In the Lives of Puppets, by TJ Klune - Nicola
I cheated a little by choosing this book to review, since I have already read three other titles by TJ Klune: The house in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, and Wolfsong.
Was this book as good as the titles I have already encountered? Absolutely.
Is it a page turner and do the pages turn quickly and easily? Without a doubt they do.
Editor’s note: “In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees live three robots and a human, Victor Lawson. They're a family, hidden and safe. Until Vic learns of a his robot friend, Gio’s dark past spent hunting humans. When Gio is stolen away, it’s up to this unusual family to travel a treacherous world to save him.”
The back of the book says this is a retelling of Pinocchio – I don’t really see that that, maybe that’s because I have read it on its own merits. Having said that, I think this book does make playful references to other stories, especially The Wizard of Oz. The Electrified Road and City of Electric Dreams are like the yellow brick road and Emerald City. And there are more references that fit these characters with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Powerful Oz himself.
Not only is this book a book of loyalty, it is also a book on how much would you do for love, whether it is the love of parents, friends, or partners. Would you sacrifice yourself for another wholeheartedly and without question?
It made me think of the choices a parent makes for their child or the caring for a parent with dementia in later life that might have forgotten who they are and the relationship you have forged.
I thought this was a very thought-provoking book that posed a lot of questions about day to day life and relationships that each and everyone one of us has within it.
Nicola
