered 1960s pioneering rock-and-roll band of the movie's title, but rather about the lead singer's mysterious disappearance and the effect it had on all the people around him. That's a major theme of this novel as well, "Birch's" attempts to reconcile his own slowly failing middle-aged life with this astoundingly weird stroke of luck he had had a decade previous, as he and one of the students he teaches at a local college end up on a road trip to discover whether the fabled millions of hidden dollars Walden mentions at the close of the first novel really does exist or not, a journey that takes the two (and several others they pick up along the way) all the way across the country and back, ruminating on the ways the US both changed and stayed the same in the wake of Walden's ascendency as a nationally admired dark antihero.
It has its problems to be sure -- like the previous novel, the prose style here is only serviceable, and the plot can get clunky at various points, plus I grew tired quickly of the main character's inordinate pride on how great his music tastes are, given that he listens to an unending litany of forgettable 1990s corporate pop bands (is there really that many people out there claiming that Jimmy Eat World is one of the greatest musical groups of all time?) -- but I have to say, this was a big improvement over the previous book in this series, a novel that kept me engaged and interested all the way to its deliberately ambiguous ending. It comes with a solid recommendation today to a general audience, just the ticket for those who enjoy stories about storytellers telling stories about storytellers.
May 13, 2020
The mystery deepens in James Wallace Birch’s treasure hunting epic If You Find Emory Walden! James is spurred to look into the disappearance of his friend Emory years later when his student Melanie shows up with a new clue. Birch casts a fun roadtrip-like feel on this treasure hunting mystery adventure, something that drew me in as I wondered what James and Melanie would run into next! I also really enjoyed the duo’s back and forth along the way! If you love mysteries, or just travelling, then definitely dive into the mystery of what happened to Emory Walden!
April 28, 2020
Another winner from James Wallace Birch. I read his other book, Discontents: the disappearance of a young radical, a few months ago and was pleased to learn this book was on its way in April. I got it the day it was released and read in 2 days.
The author describes it as nostalgic and influenced by late 90's early 00's pop-punk music. I agree. I graduated high school in '99 and played in a pop-punk band in that timeframe. The musical references in the story were certainly nostalgic and a lot of fun for me.
Oh, yeah, and the story? Good flow of action amd dialogue. The authors writing has a lyrical flow at times. If You Find Emory Walden has that feeling of escaping life for an adventure, somewhat like the Goonies, only for people 20 years out of high school. Great characters, intriguing plot, interactive elements all work together for an exciting and enjoyable read.
James Wallace Birch is not "through being cool" yet, he's just passed "the starting line."
The author describes it as nostalgic and influenced by late 90's early 00's pop-punk music. I agree. I graduated high school in '99 and played in a pop-punk band in that timeframe. The musical references in the story were certainly nostalgic and a lot of fun for me.
Oh, yeah, and the story? Good flow of action amd dialogue. The authors writing has a lyrical flow at times. If You Find Emory Walden has that feeling of escaping life for an adventure, somewhat like the Goonies, only for people 20 years out of high school. Great characters, intriguing plot, interactive elements all work together for an exciting and enjoyable read.
James Wallace Birch is not "through being cool" yet, he's just passed "the starting line."
April 13, 2020
Getting to the truth can take you places that you never thought you'd go.
Things to know up front: This is the second book in a series and it may help to read the first book. There is violence, adult language, and mentions of intimacy as well as human trafficking. Also be aware that this story is told in a unique way that might boggle your mind but don’t let that stop you from continuing.
James is at a crossroads in his life when Melanie comes knocking on his door. What happens after that has them on an unheralded adventure.
Figuratively speaking, I devoured this book. It was nostalgic in some ways and insightful in others with all the "feels" of life.
Things to know up front: This is the second book in a series and it may help to read the first book. There is violence, adult language, and mentions of intimacy as well as human trafficking. Also be aware that this story is told in a unique way that might boggle your mind but don’t let that stop you from continuing.
James is at a crossroads in his life when Melanie comes knocking on his door. What happens after that has them on an unheralded adventure.
Figuratively speaking, I devoured this book. It was nostalgic in some ways and insightful in others with all the "feels" of life.
May 18, 2021
James, a college professor, was a friend of Emory Walden who published and promoted Emory’s book for him. Emory is gone but nobody seems to know what happened to the money that was mentioned in Emory’s book. Melanie, one of James’ former students, becomes involved with James and they end up on an adventure that takes them across the country along with a musical soundtrack and eventually they are on a VW bus. I loved the banter between James and Melanie and the supporting characters felt very real to me. I have not read the first book that is referred to in this story but felt like it was explained enough for me to enjoy this story.
May 19, 2021
This was a really fun and exciting listen on audible. I really adored a couple of the characters and despised a few as well. Wanted to reach through the headphones and strangle one in particular. (I am positive I could take her.)
Great narration
Great pace
Fantastic ending
Great narration
Great pace
Fantastic ending
January 5, 2021
If you came of age rocking to Something Corporate, Yellowcard, the Early November and the Drive Thru Records era, then read this book!
Plot summary:
James is confronted by his past when a clue shows up about his missing friend. Broke, desperate, and on the run, he and a young woman go looking for a bag of missing money in hopes of finding his missing friend and escaping their pasts. A road trip ensues. Jimmy Eat World is listened to. Mayhem follows them. Trust is broken. They have to figure out what the clues mean all while fleeing ghosts of their pasts.
I'd say the story is a mix of fast-paced story, unreliable narrator, 2000s emo and punk scene, love, loss, romance, duplicity, and a road trip with a little humor sprinkled in. Dug how the story flipped between past memories and the now, building up the arc.
On reflection, I liked this much more than his first novel, Discontents, which I loved at the time. But, let's be real... the first novel was slow, deliberative, and narrow in its appeal... it was amature in lots o' ways. If You Find Emory Walden is a significant jump up in craft. It's fast, action-filled, and much more accessible to a wider audience.
Plot summary:
James is confronted by his past when a clue shows up about his missing friend. Broke, desperate, and on the run, he and a young woman go looking for a bag of missing money in hopes of finding his missing friend and escaping their pasts. A road trip ensues. Jimmy Eat World is listened to. Mayhem follows them. Trust is broken. They have to figure out what the clues mean all while fleeing ghosts of their pasts.
I'd say the story is a mix of fast-paced story, unreliable narrator, 2000s emo and punk scene, love, loss, romance, duplicity, and a road trip with a little humor sprinkled in. Dug how the story flipped between past memories and the now, building up the arc.
On reflection, I liked this much more than his first novel, Discontents, which I loved at the time. But, let's be real... the first novel was slow, deliberative, and narrow in its appeal... it was amature in lots o' ways. If You Find Emory Walden is a significant jump up in craft. It's fast, action-filled, and much more accessible to a wider audience.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews