THE BOOK REVIEW CLUB AUG 2010 - The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Publisher: Penguin Australia
Pub.Date: March 1st 2010
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 328
Format: paperback
Source Of Copy: from the publisher

Thomas Mackee wants oblivion. Wants to forget parents who leave and friends he used to care about and a string of one-night stands, and favourite uncles being blown to smithereens on their way to work on the other side of the world.

But when his flatmates turn him out of the house, Tom moves in with his single, pregnant aunt, Georgie. And starts working at the Union pub with his former friends. And winds up living with his grieving father again. And remembers how he abandoned Tara Finke two years ago, after his uncle's death.

And in a year when everything's broken, Tom realises that his family and friends need him to help put the pieces back together as much as he needs them.


Melina Marchetta is my number one favorite author. I love all of her books because they are so thought-provoking yet so close to heart and they never fail to impress me. The Piper's Son, happily, is no exception.

This book tells the story about a family falling apart because the death of a member and is trying to hard to pull themselves together again. In case you haven't noticed, in all of her books, Melina Marchetta always explore the subject of family to the core, each time deeper and with more people involved, thus the topic never gets old. Instead, I want to read to know more.

I also think this book is a upgrade version of everything the author has ever written because this time it's told in third person's respective - making everything fiercer and refreshing. You get to know not only the life of a guy that has abandoned his friends and the girl he loves because of the grief and the aunt whose life cannot be anymore complicated. All generations in one. This, amazingly, allows not only teenagers, but also readers of all ages to enjoy the book as well.

Characters in The Piper's Son? Unique but realistic. Some are totally cool when some are screwed up, but once they're introduced into the story you will find it hard to forget them. Readers that have read (and loved) Saving Francesca will be able to meet her and Will Trombal once again in this book and I can guarantee that they aren't just mentioned then disappear right after that.

I really like Thomas. His personalities and family background are just intriguing. At first I think he's sort of depressed it's hard to read, but then the pace picks up and that suddenly strengthens his character. He is, too, like every male lead in the previous books, one of the guy whose love for the girl is extremely adorable and still believable. Of course there's Tara Finke, a softer yet loveable girl that I wish to know more of.

Bottom line: if you don't get this book it's your loss. Even though it focuses much on family, the story perfectly depicts everything else in life, even little things that have never crossed your mind.

Rating: 4/5