This book had me laughing out loud so many times and then, turning the page, I would find myself sobbing. Reminiscent of Tom Robbins and Christopher Moore, Poore sees what is deeply funny in the dark absurdity of life. The characters are incredibly honest and true and remind you that, regardless of in the past, present, or future, what is means to be human and good is always the same.
I was a little surprised to see how much of the book took place in the future, sometimes finding myself wishing that more of it would be set in a more familiar world to the one we live in now, but those thoughts would quickly be pushed aside when Poore would show the way the each life connect, such as his use of floating fish robots that help to make everyone’s lives easier. Each incarnation of Milo has certain things that carry through each life, creating a fun puzzle that had me saying, “Oh man! I see what you did there!”
This book made me question myself as a person as I found myself rooting for Milo to die each time, something I’ve never experienced with a book before. It made me think about death in a whole new light. I have spent time since finishing the book thinking about the ideas Poore sets out, wondering what past lives I could have lived.
Reincarnation Blues is a great darkly funny and absurd book that introduced me to a new literary talent. I look forward to seeing what Michael Poore has in store for us in the future.
SequinBooks 