Lucas and Grinder are more than a little surprised and confused to hear that their mother, Millie, who they haven’t heard from in over thirty years, has died. Now her best friend wants them to come to Pittsburgh to take care of their mother’s effects, chief among them being Paul.A road trip ensues with memorable stops at a Racino, a Pittsburgh landmark greasy spoon, and finally a ride on an … on an incline trolley to meet their mother’s friend, Janice. They are taken aback when she introduces them to Paul, an African grey parrot in the depths of grief, who has things to say that will change their lives. And so a transformative adventure begins.
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The Review
This was quite an emotional yet humorous read. Anyone who has ever gone through loss or a tumultuous if the not nonexistent relationship with a family member will be able to identify with this narrative easily. The brother’s chemistry is fun to watch unfold here, as each reacts in their own way to the loss of their mother. Yet it is Paul who steals the show, revealing not only a great deal of humor and wit in the amazingly smart bird but also connecting the brothers to their mother, whom neither had gotten to know, as Paul recites and brings the words of their mother to live on their journey of discovery.
The sometimes dark yet relatable and funny chord and balance the author found within this narrative’s deeper themes was a truly inspiring thing to read. The heartbreaking reality of abandonment and parenthood and its effects on children over time was seen as the brothers struggled with the idea of not knowing their real mother. Paul’s quick wit and the reflection on their mother’s personality in life not only cut the tension in these scenes but brought their mother to life as well, something a lot of readers will be able to identify with.
The Verdict
A remarkable, charming, and emotionally charged narrative, author David S. Seaburn’s “Parrot Talk” is a must-read novel. The engaging way the author weaves this story in such a short amount of time is incredible, while the breathtaking journey of two brothers seeking to find acceptance in the lack of relationship with their mother, and the knowledge that in her own strange way, she did hold love in her heart, will really resonate with readers everywhere. Be sure to grab your copy today!
Even though I didn’t finish reading this book, I think it is important to let other readers know why I did not want to read it.
It starts out with two elderly women rolling joints – for medicinal purposes. One of them is Millie who left her family many years ago. When she died, her friend contacted her sons to let them know so that they could pick up her belongings and Paul (the parrot). Since they had not heard from their mother since she left, they didn’t want anything to do with this. I didn’t like any of the characters so far and the storyline wasn’t grabbing me but the blurb was good and this book had so many 5 star reviews that I thought it would get better. But, sadly for me, I just didn’t get caught up in this story so I finally stopped reading it.
I did get a copy of this book from the tour host in exchange for my honest review. Because of that, I contacted the host and explained that I was struggling with this book and having a hard time connecting with it so I wouldn’t be posting a review on the date I had agreed to. She asked me to not post my review until after the tour ended if it was going to be negative. I don’t think that it’s fair to write a positive review if the book doesn’t deserve it nor do I think it’s fair to not post a review if it is negative, which is why I am sharing my view now.