The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

When an unnamed,  middle-aged man returns home for a funeral, he suddenly finds himself drawn to a mysterious place from his childhood.

He knocks on the door of an old farmhouse unsure who will answer. When an old woman opens the door she seems familiar.  He realizes she's the mother of his friend, Lettie Hempstock.  He then goes to the pond at the end of the lane.  A pond Lettie referred to as the ocean.

And then he remembers.

He remembers everything...

What follows is a haunting, strange, and beautifully written tale of the man as a 7 year old boy, who experiences a terrifying and other-worldly encounter.
As the young boy's situation worsens, only three uncommon women, including his only friend Lettie Hempstock, can save him.
I found myself completely immersed in Gaiman's magical yet believable world.  It's a poetic and slightly frightening story of how childhood memories shape us, even if we do forget them for a time.