A review by booksblabbering
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry

4.25

A book written for readers. 

As an avid reader and an English major who also studied law - this felt made for me. It was filled with literary references, academic insights and jokes, a love for reading that only true bookworms could ever understand. 

<b>So I’ll be drifting in words, absorbing, and the words I absorb will be racing through my bloodstream. Every nerve, every neuron will be sparking and catching fire, and my heart will be quickening to carry it through faster, and my eyes will be tearing ahead to take in more and more. This isn’t magic yet, or whatever the word is. (It’s always annoyed me that I can’t find the word.) This is just reading a book.</b>

Rob’s brother Charley is not only a genius, but he can also bring characters from books into the real world. Rob has always felt slightly jealous and angry with his brother’s peculiarity and just is very happy to lead a normal life as an adult working as a lawyer. 

Then Charley returns to town as villainous Dickerson characters start causing havoc and the hound of Baskerville starts barging down doors. 

While each character took on a life of the their own once they were read into being, their identity is shaped by how readers and authors view them. So we have four Mr. Darcy’s who are invisibly the same person but have slightly different traits or habits or preferences. Our own experiences can influence our own reading of a book or character and this can change how different people understand the same story. 

<b>Charley sneezed, and made a face. “Oh, wonderful. I’m going to catch cold from a pathetic fallacy.

</b>

This isn’t only all fun, whimsy, and imagination. There is also a real focus on identity, belonging, and feeling loved.

There is a strong sense of family, protectiveness, and respect. 

<b>It’s.

Not.

Fair.

I know that life isn’t.

But stories are. Or if they’re not fair, they’re not fair with purpose.

I wish I could tell better where stories end and life begins.

</b>

Things didn’t always flow smoothly , but this is a book where characters come to life so plot holes can literally be excused. 

Also, Dorian Grey is one of the most witty characters and does exceedingly well in the modern world.

If you enjoyed Inkheart - definitely pick this up!

<b>

The Victorians don’t mind coincidence—they wanted the world to make sense. They love people turning out to be related, especially people with titles. Seriously, if you bump into a kind aristocrat in a Dickens novel, he will turn out to be your uncle by chapter fifty-seven, so aim well.”</b>

Tottering between four and five stars.