- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Faber and Faber; UK First Edition edition (5 Feb 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0571224016
- ISBN-13: 978-0571224012
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 14.2 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 798,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
'I absolutely loved the book ... One of the most original, fresh, funny and heartbreaking books I've read in a long time.'
--Jane Fallon, author of GETTING RID OF MATTHEW
--Jane Fallon, author of GETTING RID OF MATTHEW
Review
'In this colourful, big-hearted novel Toews creates battered, loving, whole and original characters.' Spectator
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Somehow this story grew on me as I read it. The first 50 pages were hard going and I found the characters irritating but after that I was looking forward to reading it. Hattie leaves her luke warm relationship in Paris after a phone call from her sister Min who wants her to look after Logan and Thebes her two children. Min has severe mental health issues.
Hattie decides Min would be better off in hospital and delivers her there before setting off on a whim to find the children's father - Cherkis - so that he can take care of his two children. Finding him involves a road trip from Canada across America with various stops on the way. The flashbacks into Hattie's and Min's childhood underpin the whole story as does the question of Min's mental stability.
I did find the lack of speech marks very annoying and that is why I haven't rated this 5 stars. I had to keep backtracking to work out what had been said and to whom. Apart from that I think the author has caught the essence of family life and the banter that goes on between family members. I thought Thebes was especially irritating at first but she grew on me as the story progressed - though I did feel she behaved and spoke in a far more adult way than most 11 year olds.
Overall I found it a book worth reading and one I would recommend if you don't mind trying something different.
Hattie decides Min would be better off in hospital and delivers her there before setting off on a whim to find the children's father - Cherkis - so that he can take care of his two children. Finding him involves a road trip from Canada across America with various stops on the way. The flashbacks into Hattie's and Min's childhood underpin the whole story as does the question of Min's mental stability.
I did find the lack of speech marks very annoying and that is why I haven't rated this 5 stars. I had to keep backtracking to work out what had been said and to whom. Apart from that I think the author has caught the essence of family life and the banter that goes on between family members. I thought Thebes was especially irritating at first but she grew on me as the story progressed - though I did feel she behaved and spoke in a far more adult way than most 11 year olds.
Overall I found it a book worth reading and one I would recommend if you don't mind trying something different.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This could have been a depressing tale: it concerns Hattie, who is charged with looking after her nephew and niece while her sister is suffering with a psychotic illness and being looked after in a psychiatric hospital. Unable to handle the children herself, Hattie decides to find their father Cherkis - who hasn't been a part of the children's lives for a long time.
The three of them set out for what would be called a `road movie', if it was a film.
Nephew Logan is typically teenaged and temperamental, and niece Thebes is cute, enthusiastic and funny (although I did wonder if she might have some of her mother's emotional difficulties perhaps...). The book is written through the eyes of Hattie - but I finished the book thinking that, of all the characters, I knew her the least.
Depressing it isn't: it's fun, engaging, easy to read and at times very funny. It's an easy read, and yet there is a depth and a genuine understanding of people's relationships and the effect of mental health issues on families.
I didn't like the lack of speech marks: I first saw this type of punctuation (or lack of it) in `Angela's Ashes' and it was very effective there, adding an atmospheric touch. But in this book it just made the dialogue breathless and a bit irritating to read after a while - I couldn't see the point.
I always enjoy a book that teaches me something or helps me to see an aspect of life through a new viewpoint, and The Flying Troutmans did exactly that. I would recommend this if you like American literature, and like something a bit different to read.
The three of them set out for what would be called a `road movie', if it was a film.
Nephew Logan is typically teenaged and temperamental, and niece Thebes is cute, enthusiastic and funny (although I did wonder if she might have some of her mother's emotional difficulties perhaps...). The book is written through the eyes of Hattie - but I finished the book thinking that, of all the characters, I knew her the least.
Depressing it isn't: it's fun, engaging, easy to read and at times very funny. It's an easy read, and yet there is a depth and a genuine understanding of people's relationships and the effect of mental health issues on families.
I didn't like the lack of speech marks: I first saw this type of punctuation (or lack of it) in `Angela's Ashes' and it was very effective there, adding an atmospheric touch. But in this book it just made the dialogue breathless and a bit irritating to read after a while - I couldn't see the point.
I always enjoy a book that teaches me something or helps me to see an aspect of life through a new viewpoint, and The Flying Troutmans did exactly that. I would recommend this if you like American literature, and like something a bit different to read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Hattie is Min's sister who is travelling the world to escape from her childhood but comes home to Canada to look after Logan and Thebes (Min's children) whilst manic depressive Min is in hospital. Hattie however feels that it would be best for their father Cherkis to look after them and so they set off on a road trip to California to find him.
It is the writing of Logan and Thebes mainly which made this story so believable and interesting. All the different facets to their characters made this book so absorbing and interesting.
This book has been compared to "Little Miss Sunshine" and it is very similar in style as it's a family road trip story focussing on the emotions of the main characters. Although there are themes of suicide and depression, the book is humerous and enjoyable.
The only thing that spoilt the book for me somewhat was the lack of speech marks. This was especially true at the beginning when it was difficult to follow what was being said. However the quality of story and characters had me reading to the end.
It is the writing of Logan and Thebes mainly which made this story so believable and interesting. All the different facets to their characters made this book so absorbing and interesting.
This book has been compared to "Little Miss Sunshine" and it is very similar in style as it's a family road trip story focussing on the emotions of the main characters. Although there are themes of suicide and depression, the book is humerous and enjoyable.
The only thing that spoilt the book for me somewhat was the lack of speech marks. This was especially true at the beginning when it was difficult to follow what was being said. However the quality of story and characters had me reading to the end.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Quirky road-trip novel
The Flying Troutmans is a witty and fulfilling read, fairly reminiscent (as stated on the cover) of the film 'Little Miss Sunshine' in the sense that it relates the tale of a... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Melanie Pratt
The Flying Troutmans
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is about a road trip undertaken by a very disfunctional family across America. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Dodie
very original
I found this a fascinating book as it seemed so original and fresh. The characters were really brought to life and really likeable. Read more
Published 23 months ago by KJE
Pretentious
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the quirky, good-natured A Boy Of Good Breeding, I was pleased to discover a new author who I'd enjoyed and so I was full of anticipation when I... Read more
Published on 4 May 2010 by David Buwe
Funny and grim
The Troutman family are all a little crazy, some more so than others. Hattie dashes back to Canada to pick up the pieces yet again. Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2009 by Elizabeth Trigg
flying troutmans
excellent book- well written, funny, very enjoyable. great characters and one which i'm sure i'll read many times
Published on 31 July 2009 by BP
Great Read
A great read and interesting story that pulls you in draws you on to finish the book. I would recomend the read, well written and rewarding to the end however uncertain it might... Read more
Published on 18 May 2009 by R. Hallett
OK
This is an OK road trip novel that at times felt like it was trying to be too edgy and poignant. The lack of speech marks was also irritating. Read more
Published on 19 April 2009 by Rubbah
not sure what to think
Really I am not sure what to say about this....thank God I have finished it springs to mind. 274 pages and not really a story or a conclusion or anything to this book. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2009 by Sian Louise
Original and entertaining...
I think that what sets this novel a notch higher than it might otherwise be, is the delightful narrative. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2009 by LittleReader
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