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thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Well, it took me about 5 years to finish this novel due to a very annoying reading slump, but after finally hitting the story’s stride with the second half, I’m happy to report I did enjoy it. It felt like the very depth of a proper embrace—comforting but yet all consuming. It was not necessarily a funny book like I expected, but more of an introspective look at grief and the different ways we cope with it. In Guncle Patrick’s case that often did include comedy, but also fury and sadness and absurdity and care. Patrick’s relationship with his niece and nephew is the star of the story, but his relationship with everyone in his life, past and present, is unveiled through his love of and life with the children.
This a book about family and dreams, and how you should never give up on either of them.
This a book about family and dreams, and how you should never give up on either of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Death, Alcohol, Death of parent, Car accident, Drug use, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Blood, and Abandonment
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Title: The Guncle
Author: Steven Rowley
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: May 25, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Wise • Bittersweet • Comical
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In the wake of their mother's death, Maise and Grant was sent to live with their uncle Patrick aka GUP, while their father checks into a rehabilitation facility to deal with his addiction. Patrick has always loved spending time with his niece and nephew, but soon finds himself overwhelmed and not knowing what to expect.
What few people know is that Patrick has been barely hanging on in the years since his own partner's death. What lies ahead are not only some hilarious adventures, but a summer that will have a lasting impact and healing effects each of them.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Everyone needs Guncle rules! Although, Patrick (GUP) comes across extremely pretentious in the beginning, I think that was the whole point, and as the narrative progresses it reveals more as to why he has closed himself off from living. In this way, Rowley paints a portrait of grief, which feels validating all on its own. In the aftermath of my own partner's death, I experienced firsthand the power of children in the healing process, and this aspect of the novel tugged at my heartstrings.
At times heartwarming, at other times absolutely hilarious (the baby dog food story had me laughing out loud), I absolutely loved the themes of celebrating our authentic selves, and living without prejudice. The way GUP approaches allowing the children to make their own choices and not allow society to dictate what they should be was very well done.
Steven Rowley has developed a strong cast of characters. I probably related to Patrick the most from a grief perspective, yet I absolutely adored Maisie. I found myself just wanting to live with them and experience all of their adventures. The thruple next door was also a nice bonus.
My main issue is that there were several insensitivities to addiction, which were hard to over look from a personal standpoint. Otherwise, this was a solid feel-good novel that made me laugh and made me cry, a sign of a worthwhile read. I am definitely looking forward to whatever Steven Rowley publishes next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• grievers (not early grief)
• bookclubs
• readers who enjoyed Akin by Emma Donoghue
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Grief orbits the heart. Some days the circle is greater. Those are the good days. You have room to move and dance and breathe. Some days the circle is tighter. Those are the hard ones."
"'I loved him and he died.'"
"'It feels sometimes like Joe, whom I loved very much, is being erased. He's just a smudge now on a chalkboard, smeared in an effort to get rid of him to make way for something new. And I hate that. So there are times I wished it hurt more, because it would mean the details of him would still be sharp. And then there are other days out here in the desert - especially if you go way out, to Joshua Tree or beyond - when you can see the Milky Way. A whole smudge of stars across the sky. And you think, there's still so much in that smudge. So many gleaming, beautiful things that you could never erase them all.'"
Author: Steven Rowley
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: May 25, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Wise • Bittersweet • Comical
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In the wake of their mother's death, Maise and Grant was sent to live with their uncle Patrick aka GUP, while their father checks into a rehabilitation facility to deal with his addiction. Patrick has always loved spending time with his niece and nephew, but soon finds himself overwhelmed and not knowing what to expect.
What few people know is that Patrick has been barely hanging on in the years since his own partner's death. What lies ahead are not only some hilarious adventures, but a summer that will have a lasting impact and healing effects each of them.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Everyone needs Guncle rules! Although, Patrick (GUP) comes across extremely pretentious in the beginning, I think that was the whole point, and as the narrative progresses it reveals more as to why he has closed himself off from living. In this way, Rowley paints a portrait of grief, which feels validating all on its own. In the aftermath of my own partner's death, I experienced firsthand the power of children in the healing process, and this aspect of the novel tugged at my heartstrings.
At times heartwarming, at other times absolutely hilarious (the baby dog food story had me laughing out loud), I absolutely loved the themes of celebrating our authentic selves, and living without prejudice. The way GUP approaches allowing the children to make their own choices and not allow society to dictate what they should be was very well done.
Steven Rowley has developed a strong cast of characters. I probably related to Patrick the most from a grief perspective, yet I absolutely adored Maisie. I found myself just wanting to live with them and experience all of their adventures. The thruple next door was also a nice bonus.
My main issue is that there were several insensitivities to addiction, which were hard to over look from a personal standpoint. Otherwise, this was a solid feel-good novel that made me laugh and made me cry, a sign of a worthwhile read. I am definitely looking forward to whatever Steven Rowley publishes next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• grievers (not early grief)
• bookclubs
• readers who enjoyed Akin by Emma Donoghue
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Grief orbits the heart. Some days the circle is greater. Those are the good days. You have room to move and dance and breathe. Some days the circle is tighter. Those are the hard ones."
"'I loved him and he died.'"
"'It feels sometimes like Joe, whom I loved very much, is being erased. He's just a smudge now on a chalkboard, smeared in an effort to get rid of him to make way for something new. And I hate that. So there are times I wished it hurt more, because it would mean the details of him would still be sharp. And then there are other days out here in the desert - especially if you go way out, to Joshua Tree or beyond - when you can see the Milky Way. A whole smudge of stars across the sky. And you think, there's still so much in that smudge. So many gleaming, beautiful things that you could never erase them all.'"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Death, and Addiction
Moderate: Car accident, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, and Cancer
death of partnertherainbowshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book finds a good balance between over the top humor, parenthood, and grief. It was fun reading all the ways Pat tries to connect with the kids and fails, and watching him work through his grief. He does read like a gay type-character from a comedy movie, though, and I wish the kids got a little more characterization. We don't really see them deal with their grief and they feel like they stop being people when not on screen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Homophobia, Medical content, and Car accident
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, and Alcoholism
Death of partner, gay couple not able to be together in hospital, earthquake, toxic family relationshipcaillie's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
excritos's review
emotional
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment
shiran_fa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
tofutofutofu's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Like cmon cmon, but with jokes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Car accident, and Suicidal thoughts
zoepagereader's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My bar for a funny book has skyrocketed after reading this. However, it still dealt with mature themes of death, addiction, and adult sibling relationships in a way that felt natural. Props for healthy polyamorous rep. Perfection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Car accident, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
readerette's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a warm and sweet story, without being saccharine. Patrick and the kids, and what grief can look like, really come alive.
It's too long, I don't know what the point of Emory's presence is, and not much plot really happens (it's very slice-of-life), but I easily forgive all that since it's such an immersive delight.
It's too long, I don't know what the point of Emory's presence is, and not much plot really happens (it's very slice-of-life), but I easily forgive all that since it's such an immersive delight.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Addiction, Car accident, Cancer, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
revengesrose's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Death, Cursing, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts