The Guncle

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Fiction

2021 Penguin Audio

Narrated by Steven Rowley

Finished on December 1, 2022

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Editor comes a warm and deeply funny novel about a once-famous gay sitcom star whose unexpected family tragedy leaves him with his niece and nephew for the summer.

Patrick, or 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 come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays. But in terms of caretaking and relating to two children, no matter how adorable, Patrick is, honestly, overwhelmed.

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, Patrick has no idea what to expect, having 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.

With the humor and heart we've come to expect from bestselling author Steven Rowley, The Guncle is a moving tribute to the power of love, patience, and family in even the most trying of times.

I read a review of The Guncle on a friend's blog this past September, and immediately added it to my audio TBR list. Less than a month later, I was happily listening to Steven Rowley's marvelous narration of his book. What a gem! With themes of grief, addiction, and family dynamics, The Guncle is tender, yet not depressing or saccharine. There are some serious moments, but Rowley seamlessly balances those with his humorous scenes. 

Gup (Gay Uncle Patrick) doesn't talk down to his niece and nephew, and Maise's frustration with her uncle's vocabulary ("Speak English! What do you mean?!?!"), combined with Patrick's exasperation when the kids don't understand the meaning of his adult vocabulary (or catch his sarcasm), is so well done. These interactions create some hilarious, laugh-out-loud scenes, similar to those in Kevin Wilson's Nothing to See Here.

What should have been a quick read turned out to take me six weeks to read. The past few months have been hectic, and I've started riding my Peloton more often, so my daily walks (when I typically listen to audiobooks) have taken a back seat. And yet, I never lost interest, nor did the book lose momentum, even after several days had passed before I got another chance to listen. 

Thanks for the great recommendation, JoAnn! I can't wait to see who is cast for the movie, which with Rowley writing the screenplay, is sure to be as entertaining as the book. (Click here to read JoAnn's review.)