My Famous Brain

2021 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Literary

"Masterfully combining the human and soul experience in one voice, Diane Wald brings to life a character from the beyond who knows how to be present in his past with the wisdom and insight of the afterlife. A must-read for anyone needing a reminder of the preciousness of life."
--Christina Rasmussen, best-selling author of Where Did You Go?

"Diane Wald is a fantastic storyteller with the ear of a poet. My Famous Brain is an enthrallingly complex, layered story where relationships and loves are like feedback loops in a fallen-down house of time. Deceased narrator Jack MacLeod suffers a brain tumor and exists between headache and heartache, where, he says, "the mysteries of the universe open up to me like waterlilies in the sunlight." He shuffles his memories, loves, and fears, searching for communion, connection, and empathy. This is a novel about what it is to be alive or dead, and to experience time as it moves through the body."
--Patrick Lawler, author of Rescuers of Skydivers Search Among the Clouds and The Meaning of If

"Diane Wald's literary ability lifts the reader into an empathic relationship with each character. Her development of these characters' relationships, not only with humans but also with precious animals, gives the reader the ability to feel--something our society desperately needs. This novel tells the story of a most intriguing man, and the plot twists and turns never fail to show how various lives come together to create the fullness of one life."
--Annette Daloia Scanlon, Social Worker in Hospice & Palliative Care in Human & Veterinary Medicine

"Author Diane Wald has crafted a truly intriguing slice-of-life drama . . . with vivid details and insight . . . [R]eaders who enjoy deep literary portrayals of fascinating characters will be sure to adore My Famous Brain."
--Readers' Favorite

“Wald’s evocative novel manages to deftly capture the mood and myriad voices of the academic world; however, it also narrows its focus to delve deeply into the sensitive mind of its introspective protagonist . . . [Wald is] a writer who understands timing as much as she does a beautifully crafted sentence. A sensitive and moody take on personal connections between loved ones.”
―Kirkus Reviews