It is hard to know what to say about a book that has been reviewed by so many people, so I supposed it is best just to say what it meant to me.

Prior to reading this book, I had just finished reading another book that was about grief and found myself turning to this sunny cheerful cover, desperate for some light relief. You see the other book I had read, written by two authors, had such a melancholy feel about it that is left me in quite a dark place. In their book, grief was portrayed as more of an anchor, keeping their protagonist locked in the past. The book had an air of gloom that seeped from the pages and left you feeling so much despair. “The Guncle” however is the complete opposite of that and one that is the biggest celebration of “living” than most other books out there. Steven Rowley has written a character, a series of characters in fact, that take you through a process that is so often spoken about in somber hushed tones, but instead they shout about it in the hope that we see the glory that is to be had in living.

After Maisie and Grant’s mother dies, these 2 young children are sent to live with their Uncle Patrick, their mother’s best friend and the brother of their father. The depiction of these three central characters is outstanding and through them Steve Rowley takes us through a process of grief, as seen through the eyes of a child and an old TV actor who is himself still grieving after the death of his partner 12 years earlier. Similar in style to the film “Mame”, “The Guncle” is about how 2 children slot into the life of an uncompromising man, who refuses to change who he is to accommodate these “two annoying little people”. But, as you might suspect, the children start to change Patrick and in turn he starts to help them process the loss of their mother.

Steve Rowley has written such a wonderful book which is such a breath of fresh air that gives you hope for all that life has to offer. It is funny, it’s heartbreaking, it’s stylish and it’s clever. But most of all it’s joyous. The comedy is off the charts funny, but the insights he has are so profound and moving. I loved spending time with Partick and the kids and was so sad when the book eventually came to an end. I wanted to spend more time with the children and see how Patrick moves forward with his life and career. Thankfully Steven Rowley has read my mind and this summer we will be getting a sequel.

As an author he knows how to pace a book and make it funny and sad at the same time, all the while offering wonderful insights into life. He is a voice I want to hear more from and a confirmation that there are really great writers out there who are still writing timeless classics. I heard rumours that this book is being optioned to be made into a film. If that is true I beg you to read the book first because no one will ever be able to match the experience the book gives you. Reading it you get to hear this story in the author’s own words. And if you listen to the audiobook, you actually get to hear the author’s own words as spoken by the author himself! Something I recommend.

Brand	N/A
Rating	4.4 (18631 ratings)
Price	$0.99
Category	Literature & Fiction