Our host for this month is Janet Shellenberger.
Our book is "The Guncle: A Novel," by Steven Rowley.
Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they visit Palm Springs or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays.
So when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and Patrick's brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian. Despite having a set of "Guncle Rules" ready to go, he has no idea what to expect. He’s spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled acting career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. Quickly realizing that parenting--even if temporary--isn't solved with treats and jokes, Patrick's eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you're unfailingly human.
Note: The book is available through the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative at multiple branches; Libby has an audiobook.
