Ray Vs the Meaning of Life

Stay calm and read on! When I first intended to read this book, I gave up after the first chapter, deciding it was not what I wanted to read at the time, unsure when (or whether) there would come the right time for it. Recently I gave it a second chance, knowing that I would not like the first chapter, but determined to read on and see if things would get better. And fortunately for me they did. So what about that first chapter? It explains how Ray's grandmother died and how he was mentioned in her last will to inherit the trailer park she owned. But it does so in such a ridiculous, over the top way it gave me goosebumps, just like certain blockbuster comedy films everybody seems to enjoy but me - just not my style of humor. Gladly, the story gets much better after that, and though it's often dangerously close to leave my comfort zone and drift into absurdity again, I found most of the plot hilarious in a good way. Of course, there is also a lot of deeper meaning to be found in this book, and it is those quieter scenes, offering dialogues or reflections of thoughts, that make this book special. So did Ray find out the 'Meaning of Life'? Though there is the one meaning Ray is required to be found by his grandmother's last will, there are many more thought-provoking answers that he - and you - will find along the way... (thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)

Stay calm and read on! When I first intended to read this book, I gave up after the first chapter, deciding it was not what I wanted to read at the time, unsure when (or whether) there would come the right time for it. Recently I gave it a second chance, knowing that I would not like the first chapter, but determined to read on and see if things would get better. And fortunately for me they did. So what about that first chapter? It explains how Ray's grandmother died and how he was mentioned in her last will to inherit the trailer park she owned. But it does so in such a ridiculous, over the top way it gave me goosebumps, just like certain blockbuster comedy films everybody seems to enjoy but me - just not my style of humor. Gladly, the story gets much better after that, and though it's often dangerously close to leave my comfort zone and drift into absurdity again, I found most of the plot hilarious in a good way. Of course, there is also a lot of deeper meaning to be found in this book, and it is those quieter scenes, offering dialogues or reflections of thoughts, that make this book special. So did Ray find out the 'Meaning of Life'? Though there is the one meaning Ray is required to be found by his grandmother's last will, there are many more thought-provoking answers that he - and you - will find along the way... (thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)