Papa on the Moon by Marco North

TITLE INFORMATION

Papa on the Moon

Marco North

Bittersweet Editions, 314 pages

9780989715331, 9.9.22

Overall Rating = 4.33

Storyline & Concept = 4

Writing & Delivery = 4

Editorial = 5

In a raw and atypical fashion, Marco North writes a collection of short stories in this literary fiction novel, which follows the lives of very different, yet interconnected families. Papa on the Moon contains both short stories and poetry that depict characters who are real and unapologetically human. Each part of the series is unique and jumps between different stories, yet the flow is natural.

Many unique characters are introduced throughout, but there is a larger focus on Paul and his family. The family goes through wins and losses including the demise of their pig farm, the mental struggles of a brother, and a failed marriage. Interwoven in the narrative, we follow Hitch, a struggling musician who lives with flashbacks of his past as he resides with diner owners, Ellen and Martin. We also feel the duty and compassion of single mom Trish, who celebrates her son’s birthday after an unfruitful workday. The stories are deftly tied together at the end with the help of a young Russian boy.

Through the innocence of the children, the humor in the dark moments, and the wonderful imagery, this unique and well-written series of interconnected stories keeps the reader engaged and enchanted. The metaphors within the novel bear deeper meaning, although the narrative is minimal in what it gives away. This is the type of book you could read a second time and find different ways to interpret the stories each time.

Sublime Line: “Papa on the Moon keeps you engaged to the very end; anyone who likes an honest, quirky read – this is for you.”

Sublime Book Review

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