Parrot Talk by David B. Seaburn
Publisher: Black Rose Writing (May 11, 2017)
Category: Literary Fiction, Humor, Family
Tour dates: Aug-Oct, 2017
ISBN: 978-1612968551
Available in Print & ebook, 193 pages
At the age of 14 and 11, brothers, Lucas and Grinder’s mother has left them and their alcoholic father. They never hear from her again.
Out of the blue a friend of their mother, Janice, contacts Lucas with the news that their mother has died. She asks them to come to Pittsburgh to take care of her effects, chief among them being Paul. Reluctantly, Lucas and Grinder head for Pittsburgh where they meet Janice and learn that Paul is their mother’s African grey parrot. Turns out that Paul has things to say that turn the brothers’ worlds upside down, especially regarding their mother.
This is a humorous look at matters of consequence—abandonment, alcoholism, grief and loss of a mother, living without clear answers, the relationship between brothers, separation and reconciliation and hope. It is also about a father who carries a piece of Jesus with him in a Ziploc baggie, a parrot who likes to get stoned, and a brother who cleans dead animals off the streets for a living.
My Thoughts Parrot Talk by David B. Seaburn
Brothers, Lucas and Grinder find out that their mother, Millie has passed away in Pittsburgh. They have been estranged from her for a very long time but have to drive cross country to get there and take care of their mother’s estate and her African Grey bird, Paul. They do not find out that Paul is a bird until they get there.
During their long drive we find out about their childhood and how they were abandoned by Millie 30 years ago. The road trip had some great tidbits and worth the reading just for that. It is humorous and sad throughout but the humor really cranks up one they get to Pittsburgh and find out that Paul is not the human they speculated him to be but a bird. He’s not only a bird but a grieving bird. It becomes evident to Grinder and Lucas that Millie cared more for Paul than she did for her sons. They find that spending time with Paul is a lot like being with their mother due to all his snarky remarks.
I really enjoyed ‘Parrot Talk’ and all of its parts. I laughed and cried in equal measures. It is an excellent character study with complex and quirky characters. With life experience, I have come to learn that all families are dysfunctional and with this one, it becomes apparent fast. It is a great examination of a family that must come to terms with the past and move on. David Seaburn’s poetic prose and the story kept me glued to the book until its conclusion. There are so many memorable moments and I highly recommend ‘Parrot Talk’.
5/5
I received the ebook for my honest review.
About David B. Seaburn
David B. Seaburn has been a Presbyterian pastor of a small country church, an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine at a leading university medical center, a pioneer in the field of Medical Family Therapy, and a prolific author.
Since 2005, Seaburn has published six novels. His newest, ‘Parrot Talk’, was released in May 2017 by Black Rose Writing. He also writes a blog for Psychology Today magazine, “Going Out Not Knowing.” Seaburn was a Finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards in fiction for his novel, ‘Charlie No Face’ (2011). He is currently an instructor at Writers and Books in Rochester NY. Seaburn is married with two married daughters and two wonderful granddaughters. A third grandchild is on the way.
Website: www.davidbseaburn.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.seaburn
Twitter: twitter.com/dseaburn
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This giveaway is for the ebook and is open worldwide. It ends on October 31, 2017. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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Thank you, Teddy, for this generous review! I appreciate it very much.
The book deserved it! Thanks for sharing it with me!
This sounds like a book full of laughs and emotions on both brothers. I would very much like to read as my family has had mixed emotions upon the deaths of our parents. Thank you for a chance to win this giveaway.
[…] Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Sept 11 Review […]
This sounds like a very funny book. Wonder about those snarky remarks by the parrot!
Thanks for the giveaway.
This sounds like it might be a YA novel.
It is not a YA novel at all. For one thing, the main characters are middle aged.