Michael F. Stewart – The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair

‘The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair’ by Michael F Stewart is a very hard book to read while at the same time managing to make me chuckle.

A thought provoking story that is about a teenager, Tremmy Sinclair who has discovered he has only got 4 to 6 months left to live. He is one of the rich, privileged kids at an elitist boarding school that is full of the same, rich, privileged kids. Everyone of them are jerks and it takes Tremmy to develop a non-operable brain tumour to realise this fact. The story is written in a diary-like way and we count down the days he has left. He wants to spend his last days just going to school without them knowing his terminal diagnosis, being with his jerk friends, living his life as he wants to and to the fullest he can. He decides to try to show them the error of their ways in his own Tremmy Sinclair style.

He also wants to die on his own terms. Not being sick from medication and he wants it as pain-free as possible too. He explores euthanasia and assisted suicide for himself with all his questions n his mind. His parents are beside themselves with his diagnosis and want whatever he wants. I don’t personally know how I would react in their situation but my heart went out to them all.

This is not a run of the mill topic and I do think the author has done an excellent job with it. The way he has created the characters, especially Tremmy and Margot and the interactions make this book stand out. Tremmy had me thinking of things in a way I never thought I would. He is a very realistic teenager who is experiencing something a teen should never need to experience. I did adore Margot and Tremmys bond, maybe a competitive one but a special bond still. Jenkins, well his and Tremmy’s friendship was an odd one and I couldn’t help chuckling with some of Tremmy’s thoughts on Jenkins. I did wonder if they would be able to stay friends throughout the time Tommy had left. I did find myself upset while reading it but this is a book that should evoke some response.
A beautifully woven story that is making my June an emotional and thoughtful one, along with the other books I have on the blog throughout June.

Thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and Michael F Stewart for my copy of the book