OK, so I don’t want to go too far into this yet, because I know it’s for the Book Club in November, and I’ll come back and add to this between now and then, but I want to get my initial impressions down now before they dull in my head. I read this book really early because, basically, I went to my library’s site to put a hold on it now, assuming it would have a wait list. Lo and behold! It was available! So I figured, why not? Let’s get going on it now.
Good lord this book is a trip. I mean that in the best way. It is fantastical, and non-linear and warm and funny and all over the place. It looks at life plans, love, religion, Ego and everything in between. It starts with two completely separate sets of boys. George and Fraser grew up next door to each other in Glasgow, Saul and Leon are two bastard brothers in Georgia. Over the course of their life journeys they weave in and out and overlap in ways that could never be anticipated.
I’ve read Craig Ferguson’s autobiographical stuff before, so I knew he could write, but I haven’t read any of his fiction prior to this and I am so glad this is the Book Club book so I could pick it up. I’m having trouble coming up with words to describe his style that aren’t trite or gushing. He writes how he talks, if you’ve ever seen his show or his stand up. I could pretty much hear his voice in my head as I read the whole thing. This use of a very standard, conversational type voice work so well, especially when the more magical elements come in, it almost makes them feel normal and mundane and even logical. In fact, I think I may try to get a hold of the audiobook between now and November and re-hear the book that way.
So, if anyone is on the fence about this Book Club, I highly recommend coming on board. This is a really good one.
CBR10 Bingo- #Cannonbookclub