Mark Shavin, ”Unforgettable: Marriage, Memory and Madness in a Small Southern Town”

Mark Shavin reads a selection from his book-length manuscript “Unforgettable: Marriage, Memory and Madness in a Small Southern Town,” which is currently seeking a publisher. 

The story follows Harold Riley, who lost his memory following brain surgery in 1971, and his wife, Elaine, as she tries to help Harold relearn how to live in the world.

A veteran reporter and TV broadcaster, Shavin lives in Atlanta and teaches journalism at Georgia State University. He is a 2018 graduate of the Grady Nonfiction MFA program.

In this episode, Shavin discusses his decades-long research into the Rileys’ story, why this particular story stuck with him over the years, and what the family’s openness taught him about being a good person.