Dispatches from Parts Unknown, Bryan Bliss
Dispatches from Parts Unknown, Bryan Bliss
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
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Dispatches from Parts Unknown

Author: Bryan Bliss

Narrator: Joy Nash

Unabridged: 7 hr 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/07/2024


Synopsis

*An Odyssey Award Honor Audiobook* “The feel-good novel of the year.” —ALA Booklist (starred review)Julie knows it’s unusual that a professional wrestler runs a constant commentary on her life that only she can hear. But grief can be awfully funny sometimes. National Book Award nominee Bryan Bliss delivers a thought-provoking, one-of-a-kind novel about how to tread the line between moving on and holding on. Dispatches from Parts Unknown is for fans of David Arnold, Nina LaCour, and You’ve Reached Sam. Ever since her dad died three years ago, Julie has been surviving more than thriving. And surviving is sneaking into her parents’ closet when her mom is out, since it’s the only place that still sometimes smells like her dad. It’s roaming around the Mall of America. It’s pulling out the box of her dad’s VHS tapes, recordings of his favorite vintage professional wrestling matches.And it’s hearing the voice of the Masked Man in her head, running a commentary of her life.It’s embarrassing, really. Sure, he was her dad’s favorite wrestler, but that doesn’t mean she wants him in her head.As Julie finally starts to come out of the haze of grief, maybe she’ll finally figure out why that voice is there, and how to let it go.

About Bryan Bliss

Bryan Bliss is the author of the National Book Award longlist title We’ll Fly Away as well as Thoughts & Prayers, Meet Me Here, and No Parking at the End Times. He is an Episcopal priest and a creative writing teacher, and he holds master’s degrees in theology and fiction. His nonfiction has been published in Image Journal along with various other newspapers, magazines, and blogs. He lives with his family in St. Paul, Minnesota.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Kristi

It was a little silly but over all it was a good book on grief. I know nothing about wrestling so the glossary of terms at the beginning helped a lot. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.......more

Goodreads review by Alyssa

Julie is just surviving life. And it seems to help that her late dad's favorite wrestler is commentating along through what's happening in her life. As she goes through along what life has to offer, she may just understand why a wrestler is in her head. This book was beautful and more! I cannot expla......more

Goodreads review by Casey

Definitely a unique entry into the YA collection--we needed a great choice for fans of pro wrestling! Julie is grappling with life-altering grief after the death of her father, and there's no timeline for when it will (or should) lessen. She's got a fantastic mom, an amazing best friend, and teacher......more

Goodreads review by Nate

Most of the reviews I've read of this book focus on grief and while that is definitely an element of Dispatches from Parts Unknown you spend way too much time at Mall of America and evaluating the gay icon status of Top Gun to have this book wholly about grief. And how sad could anyone be when they......more