Its been two years since Tom Mackees beloved uncle was killed in the London terrorist attacks, and he and his family are still reeling from it, closed off from one another in their own spheres of pain. Tom quit school and works at a local student union/pub alongside his former friends, who, despite his coldness towards them, have stubbornly refused to give up on him.
Tom lives with his single, pregnant aunt Georgie, who has problems of her own. She feels like she cant let her unborn childs father, Sam, back into her life, not after what happened between them during their years-long relationship. However, with the patient love, shared pain, and quirkiness of his friends and family, perhaps there is a way for Tom, Georgie, and everyone else to heal.
I have never read a book by Melina Marchetta that I havent loved, which makes her one of a kind. THE PIPERS SON takes beloved characters from Saving Francesca and makes them hurtmakes us hurt in reading about their strugglesand yet leaves us with a story so powerful, so resonant, so complex, that its hard to imagine that such an accomplishment was achieved at the hands of a human being.
Readers of THE PIPERS SON should not expect the same tone as was in Saving Fracesca. THE PIPERS SON is dark. Thats because Tom Mackee is angry. Two years after his uncles death and Tom is still simmering, still resentful, still pushing everyone away and not taking care of himself. Youd hate him for being so self-absorbed if it werent for how subtly Tom heals throughout the course of the novel.
Melina Marchettas characterization isnt simply splendid. Her dialogue isnt simply witty and spot-onits revitalizing. The dialogue comes across as simultaneously natural and like the most wonderful thing youve ever read in fiction. The characters in THE PIPERS SON really do come alive through their interactions with one another. Even Tom, so stuck in a cycle of self-torment is he, reveals himself to be capable of being vulnerable, of healing, of loving through his exchanges with others.
I had high expectations for THE PIPERS SON and Marchetta didnt let me down. THE PIPERS SON is evidence of Marchettas incredible maturation as a writer since her wonderful book Saving Francesca. A must-read for Marchetta fans, and a book that will continue to astound me every time I think back to it.
Tom lives with his single, pregnant aunt Georgie, who has problems of her own. She feels like she cant let her unborn childs father, Sam, back into her life, not after what happened between them during their years-long relationship. However, with the patient love, shared pain, and quirkiness of his friends and family, perhaps there is a way for Tom, Georgie, and everyone else to heal.
I have never read a book by Melina Marchetta that I havent loved, which makes her one of a kind. THE PIPERS SON takes beloved characters from Saving Francesca and makes them hurtmakes us hurt in reading about their strugglesand yet leaves us with a story so powerful, so resonant, so complex, that its hard to imagine that such an accomplishment was achieved at the hands of a human being.
Readers of THE PIPERS SON should not expect the same tone as was in Saving Fracesca. THE PIPERS SON is dark. Thats because Tom Mackee is angry. Two years after his uncles death and Tom is still simmering, still resentful, still pushing everyone away and not taking care of himself. Youd hate him for being so self-absorbed if it werent for how subtly Tom heals throughout the course of the novel.
Melina Marchettas characterization isnt simply splendid. Her dialogue isnt simply witty and spot-onits revitalizing. The dialogue comes across as simultaneously natural and like the most wonderful thing youve ever read in fiction. The characters in THE PIPERS SON really do come alive through their interactions with one another. Even Tom, so stuck in a cycle of self-torment is he, reveals himself to be capable of being vulnerable, of healing, of loving through his exchanges with others.
I had high expectations for THE PIPERS SON and Marchetta didnt let me down. THE PIPERS SON is evidence of Marchettas incredible maturation as a writer since her wonderful book Saving Francesca. A must-read for Marchetta fans, and a book that will continue to astound me every time I think back to it.
Truly loved this book. I look for this author's work when I want to read about young people and their struggles with life. The author is so skilled at drawing interesting characters. Thomas Finch Mackee (Tom to his friends and family) is the main character. He's sensitive, he is real, he makes mistakes and he's so real.
Tom finds solace in music. He misses the only girl he loves. He misses his father. He misses his grandfather. And, he misses his uncle. Tragedy took his uncle when a fanatic blew up himself and the train in which he was riding. Vietnam took his grandfather. Alcohol took his father. His Aunt Georgie believes in him but she has her own problems. Her husband slept with another woman and they had a child but she still loves him, enough that they sleep together but don't really communicate. She becomes pregnant. So Tom is trying to work through his own emotional problems and consoling his aunt. His friends are wary of him so he's not certain who he can trust. He beings to write to the only girl he's loved. Slowly, they begin to talk through what happened. It's a good read about family, youth and its tragedies and life in general. I liked it very much.
Tom finds solace in music. He misses the only girl he loves. He misses his father. He misses his grandfather. And, he misses his uncle. Tragedy took his uncle when a fanatic blew up himself and the train in which he was riding. Vietnam took his grandfather. Alcohol took his father. His Aunt Georgie believes in him but she has her own problems. Her husband slept with another woman and they had a child but she still loves him, enough that they sleep together but don't really communicate. She becomes pregnant. So Tom is trying to work through his own emotional problems and consoling his aunt. His friends are wary of him so he's not certain who he can trust. He beings to write to the only girl he's loved. Slowly, they begin to talk through what happened. It's a good read about family, youth and its tragedies and life in general. I liked it very much.
