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Keeping Mum by James Gould-Bourn

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lucyremitz's review against another edition

5.0

I listened to this book on audio and it was such a delight. Loved the characters and the story. Read so quickly because I needed to know what happened next! Heart really felt full after reading.

messenger_moon's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-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

3.75

karen62's review against another edition

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5.0

Danny and his son Will are trying to recover from losing their wife and mother a little over a year ago. Both are having a rough time, Will has totally stopped talking and Danny is just trying to get through the days. It gets rougher when Danny's fired from his construction job, is behind on his rent to a slumlord who's threatening to break his legs and after searching for weeks can't find a job. After watching street performers in the park he gets an idea to do that and becomes a dancing panda. This book could have been so very sad but somehow managed not to be. There were definitely sad parts but there were also funny parts and deep parts. I loved how Danny connected to his son while he was disguised as a panda. I also loved the side characters - Mr Coleman, Ivan, Krystal - they were as important as the main characters. I couldn't put this book down and I didn't want it to end.

arielml's review against another edition

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4.0

First third: slow. Second and third thirds: excellent.

lisamonti99's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.0

jessential_reads's review against another edition

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5.0

That has been one of my favorites this year. This is about a Man going through a grief process after losing his wife in a car accident. His son was in the car when this happened and has not spoken a word since. He loses his job and starts working as a street performer and with the help of a pole dancer and a panda costume, he learns more about his son and himself than he ever thought he could.

This book made me laugh and cry, I listened to the audiobook on this one and the narrator was excellent with all the voices and he had a British accent that is always a plus. Made the comedy funnier and the reading so light for an intense subject such as grief.

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