Tesserae: A Memoir of Two Summers by Mathias Freese
“Tesserae: A Memoir of Two Summers stands above much of the crowd in its commitment to ask, ‘What is it to remember?’ Mathias B. Freese, tenderly plaiting a web that spreads from Woodstock, Las Vegas, Long Island, and North Carolina, locates friends and family, lovers long since gone, desire and passion sometimes quenched sometimes unrequited, and the harrowing agony that comes from that most soul-crushing word of all, regret. But Tesserae is not a work of sadness and grief. Rather, it is an effort from a trained psychotherapist adept at understanding the feelings that we all have. The quiescence found has a staying effect upon the mind; this memoir lingers in the reader’s memory for some time.” — Steven Berndt, Professor of American Literature, College of Southern Nevada
My Review
5 stars
Tesserae follows the author from his birth in 1940 to 2015 and around two pivotal years in Woodstock (the town not the party). Matt recounts different events in his life but circles round to how Woodstock made him feel and drew him back from time to time.
I like how this story is put together. It feels just like you are talking to someone as they recount their life. Matt has several stories that circle through different parts of his life. Matt doesn’t feel that he has accomplish much in his life as he tells his story. I think we all feel like Matt if we looked back on our life like he does.
But the real gems are the different events he lived through, the adversary that he faced, and trying to pass that knowledge on. That is what really makes this book great. Life is not easy but that is how it shapes us. And just hearing another person’s stories helps unite us as we all struggle with our own lives.
This is a great story and one that I strongly recommend everyone read.
To purchase Tesserae make sure to visit Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads.
I have been lucky enough to receive Tesserae for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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