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Book Review of The Big Book of Misunderstanding

The Big Book of Misunderstanding
daysleeper avatar reviewed Despite the serious subject matter, a surprisingly upbeat and lighthearted story on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


This novel centers around a young gay man who is coming to terms with his sexuality. There are certainly serious moments -- and part of the premise of the book is an attempted suicide -- but overall the story is full of humor and witty dialogue. Jim Gladstone is an accomplished writer and this novel is definitely worth a go. The dynamics between the protagonist and his brother and the rest of his family seem very authentic -- as do his interactions with his acquaintances and college friends, etc. I'm sure some of this "novel" is inspired by events in the author's own life; they must be based in fact for how authentic they seemed to me. The Thanksgiving scene is worth the price of admission alone. I've read dozens of novels in this genre, and this is by far one of my favorites. Funny, sweet, and full of fairly well developed characters.