James Gould-BournBesprekingen

Ronnie lives in a run down seaside town and works at the local bus station in the Lost Property Office as well as actually cleaning the buses. He’s a hypochondriac, visiting his doctor for all sorts of minor ailments. He’s been living on his own since his father died and is feeling quite isolated, a lone wolf. One day he acquires a dog by the name of Hamlet who is in need of fostering. Little does he know how much he will change his life….

What a wonderfully quirky and delightful little story this is! It’s about loneliness, the power of friendship and how the companionship of a dog can turn your life around. It’s also about finding yourself which is symbolised by the loss and return of Ronnie’s shadow. It’s beautifully and humorously written. Ronnie is such a great character and I loved Hamlet, the wonder worker! I also loved travelling with them on their journey together and meeting the rest of the eclectic cast along the way. A heartwarming, uplifting and touching read which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a pleasure to read it.

Loved the book! It is endearing and possibly “too clever” as another reviewer mentioned but I came to love each of the characters. Gilmore Girls- esque dialog make for hilarious interactions between characters.

A very sweet, touching story told with humor. The writing is very evocative without being sappy. Even though the arc of the plot and ending are quite predictable, the writing makes this a very worthwhile read.

The story is cute but I was a little exhausted with how it seemed to have too much fluff ?? in the way to get from one scene to the next. I wanted it to move a little faster. There were definitely some odd aspects to the entire story and the ending was maybe a little too expected???½

Do you ever feel like it's just the right time to listen or read a feel good book? I like to regularly slot one into the mix, giving me a change from my regular murder and mayhem reads. James Gould-Bourn's debut novel, Bear Necessity, is one of those feel good books.

Danny's wife died in a tragic auto accident a year ago. Their eleven year old son Will has not spoken a word since. They're both struggling with her loss. And adding to the mix, Danny has lost his job and he's desperately behind in his debts.

What to do? Well, a walk through the park provides him with an idea - he'll become a street performer! Strapped for cash, he ends up with a worn out panda costume. And The Dancing Panda is born! Well.....kinda....sorta....

Danny is a great lead character, one you just can't help but like. Will, without a word, had me in his corner and in my heart. The supporting cast is just as delightful - Will's best friend Mo (who often speaks for him) is quite funny. Danny's best friend Ivan is gruff with a heart of gold. As is Crystal, a professional pole dancer. There's an eclectic group of street performers - one of which decides he is Danny's arch enemy.

Gould-Bourn's writing makes for easy listening. There are lots of light moments and joking, but folded into that are a father and son trying to negotiate their shared grief. Grief is different for everyone and I thought Danny and Will's loss and journey forward was well written.

Now, Bear Necessity is one of those stories that you just know is going to work out in the end. And truly that's why I listen or read them. I need some life affirming positivity in this crazy world. Listeners will absolutely find that in Bear Necessity.

As mentioned, I chose to listen to this title. The reader was Rupert Holliday-Evans. He did a fantastic job of bringing Gould-Bourn's story to life. He's a very versatile narrator. He provided many voices and accents that matched the mental images I had created for the characters. It was quite easy to know who was speaking. There's lot of enthusiasm in his reading. He easily depicts the emotions, action and more with ease. I quite enjoyed his reading.

Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourn. What a wonderful debut novel!! This book is about a father and son who are struggling after their wife/mom passed away from a car wreck. Danny is struggling to help his son who has not spoken since the accident, struggling keeping his landlord off his back so he can work and pay the rent, and then Danny loses his job. What happens next will make you laugh out loud, cry, tug at your heart strings and cheer for them both! Each character plays an integral part of the story and best of all this story has redemption. It may not be the redemption you think, but it is definitely worth the read! I adored this book!!

Bear Necessity is an utterly delightful debut!* As I was reading, I noted that it reminded me of Nick Hornby. I noticed today that it's a comparison made by others as well.

Not all of the characters are lovable (though several are), but not a one is wasted, either. Character and relationship development are well-done.

*(overall—it also has some sad and ugly parts)

Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourn is a highly recommended novel about a father and son overcoming their grief and rediscovering their love for each other.

Danny Malooley has become a single father to eleven-year-old Will after their wife/mother was tragically killed in a car crash a year earlier. Will hasn't uttered a word since the loss of his mother. Danny is trying to hold it all together and is behind on paying bills. He already knows he is in trouble when his landlord threatens to break his legs if he doesn't pay his back rent. When he then loses his construction job and can't find another job he knows his life is falling apart - until he saw some performers in the park and came up with a plan.

Danny buys a used panda costume and decides to become a dancing bear in the park, hoping for enough donations to make some money. Strangely and absurdly fate steps in and smiles at Danny. He meets Krystal, a pole-dancer, and begs for dancing lessons. While in costume he also saves Will from some bullies and Will opens up and talks to Danny without knowing it is his dad. Now Danny knows what is bothering Will, but Will doesn't know he is talking to his dad. And there is still the question of making enough money to pay the back rent.

This is a heart-warming, uplifting, feel-good, witty story about a father and son reconnecting that may be just what people need right now. It also is a testament to how friends can help and support each other during rough times. Danny's Ukrainian friend Ivan is a bright spot in the novel, as is the mouthy Krystal and Will's friend Mo. The plot itself is simple, as is the writing, and you know everything is going to turn out okay in the end because that is the kind of story Bear Necessity is written to be - refreshingly simple and delightful.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Scribner.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2020/08/bear-necessity.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3475711437

“Who taught you how to dance like that?”

“A pole dancer called Krystal...” “…She taught me after I rescued her bathrobe that was stolen by a wizard who can set things on fire with his mind.”

Wow. Just wow. I laughed, I cried, I cringed and I just sat in amazement as everything unfolded in crazy outlandish wonder. Danny lost his wife to an auto accident. He cares for his son Will who hasn’t spoken a word since that fateful day that he survived and his mom did not.

Danny loses his job and is threatened with a claw hammer to his legs by his landlord if he doesn’t pay the two months of back rent plus interest in a month. Being turned down by every job he finds he decides to rtry his luck as a street performers. Problem is he has no talents besides bad dancing and all he can afford is a panda suit that doesn’t exactly look like a panda. What ensues is an outrageously weird but funny read traverses the pain of losing someone close to you and trying to cope with that loss and life change. It explores bullying and extreme hard times. It also looks at friendship in the oddest of circumstances and outlandish of characters. Ivan you will forever have my heart and Mr. Coleman deserves teacher of the year award.

I highly recommend this for more than just the laughs to anyone looking to branch into humorous domestic fiction. Thank you Scribner and James Gould-Bourn for the opportunity to review this novel for an unbiased opinion.

„Pandatage“ ist ein sehr süßes Buch über den verwitweten jungen Vater Danny und seinen Sohn Will. Will spricht seit dem Tod seiner Mutter nicht mehr, Danny verliert seinen Job und fast auch die Wohnung. Das ist schon ein bisschen dick aufgetragen, aber wie Danny als tanzender Panda im Park auftritt und zufällig seinen Sohn Will ganz neu kennenlernt, das ist schon schön.

Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't think that the opening paragraph of a synopsis was ever more apt than this one was.

I don't use this word often (maybe never), but this was a heartwarming and charming novel, and I'm just sorry it took me so long to read the ARC is received. My apologies to both the publisher and author for that!

This was also an entertaining novel and found me, at times, having some belly laughs over the predicaments that Danny got himself into. The cast of characters was marvelous> I couldn't find a better secondary cast if I tried! Somehow this whole book, in a way, reminded me of a Mel Brooks/Carl Reiner movie but without the naughty bits!

This book was a fast read, and it is just perfect for taking on vacation. There is no sex (not a whisper), but there is some 'language' all in context.

I am recommending this book to everyone I meet! I will also be purchasing my own copy, that is how good it was for me.

*ARC supplied by the publisher and author.
Thank you to both publisher and author.

Nach dem Tod seiner Frau ist für Danny Malooley die Welt zusammengebrochen. Sein kleiner Sohn Will hat aufgehört zu sprechen und Danny hat seinen Job verloren. Nun droht auch noch der Rausschmiss aus der Wohnung. Als er keine Perspektiven mehr sieht, kauft er von seinem letzten Geld ein Panda-Kostüm. Er will als tanzender Panda auf der Straße sein Geld verdienen, doch er kann nicht tanzen. Er macht sich lächerlich und erweckt das Mitgefühl von Pole-Tänzerin Krystal, die ihm Nachhilfe gibt. Als Danny beobachtet, wie andere Jungen in piesacken, greift er als Panda ein. So gewinnt er das Vertrauen seines Sohnes, der plötzlich wieder spricht.
Es ist eine lustige und sehr berührende Geschichte gleichzeitig, man kann sich ihr gar nicht entziehen.
Das Leben hat es noch nie gut gemeint mit Danny, doch der Tod seiner Frau gibt ihm den Rest. Seine Idee mit dem Panda-Kostüm ist einfach verrückt. Mir gefällt es, wie Dannys Freund Ivan ihn unterstützt. Aber auch Krystal ist zwar geradeheraus, aber auch mitfühlend. Danny und Will können einem wirklich leidtun, vor allem weil Danny anfangs so passiv und planlos ist. Doch mit der Zeit gelingt es ihm, sein Leben in den Griff zu bekommen.
Viele Szenen sind einfach schräg. Trotzdem ist die Geschichte auch berührend. Sie hat mir gut gefallen.

I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you.

I LOVED this book. Had I not received an advance copy, I'm not sure I would have picked this book as one I would enjoy, but enjoy it I did. Throughout the book, I wanted to scoop up the main character Danny and his son, and help them make it right.
Danny is a young man who never really had much luck. His wife whom he loved dearly, was killed in an auto accident the year before, and his 13 yr old son, Will, hasn't spoken since. Danny goes to work, trying to make ends meet, and isn't succeeding. His landlord is after him for the rent and is accompanied by a silent thug who will break every bone in Danny's body when asked. Danny loses his job, so now that threat is more imminent. Day in and day out Danny worries about his son, and tries to reconnect, all the while trying to find a new job. He doesn't tell Will that he's lost his job. When walking through the park, Danny notes how much the Street Performers make and thinks that might be the answer. He gets an old, beat up, smelly Panda suit and goes to the park. What a disaster. He actually loses money. Gradually he makes new friends and things start to turn around. Friends old and new support him. I loved all the characters and was left with a very good "Feel Good" feeling. Read this book, you'll love it.

Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourn
Print Book
Pages: 320
Published: 8.4.2020
Scribner
Reviewed by mrsboone4, Green Forest, AR, USA
6.2.2020
Rating: 5 Stars

Bear Necessity is about Danny, a single father who has just lost his job and has a violent landlord who is threatening to do bodily harm to Danny for his unpaid rent. Danny has applied everywhere, but no one will hire him.

Danny has an 11 year old son Will who hasn't spoken for the year since Will's mother died in a car accident, a year ago. Danny has no idea how to reach his silent son.

Danny watches street performers in his local park and sees that they make loads of cash, by just acting stupid. Danny is sure that he can if not surpass their acts, at least make enough to support himself and Will.

Danny keeps the secret of losing his job, from Will. He happens upon a costume shop and applies for a job there, but the owner only wants to hire a woman. Later on, he comes back to the costume shop to see what kinds of costumes the owner has for a really cheap price. Turns out, a panda costume is what he gets. It's very cheap due to the fact that it was rented for a fraternity party and was vomited on and though it has been cleaned, it still holds the offensive odors. Danny is desperate and seizes the panda suit.

He finds out that putting on the costume alone, won't make him any money. Other performers take pity on him and suggest he get a sidekick like a cat or do an act. The problem is Danny can't do much of anything. His old job was in construction. He has no rhythm and can't dance. He does get a few pennies, but then neighborhood kids run up and kick him in the shins and runaway with all of his loot. He finds that he has to get smarter about his program. He glues the teaser pennies into his lunchbox, where he will accept donations.

One day, he happens upon his son getting beat up by some local toughs and saves his son and the boy says "Thanks!" Danny is ecstatic! Now, he knows that his son can talk he wants to keep him talking. He starts leaving some free time for just sitting in the park. His son swings by regularly to talk to him. Danny doesn't actually speak to him, he writes down his responses in a small notebook and has Will read that. Will has no idea that it is his very own father who is hiding in the panda suit.

Danny is harassed by a pole dancer named Krystal. He decides to go to the bar where she dances and see if she will teach him a few lessons on dancing. His wife had a wonderful inner balance and could dance to anything or nothing and looked very beautiful while doing it. Unfortunately, none of his wife's dancing moves rubbed off on Danny and he most certainly can't fake dancing.

This is a very original story, easy to read and pulls at your heartstrings. Many thanks to Scribner for the opportunity to read this book.