👽👨🚀 Book Review
Stan Jones by Luke Wronski
Here is a comedy novel I will not soon forget. A story about finding purpose led by a loveable, and at times foolish hero who is trying to figure out if he has any agency over his extrodinary life. If you are into simulation theory at all, this one is for you.
While life on Earth goes on as usual, Stan Jones is fresh off a 10 year secretive space mission, the most tip secret in history, and hes trying to reintegrate himself into a world he doesn't recognize. People find Stan aloof, but if they knew what he'd been through, they'd understand. Due to time dilation, 50 years had passed on Earth. How Stan goes about establishing a normal life is throughly entertaining for 3 main reasons.
1. Stan has some of the most hilarious insights that would never occur to most people. His internal monologues drive the narrative, and it's a deadpan comedy through and through. His love for Lenny's, a diner and fictional equivalent to Denny's, is never far from his mind.
2. Stan is always on the move. This is a cross-country novel spanning many years, and at each stop, Stan has adventures, dates, and jobs that make reason no.1 sing.
3. There is a serious mystery to how Stan is able to make a living. You see, the ties to Stan's past as an astronaut play a part in every aspect of Stan's life. Something you learn as you continue reading and never lets up until it becomes a full-on conspiracy. Who is this Corporation?
I would say that despite the variety in Stan Jones, it is a slow burn. Not a bad thing for me as I prefer books like this, they allow me to get absorbed into the story and characters. With this in mind, the story structure is still the classic three acts, complete with a riveting, funny, and melancholic flashback section that really ties the novel together.
I did not spoil anything, so if this sounds intriguing, I'd definitely recommend it. Wronski is a talented writer who was able to make me laugh several times and care about Stan. For a novel this ambitous, there is a lot to like, and it is a feat to have it all hold up together. I am curious to see what he will write next.
@stanjonesnovel @ellaywronski
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