Because Patrick is a former TV star it’s believable that he would be over-the-top, but he was also a caricature, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with him. Wealth, perfect body, caftans, cocktails, parties, younger lover - stop me if you’ve met this character before. Thankfully these two elements are the through-line of the story, because while there was nothing I hated about the book, there were a couple things that bothered me: For all intents and purposes Patrick is a successful, well-adjusted person with some baggage - who isn’t? - which made the healing feel natural and organic. Sure, he’s somewhat of a recluse, but Rowley didn’t make him a stereotype of the damaged gay man (addicted, reckless, etc.) to make us believe he had demons. He also struggles to recover from the death of his partner in an accident years before. Like many queer adults, Patrick has held on to feelings of inadequacy that started in youth. It deals with grief and trauma in an honest and healthy way. It’s legitimately funny: I laughed out loud multiple times, mostly when Patrick uses not completely appropriate language around Maisie and Grant (guilty), provides them with the fundamentals of an “edugaytion” and the really extra ways in which he orders a drink at brunch. Whether a product of over-hype or unreasonable expectations, my final assessment was a solid good, but not great, read. So, while there was a lot I liked about “The Guncle,” it also left me a little disappointed. The topic alone was enough for me to forgo my usual library loan process and instead purchase the audio format on publication day.
To say I had high hopes for Steven Rowley’s modern take on lineal kinship would be an understatement. Why I Read It: As a proud guncle, it was a no-brainer.Īs a gay uncle - or guncle - to 11 individuals ranging in age from eight to 25-years-old, I consider myself somewhat of an expert on the ins and outs of navigating the line between authority figure and friend with a sibling’s offspring. Recommended For: Fans of “Will and Grace.” Reality: A campy, somewhat stereotypical story that runs a little long but delivers a lot of humor and heart. Together they navigate grief, second chances and what it means to be a family.Įxpectation: A what-would-you-do dramedy tailor-made to us queers that relish being the “cool” uncle or aunt. When his sister-in-law dies and his brother heads to rehab, he temporarily becomes the guardian of his pre-teen niece and nephew.
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: Patrick is a former sitcom star that lives out his days relatively carelessly in Palm Springs.
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