Review of The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Title: The Piper's Son 
Author: Melina Marchetta
Published by: Penguin Australia/Viking
Pages: 328
Source: Library
Format: Audiobook
Rating: ★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: 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.

Amazing...

Utterly breathtaking...

I don't know how Melina Marchetta does it, but her novels capture not only your heart but also your soul.  This novel will sneak into you, transform you, and become part of who you are. 

Tom is devastatingly broken.  He's lost everything important to him and he's so angry--angry at his friends, his parents, himself and his uncle Joe for dying.  He's barely keeping it together and some days he loses that fight and let's the pain and anger take over.  This anger seems to be ruining his life until an unlikely coincidence brings him back into contact with his old friends. 

I know I've mentioned how amazing Melina Marchetta's characters are before, but I can't help but unabashedly praise them.  Missie from The Unread Reader stated it perfectly when she called them "beautifully flawed"...and they are.  Each of these characters have such strong personalities and are truly wonderful people, but there is always something in their lives that causes them to struggle.  I think that is the reason they are so unbelievably real.

Melina Marchetta is a writing genius.  She knows how to make you laugh, cry, scream in frustration, and pray to whomever or whatever you believe in, all on the same page.  Her novels flow like a great conversation with an old friend.  Like those conversations, you'll dread when this novel ends.    

Though Tom is just one of the focuses of this novel, his story is devastating and one where you just want to hold him and tell him everything will be all ok.  His sarcastic side comments made me laugh but it was also evident of the pain he was holding on to. 

The Piper's Son was not only a story of sadness but also one of hope.  Hope that these amazing people will band together and get through their grief and struggles and move on with the help of one another.  Hope that even though things didn't work out in the past it doesn't mean they won't in the future, and belief and trust in the people you love.           

By the way did anyone figure out what Will's tattoo is of?  I think I missed that!