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Brand New Human Being
I’m putting the drill back in the safe when my fingers touch something unexpected€”paper. An envelope. I take it out. Where an address should be, my name is written in Gus’s unmistakable, back-slanting hand. Meet Logan Pyle, a lapsed grad student and stay-at-home dad who’s holding it together by a thread. His father, Gus, has died; his wife, Julie, has grown distant; his four-year-old son has gone back to drinking from a bottle. When he finds Julie kissing another man on a pile of coats at a party, the thread snaps. Logan packs a bag, buckles his son into his car seat, and heads north with a 1930s Lousville Slugger in the back of his truck, a maxed-out credit card in his wallet, and revenge in his heart. After some bad decisions and worse luck, he lands at his father’s old A-frame cabin, where his father’s young widow, Bennie, now lives. She has every reason to turn Logan away, but when she doesn’t, she opens the door
263 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Emily Jeanne Miller
2 books39 followersEmily Jeanne Miller is the author of the novels BRAND NEW HUMAN BEING (HMH 2012) and THE NEWS FROM THE END OF THE WORLD (HMH 2017). She currently lives on Cape Cod with her husband, daughter and dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
August 2, 2012
While I thank Ms. Miller for giving me the opportunity to read this book, I had trouble finishing it. I was looking forward to reading about a family in trouble. The idea made me think of my own life (my parents going back to court for 14 years following their divorce). Thus, the thought of another story based off of a messed up home life made me smile. Then I opened it and began reading. I kept waiting for more events promised to me in the summary! Page 100... still waiting. As my old AP US History teacher would say... "Kill the d*mn dog already!" I also found the writing more on the dry side. I was very disappointed, but am sure someone else will enjoy the book.
Just a little factual thing that jumped out at me. At the beginning of the party scene at Bennie's, the baseball bat is described as a 1920s bat. In the summary it is a 1930s bat. In the story told at Bennie's, it is from 1928. Continuity on this small detail really got to me. It is a personality quirk of mine.
Just a little factual thing that jumped out at me. At the beginning of the party scene at Bennie's, the baseball bat is described as a 1920s bat. In the summary it is a 1930s bat. In the story told at Bennie's, it is from 1928. Continuity on this small detail really got to me. It is a personality quirk of mine.
June 22, 2012
I found this to be an engaging story and because it had a quick pace, it kept me focused to find out what would happen next. Ms. Miller did a fine job of explaining the dynamics of the characters and their relationships with each other. That being said, I have to admit that there were a few characters that I didn't like very much. Julie being the one that stood out the most for me. I didn't like her dismissive attitude towards Logan and how she could make him feel as if his opinions didn't measure up to hers. I never got the feeling that she was on his side, no matter what issue they were facing. Bennie sometimes confused me and given her history with Logan, I felt she created confusion for him as well. In the end, however, she won me over.
There were times I would get frustrated with Logan when he would try to explain things to Owen in terms that a four-year-old would never be able to comprehend or he did it in a way that upset and even scared the child. Those were the times that I didn't care for Logan at all. This story certainly shows the difficulties that can surface in a marriage. Especially one that wasn't planned.
That being said, I realize and appreciate that that is all part of the fabric of what makes this story what it is. A realistic and difficult look into what can happen when two near strangers unexpectedly create another human being and try to do the right thing for that child. Learning as they go, not only how to be parents but about each other as well.
There were times I would get frustrated with Logan when he would try to explain things to Owen in terms that a four-year-old would never be able to comprehend or he did it in a way that upset and even scared the child. Those were the times that I didn't care for Logan at all. This story certainly shows the difficulties that can surface in a marriage. Especially one that wasn't planned.
That being said, I realize and appreciate that that is all part of the fabric of what makes this story what it is. A realistic and difficult look into what can happen when two near strangers unexpectedly create another human being and try to do the right thing for that child. Learning as they go, not only how to be parents but about each other as well.
August 1, 2012
What I thought would be a charming perspective of fatherhood turned into a mental goose chase of a plot.
Less about fatherhood and family dynamic and more about unedited emotion playing out for a man with a rocky relationship started by pregnancy vs love.
Many unanswered questions remain the the story and the plot seemed distracted. Not a fan of this story.
Less about fatherhood and family dynamic and more about unedited emotion playing out for a man with a rocky relationship started by pregnancy vs love.
Many unanswered questions remain the the story and the plot seemed distracted. Not a fan of this story.
June 28, 2012
Book Review: Brand New Human Being by Emily Jeanne Miller
Brand New Human Being by Emily Jeanne Miller (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 272 pages; $25).
"My name is Logan Pyle. My father is dead, my wife is indifferent, and my son is strange. I'm thirty-six years old. My life is nothing like I thought it would be." Thus begins Emily Jeanne Miller's fast-paced and deeply heartfelt debut Brand New Human Being.
Miller has worn many hats in her life. At Princeton University, from which she graduated, she studied comparative religions. She holds an MS in environmental studies from the University of Montana and an MFA in fiction from the University of Florida in Gainesville. Formerly a journalist, Miller covered a wide range of environmental topics, such as Indian casinos, nuclear bomb testing, rock climbing, and grizzly bears. We should be lucky she turned to fiction writing, as her first novel overflows with humor, tenderness, and humanity.
Initially, however, I did not like Logan. I thought Logan's biggest problem by far was Logan. That is partially true, but he managed to win me over. All the credit goes to Miller.
Logan's father, Gus, died four months ago. The son deeply mourns the loss of his father, perhaps more so because it was marked by a lot of distance. By distance, I do not mean miles. I refer to the distance of the heart.
Logan's mother died when he was a child and Gus was a single-parent. When Logan was in his late teens, Gus remarried a woman only five years older than his son. Logan still has issues with Bennie, his father's young widow.
When Miller's story begins, Logan is husband to Julie, a lawyer, and stay-at-home dad to four-year-old son Owen. Former grad student, Logan's status is ABD (all but dissertation). Home life is far from ideal.
An important case involving workers at a vermiculite mine preoccupies Julie. When she is with Logan and Owen, her mind seems elsewhere; and it is. Husband and wife once loved each other fiercely, but her time is short. Both Logan and Owen miss her.
Owen cries out for attention. He seems to know instinctively that things are not right in his household. He just senses something is off. As a consequence, Owen is "regressing," sucking his thumb, and wanting to be a baby. Logan is often short with him and with his wife.
Then, there is the outdoor-equipment store called The Gold Mine that Gus left Logan. His friend, Bill, helps him run the business. An unidentified buyer made an enormous offer on the store and the land it occupies. Bill wants to take it and pushes Logan to accept.
If all those things are too much for one man to deal with, it only gets worse. Julie's boss wants to dig up Gus, who once worked in the mines himself. His body may help their case. Logan just cannot agree to exhume his father's body, at least not right now.
For Logan, the final straw comes when he catches Julie kissing another man at a birthday party. Something in him snaps. He packs up Logan and his most prized possession, a 1920s Louisville Slugger, and gets into his truck and leaves Julie and his troubles behind.
Or so he thinks. Bad luck follows Logan, and misadventures seem to follow. After he gets revenge on the man he saw Julie with, he ends up at his father's old cabin and finds something unexpected and welcome there, something or someone that could really jeopardize his marriage to Julie. It is here that Logan discovers his choices–past, present, and future–matter.
By the end of the book, Logan is a different man. Since his father died, Logan has been fixated on his own mortality and grief-stricken. Like a lot of men, Logan does not know how to cope with his grief. But that is no longer an issue for him. "Somebody did die," Logan says. "I guess I just took a while to understand that it wasn't me." When Owen was born, Logan marveled at his son, a "brand new human being." Now Logan is a "brand new human being" himself and everyone around him is better for it.
Miller's story explores marriage, family, death, love, betrayal, and forgiveness. What stands out most to me, though, is the bond between father and son. Logan may be sharp with Owen at times and he may want him to act like a big kid, it is clear that Logan loves his son and would do anything in the world for him. Written with humor and poignancy, Brand New Human Being shows us no one is perfect. No one is without faults. The secret to life is learning how to accept the deficiencies in others and, most importantly, the ones in ourselves.
Truth be told, if Miller had not chosen to write this novel in Logan's first person perspective, I do not think he would have ever won me over. I am thankful she decided to tell the story like she did. Logan is not perfect, but none of us are. This novel will compel you to do your best to be a better human being. Who knows? You just may be a "brand new human being" too.
Brand New Human Being by Emily Jeanne Miller (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 272 pages; $25).
"My name is Logan Pyle. My father is dead, my wife is indifferent, and my son is strange. I'm thirty-six years old. My life is nothing like I thought it would be." Thus begins Emily Jeanne Miller's fast-paced and deeply heartfelt debut Brand New Human Being.
Miller has worn many hats in her life. At Princeton University, from which she graduated, she studied comparative religions. She holds an MS in environmental studies from the University of Montana and an MFA in fiction from the University of Florida in Gainesville. Formerly a journalist, Miller covered a wide range of environmental topics, such as Indian casinos, nuclear bomb testing, rock climbing, and grizzly bears. We should be lucky she turned to fiction writing, as her first novel overflows with humor, tenderness, and humanity.
Initially, however, I did not like Logan. I thought Logan's biggest problem by far was Logan. That is partially true, but he managed to win me over. All the credit goes to Miller.
Logan's father, Gus, died four months ago. The son deeply mourns the loss of his father, perhaps more so because it was marked by a lot of distance. By distance, I do not mean miles. I refer to the distance of the heart.
Logan's mother died when he was a child and Gus was a single-parent. When Logan was in his late teens, Gus remarried a woman only five years older than his son. Logan still has issues with Bennie, his father's young widow.
When Miller's story begins, Logan is husband to Julie, a lawyer, and stay-at-home dad to four-year-old son Owen. Former grad student, Logan's status is ABD (all but dissertation). Home life is far from ideal.
An important case involving workers at a vermiculite mine preoccupies Julie. When she is with Logan and Owen, her mind seems elsewhere; and it is. Husband and wife once loved each other fiercely, but her time is short. Both Logan and Owen miss her.
Owen cries out for attention. He seems to know instinctively that things are not right in his household. He just senses something is off. As a consequence, Owen is "regressing," sucking his thumb, and wanting to be a baby. Logan is often short with him and with his wife.
Then, there is the outdoor-equipment store called The Gold Mine that Gus left Logan. His friend, Bill, helps him run the business. An unidentified buyer made an enormous offer on the store and the land it occupies. Bill wants to take it and pushes Logan to accept.
If all those things are too much for one man to deal with, it only gets worse. Julie's boss wants to dig up Gus, who once worked in the mines himself. His body may help their case. Logan just cannot agree to exhume his father's body, at least not right now.
For Logan, the final straw comes when he catches Julie kissing another man at a birthday party. Something in him snaps. He packs up Logan and his most prized possession, a 1920s Louisville Slugger, and gets into his truck and leaves Julie and his troubles behind.
Or so he thinks. Bad luck follows Logan, and misadventures seem to follow. After he gets revenge on the man he saw Julie with, he ends up at his father's old cabin and finds something unexpected and welcome there, something or someone that could really jeopardize his marriage to Julie. It is here that Logan discovers his choices–past, present, and future–matter.
By the end of the book, Logan is a different man. Since his father died, Logan has been fixated on his own mortality and grief-stricken. Like a lot of men, Logan does not know how to cope with his grief. But that is no longer an issue for him. "Somebody did die," Logan says. "I guess I just took a while to understand that it wasn't me." When Owen was born, Logan marveled at his son, a "brand new human being." Now Logan is a "brand new human being" himself and everyone around him is better for it.
Miller's story explores marriage, family, death, love, betrayal, and forgiveness. What stands out most to me, though, is the bond between father and son. Logan may be sharp with Owen at times and he may want him to act like a big kid, it is clear that Logan loves his son and would do anything in the world for him. Written with humor and poignancy, Brand New Human Being shows us no one is perfect. No one is without faults. The secret to life is learning how to accept the deficiencies in others and, most importantly, the ones in ourselves.
Truth be told, if Miller had not chosen to write this novel in Logan's first person perspective, I do not think he would have ever won me over. I am thankful she decided to tell the story like she did. Logan is not perfect, but none of us are. This novel will compel you to do your best to be a better human being. Who knows? You just may be a "brand new human being" too.
June 13, 2012
Exploring themes such as grief, marriage and parenthood, Brand New Human Being is an entertaining and thought provoking novel. The death of lawyer and environmental crusader, Augustus Pyle has left his family reeling. His son Logan, is struggling with his grief and a failing business, his daughter-in-law and protege, Julie, is drinking too much and working too hard, and their four year old son seems to be regressing, demanding a bottle and sucking his thumb. After witnessing his wife's drunken indiscretion at a children's party, Logan escapes with Owen to his father's old cabin, now the home of his father's young widow, Bennie. There he is forced to confront what he has lost and decide what he wants to hold onto.
Brand New Human Being begins a few months after Gus's death, related in the first person by Logan. Miller explores Logan's inner conflicts and the issues that develop within his relationships as a result. I'm not sure I liked Logan but I empathised with his confusion. Though 36 he seems very young and had I not known his age I would have guessed him to be closer to 24. Grieving, but unwilling to admit it, Logan is anxious about his failing business, his son, his marriage and his father's legacy. The author describes this novel as a story of a son who becomes a father and I think that is an accurate precis. Logan's relationship with his larger than life father was complicated and Logan is having difficulty reconciling his desire to honour his father with his own needs and wants. In his attempt to live up to his father he adopts a similar parenting style - one that puts him at odds with Julie and doesn't suit Owen. Learning to be his own man, his own type of father without guidance is Logan's challenge through out the novel. Uncertain and overwhelmed he makes mistakes with his son that he fears could scar him, but is at a loss as to how to fix things.
Logan and Julie's marriage is strained, their relationship has been under pressure since its inauspicious beginning - an unplanned pregnancy, a child born with a life threatening heart defect and then Gus's diagnosis of lung cancer. The author explores the nuance of marriage, the resentments, the silences, the everyday negotiation and how these are affected by their grief. I thought Miller portrayed the complexity of a marriage under pressure well and showed how each partner contributes to the problems that arise.
Julie's reaction to her grief has led her too work too hard, drink too much and not eat enough but Logan is unable to articulate his concern for her. I didn't particularly like Julie, she is in as much denial as Logan about her behaviour and as reluctant to take responsibility for it.
Miller's characters are complex, and realistically flawed. Each is striving to adjust to the loss of Gus and move forward without his direct influence and without losing each other in the process.
Brand New Human Being is a an interesting character study told with a touch of humour and warmth. With keen insight into the challenges of marriage, parenthood and self awareness this novel is a satisfying read.
Brand New Human Being begins a few months after Gus's death, related in the first person by Logan. Miller explores Logan's inner conflicts and the issues that develop within his relationships as a result. I'm not sure I liked Logan but I empathised with his confusion. Though 36 he seems very young and had I not known his age I would have guessed him to be closer to 24. Grieving, but unwilling to admit it, Logan is anxious about his failing business, his son, his marriage and his father's legacy. The author describes this novel as a story of a son who becomes a father and I think that is an accurate precis. Logan's relationship with his larger than life father was complicated and Logan is having difficulty reconciling his desire to honour his father with his own needs and wants. In his attempt to live up to his father he adopts a similar parenting style - one that puts him at odds with Julie and doesn't suit Owen. Learning to be his own man, his own type of father without guidance is Logan's challenge through out the novel. Uncertain and overwhelmed he makes mistakes with his son that he fears could scar him, but is at a loss as to how to fix things.
Logan and Julie's marriage is strained, their relationship has been under pressure since its inauspicious beginning - an unplanned pregnancy, a child born with a life threatening heart defect and then Gus's diagnosis of lung cancer. The author explores the nuance of marriage, the resentments, the silences, the everyday negotiation and how these are affected by their grief. I thought Miller portrayed the complexity of a marriage under pressure well and showed how each partner contributes to the problems that arise.
Julie's reaction to her grief has led her too work too hard, drink too much and not eat enough but Logan is unable to articulate his concern for her. I didn't particularly like Julie, she is in as much denial as Logan about her behaviour and as reluctant to take responsibility for it.
Miller's characters are complex, and realistically flawed. Each is striving to adjust to the loss of Gus and move forward without his direct influence and without losing each other in the process.
Brand New Human Being is a an interesting character study told with a touch of humour and warmth. With keen insight into the challenges of marriage, parenthood and self awareness this novel is a satisfying read.
October 2, 2012
Brand New Human Being
Emily Jeanne Miller
In order for me to really enjoy a book, I need to like the characters. In this book, I didn't care for any of the characters, not even four year old Owen.
Logan Pyle, father to Owen and lead in this story, just didn't have much about him that I liked. His tone of voice was harsh with his son, I know by the end of the
book he started to turn it around but the author really didn't give me anything to work with. So many times I just wanted to smack him. To me, Logan just seemed
impetuous and immature.
I know that I was told he loved his son and wife and he loved his family and missed his father but I wasn't shown that at all by his actions or whatever dialogue
he used. I am not forgetting about his grieving process either.
I especially didn't care for his wife Julie. She just seemed so demanding and condescending. At least though, I could see she loved her son, her only redeeming quality.
The only thing that kept me reading was that the book wasn't long and I wanted to see where this was going and what the point was. The point, however, fell flat.
The book synopsis describes the book to the half-way point which is annoying and it speaks of redemption but I didn't get that. It wasn't necessary and for me had nothing to do with anything.
The writing was done well enough but I kept asking myself what was the point. This isn't a bad book to pass the time but if you are looking for something to enlighten or give you a warm feeling, for me, this author missed the boat.
Emily Jeanne Miller
In order for me to really enjoy a book, I need to like the characters. In this book, I didn't care for any of the characters, not even four year old Owen.
Logan Pyle, father to Owen and lead in this story, just didn't have much about him that I liked. His tone of voice was harsh with his son, I know by the end of the
book he started to turn it around but the author really didn't give me anything to work with. So many times I just wanted to smack him. To me, Logan just seemed
impetuous and immature.
I know that I was told he loved his son and wife and he loved his family and missed his father but I wasn't shown that at all by his actions or whatever dialogue
he used. I am not forgetting about his grieving process either.
I especially didn't care for his wife Julie. She just seemed so demanding and condescending. At least though, I could see she loved her son, her only redeeming quality.
The only thing that kept me reading was that the book wasn't long and I wanted to see where this was going and what the point was. The point, however, fell flat.
The book synopsis describes the book to the half-way point which is annoying and it speaks of redemption but I didn't get that. It wasn't necessary and for me had nothing to do with anything.
The writing was done well enough but I kept asking myself what was the point. This isn't a bad book to pass the time but if you are looking for something to enlighten or give you a warm feeling, for me, this author missed the boat.
July 2, 2012
Almost immediately this book reminded me of Fathermucker. I keep reading books written in a dad's point of view hoping I would get some insight into what goes through Matt's head, but still I feel like I'm not quite getting it. Nonetheless, this book is good. It has a subtle humor to it and if you're a parent you'll get it. You will know the frustration Logan feels when his son goes through a baby phase, for example.
Anyone who is married is going to relate to Logan and Julie. Though the ended up married in a maybe not so conventional way, they both adore their son but it isn't always enough. After the loss of his dad, Logan is kind of in a funk and sees Julie working more and drifting further away. I know from personal experience that marriage with kids isn't always awesome even less so when you start throwing other stress into it, it's easy to drift away and shut down.
Probably what I loved most about this book is that you find yourself rooting for Logan the whole way. As a mom I completely cringed when he did or said certain things to his son but I felt for the guy. He's stressed out, he's questioning his role in the family, and he wants so badly for things to get better but he's lost. I really liked this book because it just hits home. Oftentimes I find myself lost in my own life and marriage and I want it to be better but I'm not always sure what path to take to get there.
Anyone who is married is going to relate to Logan and Julie. Though the ended up married in a maybe not so conventional way, they both adore their son but it isn't always enough. After the loss of his dad, Logan is kind of in a funk and sees Julie working more and drifting further away. I know from personal experience that marriage with kids isn't always awesome even less so when you start throwing other stress into it, it's easy to drift away and shut down.
Probably what I loved most about this book is that you find yourself rooting for Logan the whole way. As a mom I completely cringed when he did or said certain things to his son but I felt for the guy. He's stressed out, he's questioning his role in the family, and he wants so badly for things to get better but he's lost. I really liked this book because it just hits home. Oftentimes I find myself lost in my own life and marriage and I want it to be better but I'm not always sure what path to take to get there.
July 31, 2012
I think that Brand New Human Being was a well-written book with well-drawn characters that had depth. However, all of the characters, especially Julie and Logan, were so deeply flawed that I didn't like any of them and spent most of the book wanted to reach in and shake them. I think it's speaks well of the author when she can cause such a strong reaction in a reader. However, when I read a book with those kinds of characters, there needs to be at least one likeable character to balance things out.
I also thought that some things wrapped up a little too neatly in the end, while other things that I was wondering about through the whole book never did. For instance, why was Julie losing weight and not eating - was she sick, anorexic, or what?
While I didn't hate this book, it wasn't my cup of tea necessarily. However, there are plenty of glowing reviews for it out in the blogosphere so clearly it does have appeal to some.
I also thought that some things wrapped up a little too neatly in the end, while other things that I was wondering about through the whole book never did. For instance, why was Julie losing weight and not eating - was she sick, anorexic, or what?
While I didn't hate this book, it wasn't my cup of tea necessarily. However, there are plenty of glowing reviews for it out in the blogosphere so clearly it does have appeal to some.
June 23, 2012
Emily Jeanne Miller's debut novel tackles the meaning of fatherhood in the modern world, giving readers a flawed protagonist, Logan, who is doing the best he can to keep his family together. The scenes between Logan and his young son are heartbreakingly beautiful as Logan tries to be the kind of father he himself did not have, and yet he never quite hits the mark.
Introspective and honest, this novel focuses on the small dramas inside Everyman's living room: the way all parents intend on being better than they are, the way a marriage can start to fray even with the best intentions, the way that love, however allusive it might be, is always worth fighting for. Logan, for all of his misunderstandings and mistakes, grows up himself over the course of the novel, and his journey is a worthy, exciting read.
Introspective and honest, this novel focuses on the small dramas inside Everyman's living room: the way all parents intend on being better than they are, the way a marriage can start to fray even with the best intentions, the way that love, however allusive it might be, is always worth fighting for. Logan, for all of his misunderstandings and mistakes, grows up himself over the course of the novel, and his journey is a worthy, exciting read.
June 26, 2012
"I'm thinking about how you are in the world. And your sense of humor. And what makes you happy - and sad. And then there's your big heart - don't get me started on that." She looks down. " All those things, I know they're abstract, but they're important. They're what make up a human being. And they're the things I loved him for, and they're in you, too."
Beautiful. You just can't read this book fast. There's just too much to think about. Each character has this depth, a personality uniquely their own. Each character had their own problems. I felt aches and pains in my chest reading it. It's a truly great book to read if you feel like you need to turn a new leaf or to just let go. After it was all over, I felt like my heart had gotten lighter. I'm very happy to have won this book in a giveaway. It would have been a shame if I hadn't.
Beautiful. You just can't read this book fast. There's just too much to think about. Each character has this depth, a personality uniquely their own. Each character had their own problems. I felt aches and pains in my chest reading it. It's a truly great book to read if you feel like you need to turn a new leaf or to just let go. After it was all over, I felt like my heart had gotten lighter. I'm very happy to have won this book in a giveaway. It would have been a shame if I hadn't.
Read
June 18, 2012When I first heard about Brand New Human Being by Emily Jeanne Miller, I thought it would be a perfect book to review for Father’s Day. And then, like a complete doofus, I forgot and scheduled it for the day after Father’s Day. *head hitting desktop* Other than that, this is still a story about marriage, family, parenting, and growing up that’s going to appeal to anyone who’s a parent and some of us who aren’t parents but have them. Read the rest of my review at htp://popcornreads.com/?p=4093.
July 9, 2012
Tons of emotion and things happening, ordinary things, in this book. At times the story was frantic, but very realistic. I kept wanting to shout things at the main character (whose name I forget-. That is, Logan August Pyle)! While the everywoman inside me scoffed at the skinny, red-haired, lawyer-wife, I found the characters generally to have depth and texture, if no common sense whatsoever. I would have been happy if the story had been twice as long, but the actual length and moment of ending were satisfying as is.
tl;dr = Good book!
tl;dr = Good book!
August 11, 2012
Very well written -- I actually thought the author was a guy until I was about a quarter of the way through, which is a HUGE compliment. But I found the awful parenting so disturbing that I couldn't enjoy it. I realize that this is a tribute to the good writing, but it was almost unbearable reading about a dad who does exactly the wrong thing every time when dealing with his poor messed-up four-year-old. I see these immature, self-absorbed parents every day at Target and in at the park and I just despair for humanity.
March 18, 2022
Woof. What a slog. Nothing redeeming happens to this POS husband/father hero who we are supposed to care about. He is awful and untrusting with his wife. The definition of toxic masculinity with his young son. His sexual obsession with his stepmother is cringy to say the least. But he’s tHe GoOd GuY. The ending is hastily throw together to have us believe he’s changed for the better but in reality he’s done nothing to make his life or relationships better other than apologize which is the bare minimum. I honestly can’t believe this was written by a woman.
August 11, 2013
2.5 -- Characters that lacked depth and desires, a story that lacked purpose, and big issues left completely unresolved. It was as though it was a first draft.... But I did like Logan--even when he was acting like jerk, I felt like I understood where he was coming from. Julie on the other hand was a villain without an origin story.
August 30, 2021
It isn't one I'd recommend. The plot is scattered, the characters are bland, and narratives get repetitive. And a weird step-mom moment that was just...uncomfortable, and a little unnecessary? It all felt very thrown together and rushed, with a vaguely there ending.
July 15, 2012
Delves in to messy relationships honestly. Don't necessarily love the characters but they are real in all of their self absorption.
August 16, 2016
GARBAGE. The main characters are the most self-centered, selfish parents. This is one of those books I wish I had stopped reading instead of wasting my time finishing it.
October 22, 2018
Annoying weak protagonist.
September 22, 2019
I was surprised how quickly I read this book. It’s hard for me to read about train wreck lives – to watch a character that I can relate to and sympathize with make horrible choices.
Logan Pyle, the main character of “Brand New Human Being” is adrift in his life. After meeting Julie and shortly thereafter, finding out they were going to be parents – it seems like he stopped moving forward. He found himself married, with a son, with a dying father, with a stepmother he has more than conflicting emotions about, without his doctorate, with a job he doesn’t seem to care much about… He is flailing and in the few days the reader spends with him in this book – we see him drift right up to the edge of disaster.
The writing is very well done. Normally I have several quotes that I pick from a book to include in my review…but this read so cleanly and so realistically when it came to average and emotionally messy daily life, that I just keep reading without stopping.
I did find it interesting, though, that many of the characters refer to Logan as having a big heart…but although he is a nice enough person, I did not see examples of his big heart and certainly didn’t get that impression from his point of view. He loves his son and loves his wife – both in very human and complicated ways. He loved his father…again with some frustration…and he’s not a bad person. But he’s sort of selfish, not very considerate, has more than a strong temper…. I just didn’t get the “big heart” references.
I would certainly pick up the next book by Miller and hope that it gives the same honest look behind the curtains of a family that this book did.
Logan Pyle, the main character of “Brand New Human Being” is adrift in his life. After meeting Julie and shortly thereafter, finding out they were going to be parents – it seems like he stopped moving forward. He found himself married, with a son, with a dying father, with a stepmother he has more than conflicting emotions about, without his doctorate, with a job he doesn’t seem to care much about… He is flailing and in the few days the reader spends with him in this book – we see him drift right up to the edge of disaster.
The writing is very well done. Normally I have several quotes that I pick from a book to include in my review…but this read so cleanly and so realistically when it came to average and emotionally messy daily life, that I just keep reading without stopping.
I did find it interesting, though, that many of the characters refer to Logan as having a big heart…but although he is a nice enough person, I did not see examples of his big heart and certainly didn’t get that impression from his point of view. He loves his son and loves his wife – both in very human and complicated ways. He loved his father…again with some frustration…and he’s not a bad person. But he’s sort of selfish, not very considerate, has more than a strong temper…. I just didn’t get the “big heart” references.
I would certainly pick up the next book by Miller and hope that it gives the same honest look behind the curtains of a family that this book did.
October 4, 2022
I put this book on my To Read list 10 years ago because both the title and the synopsis caught my eye. I finally just got around to reading it and I’m sorry to say, it wasn’t worth the wait.
I don’t see how the story ties into the title at all and the synopsis barely covers the beginning of the story. I think in order for a book with a plot that seems all over the place and ties up much too neatly to work, the characters, or at the very least the protagonist, need to be likable. The characters in this book were definitely not likable at all, in fact Logan (the protagonist) made me so angry at almost every turn; at one point I actually started yelling at him!
I really wish I knew what Ms. Miller was thinking when she wrote this. I can only imagine she was at a very angry place in her life because the entire book just oozes with anger.
Between the poor plot, the overwhelming anger, and the pathetic ending I really wish this is one I had skipped.
I don’t see how the story ties into the title at all and the synopsis barely covers the beginning of the story. I think in order for a book with a plot that seems all over the place and ties up much too neatly to work, the characters, or at the very least the protagonist, need to be likable. The characters in this book were definitely not likable at all, in fact Logan (the protagonist) made me so angry at almost every turn; at one point I actually started yelling at him!
I really wish I knew what Ms. Miller was thinking when she wrote this. I can only imagine she was at a very angry place in her life because the entire book just oozes with anger.
Between the poor plot, the overwhelming anger, and the pathetic ending I really wish this is one I had skipped.
July 1, 2024
Picked this one up on a whim since I had no books come in at the library. This is the story of a dad who is rather inflexible who is becoming distant from his wife. He takes his son and runs away when he finds his wife with a rich man flirting in a bedroom. He goes to his father’s widow’s cabin ( which she inherited from his father who was twice her age). He once had a crush on the widow. He seeks answers to his dilemmas and has to make a decision about whether to go home or not. Not that great - I had nothing else to read so read the whole thing, but I did not link the Gus character and thought he was just a wee bit self-deprecating. If I had had something else to read, I would have given up. Read it on the plane to Arizona.
November 17, 2023
I don't really know what to do with this. Both mother and father of little Owen are quite a ways from being perfect parents (I realize most of us are), and their parental practices and inclinations are opposite in many respects. But they do try. In spite of Dad's dramatic mistakes, he earns a bit more of my sympathy because Mom focuses far more attention on her job and then complains about how he does things at home. The central question is whether they can each change enough to remain a family and raise Owen together. The book was written well enough, but reading it wasn't really a pleasant or engrossing experience.
January 2, 2024
It is nicely written, but that's about all I like about this novel. I cannot imagine that any parent would talk to his son the way Logan does to Owen - me not being a parent, but still. Also I don't see any child acting the way Owen does. In my opinion Logan is a deeply deranged person with some mental health issues (and maybe he is not the only one in this story), none of that is addressed in the novel. Plus the end is disappointing, after all the fuss about the land one would like to know what happens in the end.
June 7, 2020
Not the best ending...but the way the story is being told is really entertaining and good.
October 1, 2022
This book tackled a lot of things, significant life events. I felt like it could do less with perhaps more depth. All in all a good read, though.
January 24, 2023
Started off good, but got strange in the end.
September 27, 2024
I wish I could remember who recommended this book to me. It was just okay, and damn near became a DNF 85% (!!!) in.
August 15, 2012
Brand New Human Being
by
Emily Jeanne Miller
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Dysfunctional family, stay at home dad, wife starting to stray, dad takes son and runs away!
My thoughts after reading this book...
You never really know what is going on in people's lives. They can look happy and settled and the truth can be quite the opposite. Logan and his wife Julie and their son Logan are adjusting to the death of Logan's dad just four months ago. Logan doesn't get his 4 year old's regression and trouble in school or the fact that his wife is a workaholic attorney and seems to be wasting away. He sees his wife with another man and just takes his son and runs...to his dad's cabin and his dad's widow...with whom he seems to have a complicated relationship.
What results is poor decisions made by Logan, his wife's anger and ultimately his return home.
What I loved about this book...
I loved being inside of Logan's head...seriously. He had to do all the things he did in order to come full circle and understand his dad, his son, his wife and most of all himself.
What I didn't love...
Logan's choices and feelings and how he seemed to be alone. That was kind of sad...along
with some of his destructive behaviors...
Final thoughts...
I found this book to be an interesting look at a man who needed to make some life altering changes in order to make peace in his family and find his own peace. I think he did.
by
Emily Jeanne Miller
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Dysfunctional family, stay at home dad, wife starting to stray, dad takes son and runs away!
My thoughts after reading this book...
You never really know what is going on in people's lives. They can look happy and settled and the truth can be quite the opposite. Logan and his wife Julie and their son Logan are adjusting to the death of Logan's dad just four months ago. Logan doesn't get his 4 year old's regression and trouble in school or the fact that his wife is a workaholic attorney and seems to be wasting away. He sees his wife with another man and just takes his son and runs...to his dad's cabin and his dad's widow...with whom he seems to have a complicated relationship.
What results is poor decisions made by Logan, his wife's anger and ultimately his return home.
What I loved about this book...
I loved being inside of Logan's head...seriously. He had to do all the things he did in order to come full circle and understand his dad, his son, his wife and most of all himself.
What I didn't love...
Logan's choices and feelings and how he seemed to be alone. That was kind of sad...along
with some of his destructive behaviors...
Final thoughts...
I found this book to be an interesting look at a man who needed to make some life altering changes in order to make peace in his family and find his own peace. I think he did.
December 10, 2014
I got this for book club and it was short. Those are the only two reasons that I started or finished it. I think the author was going for a thought-provoking novel about a "new dad" as well as his becoming a "new person" during a divorce-type situation. The protagonist comes of age so to speak as he matures from young adult to father and learns about his own deceased father from an adult perspective. It was hard to care for any of them and most of the book is a downer.
Here's the plot: Logan Pyle, a lapsed grad student and stay-at-home dad, is just barely holding himself together. He has fizzled at grad school, his father has died leaving a widow old enough to be Logan's sister, his wife Julie is distant, and his four-year-old son has gone back to drinking from a baby bottle. One Sunday morning at a childrens' birthday party, he finds his wife Julie kissing another man, and something snaps. Logan packs a bag, buckles his son into his car seat, and heads north with a 1920s Louisville Slugger in the back of his truck, a maxed-out American Express card in his wallet, and revenge in his heart. After some bad decisions and worse luck, he lands at his father's old A-frame cabin, where his father's young widow, Bennie, now lives. She has plenty of reasons to turn Logan away. She doesn't. Does she opens the door to unexpected redemption and healing for both of them?
Here's the plot: Logan Pyle, a lapsed grad student and stay-at-home dad, is just barely holding himself together. He has fizzled at grad school, his father has died leaving a widow old enough to be Logan's sister, his wife Julie is distant, and his four-year-old son has gone back to drinking from a baby bottle. One Sunday morning at a childrens' birthday party, he finds his wife Julie kissing another man, and something snaps. Logan packs a bag, buckles his son into his car seat, and heads north with a 1920s Louisville Slugger in the back of his truck, a maxed-out American Express card in his wallet, and revenge in his heart. After some bad decisions and worse luck, he lands at his father's old A-frame cabin, where his father's young widow, Bennie, now lives. She has plenty of reasons to turn Logan away. She doesn't. Does she opens the door to unexpected redemption and healing for both of them?
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