Gravity Rides Everything - Modest Mouse

Practical Jean

Author: Trevor Cole
Pages: 230
ARC Acquired from: HarperPerennial via NetGalley

Brief Summary:
Jane Vale Horemarsh has come to a startling revelation: Friends should not let friends grow old. This realization came to her in the wake of her mother's death, which came after three months of suffering and helplessness, during which time Jean had to care for her constantly. Jean has seen what happens to the human body when it gets old and now considers herself required, as a good friend, to save her friends from this fate...by killing them now.

Review:
For fans of black comedy, this novel is just about perfect. Of course, black comedy doesn't appeal to everyone; certainly, it did not appeal to me when I was younger. Now, however, I find that I quite enjoy dark humor. Basically, if you find the description to be amusing and want to read more, then you'll quite enjoy the book.

Jean, of course, is crazy. What else could one possibly expect of someone stuck with the last name of 'Horemarsh?' Cole does a great job of making her brand of craziness believable. He sets up that this idea and her hardness is not coming from nowhere. Her past enables her to do what most people, even those who agreed with her that it would be a mercy killing, would never be able to do.

The cast of characters is lively and quirky, each one providing elements of humor. Here's a sample of the kind of dark humor you can expect: one of her friends betrays her, and as punishment, she does not have the honor of being killed. As I said, dark humor. If you think that's awesome, do yourself a favor and read this!

P.S. Before you start thinking Jean was onto something, please let me recommend instead Natalie's (one of Jean's friends) brand of friendship: "What says 'love' like a chocolate cupcake?"

"It all will fall, fall right into place
As fruit drops, flesh it sags
Everything will fall right into place
When we die, some sink and some lay
But at least I don't see you float away"