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Unexpectedly, Milo
Milo Slade, a thirty-three year old home healthcare aide, is witnessing the rapid dissolution of his three-year marriage to a polished, high-powered attorney named Christine. Though Milo doesn't quite know the root of his marital problems, he inevitably blames himself, or more specifically, he faults the demands his obsessive compulsive personality place upon him—the need to open a jar of Smuckers grape jelly or sing “99 Luftballons” in front of an audience, to name just a couple.
Yet Christine is still none the wiser about these inexplicable quirks as Milo has painstakingly hidden them from her and everyone else for years. No one knows the true—and in his mind more insidious—Milo, and such is the root of his profound loneliness, especially now that he and Christine are living apart during a trial separation.
Then one day Milo stumbles across a video camera and tapes, left behind in a park. He watches the first tape, which is a heartfelt confessional by a young woman who begins to reveal her secrets, starting small at first, and finally revealing that she blames herself for a tragic death of a friend. But not all the details add up and Milo is struck with the urge to free the sweet confessor from her guilt. He is, after all, an expert in keeping secrets…
In typical screwball fashion, Milo sets out on a cross-country journey to crack the case, but quickly gets sidetracked when he can no longer ignore the demands of his compulsions. But it is during these sidetracks that the true meaning of his adventure takes shape. Milo is weird, but as he discovers, so is everyone else. UNEXPECTEDLY, MILO is a humorous and touching novel about finding oneself, embracing the journey, and, unexpectedly, love.
Yet Christine is still none the wiser about these inexplicable quirks as Milo has painstakingly hidden them from her and everyone else for years. No one knows the true—and in his mind more insidious—Milo, and such is the root of his profound loneliness, especially now that he and Christine are living apart during a trial separation.
Then one day Milo stumbles across a video camera and tapes, left behind in a park. He watches the first tape, which is a heartfelt confessional by a young woman who begins to reveal her secrets, starting small at first, and finally revealing that she blames herself for a tragic death of a friend. But not all the details add up and Milo is struck with the urge to free the sweet confessor from her guilt. He is, after all, an expert in keeping secrets…
In typical screwball fashion, Milo sets out on a cross-country journey to crack the case, but quickly gets sidetracked when he can no longer ignore the demands of his compulsions. But it is during these sidetracks that the true meaning of his adventure takes shape. Milo is weird, but as he discovers, so is everyone else. UNEXPECTEDLY, MILO is a humorous and touching novel about finding oneself, embracing the journey, and, unexpectedly, love.
344 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2010
39 people are currently reading
1371 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Dicks
16 books1,146 followersMatthew Dicks is the internationally bestselling author of the novels Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Something Missing, Unexpectedly, Milo, The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs, and the upcoming novels The Other Mother and Cardboard Knight, as well as the nonfiction Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Art of Storytelling. His novels have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide.
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend was the 2014 Dolly Gray Award winner and was nominated for a 2017 Nutmeg Award in Connecticut. Matthew was also awarded first prize in 2016 and second prize in 2017 in the Magazine/Humorous Column category by the CT Society of Professional Journalists.
He is also the author of the rock opera The Clowns and the musicals Caught in the Middle, Sticks & Stones, and Summertime. He has written comic books for Double Take comics. He is a columnist for Seasons magazine and has published work in Reader's Digest, The Hartford Courant, Parents magazine, The Huffington Post, and The Christian Science Monitor. He was awarded first prize for opinion writing in 2015 by the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists.
When not hunched over a computer screen, Matthew fills his days as an elementary school teacher, a storyteller, a speaking coach, a blogger, a wedding DJ, a minister, a life coach, and a Lord of Sealand. He has been teaching for 20 years and is a former West Hartford Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.
Matthew is a 35-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 5-time GrandSLAM champion whose stories have been featured on their nationally syndicated Moth Radio Hour and their weekly podcast. He has also told stories for This American Life, TED, The Colin McEnroe Show, The Story Collider, The Liar Show, Literary Death Match, The Mouth, and many others. He has performed in such venues as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Wilbur Theater, The Academy of Music in North Hampton, CT, The Bynam Theater of Pittsburgh, The Bell House in NYC, The Lebanon Opera House, Boston University, and Infinity Hall in Hartford, CT.
He is a regular guest on several Slate podcasts, including The Gist, where he teaches storytelling.
Matthew is also the co-founder and creative director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces shows throughout New England. He teaches storytelling and public speaking to individuals, corporations, and school districts around the world. He has most recently taught at Yale University, The University of Connecticut Law School, Purdue University, The Connecticut Historical Society, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Miss Porter's School, The Berkshire School, and Graded School in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Matthew is the creator and co-host of Boy vs. Girl, a podcast about gender and gender stereotypes.
Matthew is married to friend and fellow teacher, Elysha, and they have two children, Clara and Charlie. He grew up in the small town of Blackstone, Massachusetts, where he made a name for himself by dying twice before the age of eighteen and becoming the first student in his high school to be suspended for inciting riot upon himself.
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend was the 2014 Dolly Gray Award winner and was nominated for a 2017 Nutmeg Award in Connecticut. Matthew was also awarded first prize in 2016 and second prize in 2017 in the Magazine/Humorous Column category by the CT Society of Professional Journalists.
He is also the author of the rock opera The Clowns and the musicals Caught in the Middle, Sticks & Stones, and Summertime. He has written comic books for Double Take comics. He is a columnist for Seasons magazine and has published work in Reader's Digest, The Hartford Courant, Parents magazine, The Huffington Post, and The Christian Science Monitor. He was awarded first prize for opinion writing in 2015 by the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists.
When not hunched over a computer screen, Matthew fills his days as an elementary school teacher, a storyteller, a speaking coach, a blogger, a wedding DJ, a minister, a life coach, and a Lord of Sealand. He has been teaching for 20 years and is a former West Hartford Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.
Matthew is a 35-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 5-time GrandSLAM champion whose stories have been featured on their nationally syndicated Moth Radio Hour and their weekly podcast. He has also told stories for This American Life, TED, The Colin McEnroe Show, The Story Collider, The Liar Show, Literary Death Match, The Mouth, and many others. He has performed in such venues as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Wilbur Theater, The Academy of Music in North Hampton, CT, The Bynam Theater of Pittsburgh, The Bell House in NYC, The Lebanon Opera House, Boston University, and Infinity Hall in Hartford, CT.
He is a regular guest on several Slate podcasts, including The Gist, where he teaches storytelling.
Matthew is also the co-founder and creative director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces shows throughout New England. He teaches storytelling and public speaking to individuals, corporations, and school districts around the world. He has most recently taught at Yale University, The University of Connecticut Law School, Purdue University, The Connecticut Historical Society, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Miss Porter's School, The Berkshire School, and Graded School in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Matthew is the creator and co-host of Boy vs. Girl, a podcast about gender and gender stereotypes.
Matthew is married to friend and fellow teacher, Elysha, and they have two children, Clara and Charlie. He grew up in the small town of Blackstone, Massachusetts, where he made a name for himself by dying twice before the age of eighteen and becoming the first student in his high school to be suspended for inciting riot upon himself.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
November 30, 2010
I really enjoy the premise and background of Matthew Dicks' books: that people who are crazy in all kinds of ways are 1) not atypical, 2) endearing and funny, and 3) all around us (or are us).
This book prompted me to consider (over-analyze?) many of my own "interesting" thoughts and behaviors and the coping strategies that I use (successfully and unsuccessfully).
Points to ponder (from this book):
- Relationships - actual vs. perceived
- Honesty - with others and with ourselves
- Rituals - imposed vs instinctual
- Crazy - what it is and who ISN'T
- Acceptance - of others' faults but now our own
- Maturity - what IS the optimal age for male maturity?
- Endings of movies - with all this technology that we have, why CAN'T we change their endings?
This book is somewhat slow-moving because there is so much background information, which:
1 - if you are OCD, you can appreciate -- or feel defensive about ;)
2 - if you are ADD, may make it hard to stay with the story
3 - if you are COADD (OCD and ADD), you are constantly analyzing everything about the story but can't remember some of the parts... I am NOT speaking from personal experience. I am WRITING...
I enjoy Matthew Dicks' writing and look forward to more of his stories!
This book prompted me to consider (over-analyze?) many of my own "interesting" thoughts and behaviors and the coping strategies that I use (successfully and unsuccessfully).
Points to ponder (from this book):
- Relationships - actual vs. perceived
- Honesty - with others and with ourselves
- Rituals - imposed vs instinctual
- Crazy - what it is and who ISN'T
- Acceptance - of others' faults but now our own
- Maturity - what IS the optimal age for male maturity?
- Endings of movies - with all this technology that we have, why CAN'T we change their endings?
This book is somewhat slow-moving because there is so much background information, which:
1 - if you are OCD, you can appreciate -- or feel defensive about ;)
2 - if you are ADD, may make it hard to stay with the story
3 - if you are COADD (OCD and ADD), you are constantly analyzing everything about the story but can't remember some of the parts... I am NOT speaking from personal experience. I am WRITING...
I enjoy Matthew Dicks' writing and look forward to more of his stories!
August 11, 2010
I really really loved Something Missing, and thought perhaps this would be a sequel, but it's not. It's a stand-alone about yet another guy (Milo of the title) with compulsive habits ("demands"). These are distracting to him and to me as a reader, and since his meeting the demand (e.g., opening a jelly jar) results in a physical release that's practically sexual, it's uncomfortable to read. Milo is supposed to be a good guy, and he certainly is kind to people, but he isn't that likable.
I was also uncomfortable with the many references to pornography and the profanity in this book. While I understand it's there to make a point - that everyone has secrets and some people are more open about them than others - it just feels prurient.
I was also uncomfortable with the many references to pornography and the profanity in this book. While I understand it's there to make a point - that everyone has secrets and some people are more open about them than others - it just feels prurient.
May 18, 2012
3.75 Stars.
Unexpectedly Milo was pleasant in an unexpected way. While a reader might peruse the synopsis and decide that Milo, a nice normal guy who randomly must open grape jelly jars and sing "99 Luftballoons" in German to an audience, is the most unusual/interesting character in the book, they would be sorely mistaken. If anything, Milo turns out to be one of the least intriguing characters, though not even he realizes it.
Matthew Dicks has a knack at bringing characters to life; even if they're only with us for a few page stent, they feel real and they are memorable. Characters we as readers never actually get to meet in person, so to speak, jump off the page and become alive. The dialogue never feels stiff or unusual and each individual has their own voice.
The story itself is pleasantly, equally surprising. Though a few moments that are meant to be unpredicted are sadly predictable to a generation conditioned to expect the unexpected (i.e. me), other moments, which were arguably more important, were refreshingly original and strangely satisfying. Strangely because, had someone told me the outcome before the moment it happened, I might have complained, but having lived through the moment, I don't see it coming to any other end. (That's all I'm going to say as I generally like to avoid spoilers.)
Having said that, the prose did get a bit tiring at times. The narrator is a close third person and some of the repetitiveness and over analysis can be attributed to Milo's condition, but not all of it. This resulted in me feeling as though the narrator (or author) didn't quite trust me to remember certain interaction or, more often, to be able to discern the meaning in certain things or understand the tension of certain moments, on my own. I think the over listing of Milo's "demands" was only bothersome because they were first described as a bit secretive and many, but then boiled down to about 4 reoccurring actions. Some of which could have easily been spiced up (for instance the action involving words did not always require the same word, but the same words were recollected again and again anyway). Again, this could account to Milo's condition in some cases, but not all, and these moments could have likely been paired down, making for a shorter more enjoyable read.
Not all digressions or over analysis were too much, however. The whole novel (almost) itself is basically a digression as we start at nearly the end and then jump back. How the digressions within the digression are handled are actually quite nice, taking me from one place to another and softly landing back again without letting me forget where we had left off. Those moments worked.
And in general, the whole book really does work. If I had to choose two words to describe this book they'd be "intriguing" and "pleasant." I think it definitely makes for a good, relaxed summer read or even something to return to after a hard day at work. There's a bit of mystery thrown in the mix of all these unforgettable characters that should pull you through to the end, and the cherry on top is that you might learn a little bit about yourself along the way as well.
If you see it on the shelf while you're out and about, pick it up and keep it.
Unexpectedly Milo was pleasant in an unexpected way. While a reader might peruse the synopsis and decide that Milo, a nice normal guy who randomly must open grape jelly jars and sing "99 Luftballoons" in German to an audience, is the most unusual/interesting character in the book, they would be sorely mistaken. If anything, Milo turns out to be one of the least intriguing characters, though not even he realizes it.
Matthew Dicks has a knack at bringing characters to life; even if they're only with us for a few page stent, they feel real and they are memorable. Characters we as readers never actually get to meet in person, so to speak, jump off the page and become alive. The dialogue never feels stiff or unusual and each individual has their own voice.
The story itself is pleasantly, equally surprising. Though a few moments that are meant to be unpredicted are sadly predictable to a generation conditioned to expect the unexpected (i.e. me), other moments, which were arguably more important, were refreshingly original and strangely satisfying. Strangely because, had someone told me the outcome before the moment it happened, I might have complained, but having lived through the moment, I don't see it coming to any other end. (That's all I'm going to say as I generally like to avoid spoilers.)
Having said that, the prose did get a bit tiring at times. The narrator is a close third person and some of the repetitiveness and over analysis can be attributed to Milo's condition, but not all of it. This resulted in me feeling as though the narrator (or author) didn't quite trust me to remember certain interaction or, more often, to be able to discern the meaning in certain things or understand the tension of certain moments, on my own. I think the over listing of Milo's "demands" was only bothersome because they were first described as a bit secretive and many, but then boiled down to about 4 reoccurring actions. Some of which could have easily been spiced up (for instance the action involving words did not always require the same word, but the same words were recollected again and again anyway). Again, this could account to Milo's condition in some cases, but not all, and these moments could have likely been paired down, making for a shorter more enjoyable read.
Not all digressions or over analysis were too much, however. The whole novel (almost) itself is basically a digression as we start at nearly the end and then jump back. How the digressions within the digression are handled are actually quite nice, taking me from one place to another and softly landing back again without letting me forget where we had left off. Those moments worked.
And in general, the whole book really does work. If I had to choose two words to describe this book they'd be "intriguing" and "pleasant." I think it definitely makes for a good, relaxed summer read or even something to return to after a hard day at work. There's a bit of mystery thrown in the mix of all these unforgettable characters that should pull you through to the end, and the cherry on top is that you might learn a little bit about yourself along the way as well.
If you see it on the shelf while you're out and about, pick it up and keep it.
October 25, 2011
Wow. This book is captivating if you're interested in mental illness. This is the first time I've found a book about a person who is intelligent and functional despite suffering from an obsessive-compulsive disorder. I found it fascinating and original.
Milo hides his disorder from friends, wife, parents, school, job. It's very complicated for him. His innocent behavior in grade school causes him to be viewed as odd, and teachers and parents are mystified and alarmed. He is filled with shame, and as he grows older he becomes convinced that no one will ever understand him. And so he learns to hide these compulsive behaviors.
I liked the story form it takes. It's not dry at all, and includes many interesting characters. Milo takes a zany adventure on a whim, which seems futile, but like all things in his life he is compelled to finish. Instead, he discovers hope and contemplates becoming honest with the people dearest to him.
Good reading for those with the disease, and for the people who care for them.
Milo hides his disorder from friends, wife, parents, school, job. It's very complicated for him. His innocent behavior in grade school causes him to be viewed as odd, and teachers and parents are mystified and alarmed. He is filled with shame, and as he grows older he becomes convinced that no one will ever understand him. And so he learns to hide these compulsive behaviors.
I liked the story form it takes. It's not dry at all, and includes many interesting characters. Milo takes a zany adventure on a whim, which seems futile, but like all things in his life he is compelled to finish. Instead, he discovers hope and contemplates becoming honest with the people dearest to him.
Good reading for those with the disease, and for the people who care for them.
Read
July 25, 2011Quirky characters are a staple of fiction; most writers believe it's more rewarding to create dysfunctional characters than seemingly normal ones. Milo Slade, the title character in Matthew Dicks' ultra-quirky novel, Unexpectedly, Milo, has more than his share of issues. Suffering from a super-charged version of obsessive-compulsive disorder (although one that requires creativity and excellent problem-solving skills, as Milo acknowledges), Milo is randomly struck by strange compulsions: the need to bowl a strike, open a sealed jelly jar, sing 99 Red Balloons at a karaoke bar (in German, no less), or crack ice cubes from an ice cube tray. If he doesn't perform these "demands," the pressure in his head gets worse and worse, sometimes splintering into multiple compulsions. (Milo felt as if the demands were "programmed" by a German U-boat commander who becomes more and more frustrated when his orders aren't obeyed.)
As if handling this problem isn't enough, Milo's marriage to Christine is suffering, partially because he is hiding his disorder from her. She has asked for space, he finds an apartment, only to find out that she just wanted him to sleep over at a friend's house for a week or two. And then he finds a camcorder in the park with a bag of videotapes. On these tapes is a mystery woman's video diary, in which she expresses regret for causing a friend's death and divulges other sadnesses in her life. Milo watches long enough to find out who she is (and develops a bit of a crush on her), and then goes on a mission to right one of the wrongs she mentions in the videos.
I wanted to love this book. I really did. The description of Milo's disorder was really vivid and I can only imagine the pain and anxiety he must have felt dealing with it on a day-to-day basis. But after a while, his quirks became too numerous to bear and it was hard to identify with him or follow his motivation for certain actions. I felt more like the frustrated Christine, wondering exactly what made Milo tick. The book was well-written, and I enjoyed many of the supporting characters, but in the end, I just needed space from Milo.
As if handling this problem isn't enough, Milo's marriage to Christine is suffering, partially because he is hiding his disorder from her. She has asked for space, he finds an apartment, only to find out that she just wanted him to sleep over at a friend's house for a week or two. And then he finds a camcorder in the park with a bag of videotapes. On these tapes is a mystery woman's video diary, in which she expresses regret for causing a friend's death and divulges other sadnesses in her life. Milo watches long enough to find out who she is (and develops a bit of a crush on her), and then goes on a mission to right one of the wrongs she mentions in the videos.
I wanted to love this book. I really did. The description of Milo's disorder was really vivid and I can only imagine the pain and anxiety he must have felt dealing with it on a day-to-day basis. But after a while, his quirks became too numerous to bear and it was hard to identify with him or follow his motivation for certain actions. I felt more like the frustrated Christine, wondering exactly what made Milo tick. The book was well-written, and I enjoyed many of the supporting characters, but in the end, I just needed space from Milo.
April 12, 2013
Author Matthew Dicks creates another quirky hero in this, his second book. Milo has some form of OCD, which he has kept secret from others his entire life. Well, at least since he was eight and realized he was different. He gets an idea in his head and then pressure builds until he is able to relieve it by acting on his impulse. It way be to release the seal on a new jar of Smuckers jelly (the 20 oz. size), pop open an ice cube tray, bowl a strike or sing karaoke. Kind of like how people enjoy popping bubble wrap. I don't think I've ever met anyone who doesn't love doing that! I'm going to have to say my favorite compulsion involves words. Milo will get a word stuck in his head and it will remain stuck there until he can get someone to say the word in the course of conversation. Doesn't work to just have someone say it by perhaps writing down the word and asking someone how to pronounce it. And of course it's not a word that generally might come up in conversation. It's words like loquacious or conflagration or placebo. It's fun watching Milo figure out how to get someone to say the right word.
So Milo has spent much energy hiding this from everyone including his wife and best friend. Milo decides he needs to go on a road trip, for reasons you'll just have to read about. I love a good road trip. So Milo goes on this quest to find someone and while he doesn't have to slay dragons (except those in his own mind), he does meet many characters along the way. They all end up having their own peculiarities but, unlike Milo, they except and even embrace their differences. Milo's a slow learner though so he almost has to be hit over the head before this message gets through to him.
I loved Dick's first book and I loved this one as well. I could relate to Milo. He's a gentle soul with an all consuming secret. While I don't have OCD, I'm going to have to say I do love opening a brand new jar of anything. His other quirks, not so much. I'm glad I took this ride with Milo. Also glad that Dicks has written another fun story.
So Milo has spent much energy hiding this from everyone including his wife and best friend. Milo decides he needs to go on a road trip, for reasons you'll just have to read about. I love a good road trip. So Milo goes on this quest to find someone and while he doesn't have to slay dragons (except those in his own mind), he does meet many characters along the way. They all end up having their own peculiarities but, unlike Milo, they except and even embrace their differences. Milo's a slow learner though so he almost has to be hit over the head before this message gets through to him.
I loved Dick's first book and I loved this one as well. I could relate to Milo. He's a gentle soul with an all consuming secret. While I don't have OCD, I'm going to have to say I do love opening a brand new jar of anything. His other quirks, not so much. I'm glad I took this ride with Milo. Also glad that Dicks has written another fun story.
January 22, 2011
This is the second book I read by this author and it was just as good as the first. I really love books about eccentric people, and he definitely delivers! Milo has a weird disorder where he has a compulsion to do certain things, and remains tense until he can do so..they range from simple like bowling a strike to bizarre (singing 99 Luftbaloons in German" His marriage to Christine, his wife, is falling apart. And he discovers a video confessional left on a park bench by a woman he doesn't know, and he becomes obsessed with finding out who she is. I read this book in the course of two sittings and really enjoyed it. I eagerly await his next book!
June 26, 2016
Milo keeps his OCD secret from everyone, even his wife, which might be why they are estranged. When he finds a video camera and a bag of tapes that turns out to be the secret video diary of a young woman he decides to watch the tapes only to identify her and return the tapes and camera. And the truth he uncovers could set them both free... The mental illness of the narrator isn't as great a narrative tool as the imaginary friend was in Dicks' book Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, but it keeps the story moving.
September 27, 2015
3.5 stars. I really loved most of the characters. Their idiosyncrasies were endearing, especially Milo. I probably would have rated this higher, but I found myself bored and skimming on occasion.
February 1, 2025
I picked up this book because I had read “Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend” by the same author earlier in January and absolutely loved it, so I scoured my shelves and was pleased to find “Unexpectedly Milo” waiting its turn. Milo has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD which rules his brain much of the time. Weather it’s having to open 10 jars of jelly just to hear the sound of the seal “pop”, bowling a strike, or making someone say a word that is drilling a hole in his brain until it is spoken, he is going through a lot of mental anguish on the daily, and nobody knows it. Not his wife, (who just separated from him), his friends, or clients. It’s a secret he’s kept his whole life. Then his life’s about to change. He found a video camera bag and tapes in the park on the bench. The lady in the tapes reveals a secret, a childhood secret, that Milo wants to help with. Can Milo help her, while possibly helping himself at the same time? I enjoyed this story. It was jam packed with humor, love, secrets, and lies. Come into Milo’s life and check him out.
June 13, 2023
Milo is a unique individual with some quirks he keeps hidden from others. One day he finds a camera bag with videos and watches some of them to identity the owner. Not only does Milo solve the mystery of the rightful owner, but he seeks to reunite the owner with a long lost friend. Along the way, he discovers his marriage is not working, that he can reveal his quirks and be his authentic self and he makes a new friend.
September 10, 2010
When I first started this book, I would have given it 2 stars. Half way through, it was nudged towards 3, and by the end it was a solid 4. Here's why...
I adored the author's first book, Something Missing, and had high expectations for his next book. In the beginning however, I found this book confusing and odd. Unrelenting demands, Weebles, jelly jars, U-boat captains and 99 Luftballons? What the hell? I felt that the attempt to unsettle and bewilder the reader in the hopes that they would be eager to read more was presented with a heavy hand. I was also disappointed in the main character of the story. Martin, the hero in Dicks' first book, was a man who was out of step with the world around him. He spent most of his energy trying to hide from society, and yet I found him vulnerable and endearing. Despite his fears and awkwardness, he managed to positively affect the people around him. Martin, the hero of this story, shares many traits with his predecessor. He strives to hide his true self from everyone he knows, he is quirky and insecure and almost isolated despite his marriage and friendships. Yet I did not initially find him as appealing as Martin. Milo is not as innocent and I didn't feel the same initial attachment to him.
As I continued reading, I got used to Milo and the interesting secondary characters. Eugene, Freckles, Mrs. Marchand, Emma and all the others stole my heart and made me see that Milo was growing as a character, and growing on me. With each entertaining vignette I was accepting Milo and starting to root for him to achieve his own happy ending. By the completion of the story, I realized that Dicks had written another winning novel, one that any reader will grow to love.
In the end, my only complaint is that this book left me with two unrelenting demands of my own- I now need to rent and rewatch Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as soon as possible, and I also feel the need to join a book club with Milo/Matthew so that I can argue the merits of Saramago's Blindness (I know it was bleak and a bit harsh- but that made the connections formed by the core group even more poignant, and the hope offered at the end more precious! Dang it!)
I adored the author's first book, Something Missing, and had high expectations for his next book. In the beginning however, I found this book confusing and odd. Unrelenting demands, Weebles, jelly jars, U-boat captains and 99 Luftballons? What the hell? I felt that the attempt to unsettle and bewilder the reader in the hopes that they would be eager to read more was presented with a heavy hand. I was also disappointed in the main character of the story. Martin, the hero in Dicks' first book, was a man who was out of step with the world around him. He spent most of his energy trying to hide from society, and yet I found him vulnerable and endearing. Despite his fears and awkwardness, he managed to positively affect the people around him. Martin, the hero of this story, shares many traits with his predecessor. He strives to hide his true self from everyone he knows, he is quirky and insecure and almost isolated despite his marriage and friendships. Yet I did not initially find him as appealing as Martin. Milo is not as innocent and I didn't feel the same initial attachment to him.
As I continued reading, I got used to Milo and the interesting secondary characters. Eugene, Freckles, Mrs. Marchand, Emma and all the others stole my heart and made me see that Milo was growing as a character, and growing on me. With each entertaining vignette I was accepting Milo and starting to root for him to achieve his own happy ending. By the completion of the story, I realized that Dicks had written another winning novel, one that any reader will grow to love.
In the end, my only complaint is that this book left me with two unrelenting demands of my own- I now need to rent and rewatch Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as soon as possible, and I also feel the need to join a book club with Milo/Matthew so that I can argue the merits of Saramago's Blindness (I know it was bleak and a bit harsh- but that made the connections formed by the core group even more poignant, and the hope offered at the end more precious! Dang it!)
October 10, 2012
I have picked this up and put it down countless times in the years since it was published. I LOVED Something Missing, Dicks' debut novel. So much so that I still recommend it to anyone who's looking for book recommendations. Perhaps because I loved Something Missing so, I had a hard time getting into it. Once I let that go, I really, really liked Milo.
Milo has O.C.D. that manifests itself in ways that were new to me. The things he is driven to do make it both easier on him (he's not driven to count his steps or touch every street post for example) and more difficult since it drives him to hear words like cacophony. As you might imagine, it causes stress on his marriage, especially since his wife has no idea. Milo has been able to hide this side of himself from everyone ever since a childhood incident that scarred him.
Mild spoilers ahead.
That marriage starts to crumble before the start of the book and Milo winds up moving out when his wife asks for space. She is completely unclear on what she means by that and is frankly so mean to Milo that it is completely understandable that he thinks she means she wants him out of the house for some time, and not just for a couple of weeks on a friend's couch like she apparently meant. The marriage is clearly in a lot of trouble. They don't talk. He because he is trying desperately to hide his ocd, and she because well, her motivations aren't really clear since this isn't her story, but she is not painted in a very flattering light.
Actually, her character is the weakest link in the story for me. It's hard to be sympathetic towards her even knowing how Milo has lied to her their entire relationship. This is partly because Milo himself is such a good guy that it's hard not to take sides.
After Milo moves out, he finds a camcorder and a bag of tapes in a park. He waits a day to see if anyone claims them, and then picks them up (the unlikeliness of it still being there a day later made me wonder if the owner had simply set them down in the same place the next day) with the idea of trying to figure out who the owner is. He doesn't turn it over to the police. Instead, he starts to watch the tapes. They turn out to be a video diary, and it starts him on a quest. I won't say anymore, except read this book!
Milo has O.C.D. that manifests itself in ways that were new to me. The things he is driven to do make it both easier on him (he's not driven to count his steps or touch every street post for example) and more difficult since it drives him to hear words like cacophony. As you might imagine, it causes stress on his marriage, especially since his wife has no idea. Milo has been able to hide this side of himself from everyone ever since a childhood incident that scarred him.
Mild spoilers ahead.
That marriage starts to crumble before the start of the book and Milo winds up moving out when his wife asks for space. She is completely unclear on what she means by that and is frankly so mean to Milo that it is completely understandable that he thinks she means she wants him out of the house for some time, and not just for a couple of weeks on a friend's couch like she apparently meant. The marriage is clearly in a lot of trouble. They don't talk. He because he is trying desperately to hide his ocd, and she because well, her motivations aren't really clear since this isn't her story, but she is not painted in a very flattering light.
Actually, her character is the weakest link in the story for me. It's hard to be sympathetic towards her even knowing how Milo has lied to her their entire relationship. This is partly because Milo himself is such a good guy that it's hard not to take sides.
After Milo moves out, he finds a camcorder and a bag of tapes in a park. He waits a day to see if anyone claims them, and then picks them up (the unlikeliness of it still being there a day later made me wonder if the owner had simply set them down in the same place the next day) with the idea of trying to figure out who the owner is. He doesn't turn it over to the police. Instead, he starts to watch the tapes. They turn out to be a video diary, and it starts him on a quest. I won't say anymore, except read this book!
November 2, 2010
I picked this one up because "Daily Candy" told me it would make me "laugh out loud" and "never put it down." A pretty strong endorsement.
But I don't remember laughing out loud once and it took me more than a week to read which is never a good sign. That said, there were some really good things about this one. There are some interesting characters that do some not-so-ordinary things. One of my favorites is a main character who only appears on videotape as she confesses to all the terrible things she has done in her life--kind of reminded me of a darker version of Chunk's confessional from The Goonies. And who didn't, at some point, wish that the ending to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid turned out a bit differently?
My favorite thing about the book was that the author didn't take the cliched and easy way out to end the book. Instead, he gave it some real thought and had the book end the way it should with our hero in probably the very best place for him and his messed-up, little life.
So Unexpectedly, Milo has a mystery, a failed marriage, a road trip, a hero with OCD, and an interesting cast of characters with fun things to think about. Not long lasting but a solid three star diversion.
But I don't remember laughing out loud once and it took me more than a week to read which is never a good sign. That said, there were some really good things about this one. There are some interesting characters that do some not-so-ordinary things. One of my favorites is a main character who only appears on videotape as she confesses to all the terrible things she has done in her life--kind of reminded me of a darker version of Chunk's confessional from The Goonies. And who didn't, at some point, wish that the ending to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid turned out a bit differently?
My favorite thing about the book was that the author didn't take the cliched and easy way out to end the book. Instead, he gave it some real thought and had the book end the way it should with our hero in probably the very best place for him and his messed-up, little life.
So Unexpectedly, Milo has a mystery, a failed marriage, a road trip, a hero with OCD, and an interesting cast of characters with fun things to think about. Not long lasting but a solid three star diversion.
April 28, 2012
I'm really at 3.5 on this one. I enjoyed the plot and I found myself really feeling sympathy for Milo even though he's a pretty strange guy. All of the cultural references in the book seemed to be snatched out of my own childhood memories -- so that helped me to enjoy the book more too.
Still, I'm not sure that this story will work for everyone, hence the hedging between 3 and 4 stars.
This is my second Matthew Dicks book and while I enjoyed the plot of the first one (Something Missing) I never warmed up to the main character. In this one, it was easy to appreciate all Milo's good qualities and his struggle to appear normal. I think we all fight that fight to some extent within ourselves.
Very much looking forward to Matthew Dicks next book: Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend.
Still, I'm not sure that this story will work for everyone, hence the hedging between 3 and 4 stars.
This is my second Matthew Dicks book and while I enjoyed the plot of the first one (Something Missing) I never warmed up to the main character. In this one, it was easy to appreciate all Milo's good qualities and his struggle to appear normal. I think we all fight that fight to some extent within ourselves.
Very much looking forward to Matthew Dicks next book: Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend.
November 15, 2015
Matthew Dicks has a gift for creating characters who are endearingly flawed. Milo, however, is not one of them. He's definitely flawed. But, I didn't find him endearing at all. I found him weird. I found him annoying. I, actually, thought he was kind of creepy. It wasn't so much his insanely unusual demands that prevented me from liking him. It was his dishonesty, his sneaking around and his utter self-centeredness. Then, there was Emma. Thank goodness for Emma.
This book has all the usual elements of a Matthew Dicks book: charming characters, an engaging plot and a unique act of heroism. It also has an abundance of anatomically correct terms (usually accompanied by descriptions of how those things are used) and way too many bad words.
This book has all the usual elements of a Matthew Dicks book: charming characters, an engaging plot and a unique act of heroism. It also has an abundance of anatomically correct terms (usually accompanied by descriptions of how those things are used) and way too many bad words.
August 9, 2010
Whle I did not fall in love with Milo as I had hoped I would, other characters did elicit strong emotions. I strongly disliked Milo's wife, Christine and very much liked - well, I won't give it away - but I really liked some of the female characters at the end of the book. I found Milo's quirks to be a little too offbeat for my liking and sometimes found it distracting... but I suppose that OCD is "supposed " to be distracting and poor Milo was distracted all of the time. All in all, it was a good read and I would recommend it to others.
October 4, 2012
I love this book mainly because I share a similar world view to the main character (and therefore, possibly the author? Don't know.) I just found myself nodding in recognition to so many 'insights' dropped throughout this book, and we're never happier than when we're hearing how right we are, right? ;) The vide camera confessional is a very interesting premise, and the peek in to the mind of a protagonist with OCD was pretty fascinating. I don't know how clinically correct it is, but I'm choosing to think it is, for no reason other than it seemed pretty well researched/represented.
August 21, 2010
Way better than Matthew Dicks first novel Something Missing, but it still misses the mark in several key places. At least with this novel though, the author has learned that writing more than one character makes for a far more interesting book, and that dialog and conversations between characters can be useful and engaging. Unexpectedly, Milo is a nice enough story, however there are quite few things that feel incomplete, wrong, or just feel like a complete cop out.
April 18, 2011
This book about quirky Milo got better and better as I read. I enjoyed the characters, especially Milo's relationship with Emma.
May 30, 2013
Wonderful book! So sad to reach the last page....
September 16, 2015
I loved this sweet funny story about quirky Milo. A joy to read.
May 24, 2017
Matthew Dicks is my newest favorite author. I read Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend and then looked for the rest of his books. At this time there are four in all. The fourth one I read is Unexpectedly, Milo.
Dicks seems to specialize i writing about people with very strange quirks, people who find life challenging. What Dicks manages to do is to present these characters in a way that, while not being saccharine, renders them human and if not exactly likeable, definitely understandable - and eventually the reader realizes they're pulling for the character, wanting him to succeed and, could it be? Finding something in all their complexity to actually like!
Milo Slade has a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder in which he MUST do certain odd activities. Until he does whatever it is - opening Smuckers jelly jars to hear the whoosh of air escaping, bowling a strike, getting someone to say a certain word - he feels an enormous pressure building. Since this condition first manifested itself when he was a little boy he has felt shame and he believes if anyone discovers his compulsions he will be rejected or worse.
Milo is married and has spent most of his energy keeping his OCD from his wife. He feels her unhappiness in their marriage but cannot do anything about it. When she tells him she needs space and he should leave, she means for him to go spend a week or two with a friend. Milo hears her tell him to leave and so signs a six-month lease on an apartment.
He agrees to see a marriage counselor but begins to question whether he really wants to be married at all. He sets out on an unlikely road trip and finds himself.
At the book's conclusion I felt I understood a little better about the strange condition we so often joke about; OCD is far more crippling than a need to have one's belongings arranged just so. I also understood a bit more about how a marriage can fail when one partner withholds something he considers too shameful to share.
Dicks seems to specialize i writing about people with very strange quirks, people who find life challenging. What Dicks manages to do is to present these characters in a way that, while not being saccharine, renders them human and if not exactly likeable, definitely understandable - and eventually the reader realizes they're pulling for the character, wanting him to succeed and, could it be? Finding something in all their complexity to actually like!
Milo Slade has a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder in which he MUST do certain odd activities. Until he does whatever it is - opening Smuckers jelly jars to hear the whoosh of air escaping, bowling a strike, getting someone to say a certain word - he feels an enormous pressure building. Since this condition first manifested itself when he was a little boy he has felt shame and he believes if anyone discovers his compulsions he will be rejected or worse.
Milo is married and has spent most of his energy keeping his OCD from his wife. He feels her unhappiness in their marriage but cannot do anything about it. When she tells him she needs space and he should leave, she means for him to go spend a week or two with a friend. Milo hears her tell him to leave and so signs a six-month lease on an apartment.
He agrees to see a marriage counselor but begins to question whether he really wants to be married at all. He sets out on an unlikely road trip and finds himself.
At the book's conclusion I felt I understood a little better about the strange condition we so often joke about; OCD is far more crippling than a need to have one's belongings arranged just so. I also understood a bit more about how a marriage can fail when one partner withholds something he considers too shameful to share.
September 5, 2018
When I gave this book 2 stars it means that it actually was O.K. I just am not enthused about it. I like the premise of a man who is seriously impaired by an obsessive compulsive disorder that goes far beyond counting, washing hands, or turning back to make sure everything is turned off at home. He is separated from his wife when he finds a video camera with tapes that show a woman deeply distressed by secrets of her own. As a secret keeper, he is attracted to this woman. When she confesses that at age 13 she probably caused the death of a friend, Milo decides to investigate. In doing so, he finds other people with oddities, and also finds someone to whom he shares his secret. Although the first few chapters were slow, the book began to pick up when Milo continues to watch the tapes. The ending was somewhat of a surprise. Two stars doesn't mean this book isn't worth reading.
October 16, 2023
My first instinct was to give this book 1 star because it was so poorly printed. About every 20 pages a page and a half of the book was offset overlapped printed. I decided not to ding the author because the printer/publisher cut some corners or lacks quality control, but that made it hard to read and added to the chaotic feeling the story gave me. However, I still don't have many stars for this story.
It was okay. It wasn't bad; it wasn't unreadable (assuming you get a crisply printed copy); it just was annoying. Milo is a nice guy with good intentions, but he has obsessive compulsions that consume his life. He has made a habit of hiding this part of himself from everyone (except the reader, who gets to wallow in them for the whole story). No one knows the real true Milo--including Milo. The story seemed to focus on Milo's obsessions more than Milo himself.
It was okay. It wasn't bad; it wasn't unreadable (assuming you get a crisply printed copy); it just was annoying. Milo is a nice guy with good intentions, but he has obsessive compulsions that consume his life. He has made a habit of hiding this part of himself from everyone (except the reader, who gets to wallow in them for the whole story). No one knows the real true Milo--including Milo. The story seemed to focus on Milo's obsessions more than Milo himself.
January 31, 2019
This book was given to me by my aunt years ago as part of a family book exchange, and I had never started it before now. The character Milo will stay with me for quite awhile because he made me think about the distinctive pop from and grape fragrance when you open a jar of Welch's grape jelly; I searched for a Youtube video of Nena singing, 99 Luftballons, and I wondered what movies I might watch repeatedly for reasons of my own.
My favorite quote from the book is, "All of this encouragement to be yourself and find your own way was meaningless to those beyond the curve of normality."
I recommend it to readers who enjoyed Turtles All the Way Down.
My favorite quote from the book is, "All of this encouragement to be yourself and find your own way was meaningless to those beyond the curve of normality."
I recommend it to readers who enjoyed Turtles All the Way Down.
November 30, 2021
I think this book is about Milo’s OCD, and not about Milo. It was kind of repetitive in the way it kept describing the way his demands would get in the way of his everyday life — after a while when those passages would come up (and it was quite often) I would find myself looking ahead to see where we were going because i had already been where we were. There was a nice story beneath all of the stuff about his demands, and I wish the story had taken the front seat instead of his mental challenges.
July 25, 2017
I've now read all four of Matthew Dicks' novels, and I've found all of them truly evocative. He is particularly drawn to characters with OCD, which makes some of the stories a little odd, but that also seems to make them more interesting, and compelling. I found this one difficult to get into, as I felt reluctant to delve deeper, but as I kept going, I found myself enjoying it more. I will keep an eye out for more of Mr. Dicks' work, as it becomes available.
June 7, 2020
Milo, whose wife has asked for a temporary separation, has moved into an apartment. He finds a video camera and a series of tapes which change his life, as he attempts to locate their owner. Milo also suffers from a form of OCD which places demands on him to do such things as "open a series of jelly jars" or "hear a word spoken in natural conversation" or "bowl a strike." He tries very hard to seem normal.
February 16, 2018
Unexpectedly, Milo is about a thirty-three-year-old man who has always lead a double life; hiding the odd compulsions that drive his thoughts, clandestine actions and his true self from everyone he has ever known. Mathew Dicks is fast becoming one of my all-time favorite authors with his humorous, touching, page turning novels filled with characters you can’t help but cheer for.
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