Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

127 reviews

earth_to_mars's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.25

The Guncle was interesting to me. I'm still reeling from one of the worst books I've read this year (maybe ever), so maybe I'm biased, but whatever. I had fun! 

The Guncle is about Patrick O'Hara, a washed up celebrity sit-com actor who has to take care of his six-year-old nephew (Grant) and nine-year-old niece (Maisie) after the death of their mother and his best friend, Sara. Why? Because their father (his brother), Greg, self admitted to rehab for the summer. 

When I started reading this I got heavy BoJack Horseman vibes, specifically the first season. The themes and overall mood is trying to strike a balance between funny and sad, grief and humor. And that's not a bad thing. There were parts where I cringed, parts where I laughed, parts where I teared up. It was enjoyable.

The characters are endearing, the kid's aren't annoying (just regular kid annoying, but in a way that doesn't impede on the reading) and Patrick's realization that he is isolating himself because he refuses to grieve his past lover, Joe, is a really strong character arc. The Guncle's version of The Telescope (the episode of BoJack Horseman that was a turning point from typical adult comedy to something more serious) comes in Chapter Twenty, when
Patrick rereads a letter to Joe he wrote in therapy after his death
. 

This was the emotional shift that really solidified the four star rating for me. I also enjoyed the scenes with Patrick and his sister Clara. It's messy, it's hard. But it's realistic. Where both have issues with one another, valid criticisms and complaints between the two (other complaints not so much or not their fault), but at the end of their fight, they still manage to come together. I also love the flashbacks with Sara. We get to know her without her being there, she's more than just a mother, a wife, a friend. The person she was lives with Patrick, with Greg, with the kids. And it's heartwarming.

I loved watching Patrick's walls come down with the kids, it's humbling and honestly, nice to watch unfold.

Overall, it's lighthearted, yet heartfelt. It's a story of a broken family, all of them grieving their relationships in different ways, where they come together and slowly start their path of healing together, that's definitely worth the read.
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booksandbabble's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

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bookwitch's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

4.0

This was a great little contemporary novel. Heavier themes than originally assumed, though I really appreciated the conversations and how they were handled. Some parts actually had me laughing out loud, which is for some reason really rare.
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hrh_victoria's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-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

4.5

A charming family story that deftly navigates a path through grief
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brittanylee0302's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was super cute, fun & really dived deep into allll the emotions. I found Patrick, Mazey & Grant to be the cutest trio & loved their interactions. While this book was funny & kept me laughing, it also dove deep into grief & coping with it from different perspectives & both from Patrick's adult perspective, but the kids as will. Sometimes books struggle with doing a good job of reflecting all these emotions but this job did a phenomenal job along with exploring a variety of other themes. Im really looking forward to the sequel! 
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paigeeb13's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

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whiskeywoman79's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 
Fiction / Family Drama / lgbtqia / grief 

TW: loss of apparent, addiction, loss of a spouse, loss of a partner, (a flashback to a homophobic family situation)

This is a book about love and loss. I am emotionally wrecked from it. I caution you to go into this read with eyes open, your heart will break and be put back together a few times and you will come out a different person than when you went in. If that is not one of the greatest compliments I can give a book, I don't know what is. 

This book was a ride. Overall it was fantastic, however, there were parts where I questioned if I should DNF, I pushed myself through them and for that I am grateful. 

This book is not for everybody. I don't think some readers would understand many of the references if they don't have a love for film and stage, or don't come from a family who loves old movies, Broadway, or just overall entertainment. I feel even an audience under 30 might be lost at times within his references. But man, if you get them you won't be able to contain your laughter. 
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gerzonvillegas's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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itsheyfay's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

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readwithkel's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring 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

4.5

This took me a little bit to get into, but I just loved it. 

The characters, the dialogue, and the little bits of comedy made this book so enjoyable. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series!
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