Adult Book Club Picks "The Guncle" For December

For December, the adult book club picked The Guncle by Steven Rowley, known for Lily and the Octopus and The Editor. The Guncle, published May 2021, promises to be a good, light-hearted read, perfect for the holiday season.

Pick up copies of the book at the Syracuse Public Library or check out an e-book via Libby/OverDrive. Then attend a book club discussion! The Zoom discussion occurs at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14. The in-person meeting follows at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16. Contact Becky for more information or a Zoom invitation.
​

Synopsis

​Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays. But in terms of caretaking and relating to two children, no matter how adorable, Patrick is honestly a bit out of his league.

So when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and Patrick’s brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian. Despite having a set of “Guncle Rules” ready to go, Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. Quickly realizing that parenting—even if temporary—isn’t solved with treats and jokes, Patrick’s eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you’re unfailingly human.

With the humor and heart we’ve come to expect from bestselling author Steven Rowley, The Guncle is a moving tribute to the power of love, patience, and family in even the most trying of times.