Hunting Unicorns

I picked this up expecting a good English job of funny, witty writing, and was totally surprised. Although it is both of those things, it's also an unexpectantly touching story about family loyalty, what you'd give up for someone you love, and a reasonable defense of the value of the English artistocracy. An excellent read.

I picked this book up for the title. Well, that and the fact that I'm a Brit. living in America and have a weakness for English writers. I love romance and comedy. But I love smart writing more. The three are not always compatible. In this book they are. I howled with laughter many, many time, and loved the author's use of language. When I realized one of the narrators was dead I thought "oh,oh. A Lovely Bones wannabe?" But this novel is unique. Not like anything else I've read. And the narration is perfect. I loved the characters (American and English). I loved the plot (even though I know some of the 'urban' myths quite well!). I loved the details. I loved the linen cupboard. In fact, I loved everything. I'm off to check out Bella Pollen's other novels!

I totally loved this book. I bought it on the spur of the moment because i loved the cover and because my own family has had problems with alcholism. I'm not sure what i was expecting exactly but it turned out to be a real gem. An amazing insight into the wierd world of the brit aristocracy . Normally the aristocracy are portrayed as caricatures but bella pollen really seemed to get under the skin of these people.I found the relationships touched on , father and son, the two brothers to be incredibly touching and real. The world this book is set in might be archaic and insular as the author suggests, but their problems are certainly universal.

The reason I picked up Hunting Unicorns is that it reminded me of Ruth Ozeki, for some weird reason. Interestingly enough, inside the back cover is an ad for a Ruth Ozeki book. I have a fascination with contemporary British writing, looking at my list of favorite writers, the number of UK folks stand out. Bella Pollen's foray was a quick read for me. Two days of reading that would have been finished in one if I weren't hanging out with friends. Culturally, I find myself best able to identify with books that crash cross-cultural and identity issues straight into each other. What can I say, I am fascinated by anything that may bring me closer to some internal revelation. That is certainly ground covered here. The main characters are pushed into an awkward romance and the awkward terms of their own cultural identities. Some folks love celebrity gossip, but I eat this stuff up.Without selling out the book too much, I'd like to point out my favorite writing device in this book. The story is revealed by two narrators, which is not strange, but one of those is dead. This is not some mythical sci-fi twist or even spiritual aspect of the plot, rather just a matter of fact. The post-mortem witticisms of tht extremely flawed narrator are spectacular.In the end, it certainly gives me some new thoughts on the role of narrator in the story.

This book is excellent. Narrated in turns by two of the characters we get different perpectives of events. There are some cliche elements of life in a country estate - how to kill the pet rabbit and pee in the sink if you can't find the toilet, but the complete madness of the characters makes it seem normal. A good romantic comedy without the usual soppy traditions.