awkwardtreed's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sonia_reppe's review against another edition
2.0
The only thing this has going for it is an engaging tone- Calvin's 1st person-- everything else is problematic: the plot, the pace, the characters. A bunch of people lying to each other does not a story make. Aunt B and her mysterious sayings got tiresome after a while. The plot needs structure. Did I mention pacing was a problem. This started off ok and then was boring.
leleroulant's review against another edition
4.0
I received this as an ARC from LibraryThing.com. What a fun ride! At almost 50 years old, Calvin meets his unknown Aunt at his mother's funeral. She take him on a wacky trip through Europe where Calvin finally learns what it means to grow up and be an adult. So many turn and twists to wrap your head around.
lyngox's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
4.5
lumakip's review against another edition
4.0
This is a wacky ride, for sure. Like one of those movies that you don't like when you first watch it, I started this book and just couldn't get into it. Once a mood better suited for it arrived, I dove back in and found it to be a light hearted, roller coaster ride around a few wacky days in the protagonist's life with laugh-out-louds all along the way. Not as easy read, but rewarding nonetheless.
thealydee's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lazygal's review against another edition
2.0
Not sure what to think about this, especially given the emphasis on John Calvin and his many quotations. You'd think that that would mean a more quiet book not a thriller-like book that includes an international hunt for something that Calvin may or may not have access to, or Beatrice's decisions to not explain things to Calvin. I mean, he's a blogger for the pellet-stove industry! There's supposed to be humor here but I only found that in his blog posts. Otherwise, I was as confused as Calvin.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
bryanfarmer's review against another edition
3.0
Mmmmm...very odd book. I might have to reread this 5 years from now to see if it doesn't seem as weird. Brock Clarke takes odd material and makes decent weirdos, tho. His writing is insightful! (and I did laugh a few times! HA!)
acton's review against another edition
4.0
Calvin Bledsoe has been raised in a small town in the middle of nowhere by a distant father and a cold, controlling mother. Nola Bledsoe is a minister whose life revolves around her hero, John Calvin. She even names her son after him, and makes sure that this son reads John Calvin's writing and can quote him.
Though the author introduces us to Calvin Bledsoe as a middle-aged man, this is, nevertheless, a coming of age story. At this point, Calvin has never left home, not even to work; he blogs for at pellet stove company. Yes, pellet stoves. I think that's brilliant! What could be a more boring, pointless job?
Calvin Bledsoe's safe, predictable, mind-numbing life is about to change completely when his mother is suddenly killed in an accident and an aunt he didn't know he had shows up at the funeral. Calvin's Aunt Beatrice is fabulously eccentric and funny. And outrageously bad.
Contrary to his usual nature, Calvin is manipulated into taking a trip with his Aunt Beatrice, and this is where the zany adventure begins. As the two of them travel around Europe, Calvin finds that Aunt Beatrice has many secrets, and as it turns out, he is on a mystery tour, the purpose of which is not revealed until the end. Calvin is indeed easy to kidnap, his old life gone--but as Aunt Beatrice tells him, "It's okay, Calvin. You weren't using that life anyway." Finally, Calvin seizes the moment to make his own choice...
There were some laugh out loud moments for me, but it wouldn't be appropriate to spoil them here. (As it turns out, Calvin has a cousin with a unique vocation, as well.) The events were not at all predictable, and kept me turning the pages. I very much enjoyed the humor and the mystery. Also, I found the writing style pleasing and the story well-paced.
Thank you, Rachel, from Algonquin Books, for sending this novel my way! I'd recommend it to anyone.
Though the author introduces us to Calvin Bledsoe as a middle-aged man, this is, nevertheless, a coming of age story. At this point, Calvin has never left home, not even to work; he blogs for at pellet stove company. Yes, pellet stoves. I think that's brilliant! What could be a more boring, pointless job?
Calvin Bledsoe's safe, predictable, mind-numbing life is about to change completely when his mother is suddenly killed in an accident and an aunt he didn't know he had shows up at the funeral. Calvin's Aunt Beatrice is fabulously eccentric and funny. And outrageously bad.
Contrary to his usual nature, Calvin is manipulated into taking a trip with his Aunt Beatrice, and this is where the zany adventure begins. As the two of them travel around Europe, Calvin finds that Aunt Beatrice has many secrets, and as it turns out, he is on a mystery tour, the purpose of which is not revealed until the end. Calvin is indeed easy to kidnap, his old life gone--but as Aunt Beatrice tells him, "It's okay, Calvin. You weren't using that life anyway." Finally, Calvin seizes the moment to make his own choice...
There were some laugh out loud moments for me, but it wouldn't be appropriate to spoil them here. (As it turns out, Calvin has a cousin with a unique vocation, as well.) The events were not at all predictable, and kept me turning the pages. I very much enjoyed the humor and the mystery. Also, I found the writing style pleasing and the story well-paced.
Thank you, Rachel, from Algonquin Books, for sending this novel my way! I'd recommend it to anyone.
devmackintosh's review
funny
hopeful
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
3.25