The Blackwells are a family with an extraordinary history and astounding traditions, which include attending their own funerals before they die! Their ways are questionable and their stories about deceased relatives are as bold as their red hair, but it is their eclectic wares that keep tourists coming back to their market in the town of Coraloo. Charlie Price, whose world has come crumbling down … crumbling down after a lapse in judgement leaves him unemployed, finds himself flung into the chaotic world of the Blackwells when he relocates to Coraloo with his socialite wife, Velveteen, and shy son, Gideon. Here Charlie attempts to make a living as a ‘picker’, reselling under-priced items he picks up at the market. Charlie soon finds this new way of life under threat and his quest for simplicity seems to be crumbling. Perhaps it’s time for Charlie to have a funeral of his own?
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The Death Of Mungo Blackwell by Lauren Brandenburg is a beautiful contemporary Christian novel about the most important things in life – faith and family.
Some people chase wealth but the richest people are those with others to love them.
The family unit is important. Within the novel there is a family who has a change of circumstances and with it, a reorganising of priorities.
Life in the city is stifling. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, it is all chasing the wind – we work to get money to buy things we do not need. We spend our lives chasing the next ‘big’ thing. We entrap ourselves. In contrast life in the country brings freedom – freedom to be who we were created to be. The family unit is strong. It pulls together to offer love and support.
Within the novel there are those who live in the valley and those who live on the heights. They do not mix. This can be seen as a metaphor for our lives – we have valley and mountaintop experiences – our lives must be a blend of both. We cannot stay in the valley or on the mountaintop, our lives experience both.
The love within the novel shines through as characters practice sacrificial love. All the characters were unique and well drawn. My personal favourite was Granny Blackwell.
There is the motif of shoes within the novel. We must not judge others when we have not walked in their shoes. We must wear the correct shoes for our unique journey. Our journey and our shoes are for us and us alone.
The Death Of Mungo Blackwell was a unique read which I really enjoyed. On the surface it is a great story or dig a little deeper and you will find the hidden gems beneath the surface.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Unique and unconventional, The Death of Mungo Blackwell has its moments of fantasy (pirate kinds, pygmies, and a curse are all parts of the Blackwell history that reads like a tall tale). Yet Lauren H. Brandenburg also examines two areas of life that everyone can relate to on one level or another: failure and change.
When Charlie Price loses his VP job, his family moves from the city to the town of Coraloo in search of a simpler life. But change is rarely easy and failure casts a longer shadow than we sometimes realize. With the help of unexpected friends, Charlie, Velveteen, and Gideon learn that life isn’t about the chase (the next deal, keeping up with up with the Joneses, a better career, or something else). It’s about finding happiness and contentment in the stage of life you are in.
Memorable characters, moments of hilarity, and a message that encourages readers to embrace the good in life every day, Brandenburg has given readers a delightful gift in this story.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I loved this quirky story. All of the characters will grab you and not let go. Not only was Charlie not employed, but he had fallen from a very high pinnacle. They ran with the country clubbers and lived a life of luxury even though none of them seemed very happy.
He moves them to this small town with very quirky people where he learns the town is divided ala the Hatfields and the McCoys. Slowly the family learns what life is about and what a journey it is. If you enjoy stories of growth and quirky characters, you’ll love this book.