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A review by grimalkintoes
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Steven Rowley's The Guncle is as much a hit as it is a miss. A beautiful, often heart-wrenching tale of family and grief, The Guncle gave readers a glimpse into the life of GUP — Gay Uncle Patrick — as he processes the loss of his longtime friend and SIL, Sara, while simultaneously stepping up to be the caretaker of her children, whom have grief to parse themselves.
Though the story itself had many quirky and endearing moments shared between Patrick and the children, I wish each character would have been developed more fully, the depth of their grief and joy on display. In many ways, The Guncle relied too heavily on 1-dimensional stereotypes and tropes masquerading as humor. It was almost as if Rowley was writing Patrick as distant not only from his life, but from readers as well.
All in all, this was a worthwhile summer read — paired best with bottomless mimosas and brunch.
Though the story itself had many quirky and endearing moments shared between Patrick and the children, I wish each character would have been developed more fully, the depth of their grief and joy on display. In many ways, The Guncle relied too heavily on 1-dimensional stereotypes and tropes masquerading as humor. It was almost as if Rowley was writing Patrick as distant not only from his life, but from readers as well.
All in all, this was a worthwhile summer read — paired best with bottomless mimosas and brunch.