Finished AHWOSG last weekend. Pete lent it to me (I've stopped linking to you since you don't update your blog P) ages ago and I only just got around to reading it last week. It's a "curve ball."An unusual book. It is an embellished autobiographical work, describing mainly the life of a young man and his younger brother as they struggle to get on with life after being orphaned by cancer. However, it's not a straight autobiographical novel, as some parts of the book have been embellished, and others not - though of course as a reader we don't know which parts!
The older brother assumes the role of father/brother, and has to juggle minding Toph (his brother) in a responsible, paternal way as well as being an older brother. As well as that he has his own projects - his own social life, a magazine - to balance with that, but his sister does help out occasionally!
The author uses unusual devices to tell his story, that are ironic in some respects, but excellently thought through and usually lead to a "wow that's clever" realisation during the reading!
I wouldn't like to talk too much about the book, because as usual it would be easily spoiled if discussed too much, but suffice to say it's clever and poignant. As other reviews have (very obviously) said, it is heartbreaking, it is staggering, and it is genius! Read it.
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