The Flight of the Pickerings

by John Grayson Heide

You wouldn't think a novel about an old man trying to figure out his final days would be funny. But when it involves NASA and Homeland Security, a car and an airplane with vivid personalities, and timeless issues of love and loss, you get The Flight of the Pickerings. This tale takes the reader on an incredibly fun, poignant and memorable ride that chronicles a life long love and an unforgettable ending.

258 pages, ebook

Published May 1, 2017

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE...This book is available for release .. It's a wonderful page turning debut!!!
On the edge scenes...
Takes place I FLORIDA...
.....( where I'm going soon for a couple of weeks). It's found on Amazon Kindle for only $3.99. It's a great deal!

Genuinely vibrantly imagined...emotionally rigorous...idea driven...
with indelible characters and true suspense. A tender tribute to human
valiance.....impossible to be unmoved by this fragile life-affirming story!
Terrific debut by John Grayson Heide.

*A BONUS.....A BEACH scene in Florida is absolutely outlandish and
heart warming!

[David V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a review copy of this book. Yes, it's about end-of-life issues, but there's no sappy sentimentality. It's hilarious, for one thing, which you wouldn't expect from a book like this. An elderly couple; wife dying of cancer; and the husband has promised to not let his wife suffer---a promise that's difficult to keep, especially if the husband plans to "go" with her. No matter what he attempts, something else gets in the way. Two quotes came to mind as I read this book: Life is what happens to you while you're planning for something else; and Tell God what your life plans are and listen for the laughter. Cynical, but also realistic.

[Lynn Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Flight of the Pickerings is excellent! Touching, very funny, very juicy. A creative masterpiece. I think it should be required reading for all of us. A great book club selection. I highly recommend you read it immediately!

[Bob Platypire · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review*

Oh my feels. FEEEEEEELS! This book was pretty emotionally driven. Family, decisions, consequences, all rolled into one beautifully told tale of love. The characters are well filled out and felt real, and everything seemed to go pretty smoothly. If you like coming-of-age, family stories with their share of drama, I think you'll like this.

Bob says: 4 Platypires!

[Geneal Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed out loud so many times. The writing made visualizations so easy. Really liked this book. I still “chuckle” when I think of it.

[Leah Block]

review forthcoming from FOREWORD magazine

[Hobart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---

Time and innocence don't dance together for long.

Guy and Dorothy Pickering have known each other for sixty years and change -- they might not have been the closest of friends as kids, but they were constant presences in each others' lives. Eventually, they married and have spent the intervening years building their lives and family together. But time, cancer and dementia have taken their toll, and Dorothy doesn't have much time left on earth.

Guy's not willing to turn her care over strangers -- or even their daughter -- but he doesn't know how to handle things. It's not long before he finds himself asking his cat, "How the hell do you kill your wife?" Not knowing why he'd need to stick around without her, and begins coming up with plans that will kill them both. So the readers get to see the beginning of their relationship in flashbacks while Guy tries to design and execute the end of it.

Which was a great combination of heart-warming and tragic -- making the odd dose of whimsy here and there seem out of place. Heide shows us the thoughts/commentary of the vehicles and animals Guy encounters. It was a choice that, while amusing, made no sense to me.

And then Guy's grandson, a teenager rebelling against everyone in reaction to his parents' divorce (and his age), comes to stay with them (not that anyone bothered to consult Guy about this). From almost the instant that Tory showed up, things start to change -- the chip on his shoulder beings to get filled in, Guy gets to care for someone other than Dorothy, and things start to spiral out of control.

What is it about fiction set in Florida? I'm sure I've read a fairly straightforward book set in the state, but I can't think of one. In my experience, at a certain point, plotlines in Florida become the fictional equivalent of reductio ad absurdum -- between a nosy neighbor, an unsympathetic police officer, a petty airport manager, biker gang, shuttle launch, would-be star reporter, and some heavy-duty "medicinal" brownies (among many other things) -- this sweetly tragic story is surrounded by laugh-inducing goofiness.

Yet but none of the extremes in tone ever take over -- how Heide pulls this off, I'm not sure. I wish more people could. I'm not for a second going to say that I agree with Heide's agenda -- beyond wanting people to talk about end of life issues -- but he told this story in a compelling, sympathetic and entertaining way. I spent the first few chapters just dreading finishing this -- I liked these people, and didn't relish seeing them go through the pain ahead (particularly as I got to know them better in the flashbacks). But I ended up really enjoying this book. Give this one a shot.

Disclaimer: I received this novel from the author in exchange for my honest opinion, which did not influence anything I said, or even when I read the book. Sorry it took so long, Mr. Heide.

[Nathaniel Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Heide has written a delightful book about an important and sensitive subject. I highly recommend "The Flight of the Pickerings."

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good look at end of life options....lots of humor, too

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting turn of events with a surprise ending!