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The Fish That Climbed a Tree
"They sat themselves calmly and comfortably at the large dining table as if they were invited guests..."
Following his savage murder in a London vicarage, Reverend Ulysses Drummond embarks on an epic odyssey in the afterlife, wrestling with his conscience and misguidedly spurning the obvious advantages of a free ticket to Paradise.
His ten-year-old son, Henry, is left to muddle through life, encountering school bullies, big-hearted benefactors and cold-blooded killers on his passage to adulthood.
Will Henry find love, success and happiness in his life - or will he suffer the cruel and agonising death that was foretold?
Following his savage murder in a London vicarage, Reverend Ulysses Drummond embarks on an epic odyssey in the afterlife, wrestling with his conscience and misguidedly spurning the obvious advantages of a free ticket to Paradise.
His ten-year-old son, Henry, is left to muddle through life, encountering school bullies, big-hearted benefactors and cold-blooded killers on his passage to adulthood.
Will Henry find love, success and happiness in his life - or will he suffer the cruel and agonising death that was foretold?
364 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 2018
About the author
Kevin Ansbro
5 books1,667 followersI was born to Irish parents, and have also lived in Malaysia and Germany.
My formal education was at Hamond's Grammar School in Swaffham, and at the Norfolk College of Arts and Technology (Stephen Fry being a much more famous former student).
I write in the magical realism genre, meshing otherworldliness into the harshness of our real world. I also like to handcuff humour and tragedy to the same radiator.
Perhaps incongruously for an author, I have a background in karate and kickboxing and travel extensively - particularly in the Far East.
I'm married (to Julie) and currently live in Norwich, England.
Stuff about me: I'm a foodie and an avid reader who values good manners, love and friendship. I am constantly putting my foot in it, am reputed to have a wicked sense of humour and love to laugh, but sometimes make that 'snorty pig' noise when doing so.
I'm also easygoing and extremely friendly. So, come on over for a chat — I'll put the kettle on!
Twitter: @kevinansbro
www.kevinansbro.co.uk
My formal education was at Hamond's Grammar School in Swaffham, and at the Norfolk College of Arts and Technology (Stephen Fry being a much more famous former student).
I write in the magical realism genre, meshing otherworldliness into the harshness of our real world. I also like to handcuff humour and tragedy to the same radiator.
Perhaps incongruously for an author, I have a background in karate and kickboxing and travel extensively - particularly in the Far East.
I'm married (to Julie) and currently live in Norwich, England.
Stuff about me: I'm a foodie and an avid reader who values good manners, love and friendship. I am constantly putting my foot in it, am reputed to have a wicked sense of humour and love to laugh, but sometimes make that 'snorty pig' noise when doing so.
I'm also easygoing and extremely friendly. So, come on over for a chat — I'll put the kettle on!
Twitter: @kevinansbro
www.kevinansbro.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
October 16, 2022
“Better to be slapped with the truth than be kissed with pretence.”, and its better to feast on a book that offers a banquet, than to dine on a story that offers only nibbles of flavour.
‘The fish that Climbed the Tree’ is a banquet of flavours, colour, tastes, and experiences, and once again, the perfect blend between illusion and the harshness of reality, as Henry’ story unfolds after the death of his parents and his journey through life.
The Plot
Henry suffers the loss of his parents at a young age which forces him into learning life without really having had a chance to live in it. However, with a determination to bring about justice for his Mum and Dad, Henry encourages a newspaper to write about his parents’ story that will force the powers that be to re-open the case.
There is nothing morbid about this book, instead it is a wonderful journey that dips into magical realism to tone down the harshness of grief whilst presenting a story of how Henry survives and learns about life. For example, we have an under the sheets peek of Henry’s first sexual experience, which was lighthearted, endearing, and witty, and when he wins the prestigious ‘Young Fictioneer Short Story Competition’, which was happy, reflective, and told us Henry was surviving. Although there are some darker moments like being bullied at school and then as an adult was savagely attacked and faced death. With some words of wisdom by his new guardians, Henry is advised
“Rather than simply being the fish that swims to the shore, you have to believe that you can be the fish that climbs a tree.”
Review and Comments
Affecting, humorous, and even profound, but what makes this a standout novel is Kevin Ansbro’s style of writing, which is just for me. Not that any of you can’t share and bask in the humour and wit, but I love it, get it, and want more of it. Here is why -
1. The vivid descriptions add so much colour and context to the story. I feel I have no work to do when reading this authors books because the images and storyline in the book are written with such clarity and relevancy – I feel as a reader I have no work to do. Spoiled hey!!!.
2. I love the use of adjectives that bring sentences and words to life. Kevin Ansbro does that better than most, and possibly at this time I can’t think of anyone who does it better.
3. Overall, there are lots of associations and connections to known people, places, phrases, words that I feel I’ve travelled decades, to different places and met such interesting characters, such as Socrates, Martin Lurther King, and Lennon. Add to that Kevin’s own brand of prose and wit and you have a festival of imagery and a feast for the eyes. Here is are some examples;
“The Taj Mahal, along with its central canal and geometric gardens, folded in on itself and disintegrated into the vastness of the galaxy. Florence and Ulysses, touched by the kiss of Heaven, once again found themselves within the corridor of the Aurora Borealis, walking on nebulae and heading toward a mesmeric phosphorescence of celestial light”.
“Driven by literary aspirations beyond his years, Henry dived into an ocean of spectacular creativity, creating downtrodden characters worthy of a Victor Hugo novel and displaying a gift for personification that Charles Dickens might have envied”.
What I would say is that you have to like or enjoy magical realism to fully appreciate this story. My first time reading books in this genre – I can only say I ‘read’ the words, now I can live the story, but it does require suspending disbelief and putting yourself in a bubble where everything is possible.
However, for me this is Magical Realism at its best. An odyssey of flavours, a feast for the senses. A story of good and evil, loss and hope, but ultimately one of survival. A delight to read, primarily because of Ansbro’s writing style, and adopting one of authors phrases, Kevin Ansbro “…is as natural to writing as a dolphin is to swimming.”
“Procrastination is the thief of time.”. So, my recommendation – don’t delay picking up a copy.
‘The fish that Climbed the Tree’ is a banquet of flavours, colour, tastes, and experiences, and once again, the perfect blend between illusion and the harshness of reality, as Henry’ story unfolds after the death of his parents and his journey through life.
The Plot
Henry suffers the loss of his parents at a young age which forces him into learning life without really having had a chance to live in it. However, with a determination to bring about justice for his Mum and Dad, Henry encourages a newspaper to write about his parents’ story that will force the powers that be to re-open the case.
There is nothing morbid about this book, instead it is a wonderful journey that dips into magical realism to tone down the harshness of grief whilst presenting a story of how Henry survives and learns about life. For example, we have an under the sheets peek of Henry’s first sexual experience, which was lighthearted, endearing, and witty, and when he wins the prestigious ‘Young Fictioneer Short Story Competition’, which was happy, reflective, and told us Henry was surviving. Although there are some darker moments like being bullied at school and then as an adult was savagely attacked and faced death. With some words of wisdom by his new guardians, Henry is advised
“Rather than simply being the fish that swims to the shore, you have to believe that you can be the fish that climbs a tree.”
Review and Comments
Affecting, humorous, and even profound, but what makes this a standout novel is Kevin Ansbro’s style of writing, which is just for me. Not that any of you can’t share and bask in the humour and wit, but I love it, get it, and want more of it. Here is why -
1. The vivid descriptions add so much colour and context to the story. I feel I have no work to do when reading this authors books because the images and storyline in the book are written with such clarity and relevancy – I feel as a reader I have no work to do. Spoiled hey!!!.
2. I love the use of adjectives that bring sentences and words to life. Kevin Ansbro does that better than most, and possibly at this time I can’t think of anyone who does it better.
3. Overall, there are lots of associations and connections to known people, places, phrases, words that I feel I’ve travelled decades, to different places and met such interesting characters, such as Socrates, Martin Lurther King, and Lennon. Add to that Kevin’s own brand of prose and wit and you have a festival of imagery and a feast for the eyes. Here is are some examples;
“The Taj Mahal, along with its central canal and geometric gardens, folded in on itself and disintegrated into the vastness of the galaxy. Florence and Ulysses, touched by the kiss of Heaven, once again found themselves within the corridor of the Aurora Borealis, walking on nebulae and heading toward a mesmeric phosphorescence of celestial light”.
“Driven by literary aspirations beyond his years, Henry dived into an ocean of spectacular creativity, creating downtrodden characters worthy of a Victor Hugo novel and displaying a gift for personification that Charles Dickens might have envied”.
What I would say is that you have to like or enjoy magical realism to fully appreciate this story. My first time reading books in this genre – I can only say I ‘read’ the words, now I can live the story, but it does require suspending disbelief and putting yourself in a bubble where everything is possible.
However, for me this is Magical Realism at its best. An odyssey of flavours, a feast for the senses. A story of good and evil, loss and hope, but ultimately one of survival. A delight to read, primarily because of Ansbro’s writing style, and adopting one of authors phrases, Kevin Ansbro “…is as natural to writing as a dolphin is to swimming.”
“Procrastination is the thief of time.”. So, my recommendation – don’t delay picking up a copy.
October 8, 2024
"If you only knew in your own heart how many hardships you were fated to undergo before getting back to your country, you would stay here with me and be the lord of this household and be an immortal."
—Homer
Five explosive stars! A must-read!
The Fish that Climbed a Tree is the third novel I’ve read by Kevin Ansbro. I emerged from the final lines utterly mesmerized, my mind coated in the delicious silky richness of his playful Dickens-esque writing style, finding the story had burned itself into my memory for all time.
This novel is a stroll through the darkest parts of humanity, and also a rocket ship ride to paradise. Not for the faint of heart, the narrative is gloriously spine-chilling and filled with an abundance of vivid characters: some I loved, some I hated, and others I feared. There were times when I was forced to read through the cracks between my fingers then, just when I thought my heart couldn’t take another second of trepidation, a laugh-out-loud moment would break the seal of evil, drawing me deeper into the lives of my new fictional friends.
Henry Drummond, the main character of this masterpiece is absolutely adorable. I wanted to put him in my pocket and take him home with me. The tale started explosively and never let off the gas. I found myself staring at the screen on many occasions with my mouth agape, mind blown and in awe of the pure writing talent of this author. Once you crack the cover, be prepared to put your life on hold and immerse yourself in its swirling magnificence. Turning the last page felt as if I was shutting the lid on a treasured magic box.
Awash with elegant prose and descriptive imagery, The Fish that Climbed a Tree is another grand slam home run for Kevin Ansbro. Don’t miss this thrilling work of genius. It’s brimming with hilarity, a little otherworldliness, and a whole lot of heart and soul.
And, as was the case in Kinnara, there is a twist that you surely won't see coming. This book is brilliant!
"... an orange-hued butterfly danced about her mirage, as if to steal her secrets."
"Florence fixed him with her Mona Lisa eyes and raised an eyebrow to let him know that he needed to give this matter some serious thought."
"Beneath a low, milky fog, a sparkle of winter frost veneered the lawns of St Jude’s. The oak trees had shed their leaves, revealing the inky thumbprints of crows’ nests in the crackle glaze of dark branches."
"It was already crow-dark; squiggles of neon light shimmered on the wet pavements…"
“It had snowed earlier but now only a faint mizzle hung in the air, spinning silvery cobwebs on the hair and shoulders of everyone in the queue.”
—Homer
Five explosive stars! A must-read!
The Fish that Climbed a Tree is the third novel I’ve read by Kevin Ansbro. I emerged from the final lines utterly mesmerized, my mind coated in the delicious silky richness of his playful Dickens-esque writing style, finding the story had burned itself into my memory for all time.
This novel is a stroll through the darkest parts of humanity, and also a rocket ship ride to paradise. Not for the faint of heart, the narrative is gloriously spine-chilling and filled with an abundance of vivid characters: some I loved, some I hated, and others I feared. There were times when I was forced to read through the cracks between my fingers then, just when I thought my heart couldn’t take another second of trepidation, a laugh-out-loud moment would break the seal of evil, drawing me deeper into the lives of my new fictional friends.
Henry Drummond, the main character of this masterpiece is absolutely adorable. I wanted to put him in my pocket and take him home with me. The tale started explosively and never let off the gas. I found myself staring at the screen on many occasions with my mouth agape, mind blown and in awe of the pure writing talent of this author. Once you crack the cover, be prepared to put your life on hold and immerse yourself in its swirling magnificence. Turning the last page felt as if I was shutting the lid on a treasured magic box.
Awash with elegant prose and descriptive imagery, The Fish that Climbed a Tree is another grand slam home run for Kevin Ansbro. Don’t miss this thrilling work of genius. It’s brimming with hilarity, a little otherworldliness, and a whole lot of heart and soul.
And, as was the case in Kinnara, there is a twist that you surely won't see coming. This book is brilliant!
"... an orange-hued butterfly danced about her mirage, as if to steal her secrets."
"Florence fixed him with her Mona Lisa eyes and raised an eyebrow to let him know that he needed to give this matter some serious thought."
"Beneath a low, milky fog, a sparkle of winter frost veneered the lawns of St Jude’s. The oak trees had shed their leaves, revealing the inky thumbprints of crows’ nests in the crackle glaze of dark branches."
"It was already crow-dark; squiggles of neon light shimmered on the wet pavements…"
“It had snowed earlier but now only a faint mizzle hung in the air, spinning silvery cobwebs on the hair and shoulders of everyone in the queue.”
December 22, 2018
Update review: (returned from vacation last night).
It’s been over a week since I’ve read “The Fish That Climbed a Tree”. I thought about this book while walking the beach, swimming, soaking in the hot tub, watching sunsets, sitting on planes, in the shower, while pausing reading other books, and before falling asleep. Given how much Kevin’s novel is occupying my thoughts - I’m raising my rating to 4 stars.
A light went off for me yesterday after days of racking my brain with questions - examining messages - and gains - I’ve taken from this novel. Then it hit me....things that fascinated me most in this novel (the theme of this world vs. the afterlife), might have been close to what was personally close to Kevin’s heart: exploring his views on evolution - creating a story to discuss a methodology for examining the afterlife.....bridging both positive & negative material - skepticism - and uncritical
acceptance.
His book is many things: A murder mystery, science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, coming of age.
Deaths, bloody murder, petty crime, rape, animal cruelty, abuse, corruption, hatred,
financial upheaval, political shifts, lies, gossip, jealousy, racism, suicide, bullying, false assumptions, massive losses to disease, violence and injustice....are some of the negatives that are highlighted on planet earth.
Several characters magnify these negatives.
They’re the evil characters: the villains. The bad guys.
We’re also introduced to a family and a few friends spirited in love, friendship, intimacy, hope, dreams, kindness, and integrity.
These are the good guys.
Good and evil both exist on planet earth.
Some of the villains have a shades of good....
Some of the good guys have a shades of ‘bad’.
Planet Earth is messy. It’s complex with obstacles and worries every day we are alive.
Through Kevin’s storytelling this theme comes through clear.
Memorable characters - not particularly likable - are definitely defined and developed well. There’s a full cast - each with their own unique characteristic style, personality, and behavior.
......Ulysses Drummond - vicar of St. Cuthbert’s Church - wore an eye patch. He lost his eye in the Gulf War. We learn at the the start of the book - during the prologue - that he’s been dead for a decade. He and his wife Florence were murdered on their son, Henry’s 10th birthday.
We follow a murder mystery story on planet earth. We are witness to the bloody murder graphics. The killers are Pascal Makua and Yuri Voloshyn.
They weren’t prosecuted right away - apparently not enough evidence even though the police knew they were the killers.
Henry grows up - and works as a journalist for the ‘Hackney Chronicle’.
Henry still wants revenge - these ten years later - wants his parents killers captured.
He writes an article that appears in the ‘Hackney Chronicle’. The article drew enough interest for the police to reopen the unsolved case.
After living with his grandparents, Constance and Leonard, his legal guardians, ( who put Henry through St. Jude’s school where his dad Ulysses went),
Henry moves into a flat in London to be closer to his job. An old school bully-chum moves in with him. Oh boy ....a roommate from planet-TROUBLE...with a capital *T*.
........Sébastian Fox-Gudgeon is a master conniver!!! He’s conceded - “shallow as a puddle”, overprivileged - and not to be trusted!!! Even his parents don’t trust him.
Sebastian has the habit of using fancy words that he not only does not know the meaning of - but says a similar word wrong. It’s funny - but he’s still often a classic slimball.
Example: “I am nothing if not misanthropic,” declared Sebastian as they set an abundance of package food on the Formica table top”.
“I think you mean philanthropic, said Henry”.
“God, you are so perdantic”.
“That would be pedantic”.
“See, you’re even perdantic about the word perdantic”.
Fergus O’Conner, a legendary author, is the Landlord of the boys. Fergus takes an instant liking to Henry - but could smell the trouble of Sebastian miles away.
Fergus has been living quietly - under the radar from his notoriety - ( his real identity was only known to his family and publisher). His ex-wife left with bitterness years ago taking with her all copies of a masterpiece novel Fergus had been writing. He hasn’t written since. His son Liam lives with him.....who has a prison history from having fallen into drugs - but has become a model contributing citizen since being release years ago. Fergus has a couple of other close friends he visits regularly with at the local pub:
........Vishnu, (Indian;Hindu) — Vishnu is a publisher who will later help Henry get his novel published.
and Reuben, a Jew.
The trio: A Englishman, An Indian, and a Jew are an entertaining trio. Henry loves them. They love him back. THE GOOD GUY TRIO GROUP UNITES!
Henry Drummond, is polite, trustworthy, and thoughtful. At age 10, he was considered a peculiar child - awkward. He had a podgy face that would stay with him a lifetime.....wavy hair....porcine nose....eyelashes of a girl.....and was stout. He was also bright as a whip and well read. As he ages - matures - he becomes a skillful gifted writer.
Henry loved books and even at the age of 10, he considered himself something of a bibliophile, “having a particular fondness for books about whales that were able to swallow ships and mangooses that could kill cobras”. ( yes....a little peculiar interest for a child).
As a child - an orphan - bullied at school - Henry did have one close friend: Bertie - a bright kid, like Henry. He’s Asian. His parents were born in Hong Kong. As a young adult, Bertie moves to Hong Kong with a great job opportunity. He and Henry remain lifelong friends.
Kevin explore’s THE AFTERLIFE :
Ulysses has his reasons for lingering after death - ( in a place that is not earth - but is not considered the preferred - ‘death housing’, either. Instead of entering through the white light to meet others in the Afterlife Community, Ulysses’s watches his wife Florence go on without him. Florence wanted to reunite with her grandparents and to once again see her best friend Poppy Jenning’s. It would be years until she would see Ulysses again.
Ulysses was dead as much as Florence ...but he was so worried about his son, Henry - on earth - worried about some serious trouble he has gotten involved with - that he hangs around - like on a holding spot - watching over Henry.
Henry has fallen hard for a woman named Amber who has committed a crime and doesn’t want to go to prison. Henry gets involved and becomes her accomplice. Amber and Henry have their own problems to work out.
I thought about different choices Florence and Ulysses were making from many points of views.
I found this part of the novel fascinating. Evolution- reincarnation -
If after death - I had the choice to hang above earth -looking down on my loved ones -see how they were doing - maybe even help if they got into trouble - would I?
Or... would I feel it’s time to move on ....as it’s the next most natural next step.
We take a journey with both Ulysses and Florence - and an array of other characters to the great beyond: the afterlife.
The official name in Kevin’s book for the afterlife is called “Paradise”.
Note: People living in Northern California today, might ‘pause’ when thinking of ‘Paradise’, as a blissful wonderland heaven, given we just lost it’s ‘entire’ city due to fires.
Kevin had no way of knowing that a massive devastation was about to happen in Paradise, Butte County, California. Over 141,000 acres were destroyed, killing at least 88 people and effectively obliterating the town of Paradise as well as to destroying well over 12,000 structures, and causing the evacuation of multiple tens of thousands of area residents… many of whom are still missing and an unaccounted for.
In Kevin’s created Paradise- it’s a very different experience than on planet earth. There are emotions - but no negative emotions - no anger or hatred or conceit - no violence - abuse - no Technology overstimulation, no cell phones, TV’s or any other electrical devices. there are no cars, airplanes, or trains. No money exchanges = no financial worries. There is no cataracts or arthritis making it easier for talented artists to create new masterpieces with physical handicaps of poor eyesight or painful joints.
They had Louis XIV style chairs, Tea shops with homemade cakes, baguette, and pastries. There were green fields, blue skies, renaissance style marbled hallways.
Paradise was a lovely place. Perhaps a little boring with the every ’day’ tranquil harmonious lifestyle...but mostly ...Paradise begins to sound the preferred place to be rather than life on earth.
There were Historical icons. Charles Darwin - etc.
Elvis Presley put on a concert. Sing 🎶 along....”You are Lonesome Tonight”.
The afterlife ladies were in 7th Heaven ....melting over Elvis. Tickets were free.
There were more than 1 million archangels in Paradise.
Oh, and people get to pick the age the want to be. Many picked the same age the were on the day they died - some wanted to be younger. There might not be anger in Paradise, but there was still vanity. If people chose a younger body they would have to go through so we construction.
And when people wanted to speak with one another, they communicated telepathically. It was as easy as talking on the telephone. There are animals in Paradise.
Readers will feel good to know ‘cat-Baghdera’ is very happy in her new afterlife home.
In trying to begin to wrap up this updated review - ugh too long - yet - I’ve just skimmed the surface.
I learned details ( expanding out on google), about
Mishka Yaponchik. I never knew who this person was until reading this book. I felt his name was ‘dropped’ a little too casually making reference to him seem a little pretentious - showy- to the immediate story being told .....
However - I took the bait- and researched him.
Mishka Yaponchik was A Jewish revolutionary... A Soviet military leader… he was and admired legendary Japanese Odessa gangster. Born 1891, Odessa Russian Empire
Died at age 27 in 1919.
I wasn’t familiar with the phrase ‘taubles and binsel’ when decorating a Christmas tree. Ha....YOU LOOK IT UP... YOU ENGLISH PEOPLE TALK NUTTY! lol
I looked up Micawber’s bookshop to see if there was really a book store in the UK with that name. I found one in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Micawber, I learned was a Clerk in the Charles Dickens novel, “David Copperfield”. I had no idea....I haven’t read the book.
There are many CREATIVE sentences in this novel. I admit finding this one strange.
“Henry entered the restaurant with his harried expression. While shaking Vishnu’s hand, he noticed a white strip of regrowth in his liquorice black hair, lending its appearance of badger fur”. I wondered why Henry couldn’t just walk in that restaurant and shake hands - and say hello.
Many descriptions of characters appearances slanted negative.
Only Amber - Henry’s heart throb was described beautiful.
Olga Brutus had wild rat-tail hair....nostrils that flared wild like a horse ridden into battle. She was also raped and killed.
Reverend Tulloch “was coughing like a bronchitic camel and having his back slapped by a stout Welsh lady who told everyone not to worry because she use to be a nurse”.
Here is an interesting excerpt. Too many like this - and I became exhausted- but as I re-read then over - slower- my brain began to get accustomed to them.
“A street musician, wearing and embroidered blouson shirt, played his accordion with no real conviction and a stray dog, finding it too hot to even bark, sought shelter in the shade of a rustic car. Frenetic clouds of midges flickered above rancid refuse bags while Yuri’s gang idled away the day, engaging and becoming steadily drunk. They croaked like parched frogs, Exaggerating recent glories above thrum of traffic noise as gauzy dragonflies darted about their heads. Usually,
the briny smell of the Black Sea hung in a cooling breeze this close but the air today was thick as treacle and only miasma of putrescence filtered into the boy’s dry nostrils”.
My final thoughts.....
This novel provided a challenge for me. Over this past week - I thought less about the areas where I struggled - but much more about the overall purpose and messages I could take from Kevin’s novel. There are beautiful thought provoking themes. Characters who come alive allowing me to explore them.
Kevin’s book even provides a guidance to change and loss as catalysts for our spiritual evolution. Under the surface of the storytelling, there is an enlightened approach to deal with difficult emotions - a look at uncovering our authentic selves.
Kevin is insightful and wise beyond the average man.....
He crafted a path to understanding and healing ourselves and finding peace.
For that....I must raise my rating: SINCERELY! 4 stars!
Kevin, Thank you for your dedication.....your hours of work writing.
I’m a ‘little’ smarter for having read it. You’ve transformed the Afterlife for me too!
I love the person who wrote this book!!!!
I own the physical book and ebook!
I doubt anyone had the experience reading it that I did- or even took as long.
Some days - I only read a couple of pages - because I was busy looking up artists- words - authors - thoughts about religions - reincarnations - Christmas- ( words related to the celebration I never heard of), Charles Dickens- a few of his novels I haven’t read - etc.
I learned a lot. I struggled a lot. I worked this book a lot!!!
I’ve many thoughts. But it’s 5am and I’m in bed on vacation - and not ready to write a full review - but I will return.
Too many similes for my taste. I found Kevin’s writing to be a combination of clever, imaginative, brilliant, annoying, exhausting, warm-in-a-context-of-love, but too many details -a kaleidoscope smorgasbord of many topics - it hurt my head.
Very frustrating for me - YET....
At the same time - I’ll remember this book - I learned A LOT....( things most of YOU FOLKS ALREADY KNOW)...
so I’m the knucklehead.
BUT... ( proud in a way too):
I worked extra hard SOLELY FOR MYSELF.
I couldn’t have asked more of myself.
I judged the English-ways at times, but ‘really’ what happened is the realization of HOW MUCH I DON’T KNOW!
Or ‘didn’t’. You can test me now. I studied this novel!!! It took time and work.
The surface plot was easy.
The characters were also easy to know.
It was Kevin’s writing and introduction of all that I didn’t know - which was new - that was challenging for me!
I didn’t like this book all the time - sometimes I did. I definitely respect Kevin ( boy, he’s bright), and this might be his best work yet ( even though I’m not rating it higher). I was very involved!!!!
I do plan to write a more complete review about HIS NOVEL..and post some quotes... ( enough of my emotions), when I return from vacation next week!
Most readers will LOVE THIS BOOK!!
Most readers are smarter than me too!!!
It’s been over a week since I’ve read “The Fish That Climbed a Tree”. I thought about this book while walking the beach, swimming, soaking in the hot tub, watching sunsets, sitting on planes, in the shower, while pausing reading other books, and before falling asleep. Given how much Kevin’s novel is occupying my thoughts - I’m raising my rating to 4 stars.
A light went off for me yesterday after days of racking my brain with questions - examining messages - and gains - I’ve taken from this novel. Then it hit me....things that fascinated me most in this novel (the theme of this world vs. the afterlife), might have been close to what was personally close to Kevin’s heart: exploring his views on evolution - creating a story to discuss a methodology for examining the afterlife.....bridging both positive & negative material - skepticism - and uncritical
acceptance.
His book is many things: A murder mystery, science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, coming of age.
Deaths, bloody murder, petty crime, rape, animal cruelty, abuse, corruption, hatred,
financial upheaval, political shifts, lies, gossip, jealousy, racism, suicide, bullying, false assumptions, massive losses to disease, violence and injustice....are some of the negatives that are highlighted on planet earth.
Several characters magnify these negatives.
They’re the evil characters: the villains. The bad guys.
We’re also introduced to a family and a few friends spirited in love, friendship, intimacy, hope, dreams, kindness, and integrity.
These are the good guys.
Good and evil both exist on planet earth.
Some of the villains have a shades of good....
Some of the good guys have a shades of ‘bad’.
Planet Earth is messy. It’s complex with obstacles and worries every day we are alive.
Through Kevin’s storytelling this theme comes through clear.
Memorable characters - not particularly likable - are definitely defined and developed well. There’s a full cast - each with their own unique characteristic style, personality, and behavior.
......Ulysses Drummond - vicar of St. Cuthbert’s Church - wore an eye patch. He lost his eye in the Gulf War. We learn at the the start of the book - during the prologue - that he’s been dead for a decade. He and his wife Florence were murdered on their son, Henry’s 10th birthday.
We follow a murder mystery story on planet earth. We are witness to the bloody murder graphics. The killers are Pascal Makua and Yuri Voloshyn.
They weren’t prosecuted right away - apparently not enough evidence even though the police knew they were the killers.
Henry grows up - and works as a journalist for the ‘Hackney Chronicle’.
Henry still wants revenge - these ten years later - wants his parents killers captured.
He writes an article that appears in the ‘Hackney Chronicle’. The article drew enough interest for the police to reopen the unsolved case.
After living with his grandparents, Constance and Leonard, his legal guardians, ( who put Henry through St. Jude’s school where his dad Ulysses went),
Henry moves into a flat in London to be closer to his job. An old school bully-chum moves in with him. Oh boy ....a roommate from planet-TROUBLE...with a capital *T*.
........Sébastian Fox-Gudgeon is a master conniver!!! He’s conceded - “shallow as a puddle”, overprivileged - and not to be trusted!!! Even his parents don’t trust him.
Sebastian has the habit of using fancy words that he not only does not know the meaning of - but says a similar word wrong. It’s funny - but he’s still often a classic slimball.
Example: “I am nothing if not misanthropic,” declared Sebastian as they set an abundance of package food on the Formica table top”.
“I think you mean philanthropic, said Henry”.
“God, you are so perdantic”.
“That would be pedantic”.
“See, you’re even perdantic about the word perdantic”.
Fergus O’Conner, a legendary author, is the Landlord of the boys. Fergus takes an instant liking to Henry - but could smell the trouble of Sebastian miles away.
Fergus has been living quietly - under the radar from his notoriety - ( his real identity was only known to his family and publisher). His ex-wife left with bitterness years ago taking with her all copies of a masterpiece novel Fergus had been writing. He hasn’t written since. His son Liam lives with him.....who has a prison history from having fallen into drugs - but has become a model contributing citizen since being release years ago. Fergus has a couple of other close friends he visits regularly with at the local pub:
........Vishnu, (Indian;Hindu) — Vishnu is a publisher who will later help Henry get his novel published.
and Reuben, a Jew.
The trio: A Englishman, An Indian, and a Jew are an entertaining trio. Henry loves them. They love him back. THE GOOD GUY TRIO GROUP UNITES!
Henry Drummond, is polite, trustworthy, and thoughtful. At age 10, he was considered a peculiar child - awkward. He had a podgy face that would stay with him a lifetime.....wavy hair....porcine nose....eyelashes of a girl.....and was stout. He was also bright as a whip and well read. As he ages - matures - he becomes a skillful gifted writer.
Henry loved books and even at the age of 10, he considered himself something of a bibliophile, “having a particular fondness for books about whales that were able to swallow ships and mangooses that could kill cobras”. ( yes....a little peculiar interest for a child).
As a child - an orphan - bullied at school - Henry did have one close friend: Bertie - a bright kid, like Henry. He’s Asian. His parents were born in Hong Kong. As a young adult, Bertie moves to Hong Kong with a great job opportunity. He and Henry remain lifelong friends.
Kevin explore’s THE AFTERLIFE :
Ulysses has his reasons for lingering after death - ( in a place that is not earth - but is not considered the preferred - ‘death housing’, either. Instead of entering through the white light to meet others in the Afterlife Community, Ulysses’s watches his wife Florence go on without him. Florence wanted to reunite with her grandparents and to once again see her best friend Poppy Jenning’s. It would be years until she would see Ulysses again.
Ulysses was dead as much as Florence ...but he was so worried about his son, Henry - on earth - worried about some serious trouble he has gotten involved with - that he hangs around - like on a holding spot - watching over Henry.
Henry has fallen hard for a woman named Amber who has committed a crime and doesn’t want to go to prison. Henry gets involved and becomes her accomplice. Amber and Henry have their own problems to work out.
I thought about different choices Florence and Ulysses were making from many points of views.
I found this part of the novel fascinating. Evolution- reincarnation -
If after death - I had the choice to hang above earth -looking down on my loved ones -see how they were doing - maybe even help if they got into trouble - would I?
Or... would I feel it’s time to move on ....as it’s the next most natural next step.
We take a journey with both Ulysses and Florence - and an array of other characters to the great beyond: the afterlife.
The official name in Kevin’s book for the afterlife is called “Paradise”.
Note: People living in Northern California today, might ‘pause’ when thinking of ‘Paradise’, as a blissful wonderland heaven, given we just lost it’s ‘entire’ city due to fires.
Kevin had no way of knowing that a massive devastation was about to happen in Paradise, Butte County, California. Over 141,000 acres were destroyed, killing at least 88 people and effectively obliterating the town of Paradise as well as to destroying well over 12,000 structures, and causing the evacuation of multiple tens of thousands of area residents… many of whom are still missing and an unaccounted for.
In Kevin’s created Paradise- it’s a very different experience than on planet earth. There are emotions - but no negative emotions - no anger or hatred or conceit - no violence - abuse - no Technology overstimulation, no cell phones, TV’s or any other electrical devices. there are no cars, airplanes, or trains. No money exchanges = no financial worries. There is no cataracts or arthritis making it easier for talented artists to create new masterpieces with physical handicaps of poor eyesight or painful joints.
They had Louis XIV style chairs, Tea shops with homemade cakes, baguette, and pastries. There were green fields, blue skies, renaissance style marbled hallways.
Paradise was a lovely place. Perhaps a little boring with the every ’day’ tranquil harmonious lifestyle...but mostly ...Paradise begins to sound the preferred place to be rather than life on earth.
There were Historical icons. Charles Darwin - etc.
Elvis Presley put on a concert. Sing 🎶 along....”You are Lonesome Tonight”.
The afterlife ladies were in 7th Heaven ....melting over Elvis. Tickets were free.
There were more than 1 million archangels in Paradise.
Oh, and people get to pick the age the want to be. Many picked the same age the were on the day they died - some wanted to be younger. There might not be anger in Paradise, but there was still vanity. If people chose a younger body they would have to go through so we construction.
And when people wanted to speak with one another, they communicated telepathically. It was as easy as talking on the telephone. There are animals in Paradise.
Readers will feel good to know ‘cat-Baghdera’ is very happy in her new afterlife home.
In trying to begin to wrap up this updated review - ugh too long - yet - I’ve just skimmed the surface.
I learned details ( expanding out on google), about
Mishka Yaponchik. I never knew who this person was until reading this book. I felt his name was ‘dropped’ a little too casually making reference to him seem a little pretentious - showy- to the immediate story being told .....
However - I took the bait- and researched him.
Mishka Yaponchik was A Jewish revolutionary... A Soviet military leader… he was and admired legendary Japanese Odessa gangster. Born 1891, Odessa Russian Empire
Died at age 27 in 1919.
I wasn’t familiar with the phrase ‘taubles and binsel’ when decorating a Christmas tree. Ha....YOU LOOK IT UP... YOU ENGLISH PEOPLE TALK NUTTY! lol
I looked up Micawber’s bookshop to see if there was really a book store in the UK with that name. I found one in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Micawber, I learned was a Clerk in the Charles Dickens novel, “David Copperfield”. I had no idea....I haven’t read the book.
There are many CREATIVE sentences in this novel. I admit finding this one strange.
“Henry entered the restaurant with his harried expression. While shaking Vishnu’s hand, he noticed a white strip of regrowth in his liquorice black hair, lending its appearance of badger fur”. I wondered why Henry couldn’t just walk in that restaurant and shake hands - and say hello.
Many descriptions of characters appearances slanted negative.
Only Amber - Henry’s heart throb was described beautiful.
Olga Brutus had wild rat-tail hair....nostrils that flared wild like a horse ridden into battle. She was also raped and killed.
Reverend Tulloch “was coughing like a bronchitic camel and having his back slapped by a stout Welsh lady who told everyone not to worry because she use to be a nurse”.
Here is an interesting excerpt. Too many like this - and I became exhausted- but as I re-read then over - slower- my brain began to get accustomed to them.
“A street musician, wearing and embroidered blouson shirt, played his accordion with no real conviction and a stray dog, finding it too hot to even bark, sought shelter in the shade of a rustic car. Frenetic clouds of midges flickered above rancid refuse bags while Yuri’s gang idled away the day, engaging and becoming steadily drunk. They croaked like parched frogs, Exaggerating recent glories above thrum of traffic noise as gauzy dragonflies darted about their heads. Usually,
the briny smell of the Black Sea hung in a cooling breeze this close but the air today was thick as treacle and only miasma of putrescence filtered into the boy’s dry nostrils”.
My final thoughts.....
This novel provided a challenge for me. Over this past week - I thought less about the areas where I struggled - but much more about the overall purpose and messages I could take from Kevin’s novel. There are beautiful thought provoking themes. Characters who come alive allowing me to explore them.
Kevin’s book even provides a guidance to change and loss as catalysts for our spiritual evolution. Under the surface of the storytelling, there is an enlightened approach to deal with difficult emotions - a look at uncovering our authentic selves.
Kevin is insightful and wise beyond the average man.....
He crafted a path to understanding and healing ourselves and finding peace.
For that....I must raise my rating: SINCERELY! 4 stars!
Kevin, Thank you for your dedication.....your hours of work writing.
I’m a ‘little’ smarter for having read it. You’ve transformed the Afterlife for me too!
I love the person who wrote this book!!!!
I own the physical book and ebook!
I doubt anyone had the experience reading it that I did- or even took as long.
Some days - I only read a couple of pages - because I was busy looking up artists- words - authors - thoughts about religions - reincarnations - Christmas- ( words related to the celebration I never heard of), Charles Dickens- a few of his novels I haven’t read - etc.
I learned a lot. I struggled a lot. I worked this book a lot!!!
I’ve many thoughts. But it’s 5am and I’m in bed on vacation - and not ready to write a full review - but I will return.
Too many similes for my taste. I found Kevin’s writing to be a combination of clever, imaginative, brilliant, annoying, exhausting, warm-in-a-context-of-love, but too many details -a kaleidoscope smorgasbord of many topics - it hurt my head.
Very frustrating for me - YET....
At the same time - I’ll remember this book - I learned A LOT....( things most of YOU FOLKS ALREADY KNOW)...
so I’m the knucklehead.
BUT... ( proud in a way too):
I worked extra hard SOLELY FOR MYSELF.
I couldn’t have asked more of myself.
I judged the English-ways at times, but ‘really’ what happened is the realization of HOW MUCH I DON’T KNOW!
Or ‘didn’t’. You can test me now. I studied this novel!!! It took time and work.
The surface plot was easy.
The characters were also easy to know.
It was Kevin’s writing and introduction of all that I didn’t know - which was new - that was challenging for me!
I didn’t like this book all the time - sometimes I did. I definitely respect Kevin ( boy, he’s bright), and this might be his best work yet ( even though I’m not rating it higher). I was very involved!!!!
I do plan to write a more complete review about HIS NOVEL..and post some quotes... ( enough of my emotions), when I return from vacation next week!
Most readers will LOVE THIS BOOK!!
Most readers are smarter than me too!!!
Read
August 28, 2024.
Well, I've mentioned before how farcical it is that Goodreads invites authors to rate their own work. It's clearly open to abuse and I don't approve of it one bit!
A chap, of my acquaintance, who knows a thing or two about books, said that mine was possibly the worst thing he'd ever read.
I ignored him and awarded it five juicy stars. So, thank you, Goodreads! : )
Well, I've mentioned before how farcical it is that Goodreads invites authors to rate their own work. It's clearly open to abuse and I don't approve of it one bit!
A chap, of my acquaintance, who knows a thing or two about books, said that mine was possibly the worst thing he'd ever read.
I ignored him and awarded it five juicy stars. So, thank you, Goodreads! : )
September 28, 2019
What a whirlwind of a book! Kevin Ansbro’s The Fish That Climbed a Tree is an epic like no other.
This is the story of Henry Drummond and his fascinating life’s journey. At the age of ten, Henry’s parents, the Reverend Ulysses and his wife Florence, are murdered at their vicarage in London. His parents are good people, but beware, the young lad meets many unsavory characters along the way.
This is a tale about good vs. evil and Ansbro is a superb storyteller. This imaginative dark story has everything to offer from humor to frightening realism. This magical murder mystery tells it all about the evils of Planet Earth - bullying, violence, and racism only to name a few. But the good is also explored - friendship, kindness, and hope.
With clever wit, the author has written an unique novel full of twists and turns that had me laughing, but also sad. A very creative and engaging book. I loved the humorous characters and Ansbro’s very descriptive style of writing.
4 out of 5 stars
This is the story of Henry Drummond and his fascinating life’s journey. At the age of ten, Henry’s parents, the Reverend Ulysses and his wife Florence, are murdered at their vicarage in London. His parents are good people, but beware, the young lad meets many unsavory characters along the way.
This is a tale about good vs. evil and Ansbro is a superb storyteller. This imaginative dark story has everything to offer from humor to frightening realism. This magical murder mystery tells it all about the evils of Planet Earth - bullying, violence, and racism only to name a few. But the good is also explored - friendship, kindness, and hope.
With clever wit, the author has written an unique novel full of twists and turns that had me laughing, but also sad. A very creative and engaging book. I loved the humorous characters and Ansbro’s very descriptive style of writing.
4 out of 5 stars
December 31, 2018
4.5 Stars
“If you only knew in your own heart how many hardships you were fated to undergo before getting back to your country, you would stay here with me and be the lord of this household and be an immortal.”
—Homer
Henry Drummond is one of the main characters whose story intertwines with others, and it is his story that begins more or less begins as his tenth birthday arrives, the same day that his parents are murdered, an act that will colour the rest of his days.
”I’d urge you to remember that the two most powerful warriors in earthly existence are love and understanding.”
With enough humour to keep you smiling often while reading this imaginative story, as well as enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes, and enough sinister touches to be glad of the light, I loved this story!
”It’s a veritable mélange of all that is great in a story. It’s allegorical and it’s pulse-pounding.”
Ansbro’s imagination is abundant and on display, and despite the pulse-pounding, darker moments, this left me with more of a feeling of joyfulness overall. I loved the pace of this story, which took off from the first pages, following a few intertwined stories, and I loved the references to various authors and philosophers, the classics, and how clearly the author’s distinct voice was felt while I was reading this, and feeling the somewhat Sherlock Holmes meets Charles Dickens essence to this. At its heart, this is a good vs. evil story, and as such it does have some scenes that has some violence, but the violence is not gratuitous or overly descriptive. It is a reminder that bad things do happen, and I felt that Ansbro conveyed the line between right and wrong brilliantly.
I loved that early on I became familiar with each character’s quirks and idiosyncrasies, their individual personalities coming more to life as I read on. While not all of the characters were equally lovable (some not even likeable – but interesting? Oh, yes!), overall I loved the journey that this story took me on, and the glimpse of Paradise which was revealed to me.
“If you only knew in your own heart how many hardships you were fated to undergo before getting back to your country, you would stay here with me and be the lord of this household and be an immortal.”
—Homer
Henry Drummond is one of the main characters whose story intertwines with others, and it is his story that begins more or less begins as his tenth birthday arrives, the same day that his parents are murdered, an act that will colour the rest of his days.
”I’d urge you to remember that the two most powerful warriors in earthly existence are love and understanding.”
With enough humour to keep you smiling often while reading this imaginative story, as well as enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes, and enough sinister touches to be glad of the light, I loved this story!
”It’s a veritable mélange of all that is great in a story. It’s allegorical and it’s pulse-pounding.”
Ansbro’s imagination is abundant and on display, and despite the pulse-pounding, darker moments, this left me with more of a feeling of joyfulness overall. I loved the pace of this story, which took off from the first pages, following a few intertwined stories, and I loved the references to various authors and philosophers, the classics, and how clearly the author’s distinct voice was felt while I was reading this, and feeling the somewhat Sherlock Holmes meets Charles Dickens essence to this. At its heart, this is a good vs. evil story, and as such it does have some scenes that has some violence, but the violence is not gratuitous or overly descriptive. It is a reminder that bad things do happen, and I felt that Ansbro conveyed the line between right and wrong brilliantly.
I loved that early on I became familiar with each character’s quirks and idiosyncrasies, their individual personalities coming more to life as I read on. While not all of the characters were equally lovable (some not even likeable – but interesting? Oh, yes!), overall I loved the journey that this story took me on, and the glimpse of Paradise which was revealed to me.
January 21, 2019
A book for book lovers
Kevin Ansbro's second novel The Fish That Climbed a Tree could be categorised six ways from Sunday - whether it's thriller, mystery, magical realism, literary fiction, romance, coming of age. There's a lot going on here. But above all that classification, I believe this book is for people who love books.
I love books, and therefore I LOVE books that talk about books. Books that have characters who read, who write, work in a library or bookstore, or who quote authors with regularity. I just love books that have the life of other books running through them. It's a freaking beautiful thing. It puts in mind what is so dear to my heart. It doesn't get better than reading about reading. And when an author mentions a book I've read, it's a double jackpot. Yes!
So right there, Kevin had my attention. Even though I don't typically gravitate to novels featuring magical realism (and this one has plenty of that - ghosts who can decide their age and an afterlife in which a young-again Elvis performs concerts wearing sexy black leather pants), it didn't matter, because I was charmed by the BOOKS, the books, books, books mentioned on many of these pages.
While there's the magical element to this book, it's also got plenty of real life grit. Violence, murder, revenge, sex, all in a tricky plot that keeps things interesting.
It's obvious that this book was a labour of love. From the attention to detail (even chapter titles are clever), to the playful use of language, to an ambitious interweaving of characters and backstories, I was impressed. I admire Kevin Ansbro's finesse as a writer, and his endless creativity. Plus, did you know he painted and designed the beautiful jacket cover?
A pleasure to read, The Fish That Climbed a Tree served as confirmation of something I already knew: this Kevin Ansbro guy can write. (It's so nice to be right!)
4.5 stars
Kevin Ansbro's second novel The Fish That Climbed a Tree could be categorised six ways from Sunday - whether it's thriller, mystery, magical realism, literary fiction, romance, coming of age. There's a lot going on here. But above all that classification, I believe this book is for people who love books.
I love books, and therefore I LOVE books that talk about books. Books that have characters who read, who write, work in a library or bookstore, or who quote authors with regularity. I just love books that have the life of other books running through them. It's a freaking beautiful thing. It puts in mind what is so dear to my heart. It doesn't get better than reading about reading. And when an author mentions a book I've read, it's a double jackpot. Yes!
So right there, Kevin had my attention. Even though I don't typically gravitate to novels featuring magical realism (and this one has plenty of that - ghosts who can decide their age and an afterlife in which a young-again Elvis performs concerts wearing sexy black leather pants), it didn't matter, because I was charmed by the BOOKS, the books, books, books mentioned on many of these pages.
While there's the magical element to this book, it's also got plenty of real life grit. Violence, murder, revenge, sex, all in a tricky plot that keeps things interesting.
It's obvious that this book was a labour of love. From the attention to detail (even chapter titles are clever), to the playful use of language, to an ambitious interweaving of characters and backstories, I was impressed. I admire Kevin Ansbro's finesse as a writer, and his endless creativity. Plus, did you know he painted and designed the beautiful jacket cover?
A pleasure to read, The Fish That Climbed a Tree served as confirmation of something I already knew: this Kevin Ansbro guy can write. (It's so nice to be right!)
4.5 stars
August 25, 2021
Thank you, Kevin Ansbro, for offering me a copy of your novel when I mentioned my intention to read it. As you know I turned it down so, and maybe I didn't use these exact words, I'd feel free to type my review with my claws and tear it to shreds if I really didn't like it. Fortunately that isn't necessary as I adored "The Fish That Climbed a Tree."
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a very good book. Kevin Ansbro is deft with plot and language. The plot is an odd and interesting tapestry which includes romance, magical realism, mystery, violence, Paradise, human trafficking and more, anchored by a hero born with a full-grown...well, I'm glad I didn't have to diaper him. Young Henry's parents are murdered early on, but not before we watch dad Ulysesses's ancestor drown in a hilarious scene. That's a gift of this novelist: mixing cruelty with comedy, the sordid with the saintly, all with humor and tension and for me no triggers where there might have been.
An adult Henry is determined to catch his parents' murderers -- two of the nastiest thugs I've encountered but then I don't read books with thugs. (But if I did I think they'd still rank as especially nasty.) On earth all kinds of fun and menacing things occur, while his mother is in Paradise with...interesting company (no spoilers). When she's not partaking of the wonders of Paradise, she's watching events on earth with the same trepidation as the reader. And Ulysses wanders the in-between, torn between heart-tugging desires to watch over his son and be with his wife.
Henry finds love with sweet Amber who happens to live next door to one of his parents' killers, which sets up enduring tension. Meantime wandering the in-between, Ulysses has the company of an Iraqi soldier who he was meant to kill but who saved his life. One of the gangsters intends to rape Amber. Henry is befriended by his kindly landlord who's more than he seems at first, and used by his roommate, pure comedy in the form of an ignorant, pretentious prat.
The chapter names are charming, there's sadism and sweetness and a very brief sex scene with such a clever image that it's the first description of sex to have me laughing out loud. I rooted for all the characters, for Henry and the other good, kind ones to thrive and be happy and for the killers and the idjit to get theirs.
There are allusions, references and homage to literary greats, especially Shakespeare and Dickens. There's a single sentence occupied by, among others, Flaubert, Proust and Poe along with Murakami, Vonnegut and Kerouac. I could live in that sentence. And I found the writing clever and often charming. Kevin Ansbro has a way with words. Here's a taste but not the best, I'll leave those in the book:
Someone was "hampered by an unseen bluebottle that feathered his nose and bugled in his ears."
Someone "hid his smugness in the way that an undertaker conceals amusement."
Bits of conversation:
"...my deranged wife soon put paid to all that.”
“By leaving you for another man?”
“Oh God, no. He’s welcome to her, whoever he is."
" I think that I might be in love,” he declared.
“With yourself, I assume?”
"The Fish That Climbed a Tree," like its hero, Henry, is a very full ride with pleasure and pain, variety and gasps, surprising turns and a very satisfying conclusion that left me wanting more from the author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a very good book. Kevin Ansbro is deft with plot and language. The plot is an odd and interesting tapestry which includes romance, magical realism, mystery, violence, Paradise, human trafficking and more, anchored by a hero born with a full-grown...well, I'm glad I didn't have to diaper him. Young Henry's parents are murdered early on, but not before we watch dad Ulysesses's ancestor drown in a hilarious scene. That's a gift of this novelist: mixing cruelty with comedy, the sordid with the saintly, all with humor and tension and for me no triggers where there might have been.
An adult Henry is determined to catch his parents' murderers -- two of the nastiest thugs I've encountered but then I don't read books with thugs. (But if I did I think they'd still rank as especially nasty.) On earth all kinds of fun and menacing things occur, while his mother is in Paradise with...interesting company (no spoilers). When she's not partaking of the wonders of Paradise, she's watching events on earth with the same trepidation as the reader. And Ulysses wanders the in-between, torn between heart-tugging desires to watch over his son and be with his wife.
Henry finds love with sweet Amber who happens to live next door to one of his parents' killers, which sets up enduring tension. Meantime wandering the in-between, Ulysses has the company of an Iraqi soldier who he was meant to kill but who saved his life. One of the gangsters intends to rape Amber. Henry is befriended by his kindly landlord who's more than he seems at first, and used by his roommate, pure comedy in the form of an ignorant, pretentious prat.
The chapter names are charming, there's sadism and sweetness and a very brief sex scene with such a clever image that it's the first description of sex to have me laughing out loud. I rooted for all the characters, for Henry and the other good, kind ones to thrive and be happy and for the killers and the idjit to get theirs.
There are allusions, references and homage to literary greats, especially Shakespeare and Dickens. There's a single sentence occupied by, among others, Flaubert, Proust and Poe along with Murakami, Vonnegut and Kerouac. I could live in that sentence. And I found the writing clever and often charming. Kevin Ansbro has a way with words. Here's a taste but not the best, I'll leave those in the book:
Someone was "hampered by an unseen bluebottle that feathered his nose and bugled in his ears."
Someone "hid his smugness in the way that an undertaker conceals amusement."
Bits of conversation:
"...my deranged wife soon put paid to all that.”
“By leaving you for another man?”
“Oh God, no. He’s welcome to her, whoever he is."
" I think that I might be in love,” he declared.
“With yourself, I assume?”
"The Fish That Climbed a Tree," like its hero, Henry, is a very full ride with pleasure and pain, variety and gasps, surprising turns and a very satisfying conclusion that left me wanting more from the author.
July 20, 2019
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review (Thank you, Kevin).
This is the story of Henry Drummond, whose parents were murdered when he was 10 years old. Henry grows up with his grandparents after his parents' deaths and as a young adult moves away from them to build his own life, wanting to be a writer.
Henry is not the heroic, successful type, but he is a really nice person and so he manages to progess. The story contains a lot of funny/absurd situations.
I really admired Henry for tolerating the most horrible people, even though I sometimes wished, he would just kick them as hard as he could.
There are some things about this book I really like, but some other aspects that I would have preferred differently.
The book starts very promising, but the story starts losing focus a bit around the middle.
Kevin Ansbro introduces a variety of characters, but does not follow up with all of them in a way that would have been fully satisfying for me. Also the interludes with the parents in the afterlife left me behind wondering.
At that point I can fullheartedly say, that even though, I have some critisicm, I enjoyed reading this story and would rate it with 3 stars.
I have not been considering the strongest aspect of this book, though, that completely overwhelmed me: the writing style. The author constructs beautiful sentences with beautiful words, I never heard or saw before (another reviewer called this a Dicken-esque style). I found many of the sentences simply delicious. Also I am not a native speaker and highly appreciate the opportunity to enlarge my vocabulary.
So, this is where the fourth star is coming from, fully deserved in my eyes.
This is the story of Henry Drummond, whose parents were murdered when he was 10 years old. Henry grows up with his grandparents after his parents' deaths and as a young adult moves away from them to build his own life, wanting to be a writer.
Henry is not the heroic, successful type, but he is a really nice person and so he manages to progess. The story contains a lot of funny/absurd situations.
I really admired Henry for tolerating the most horrible people, even though I sometimes wished, he would just kick them as hard as he could.
There are some things about this book I really like, but some other aspects that I would have preferred differently.
The book starts very promising, but the story starts losing focus a bit around the middle.
Kevin Ansbro introduces a variety of characters, but does not follow up with all of them in a way that would have been fully satisfying for me. Also the interludes with the parents in the afterlife left me behind wondering.
At that point I can fullheartedly say, that even though, I have some critisicm, I enjoyed reading this story and would rate it with 3 stars.
I have not been considering the strongest aspect of this book, though, that completely overwhelmed me: the writing style. The author constructs beautiful sentences with beautiful words, I never heard or saw before (another reviewer called this a Dicken-esque style). I found many of the sentences simply delicious. Also I am not a native speaker and highly appreciate the opportunity to enlarge my vocabulary.
So, this is where the fourth star is coming from, fully deserved in my eyes.
January 3, 2024
I would like to thank the author for graciously sending me his book to read, with no expectations from me to do anything other than enjoy it. We both have a love of magical realism, and I can see that his love for this genre has found its way to these pages.
Now…
The author pointed out to me prior to sending and receiving the book that there would be a gruesome murder.
And…
Knowing my love of dogs, he wanted me to know there would be “an instance in the book that relates to animal (dog) cruelty, perpetrated by an obnoxious dirtbag.” I believe he felt it would be important for me to know that this being a work of fiction everything happens for a reason.
Another reason, to love this author! He cares about his readers, and their feelings.
So…
Being properly warned, I went into my reading well-prepared.
He didn’t tell me that I would love the book as much as I did.
This is a story of good vs. evil. (At least for me.)
The story begins with Henry and his murder. Henry is the vicar’s son.
But…
That was a prologue, and…
Would that be Henry’s destiny?
Remember…
I said this was magical realism.
So…
Let me get back to the story here.
We get to know the Vicar and all the good he does for his community.
And…
How trusting he is.
And then…
As readers we witness Henry’s parents murder when he is just 10 years old.
But…
Henry’s father, as the Vicar, a religious man, had always promised he would take care of Henry, and what is his spirit to do with him now gone?
Fast forward 10 years.
Henry is now working for a newspaper and wants to look into the unsolved murder of his parents.
But…
How was he to know that the murderer, lived right next door to Henry’s new girlfriend.
This certainly isn’t publicity the murderer wants!
So…
What will happen?
Will Henry’s father (from his after-life world) be able to stop the “prologue’s foretelling murder” of Henry from happening?
Ansbro has a smooth style to his prose-writing, sometimes reminiscent of a favorite Dickens story. I felt like I was reading an adult fairy tale fantasy with exquisite descriptions…
But…
With so much wit and humor, I found myself laughing so hard at times, I wondered…
How could I be laughing when there are such hideous villains between these pages?
The power of this author’s storytelling.
Ansbro’s characters are highly descriptive – unique in fact. Their performances are clearly on the pages for readers to take in. You will feel the evil. You will feel the goodness. Especially through Henry’s character.
And…
That is what makes this odyssey reading experience so fascinating.
But…
The author was right to warn me about the gore. So, be forewarned, as well.
Still…
Paradise sure looks lovely.
Now…
The author pointed out to me prior to sending and receiving the book that there would be a gruesome murder.
And…
Knowing my love of dogs, he wanted me to know there would be “an instance in the book that relates to animal (dog) cruelty, perpetrated by an obnoxious dirtbag.” I believe he felt it would be important for me to know that this being a work of fiction everything happens for a reason.
Another reason, to love this author! He cares about his readers, and their feelings.
So…
Being properly warned, I went into my reading well-prepared.
He didn’t tell me that I would love the book as much as I did.
This is a story of good vs. evil. (At least for me.)
The story begins with Henry and his murder. Henry is the vicar’s son.
But…
That was a prologue, and…
Would that be Henry’s destiny?
Remember…
I said this was magical realism.
So…
Let me get back to the story here.
We get to know the Vicar and all the good he does for his community.
And…
How trusting he is.
And then…
As readers we witness Henry’s parents murder when he is just 10 years old.
But…
Henry’s father, as the Vicar, a religious man, had always promised he would take care of Henry, and what is his spirit to do with him now gone?
Fast forward 10 years.
Henry is now working for a newspaper and wants to look into the unsolved murder of his parents.
But…
How was he to know that the murderer, lived right next door to Henry’s new girlfriend.
This certainly isn’t publicity the murderer wants!
So…
What will happen?
Will Henry’s father (from his after-life world) be able to stop the “prologue’s foretelling murder” of Henry from happening?
Ansbro has a smooth style to his prose-writing, sometimes reminiscent of a favorite Dickens story. I felt like I was reading an adult fairy tale fantasy with exquisite descriptions…
But…
With so much wit and humor, I found myself laughing so hard at times, I wondered…
How could I be laughing when there are such hideous villains between these pages?
The power of this author’s storytelling.
Ansbro’s characters are highly descriptive – unique in fact. Their performances are clearly on the pages for readers to take in. You will feel the evil. You will feel the goodness. Especially through Henry’s character.
And…
That is what makes this odyssey reading experience so fascinating.
But…
The author was right to warn me about the gore. So, be forewarned, as well.
Still…
Paradise sure looks lovely.
May 27, 2019
Book Reviewed by Cara on www.whisperingstories.com
Reverend Ulysses is a man who sees nothing but good in everyone, unfortunately, this is what leads to his premature death.
Ulysses and Florence Drummond are brutally murdered at their vicarage in London on their son Henry’s tenth birthday. The pair refuse to cross over into the light as they need to make sure Henry is okay and cared for. Their killers are never charged.
Determined to keep a promise he made to his son Henry the day he was born, Ulysses finds himself in a world between the living and paradise, watching Henry as he continues life into adulthood as Florence eventually feels the pull of the light and leaves him to roam the world alone.
The main character in our book is Henry Drummond. Henry is seen as the ‘weird child’ after his parents were murdered. However, he grew up with a determination to put his parent’s killers behind bars and will do what he can to make this happen using his journalist career to make the police re-open the case.
I found The Fish that climbed a Tree to be a very good read with lovable characters and a fairly satisfying outcome (although I do find myself with one unanswered question).
I like the layout of the book where we can follow Henry as he grows up and also follow his mum and dad as they watch on.
I found myself caring about the good characters, as well as intensely disliking the bad. It will make you laugh and will certainly make you cry. There are some references to violence which can be slightly disturbing but with how the story is written the author doesn’t go into too much detail, making it easy to read and not leave you feeling uncomfortable.
I loved all the historical and literary characters that pop-up throughout and the look of the afterlife isn’t too bad either. This is essentially a good vs evil book with elements of fantasy, sci-fi and even a ghost story.
The Fish That Climbed the Tree Is an interesting book and not one I have really come across before, it is certainly unique and I will remember it for a long time to come.
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Reverend Ulysses is a man who sees nothing but good in everyone, unfortunately, this is what leads to his premature death.
Ulysses and Florence Drummond are brutally murdered at their vicarage in London on their son Henry’s tenth birthday. The pair refuse to cross over into the light as they need to make sure Henry is okay and cared for. Their killers are never charged.
Determined to keep a promise he made to his son Henry the day he was born, Ulysses finds himself in a world between the living and paradise, watching Henry as he continues life into adulthood as Florence eventually feels the pull of the light and leaves him to roam the world alone.
The main character in our book is Henry Drummond. Henry is seen as the ‘weird child’ after his parents were murdered. However, he grew up with a determination to put his parent’s killers behind bars and will do what he can to make this happen using his journalist career to make the police re-open the case.
I found The Fish that climbed a Tree to be a very good read with lovable characters and a fairly satisfying outcome (although I do find myself with one unanswered question).
I like the layout of the book where we can follow Henry as he grows up and also follow his mum and dad as they watch on.
I found myself caring about the good characters, as well as intensely disliking the bad. It will make you laugh and will certainly make you cry. There are some references to violence which can be slightly disturbing but with how the story is written the author doesn’t go into too much detail, making it easy to read and not leave you feeling uncomfortable.
I loved all the historical and literary characters that pop-up throughout and the look of the afterlife isn’t too bad either. This is essentially a good vs evil book with elements of fantasy, sci-fi and even a ghost story.
The Fish That Climbed the Tree Is an interesting book and not one I have really come across before, it is certainly unique and I will remember it for a long time to come.
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June 11, 2023
The Fish That Climbed a Tree by Kevin Ansbro had me from the first page.
This beauty is set in modern-day London and the character everyone will fall in love with is young Henry. He is prone to being bullied, he loves writing, science fiction, a bit nerdy and of course he is an intelligent, sensitive lad – a boy any of us would warm to. A son we all would be proud of.
Speaking of which, Henry’s Mum and Dad are brutally murdered early in this story, leaving the poor boy all alone, resulting in him being handed over to be raised by his Grandparents.
We follow Henry’s life. He has jobs, eventually a girlfriend, a good friend, a landlord, and a narcissistic friend. Importantly, he has a nagging presence of his parents unsolved murder in his mind. Concurrently, Henry’s dead parents proceed to next phase of the after-life which is a mind-bending, fantastical, wonderful world of bliss and joy. Trouble is, his dead parents can see what is happening to Henry, and it is not all rivers of chocolate – there is trouble afoot.
Henry is a character anyone and everyone would love, I know I did. There are other nice characters in this story giving this one a nice warm, cosy feeling. However, the author has created three of the nastiest characters anyone could come across. Two of them are UBER-violent, in the truest sense of the word. Even if they were not violent, they would be despicable. The third – is the most selfish bastard I have ever come across. It is the latter, I genuinely wanted to throttle!!
Magical realism is a genre to which I am new to, so I am still trying to understand what it is all about. In this story, the magical part is warm, interesting, funny, and somehow, very believable. I liked it. The realism element – describes very ordinary life, but it also involves acts of horrible violence, gritty characters, abject depravity, and suspense.
The author threw my emotions all over the shop here. I laughed, I was revolted, I was heart-warmed and frightened and in a state of wonder at times. You know, I cannot recall giving Kevin permission to treat me in such a way! How dare he!!!
I have been thinking (yes, I know) and if this genre isn't executed with skill – it could end up being a disaster. This must be a risky genre to work in as an author, as a slight miss-step could result in the whole thing becoming a farce. It could collapse like a pack of cards. I think the key is, to make the magical bit believable, relatable. It was for me.
For an author, balancing “magical” and “realism” would be a high-wire act without a safety net, for sure.
Needless to say – our author here, carried this off with aplomb.
I loved it.
5-Stars
This beauty is set in modern-day London and the character everyone will fall in love with is young Henry. He is prone to being bullied, he loves writing, science fiction, a bit nerdy and of course he is an intelligent, sensitive lad – a boy any of us would warm to. A son we all would be proud of.
Speaking of which, Henry’s Mum and Dad are brutally murdered early in this story, leaving the poor boy all alone, resulting in him being handed over to be raised by his Grandparents.
We follow Henry’s life. He has jobs, eventually a girlfriend, a good friend, a landlord, and a narcissistic friend. Importantly, he has a nagging presence of his parents unsolved murder in his mind. Concurrently, Henry’s dead parents proceed to next phase of the after-life which is a mind-bending, fantastical, wonderful world of bliss and joy. Trouble is, his dead parents can see what is happening to Henry, and it is not all rivers of chocolate – there is trouble afoot.
Henry is a character anyone and everyone would love, I know I did. There are other nice characters in this story giving this one a nice warm, cosy feeling. However, the author has created three of the nastiest characters anyone could come across. Two of them are UBER-violent, in the truest sense of the word. Even if they were not violent, they would be despicable. The third – is the most selfish bastard I have ever come across. It is the latter, I genuinely wanted to throttle!!
Magical realism is a genre to which I am new to, so I am still trying to understand what it is all about. In this story, the magical part is warm, interesting, funny, and somehow, very believable. I liked it. The realism element – describes very ordinary life, but it also involves acts of horrible violence, gritty characters, abject depravity, and suspense.
The author threw my emotions all over the shop here. I laughed, I was revolted, I was heart-warmed and frightened and in a state of wonder at times. You know, I cannot recall giving Kevin permission to treat me in such a way! How dare he!!!
I have been thinking (yes, I know) and if this genre isn't executed with skill – it could end up being a disaster. This must be a risky genre to work in as an author, as a slight miss-step could result in the whole thing becoming a farce. It could collapse like a pack of cards. I think the key is, to make the magical bit believable, relatable. It was for me.
For an author, balancing “magical” and “realism” would be a high-wire act without a safety net, for sure.
Needless to say – our author here, carried this off with aplomb.
I loved it.
5-Stars
February 11, 2024
“Ulysses found himself hopelessly adrift within the confines of a yew-hedge maze, the leaf tips of which were lit by a communion-wafer moon that rested on the black tongue of night.”
Uniquely innovative, both in storytelling and narrative!!
This is a story about Henry Drummond, whose parents’ atrocious murder invites a confrontation with Yuri, an irredeemably black-hearted villain.
From the afterlife, Henry and Yuri’s parents can only watch on helplessly at the sheer evil that this brute has in store. And what happens around the end of the story is nothing short of revolutionary!
Rich in aphorisms, and upholding the principles of magical realism, this beguiling work of art allows one to experience an unrivalled mingling of our real world and the afterlife. Ansbro expertly employs so many literary tools that the reader can only look on with deep admiration.
The author presents two specific villains whose remorseless savagery immediately identifies them as forces to be reckoned with. In addition, Ansbro sends the reader into fits of laughter as he deflates the pomposity of one privileged numbskull named Sebastian. Also worth mentioning is how the author spins out humour everywhere in such a way that the chilling scenes are left wholly undisturbed.
If one is to try Ansbro’s storytelling, one must keep in mind that he leaves no stone unturned for his chosen concepts. Hence, one can expect a deeply giddying performance where themes of virtue and violence, mirth and romance have been honoured.
So, take a deep breath and prepare your emotions for all four of these elements. You are about to witness a literary powerhouse like no other!!
Uniquely innovative, both in storytelling and narrative!!
This is a story about Henry Drummond, whose parents’ atrocious murder invites a confrontation with Yuri, an irredeemably black-hearted villain.
From the afterlife, Henry and Yuri’s parents can only watch on helplessly at the sheer evil that this brute has in store. And what happens around the end of the story is nothing short of revolutionary!
Rich in aphorisms, and upholding the principles of magical realism, this beguiling work of art allows one to experience an unrivalled mingling of our real world and the afterlife. Ansbro expertly employs so many literary tools that the reader can only look on with deep admiration.
The author presents two specific villains whose remorseless savagery immediately identifies them as forces to be reckoned with. In addition, Ansbro sends the reader into fits of laughter as he deflates the pomposity of one privileged numbskull named Sebastian. Also worth mentioning is how the author spins out humour everywhere in such a way that the chilling scenes are left wholly undisturbed.
If one is to try Ansbro’s storytelling, one must keep in mind that he leaves no stone unturned for his chosen concepts. Hence, one can expect a deeply giddying performance where themes of virtue and violence, mirth and romance have been honoured.
So, take a deep breath and prepare your emotions for all four of these elements. You are about to witness a literary powerhouse like no other!!
September 17, 2022
How could you not read a book with a title like this? I had no idea what to expect although, having read another book by this author, I guessed I was in for something strange and unusual. I was right.
The story tells of the life of Henry Drummond whose parents are murdered when he is ten years old. He is a smart boy but described as overweight and unathletic, the kind of boy who will be bullied at school and he is. However he finds his place in the world, working for a newspaper, writing a novel and making some good friends. He even finds a beautiful girlfriend in Amber. Unfortunately he is also determined to search out his parents' killers and this leads to serious consequences.
Meanwhile Henry's parents are watching him from the afterlife, unable to prevent what is unfolding. These chapters are just wonderful and the author does not hold back in his imaginary scenarios. One example is an Elvis Presley concert with Elvis at the peak of his career and the biggest audience you could ever imagine. It was perfect.
The book is a bit brutal in parts but there are plenty of good moments too. There are also many very funny moments and there is payback which I always enjoy. The final scene between Henry and Sebastian took a long time coming but was sweeter for that. I enjoyed it all very much and will be reading more of this author's books. Highly recommended if you enjoy magical realism - those afterlife scenes are brilliant!
The story tells of the life of Henry Drummond whose parents are murdered when he is ten years old. He is a smart boy but described as overweight and unathletic, the kind of boy who will be bullied at school and he is. However he finds his place in the world, working for a newspaper, writing a novel and making some good friends. He even finds a beautiful girlfriend in Amber. Unfortunately he is also determined to search out his parents' killers and this leads to serious consequences.
Meanwhile Henry's parents are watching him from the afterlife, unable to prevent what is unfolding. These chapters are just wonderful and the author does not hold back in his imaginary scenarios. One example is an Elvis Presley concert with Elvis at the peak of his career and the biggest audience you could ever imagine. It was perfect.
The book is a bit brutal in parts but there are plenty of good moments too. There are also many very funny moments and there is payback which I always enjoy. The final scene between Henry and Sebastian took a long time coming but was sweeter for that. I enjoyed it all very much and will be reading more of this author's books. Highly recommended if you enjoy magical realism - those afterlife scenes are brilliant!
January 17, 2020
I loved Kevin Ansbro's previous books, so looked forward to this masterpiece; his third. I must apologise for the belated review though.
Where do I start to describe my feelings on this one? I know it might be over used by many readers but the first overall word that comes to mind is 'magical' in every sense of the word. The book is a marvellous mixture of fantasy and reality which makes it different in the best sense of the word.Kevin Ansbro has a unique gift and his books engender many inner sensations while I am reading them. He is funny at the laugh out loud level, yet he brought me to tears on more than one occasion when dealing with Henry, his main character. How I loved Henry and how I hurt for him while admiring his inner beauty. All the characters in the book are wonderfully drawn and are 'real' I came to know them well because of this. As always with this author's books his writing skills are perfectly crafted. He has a natural gift and it shines through each of his books and they just keep getting better. His range and quality of style is consistently superb. This book aroused so many emotions in me as I continued on throughout the book. I could not hazard a guess at all as to how it would end. The author specializes in twists though so I guessed I couldn't guss! Every book this author has written is different and fresh yet each of them contain the same high standard of magical quality. His writing skill are just wonderful. As some other reader has already said - 'Bravo Mr Ansbro'. I heartily endorse those words. Thank you Mr Ansbro for the privilege and pleasure of reading your brilliant book.
Where do I start to describe my feelings on this one? I know it might be over used by many readers but the first overall word that comes to mind is 'magical' in every sense of the word. The book is a marvellous mixture of fantasy and reality which makes it different in the best sense of the word.Kevin Ansbro has a unique gift and his books engender many inner sensations while I am reading them. He is funny at the laugh out loud level, yet he brought me to tears on more than one occasion when dealing with Henry, his main character. How I loved Henry and how I hurt for him while admiring his inner beauty. All the characters in the book are wonderfully drawn and are 'real' I came to know them well because of this. As always with this author's books his writing skills are perfectly crafted. He has a natural gift and it shines through each of his books and they just keep getting better. His range and quality of style is consistently superb. This book aroused so many emotions in me as I continued on throughout the book. I could not hazard a guess at all as to how it would end. The author specializes in twists though so I guessed I couldn't guss! Every book this author has written is different and fresh yet each of them contain the same high standard of magical quality. His writing skill are just wonderful. As some other reader has already said - 'Bravo Mr Ansbro'. I heartily endorse those words. Thank you Mr Ansbro for the privilege and pleasure of reading your brilliant book.
May 15, 2022
I have a new literary best friend.
Kevin Ansbro’s 2015 novel Kinnara was recommended to me by a friend, and I was intrigued. I liked the book very much but was unsure exactly how to describe it, as several other reviewers before me had stated, it evaded easy categorization as it sidestepped and pirouetted around and amidst various genres.
Ansbro’s 2018 novel sounded like it was a book written for me – with elements of crime, horror, paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, magical realism – and all told with the writer’s inimitable style and charm.
While some themes connect the two books, what stands out the most is Ansbro himself, like a chatty and approachable Vonnegut, the writer’s personality shines through, and like Marlow on Conrad’s Thames, it is Ansbro’s voice in the darkness that guides this very entertaining novel.
At once funny, sad, shocking, outrageous, and magical, The Fish That Climbed a Tree is the story about many things and filled with colorful characters. We meet disturbingly nefarious villains, unlikeable rogues and amiable players in this tragi-comic tale that sits astride the line between this world and an afterlife.
Endearing protagonist Henry’s parents stick around in the afterlife, resolved to watch over him always. As Henry’s life goes on without them, he never forgets the injustice surrounding their murder. We live in a small world and the events and characters following the crime come back to haunt Henry and we get to join this wild ride, narrated all the while by Ansbro’s gifted writing and storytelling ability.
The magical realism most reminded me of Murakami and I thought about After Dark, the Japanese writer’s 2004 novel. Ansbro’s voice, though, is more congenial as it narrates this sometimes-surreal dark comedy.
There is a strong crime presence in this story and Ansbro describes several violent scenes and alludes to others, yet his delivery of the violence is understated, like how Pratchett would depict the shadows and penumbra of an ugly scene so that the reader knows what is happening without euphemism but also without an overly gory or appalling memory.
Ansbro lists Dickens as an influence and I can see this, especially in the sobriquets assigned the various characters. This wink and nod delivery makes me consider this in terms of caricature, and if I directed this as a film, I would understate realism and highlight instead the fantastic elements, producing this as an animated feature similar in style to the 2009 Henry Selick film inspired by Neil Gaiman’s Coraline.
Very, very good and I’m off to find my next Ansbro book.
Kevin Ansbro’s 2015 novel Kinnara was recommended to me by a friend, and I was intrigued. I liked the book very much but was unsure exactly how to describe it, as several other reviewers before me had stated, it evaded easy categorization as it sidestepped and pirouetted around and amidst various genres.
Ansbro’s 2018 novel sounded like it was a book written for me – with elements of crime, horror, paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, magical realism – and all told with the writer’s inimitable style and charm.
While some themes connect the two books, what stands out the most is Ansbro himself, like a chatty and approachable Vonnegut, the writer’s personality shines through, and like Marlow on Conrad’s Thames, it is Ansbro’s voice in the darkness that guides this very entertaining novel.
At once funny, sad, shocking, outrageous, and magical, The Fish That Climbed a Tree is the story about many things and filled with colorful characters. We meet disturbingly nefarious villains, unlikeable rogues and amiable players in this tragi-comic tale that sits astride the line between this world and an afterlife.
Endearing protagonist Henry’s parents stick around in the afterlife, resolved to watch over him always. As Henry’s life goes on without them, he never forgets the injustice surrounding their murder. We live in a small world and the events and characters following the crime come back to haunt Henry and we get to join this wild ride, narrated all the while by Ansbro’s gifted writing and storytelling ability.
The magical realism most reminded me of Murakami and I thought about After Dark, the Japanese writer’s 2004 novel. Ansbro’s voice, though, is more congenial as it narrates this sometimes-surreal dark comedy.
There is a strong crime presence in this story and Ansbro describes several violent scenes and alludes to others, yet his delivery of the violence is understated, like how Pratchett would depict the shadows and penumbra of an ugly scene so that the reader knows what is happening without euphemism but also without an overly gory or appalling memory.
Ansbro lists Dickens as an influence and I can see this, especially in the sobriquets assigned the various characters. This wink and nod delivery makes me consider this in terms of caricature, and if I directed this as a film, I would understate realism and highlight instead the fantastic elements, producing this as an animated feature similar in style to the 2009 Henry Selick film inspired by Neil Gaiman’s Coraline.
Very, very good and I’m off to find my next Ansbro book.
July 11, 2020
The Fish That Climbed a Tree left me breathless and aghast. It is a whimsical combination of mystery, violence, romance and comedy. It has everything and manages being charming too. I fell in love with the characters which is a particular gift of this talented writer. They seem so grounded in reality. Even the villains have wonderful, tragic back stories, which while not making me empathize with them does make them believable.
Although there is extreme, ultra violence that made me cringe right from the start with the brutal death of the protagonist, it never seems gratuitous. We watch as Henry Drummond is executed by a monster while the spirit of his father watches in horror.
Lovely people encounter evil everyday and Henry Drummond 's father, Ulysses and mother, Florence are handsome and kind and don't deserve their savage meeting with two of the most malevolent creatures ever created in fiction. The rapist Yuri and his murderer pal are gleefully running rampant through London when they decide to visit the Drummonds. Henry at age 10 is left an orphan. He goes to live with his grandparents who love him and eventually send him away to school. His time at school is another area that is very well done. Oh, the bullies of bookish children like Henry, when will children ever stop this maddening cycle?
Skip forward to Henry as an adult. There is, of course, a beautiful girl who has a considerable amount of her own problems with violent men. They meet, chaos ensues. I have to say the ending is neat and complete, with a marvelous twist that I didn't see coming.
Although there is extreme, ultra violence that made me cringe right from the start with the brutal death of the protagonist, it never seems gratuitous. We watch as Henry Drummond is executed by a monster while the spirit of his father watches in horror.
Lovely people encounter evil everyday and Henry Drummond 's father, Ulysses and mother, Florence are handsome and kind and don't deserve their savage meeting with two of the most malevolent creatures ever created in fiction. The rapist Yuri and his murderer pal are gleefully running rampant through London when they decide to visit the Drummonds. Henry at age 10 is left an orphan. He goes to live with his grandparents who love him and eventually send him away to school. His time at school is another area that is very well done. Oh, the bullies of bookish children like Henry, when will children ever stop this maddening cycle?
Skip forward to Henry as an adult. There is, of course, a beautiful girl who has a considerable amount of her own problems with violent men. They meet, chaos ensues. I have to say the ending is neat and complete, with a marvelous twist that I didn't see coming.
June 18, 2019
For the last three days, I was enthralled and mesmerized by The Fish That Climbed A Tree, an imaginative and compelling new novel by Kevin Ansbro. I read it every chance I had in between work and sleep. I was swept up in the lives of his characters (both dead and alive) and carried along by the frenetic energy of the plot.
One of the first things I noticed is the literary eye paid to crafting the details that build the structure of this story. You’ve got to love a story that opens with a dedication that is meant ‘For anyone with a library in their head and love in their hearts.’ The epigraph drawn from Dylan Thomas and William Shakespeare hints at the tale to follow; their appropriateness becomes self-evident when the last page is turned. Chapters have delicious titles that are witty allusions to or parodies of known literature or movies (‘Perchance to Dream’, ‘The Four Horsemen of the Acropolis’, ’When Henry Met Sally’, ‘An Englishman, an Irishman, an Indian and a Jew Go into a Bar’ etc.). The prologue that opens with a chilling prophecy in the netherworld is a magnetic introduction to the dark story that will unfold.
The story follows the fate of the protagonist, Henry Drummond, from his birth to young adulthood. On his tenth birthday, Henry, a chubby ‘human incarnation of Paddington Bear’ witnessed the brutal murder of his father, the Reverend Ulysses Drummond and his mother (Florence) by an Ukrainian lust-filled gangster (Yuri Voloshyn) and an African blood-thirsty psychopath (Pascal Makuza). It is easy to root for Henry who is friendless, the object of merciless bullying in boarding school, for whom comfort means munching on cheese triangles. But Henry is also a child who reads, recites poetry, and has a talent for writing. My kind of boy! As an adult, he continues to be a bumbling, unassuming, and socially awkward individual. He carries the grief of his parents’ death in his heart and pledges to bring their murderers to justice.
A varied cast of characters lends this novel its lively pace and action. Apart from Henry, there is his beautiful and spunky girl-friend (Amber) whom Yuri is bent on violating. There is the loafer schoolmate (Sebastian), the antithesis of Henry in more ways than one (a thorough scumbag and word muddler). Evil is personified in the two villains previously mentioned. Their appetite for violence is a bottomless pit, enough to make me howl in fear as much as their victims. Guardian angel characters such as Mr Beardsley (Amber’s kindly neighbor and ex-cop) and Fergus O’ Connor/Munro (Henry’s landlord and eminent sci-fi writer) watch out for Henry and Amber much to my relief. In the afterlife, too, are archangels like Voltaire who show the way.
As in his previous book, ‘The Angel In My Well,’ Ansbro created an other-worldly universe. The dead continue to live on and play a part in shaping the destiny of the living. Ulysses Drummond promised his son at birth that he would always be there for him but it will come at great cost to himself. Like Odysseus/ Ulysses in Homer's 'The Odyssey', Ulysses Drummonds is to spend ten years before he finds his way ‘home’ to be reunited with his wife. At the half way point of this novel, one begins to see how the title of this novel is derived. The weight of evil is counterbalanced by an optimism that transcends the present. There is a second chance at life. I, for one, love the idea of afternoon tea in Paradise. Earl grey tea and lemon drizzle cake, anyone?
Ansbro writes a prose style that has strong visual appeal. There are countless lovely turns of phrases that are delightful. The text painting is extremely vivid. Here are a couple of examples: ‘The oak trees had shed their leaves, revealing the inky thumbprints of crows’ nests in the crackle glaze of dark branches.’ and ‘Mr O’ Connor’s friends were already barnacled to their favourite table like two old clams.’
Read The Fish That Climbed A Tree. It is an intelligent, creative, and thoughtfully-conceived novel that infuses the real world with a touch of magical realism. Great read!
One of the first things I noticed is the literary eye paid to crafting the details that build the structure of this story. You’ve got to love a story that opens with a dedication that is meant ‘For anyone with a library in their head and love in their hearts.’ The epigraph drawn from Dylan Thomas and William Shakespeare hints at the tale to follow; their appropriateness becomes self-evident when the last page is turned. Chapters have delicious titles that are witty allusions to or parodies of known literature or movies (‘Perchance to Dream’, ‘The Four Horsemen of the Acropolis’, ’When Henry Met Sally’, ‘An Englishman, an Irishman, an Indian and a Jew Go into a Bar’ etc.). The prologue that opens with a chilling prophecy in the netherworld is a magnetic introduction to the dark story that will unfold.
The story follows the fate of the protagonist, Henry Drummond, from his birth to young adulthood. On his tenth birthday, Henry, a chubby ‘human incarnation of Paddington Bear’ witnessed the brutal murder of his father, the Reverend Ulysses Drummond and his mother (Florence) by an Ukrainian lust-filled gangster (Yuri Voloshyn) and an African blood-thirsty psychopath (Pascal Makuza). It is easy to root for Henry who is friendless, the object of merciless bullying in boarding school, for whom comfort means munching on cheese triangles. But Henry is also a child who reads, recites poetry, and has a talent for writing. My kind of boy! As an adult, he continues to be a bumbling, unassuming, and socially awkward individual. He carries the grief of his parents’ death in his heart and pledges to bring their murderers to justice.
A varied cast of characters lends this novel its lively pace and action. Apart from Henry, there is his beautiful and spunky girl-friend (Amber) whom Yuri is bent on violating. There is the loafer schoolmate (Sebastian), the antithesis of Henry in more ways than one (a thorough scumbag and word muddler). Evil is personified in the two villains previously mentioned. Their appetite for violence is a bottomless pit, enough to make me howl in fear as much as their victims. Guardian angel characters such as Mr Beardsley (Amber’s kindly neighbor and ex-cop) and Fergus O’ Connor/Munro (Henry’s landlord and eminent sci-fi writer) watch out for Henry and Amber much to my relief. In the afterlife, too, are archangels like Voltaire who show the way.
As in his previous book, ‘The Angel In My Well,’ Ansbro created an other-worldly universe. The dead continue to live on and play a part in shaping the destiny of the living. Ulysses Drummond promised his son at birth that he would always be there for him but it will come at great cost to himself. Like Odysseus/ Ulysses in Homer's 'The Odyssey', Ulysses Drummonds is to spend ten years before he finds his way ‘home’ to be reunited with his wife. At the half way point of this novel, one begins to see how the title of this novel is derived. The weight of evil is counterbalanced by an optimism that transcends the present. There is a second chance at life. I, for one, love the idea of afternoon tea in Paradise. Earl grey tea and lemon drizzle cake, anyone?
Ansbro writes a prose style that has strong visual appeal. There are countless lovely turns of phrases that are delightful. The text painting is extremely vivid. Here are a couple of examples: ‘The oak trees had shed their leaves, revealing the inky thumbprints of crows’ nests in the crackle glaze of dark branches.’ and ‘Mr O’ Connor’s friends were already barnacled to their favourite table like two old clams.’
Read The Fish That Climbed A Tree. It is an intelligent, creative, and thoughtfully-conceived novel that infuses the real world with a touch of magical realism. Great read!
September 2, 2019
I have had nothing on my mind but this book since I finished it last week. I've waited to write a review until now because I wanted to give the book all that it deserved. I loved this book. Five gigantic *****! As I see it, it is a book about good at the extreme and bad at its worst.
First the good. The Reverend Ulysses Drummond had been appointed vicar of St Cuthbert's Chuch in the London borough of Hackney. He and his wife, Florence lived quietly and only wanted to help everyone.
Henry Drummond is Ulysses' and Florence's 10-year-old son. On Henry's 10th birthday, his Mother and Father are brutally murdered in the vicarage while Henry was at school. Henry is a most peculiar child in that he had an old-fashioned air about him. He was an avid reader and was the butt of the other children's bullying. He was basically friendless while going through school.
Now the bad. Pascal Makuza had escaped Rwanda and arrived in London after a very dangerous trip. The Hutu death squad that he had been forced to join had sliced off his upper lip and fed it to a dog. Therefore, his appearance was somewhat that of a skeleton.
He was mentored by Yuri Voloshyn a Ukrainian who remains unpunished for his many crimes, including rape and murder in Odessa. Henry vowed to his only friend, Bertie, to hunt the men down and see that they are punished for the murder of his mother and father.
In the meantime, Ulysses and his wife are somewhere between earth and paradise. Now being raised as a Catholic, I imagined this is what purgatory would be like. Ulysses and Florence were having an argument. Florence wanted to go toward the light and enjoy paradise and Ulysses wanted to stay where he was so that he can watch over his son Henry. Florence stayed a while but then decided she would follow the light and go on to paradise hoping that Ulysses would soon follow.
There are other characters in this book, developed beautifully by Kevin. Much happens to Henry and I absolutely could not put it down. You have good, evil, love, and humor.
Who the characters are? Does good overpower bad are all questions that I will leave unanswered. All that I can say is READ. THIS. BOOK. You will not be disappointed.
I have d/l the other two books authored by my good friend on Goodreads, Kevin Ansbro, and intend to read them both in the near future. Kevin, thank you for writing this wonderful book.
Anyone can see more of my reviews at www.travelreadlove.blog
First the good. The Reverend Ulysses Drummond had been appointed vicar of St Cuthbert's Chuch in the London borough of Hackney. He and his wife, Florence lived quietly and only wanted to help everyone.
Henry Drummond is Ulysses' and Florence's 10-year-old son. On Henry's 10th birthday, his Mother and Father are brutally murdered in the vicarage while Henry was at school. Henry is a most peculiar child in that he had an old-fashioned air about him. He was an avid reader and was the butt of the other children's bullying. He was basically friendless while going through school.
Now the bad. Pascal Makuza had escaped Rwanda and arrived in London after a very dangerous trip. The Hutu death squad that he had been forced to join had sliced off his upper lip and fed it to a dog. Therefore, his appearance was somewhat that of a skeleton.
He was mentored by Yuri Voloshyn a Ukrainian who remains unpunished for his many crimes, including rape and murder in Odessa. Henry vowed to his only friend, Bertie, to hunt the men down and see that they are punished for the murder of his mother and father.
In the meantime, Ulysses and his wife are somewhere between earth and paradise. Now being raised as a Catholic, I imagined this is what purgatory would be like. Ulysses and Florence were having an argument. Florence wanted to go toward the light and enjoy paradise and Ulysses wanted to stay where he was so that he can watch over his son Henry. Florence stayed a while but then decided she would follow the light and go on to paradise hoping that Ulysses would soon follow.
There are other characters in this book, developed beautifully by Kevin. Much happens to Henry and I absolutely could not put it down. You have good, evil, love, and humor.
Who the characters are? Does good overpower bad are all questions that I will leave unanswered. All that I can say is READ. THIS. BOOK. You will not be disappointed.
I have d/l the other two books authored by my good friend on Goodreads, Kevin Ansbro, and intend to read them both in the near future. Kevin, thank you for writing this wonderful book.
Anyone can see more of my reviews at www.travelreadlove.blog
September 14, 2019
What a remarkably absorbing read this has been! No matter what genre one reads, I have to say that this author definitely knows how to use words. The story encapsulates good and evil so masterfully through a diverse range of delightful, interesting, unique, and purely evil characters. It is true that the evil characters in this book are truly evil, yet for a reader like myself, who mostly steers away from stories with explicit violence, the author’s storytelling skills made a rough and excruciatingly scary ride manageable — Ansbro’s clever wit which was peppered throughout the story, meant that even the most horrid of circumstances were read with a mixture of trepidation coupled with gentle reassurance. The wit embellished throughout made the unbearable bearable.
I won’t go into the details of the plot because the story is like an ever-growing “tree” that keeps thriving; springing new unexpected subplots as it branches out and touches unknown skies — skies which come in the form of an afterlife that the author conjures up so eloquently, I began to believe that it truly existed.
As a reader, I felt the same way as I felt after reading one of my favourite classic reads, Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. This story, too, was beautiful and ugly at the same time. Kevin Ansbro's work is so very unique, and his stories are one of a kind and incomparable, yet the feelings that this book invoked/evoked left me feeling the same way as I do after reading many of the great literary masterpieces.
The main characters are Ulysses and Henry, and many more interesting characters are introduced throughout the story. Characters such as Sebastian delighted and angered me at the same time. The landlord, Mr O’Connor, left me feeling envious that I wasn’t invited to a cosy wine-filled party so I, too, can brush shoulders with all his arty friends. The many literary references worked beautifully and emphasised how well-read the author is which shines through in his writing; it is no wonder he has won over many readers with his eclectic, clever, eloquent, and imaginative storytelling. I wouldn’t be surprised if the author’s first words as a newborn contained more than five syllables, or if he began to quote Shakespeare or Homer.
I also enjoyed reading about the afterlife; a world the author created that leaves the reader wondering about the meaning of life, and about religion and spirituality from different perspectives.
I have to also comment about the ending. I was completely stupefied by the twists and turns while reading each chapter, but the ending was something else; the turn of events were unprecedented. I didn’t see it coming at all.
The many descriptions, metaphors, similes, and clever use of foreshadowing, brought many scenes to life, and added to the suspense and to the artistic astuteness of this book.
I also have to point out that the artwork on the cover is also the author’s work, and matches the creative title so marvellously, so this book shines with Ansbro’s artistic brilliance from start to finish. The Fish That Climbed a Tree is a riveting, poignant, spine-tingling, fascinating and thought-provoking read, which left me feeling like I was on a wild, creative, rollercoaster ride full of literary offerings at every sharp corner, and I was so sad to see it finally end. A must-read!
I won’t go into the details of the plot because the story is like an ever-growing “tree” that keeps thriving; springing new unexpected subplots as it branches out and touches unknown skies — skies which come in the form of an afterlife that the author conjures up so eloquently, I began to believe that it truly existed.
As a reader, I felt the same way as I felt after reading one of my favourite classic reads, Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. This story, too, was beautiful and ugly at the same time. Kevin Ansbro's work is so very unique, and his stories are one of a kind and incomparable, yet the feelings that this book invoked/evoked left me feeling the same way as I do after reading many of the great literary masterpieces.
The main characters are Ulysses and Henry, and many more interesting characters are introduced throughout the story. Characters such as Sebastian delighted and angered me at the same time. The landlord, Mr O’Connor, left me feeling envious that I wasn’t invited to a cosy wine-filled party so I, too, can brush shoulders with all his arty friends. The many literary references worked beautifully and emphasised how well-read the author is which shines through in his writing; it is no wonder he has won over many readers with his eclectic, clever, eloquent, and imaginative storytelling. I wouldn’t be surprised if the author’s first words as a newborn contained more than five syllables, or if he began to quote Shakespeare or Homer.
I also enjoyed reading about the afterlife; a world the author created that leaves the reader wondering about the meaning of life, and about religion and spirituality from different perspectives.
I have to also comment about the ending. I was completely stupefied by the twists and turns while reading each chapter, but the ending was something else; the turn of events were unprecedented. I didn’t see it coming at all.
The many descriptions, metaphors, similes, and clever use of foreshadowing, brought many scenes to life, and added to the suspense and to the artistic astuteness of this book.
I also have to point out that the artwork on the cover is also the author’s work, and matches the creative title so marvellously, so this book shines with Ansbro’s artistic brilliance from start to finish. The Fish That Climbed a Tree is a riveting, poignant, spine-tingling, fascinating and thought-provoking read, which left me feeling like I was on a wild, creative, rollercoaster ride full of literary offerings at every sharp corner, and I was so sad to see it finally end. A must-read!
February 27, 2021
Voice, voice, voice—that is how this book lives and works, and I found myself in “writer’s head” marveling at what author Kevin Ansbro was doing and watching it the way you watch a colleague who inspires you—even though I write in a completely different style and am not generally a comic book fan (more on that in a moment).
How to explain this original voice.
The omniscient narrator’s voice is courtly, sometimes florid (with an abundance of adjectives, adverbs*, similes, and verbs to describe talking that have nothing to do with making sound). It’s an almost jovial tone, treating all of the characters—good guys and bad—exactly the same as it relates the most violent action, tragedy, and human degradation as if it is unspooling a fable. I cannot overstress how hard this is to pull off. If a writer has even a drop of disdain or, worse, contempt, for a character, the whole story will fall apart and become hateful. And likewise, if the narrator is removed enough to narrate from this kind of distance, a reader will likely disconnect and not care about any of the characters. None of that happens.
I cared about the characters; I accepted the violence but without feeling it, which was a blessing; and I was always eager to find out what happened next. I can only think it was because the writing had captivated me into a transcendent omniscient perspective where although you care, you do not feel pain. There was a time in junior high school when I read a friend’s entire collection of comic books, and the “slam-bam” frames of action suck you in; maybe that’s the key to this working: each chapter has a title which works like a caption on a comic frame, and somehow no matter how over-the-top violent or crazy the action gets, you just accept it within this style and frame.
Writing with this kind of voice can be a high-wire act with no net, but apparently Kevin Ansbro is so confident that there is no sense of danger for a reader (moi) who sees the mechanics of this. Wow.
This is a mythical, magical, spiritual tale full of good guys, bad guys, and supernatural wanderers told with a comic-book flair**, but it is also a contemporary story told with charm and sometimes laugh-out-loud, rip-roaring humor. Again, that marriage of things that don’t easily merge—like the notion of a fish climbing a tree! In lesser hands, this would be a mess. This is not a mess! This is a truly original book—a story that works.
___________
*I cannot resist sharing a quotation from the book that made me laugh out loud from the cleverness of the inside joke/poke at the writing itself. A young writer hero has shown his novel to an agent who responds:
If you read the book, seeing the mechanics, this is like a comic book character suddenly stepping out of a frame and becoming a three-dimensional being who winks at you, before resuming his two-dimensional framed role. I loved it!
**The cover art, also by Kevin Ansbro, is a better representation of the style and feeling of this book than any review could convey.
How to explain this original voice.
The omniscient narrator’s voice is courtly, sometimes florid (with an abundance of adjectives, adverbs*, similes, and verbs to describe talking that have nothing to do with making sound). It’s an almost jovial tone, treating all of the characters—good guys and bad—exactly the same as it relates the most violent action, tragedy, and human degradation as if it is unspooling a fable. I cannot overstress how hard this is to pull off. If a writer has even a drop of disdain or, worse, contempt, for a character, the whole story will fall apart and become hateful. And likewise, if the narrator is removed enough to narrate from this kind of distance, a reader will likely disconnect and not care about any of the characters. None of that happens.
I cared about the characters; I accepted the violence but without feeling it, which was a blessing; and I was always eager to find out what happened next. I can only think it was because the writing had captivated me into a transcendent omniscient perspective where although you care, you do not feel pain. There was a time in junior high school when I read a friend’s entire collection of comic books, and the “slam-bam” frames of action suck you in; maybe that’s the key to this working: each chapter has a title which works like a caption on a comic frame, and somehow no matter how over-the-top violent or crazy the action gets, you just accept it within this style and frame.
Writing with this kind of voice can be a high-wire act with no net, but apparently Kevin Ansbro is so confident that there is no sense of danger for a reader (moi) who sees the mechanics of this. Wow.
This is a mythical, magical, spiritual tale full of good guys, bad guys, and supernatural wanderers told with a comic-book flair**, but it is also a contemporary story told with charm and sometimes laugh-out-loud, rip-roaring humor. Again, that marriage of things that don’t easily merge—like the notion of a fish climbing a tree! In lesser hands, this would be a mess. This is not a mess! This is a truly original book—a story that works.
___________
*I cannot resist sharing a quotation from the book that made me laugh out loud from the cleverness of the inside joke/poke at the writing itself. A young writer hero has shown his novel to an agent who responds:
“It’s a veritable mélange of all that is great in a story. It’s allegorical and it’s pulse-pounding. The characters are chock-a-block with hidden depths and it’s free of the scourge of unnecessary adverbs.” (150)
If you read the book, seeing the mechanics, this is like a comic book character suddenly stepping out of a frame and becoming a three-dimensional being who winks at you, before resuming his two-dimensional framed role. I loved it!
**The cover art, also by Kevin Ansbro, is a better representation of the style and feeling of this book than any review could convey.
March 22, 2020
Yeah, I know you have a huge TBR list, and this book might even be on it. Add it, move it up, but deprive yourself no longer. Kevin Ansbro's 'The Fish That Climbed a Tree' deserves to be widely read. Here's a writer who obviously loves his craft - a wordsmith who will dazzle and entertain. Dickensian with a modern flair. A touch of Neil Gaiman perhaps? Tough to categorize: magical realism, fantasy, crime thriller, suspense, romance, humour, horror etc etc this book encapsulates elements of all. He has a distinct gift for vivid, humorous similes and metaphors that jump off the page at you. Lively, fun prose and colorful, memorable characters diverse in attributes elicit a wide range of emotions.
This book is a wild ride.
Get on
Buckle up.
This book is a wild ride.
Get on
Buckle up.
April 9, 2020
This was a fun book for me right from the get go. When I became interested in reading it, I checked with our local library as per my usual habit, and they didn’t have it, nor could they find a copy for me. What?! Calamity! This has never happened before! Undeterred, I visited our local Indie book store, who after a little research, said they could have a copy printed for me. What?! Joy! This has never happened before! Between all of this, feeling a little privileged to have a book personally printed for me, and wondering how a fish could climb a tree, I started to read.
This was a really engaging page turner following several different story lines, perfectly woven together. The story begins with the gruesome murder of a vicar and his wife, leaving behind their young son, Henry. Henry’s father promised him at birth that he’d always be there to take care of him, and now with his untimely death, and to the possible detriment of his immortal soul, his spirit is reluctant to leave his son behind and step into the light of Paradise. Fast forward ten years, and Henry is a grown man who works for a local newspaper and decides to write an article reopening the case of his parent’s unsolved murders. As fate would have it, one of the thugs lives next door to Henry’s new girlfriend, and he sure doesn’t like the publicity. Meanwhile, Henry and his girlfriend get caught up in plenty of their own intrigue, bringing all these characters together to a nail biting finale. And oh, Henry’s father never forgets his promise.
I must say that for me, the writing style was quite descriptive, but nonetheless easy to get into (I think the rhythm will be in my head the next few days!) and was part of the fun of reading the book. Kevin, my congratulations on figuring out how to include “pulchritudinous” in the story! 😉
I loved finding out what the puzzling title meant, and the ins and outs of what Paradise might be like and who you might meet there. Being welcomed in by your ancestors AND seeing Elvis in concert...count me in!
I just recently learned about Checkov’s gun, and had a good laugh over the one in this story.
And then there’s Seb, bully classmate, quasi friend of convenience and first class jerk. With all of his antics interspersed throughout the story, it’s perhaps fitting that with the Sword of Hercules (ha!) hanging over his head, he gets his just reward.
Thanks, Kevin, for an exciting and delightful read!
This was a really engaging page turner following several different story lines, perfectly woven together. The story begins with the gruesome murder of a vicar and his wife, leaving behind their young son, Henry. Henry’s father promised him at birth that he’d always be there to take care of him, and now with his untimely death, and to the possible detriment of his immortal soul, his spirit is reluctant to leave his son behind and step into the light of Paradise. Fast forward ten years, and Henry is a grown man who works for a local newspaper and decides to write an article reopening the case of his parent’s unsolved murders. As fate would have it, one of the thugs lives next door to Henry’s new girlfriend, and he sure doesn’t like the publicity. Meanwhile, Henry and his girlfriend get caught up in plenty of their own intrigue, bringing all these characters together to a nail biting finale. And oh, Henry’s father never forgets his promise.
I must say that for me, the writing style was quite descriptive, but nonetheless easy to get into (I think the rhythm will be in my head the next few days!) and was part of the fun of reading the book. Kevin, my congratulations on figuring out how to include “pulchritudinous” in the story! 😉
I loved finding out what the puzzling title meant, and the ins and outs of what Paradise might be like and who you might meet there. Being welcomed in by your ancestors AND seeing Elvis in concert...count me in!
I just recently learned about Checkov’s gun, and had a good laugh over the one in this story.
And then there’s Seb, bully classmate, quasi friend of convenience and first class jerk. With all of his antics interspersed throughout the story, it’s perhaps fitting that with the Sword of Hercules (ha!) hanging over his head, he gets his just reward.
Thanks, Kevin, for an exciting and delightful read!
April 29, 2020
This was an enjoyable read, an eclectic mix of violent crime, magical realism, comedy and a coming of age story.
Henry is a shy, overweight boy whose parents are killed on his twelfth birthday during a home invasion. Unfortunately, although the perpetrators are well known to the police, the case is dropped for lack of evidence. We follow Henry as he grows up, first at school, and then as he grows into early adulthood. He is an aspiring writer, and lands a job as a journalist, where he writes a story that re-opens the case. This gets the attention of the two gangsters who did the crime, one of whom, by coincidence, lives next door to Henry's girlfriend!
We also follow Henry's parents in the afterlife, who look on anxiously as Henry's situation becomes more and more perilous. Will they be able to intervene (in a ghostly, or angelic way) to save Henry from the same fate as them?
I enjoyed the writing, the comic interludes and the characters, including the despicable Sebastian Fox-Dudgeon, a pompous, conceited, deceitful self-styled 'friend' of Henry's, who attaches to him like a leech or a sponge, all the while treating him with contempt.
I also particularly enjoyed the description of heaven/the afterlife - might have to rethink my atheism!
Although I am not usually an aficionado of the supernatural in books, it works well here - perhaps because it is 'magical realism' rather than the supernatural- ie the ghosts, or spirits here are just more characters in the story.
Many thanks to the author for providing me with a free e-book to read - much appreciated!
Henry is a shy, overweight boy whose parents are killed on his twelfth birthday during a home invasion. Unfortunately, although the perpetrators are well known to the police, the case is dropped for lack of evidence. We follow Henry as he grows up, first at school, and then as he grows into early adulthood. He is an aspiring writer, and lands a job as a journalist, where he writes a story that re-opens the case. This gets the attention of the two gangsters who did the crime, one of whom, by coincidence, lives next door to Henry's girlfriend!
We also follow Henry's parents in the afterlife, who look on anxiously as Henry's situation becomes more and more perilous. Will they be able to intervene (in a ghostly, or angelic way) to save Henry from the same fate as them?
I enjoyed the writing, the comic interludes and the characters, including the despicable Sebastian Fox-Dudgeon, a pompous, conceited, deceitful self-styled 'friend' of Henry's, who attaches to him like a leech or a sponge, all the while treating him with contempt.
I also particularly enjoyed the description of heaven/the afterlife - might have to rethink my atheism!
Although I am not usually an aficionado of the supernatural in books, it works well here - perhaps because it is 'magical realism' rather than the supernatural- ie the ghosts, or spirits here are just more characters in the story.
Many thanks to the author for providing me with a free e-book to read - much appreciated!
November 20, 2022
If the title of this book doesn’t make you curious, I wonder what would. I kept looking at the title thinking “whatever can this be?” What it is, is a dark comedy, almost a farce, with so many other elements thrown in that it defies an easy classification, and an author with a slightly twisted sense of humor.
I should say that this is not the kind of book I gravitate toward. It has a level of violence that I normally shun and a view of the afterlife that I would classify as more fantasy than magical realism. If this were a favorite genre, I’m betting I would have rated this a full star more than I have.
Kevin Ansbro is a skilled writer and has a comfort with the outrageous that not many could handle well. Someone here compared him to Neil Gaiman, and I can see her point, but for my part, I think you would need to throw a good portion of Stephen King into the mix. Which is to say, Kevin Ansbro is really one of a kind.
This book will not be for everyone, but if you liked both Pulp Fiction and Airplane, you might find it a perfect fit.
I should say that this is not the kind of book I gravitate toward. It has a level of violence that I normally shun and a view of the afterlife that I would classify as more fantasy than magical realism. If this were a favorite genre, I’m betting I would have rated this a full star more than I have.
Kevin Ansbro is a skilled writer and has a comfort with the outrageous that not many could handle well. Someone here compared him to Neil Gaiman, and I can see her point, but for my part, I think you would need to throw a good portion of Stephen King into the mix. Which is to say, Kevin Ansbro is really one of a kind.
This book will not be for everyone, but if you liked both Pulp Fiction and Airplane, you might find it a perfect fit.
February 20, 2019
The author Kevin Ansbro is my buddy so this may play hell with the review’s objectivity. Still, a good book is a good book, whether it has been written by friend or foe, except that the foe would probably get a one-star rating. Fortunately, I don’t have any authorial foes so this should not be a cause for concern. As for the objectivity of this review, just read on and see if that I have described sound like something that would appeal to you.
The title intrigued me as soon as I read it, piscine tree climbing has always fascinated me; though it must be said that in Kev’s book this only happens in a metaphorical sense. The intriguing prologue reminds me of the “cold open” you get on some TV shows, especially the action or crime oriented ones. This narrative tactic, more commonly used in television and films, is surprisingly effective here. The first chapter then rolls back the timeline and the narrative settles into a mostly linear sequence. This suits me just fine, I am not a fan of frequent timeline hopping narrative structure.
The Fish That Climbed a Tree is mostly about Henry Drummond’s extraordinary adventure through life. His initially happy childhood turned upside down by a couple of low-life robbers who murdered his parents. Fortunately Henry has the fortitude to soldier on and grows up to be a decent human being. Unfortunately fate reunites him with the aforementioned low-life fellows, not to mention another low-life that he – for some reason – befriends. So far this sounds like a fairly conventional story of human drama with some aspects of a thriller, but my description so far only scratches the surface of what goes on in this book.
When the narrative is not told from Henry’s perspective it often switches to that of his parents who are both dead. There is an overt supernatural component to this book which specifically deals with the afterlife. The author has painstakingly created a world of the afterlife and vividly how it functions. As a reader of sci-fi and fantasy I do enjoy books with well thought out world-building. You may have your own idea of what the afterlife – if it exists – may be like, and Mr. Ansbro’s depiction of it may be contrary to this idea, but you will find that he puts in a lot of details which may not have occurred to you, and it makes for an interesting and thought-provoking read. The supernatural and mundane sides of the story do not really overlap until they nicely intertwine toward the end. Underneath it all is a story of the human condition, how decency, compassion and true friendship tend to emerge triumphant over adversity and villainy.
I find The Fish That Climbed a Tree to be much better than Kevin’s previous book Kinnara, which I also enjoyed. I like that both of these books defy easy genre labeling which is laudable, any one label you slab on it is bound to be inaccurate. Even the rather vague and trendy term magical realism does not really cover it to my mind. It is entertaining, funny, well-paced and rather thoughtful. I suspect this is part of Kevin’s authorial rising trajectory and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.
Quotes:
“For anyone with a library in their head and love in their hearts.”
“Rather than simply being the fish that swims to the shore, you have to believe that you can be the fish that climbs a tree.”
The title intrigued me as soon as I read it, piscine tree climbing has always fascinated me; though it must be said that in Kev’s book this only happens in a metaphorical sense. The intriguing prologue reminds me of the “cold open” you get on some TV shows, especially the action or crime oriented ones. This narrative tactic, more commonly used in television and films, is surprisingly effective here. The first chapter then rolls back the timeline and the narrative settles into a mostly linear sequence. This suits me just fine, I am not a fan of frequent timeline hopping narrative structure.
The Fish That Climbed a Tree is mostly about Henry Drummond’s extraordinary adventure through life. His initially happy childhood turned upside down by a couple of low-life robbers who murdered his parents. Fortunately Henry has the fortitude to soldier on and grows up to be a decent human being. Unfortunately fate reunites him with the aforementioned low-life fellows, not to mention another low-life that he – for some reason – befriends. So far this sounds like a fairly conventional story of human drama with some aspects of a thriller, but my description so far only scratches the surface of what goes on in this book.
When the narrative is not told from Henry’s perspective it often switches to that of his parents who are both dead. There is an overt supernatural component to this book which specifically deals with the afterlife. The author has painstakingly created a world of the afterlife and vividly how it functions. As a reader of sci-fi and fantasy I do enjoy books with well thought out world-building. You may have your own idea of what the afterlife – if it exists – may be like, and Mr. Ansbro’s depiction of it may be contrary to this idea, but you will find that he puts in a lot of details which may not have occurred to you, and it makes for an interesting and thought-provoking read. The supernatural and mundane sides of the story do not really overlap until they nicely intertwine toward the end. Underneath it all is a story of the human condition, how decency, compassion and true friendship tend to emerge triumphant over adversity and villainy.
I find The Fish That Climbed a Tree to be much better than Kevin’s previous book Kinnara, which I also enjoyed. I like that both of these books defy easy genre labeling which is laudable, any one label you slab on it is bound to be inaccurate. Even the rather vague and trendy term magical realism does not really cover it to my mind. It is entertaining, funny, well-paced and rather thoughtful. I suspect this is part of Kevin’s authorial rising trajectory and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.
Quotes:“For anyone with a library in their head and love in their hearts.”
“Rather than simply being the fish that swims to the shore, you have to believe that you can be the fish that climbs a tree.”
December 14, 2019
4-5 stars.
This book is very hard to define as it encompasses several themes but in a nutshell it’s good versus evil. On Henry Drummond’s tenth birthday his parents Reverend Ulysses and Florence Drummond are viciously murdered by Pascal Makuza, ‘the African with the skeleton teeth’ while his companion in crime Yuri Voloshya looks on. They are not convicted of the crime because of lack of physical evidence despite Henry being able to identify them. They go on to have a lucrative career as contract killers, with Pascal taking singular enjoyment with the murders. Henry, a bookish child, has a difficult time growing up and is mercilessly bullied at school by the freeloading, odious, arrogant waste of space Sebastian Fox-Gudgeon. Meanwhile, Ulysses finds himself in limbo between the living and Paradise with Florence eventually moving onto Paradise.....
There are a lot of things I like about this book. The characters are vividly portrayed- some are very unlikeable but Henry, Amber who eventually becomes Henry’s girlfriend, his landlord Fergus O’Connor are very likeable. Henry is adorable, I love his kindness, his passion for books and science fiction. He does develop, reluctantly, a harder streak in order to survive. There are some other characters that make brief appearances but I feel they colour the page. For instance, Mad Sally on the Tube who everyone wanted to avoid. That scene is described in such a lively way you could easily picture it.
Although there is inevitably a lot of gore (I was warned!) but given that there’s murder, mayhem and other unspeakable crimes it isn’t particularly gratuitous. There’s plenty of humour which takes some of the sting out of the grisliness. There are some fabulous locations too - I want to go to Micawbers Bookshop! However, it’s the imaginative portrayal of Paradise that is the standout feature for me. That is so intriguing and I love the people that Ulysses meets as he vacillates between worlds. Voltaire, Darwin to name a couple! The ending is terrific - it is exciting, people thankfully get their just desserts, whether that is good or bad. It gives you a feeling of happiness as it finishes at Christmas, the season of goodwill. Fergus even quoted from one of my favourite books A Christmas Carol, so to quote Tiny Tim ‘God bless us everyone’.
Overall, a very entertaining, different read which takes you through a range of emotions and makes you think and reflect.
Many thanks to Kevin for a copy of his pride and joy! Happy Christmas!
This book is very hard to define as it encompasses several themes but in a nutshell it’s good versus evil. On Henry Drummond’s tenth birthday his parents Reverend Ulysses and Florence Drummond are viciously murdered by Pascal Makuza, ‘the African with the skeleton teeth’ while his companion in crime Yuri Voloshya looks on. They are not convicted of the crime because of lack of physical evidence despite Henry being able to identify them. They go on to have a lucrative career as contract killers, with Pascal taking singular enjoyment with the murders. Henry, a bookish child, has a difficult time growing up and is mercilessly bullied at school by the freeloading, odious, arrogant waste of space Sebastian Fox-Gudgeon. Meanwhile, Ulysses finds himself in limbo between the living and Paradise with Florence eventually moving onto Paradise.....
There are a lot of things I like about this book. The characters are vividly portrayed- some are very unlikeable but Henry, Amber who eventually becomes Henry’s girlfriend, his landlord Fergus O’Connor are very likeable. Henry is adorable, I love his kindness, his passion for books and science fiction. He does develop, reluctantly, a harder streak in order to survive. There are some other characters that make brief appearances but I feel they colour the page. For instance, Mad Sally on the Tube who everyone wanted to avoid. That scene is described in such a lively way you could easily picture it.
Although there is inevitably a lot of gore (I was warned!) but given that there’s murder, mayhem and other unspeakable crimes it isn’t particularly gratuitous. There’s plenty of humour which takes some of the sting out of the grisliness. There are some fabulous locations too - I want to go to Micawbers Bookshop! However, it’s the imaginative portrayal of Paradise that is the standout feature for me. That is so intriguing and I love the people that Ulysses meets as he vacillates between worlds. Voltaire, Darwin to name a couple! The ending is terrific - it is exciting, people thankfully get their just desserts, whether that is good or bad. It gives you a feeling of happiness as it finishes at Christmas, the season of goodwill. Fergus even quoted from one of my favourite books A Christmas Carol, so to quote Tiny Tim ‘God bless us everyone’.
Overall, a very entertaining, different read which takes you through a range of emotions and makes you think and reflect.
Many thanks to Kevin for a copy of his pride and joy! Happy Christmas!
December 28, 2018
I have read two other books by this author, both of which were very charming and original. This one signifies a rocket-propelled launch into a different stratosphere of writing. The same engaging style of storytelling is generously augmented with a roiling cauldron of every joy and peril known to man. The characters in this epic tale are absolutely unique, while remaining entirely realistic. The vicar and his lovely, butterfly-trailing wife are wholesome and endearing, whereas the real-live monsters who cut a swath through their destinies are the epitome of evil. The clash of these extreme forces leaves a somber young boy untethering in a world he can barely relate to.
The real beauty of this story is the author’s superb ability to use mere words to evoke such a tapestry of real-world extremes. There is so much believable heartache and awkwardness in the young Henry, but at the same time, there is much humor in the way his story is presented. The range and depth of the personalities that populate this far-reaching tale is almost too accurate, for the “bad guys” are so truly vile, I found myself cringing with dread several times as they carried out their nefarious schemes. And then I’d find myself laughing out loud on the very next page.
“The Fish That Climbed a Tree” is one of those books that rings true with every beautifully-crafted sentence, and it will live in my mind and heart forever. Bravo, Mr. Ansbro!
The real beauty of this story is the author’s superb ability to use mere words to evoke such a tapestry of real-world extremes. There is so much believable heartache and awkwardness in the young Henry, but at the same time, there is much humor in the way his story is presented. The range and depth of the personalities that populate this far-reaching tale is almost too accurate, for the “bad guys” are so truly vile, I found myself cringing with dread several times as they carried out their nefarious schemes. And then I’d find myself laughing out loud on the very next page.
“The Fish That Climbed a Tree” is one of those books that rings true with every beautifully-crafted sentence, and it will live in my mind and heart forever. Bravo, Mr. Ansbro!
December 12, 2018
Having read this author's first two books and enjoyed them I couldn't wait to read this. I love his 'voice' and writing style. I loved the humourous characters, the ancestor who attempted to swim the channel and the school friend, the world's greatest sponger who got all his words wrong in an attempt to look smart. Both so visual and had me laughing out loud. All the characters were very well drawn. The villains were truly terrifying, scared me witless! After the first night I decided that perhaps it wasn't designed for bedtime reading!
I always love a supernatural aspect, a theme that always attracts me to a book. I am always interested in other author's perceptions of it and Mr Ansbro's depiction of Paradise is truly beautiful.
The story takes us through Henry Drummond's life after his parents are brutally murdered on his 10th birthday, how he survives and strives to make his life a success. It is perhaps inevitable that his parents murderers will cross his path again but whether or not justice is served... you'll have to read the book to find out.
I could see this as as chilling TV crime drama to rival any others that are shown. As with the author's other books this was very well written and plotted. A compelling read.
I always love a supernatural aspect, a theme that always attracts me to a book. I am always interested in other author's perceptions of it and Mr Ansbro's depiction of Paradise is truly beautiful.
The story takes us through Henry Drummond's life after his parents are brutally murdered on his 10th birthday, how he survives and strives to make his life a success. It is perhaps inevitable that his parents murderers will cross his path again but whether or not justice is served... you'll have to read the book to find out.
I could see this as as chilling TV crime drama to rival any others that are shown. As with the author's other books this was very well written and plotted. A compelling read.
May 16, 2019
Bloody brilliant! That is the only words I can come up with to describe this book. It has been a long time since I have loved characters like this, Henry and Amber are wonderful, you can't help but cheer for them, Mr O'Conner fits into the story as the sort of father figure all heroes need. Even the bad guys are brill, Yuri does start to grow on you after a while.
The plot is pretty tight, you have two parallel stories happening, one on Earth following Henry's adventures and the other Henry's father Ulysses who is trying to find his way into heaven, Ulysses' journey did feel a bit like Homer's Odyssey, Kevin is a very talented writer to keep you interested in both stories like that. There is plenty of action, a love interest, violence, plot twists and one of the biggest bellends you'll ever find in a book, Sebastion makes you hate him as much as Holden Caulfield.
This is the first book I've read by this author and it will not be the last, I'm hooked and Kevin Ansbro goes on my list of "why isn't everybody reading this guys work?" If you haven't picked up one of his books then you're missing out. 100% recommended by me.
Blog review> https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2019...
The plot is pretty tight, you have two parallel stories happening, one on Earth following Henry's adventures and the other Henry's father Ulysses who is trying to find his way into heaven, Ulysses' journey did feel a bit like Homer's Odyssey, Kevin is a very talented writer to keep you interested in both stories like that. There is plenty of action, a love interest, violence, plot twists and one of the biggest bellends you'll ever find in a book, Sebastion makes you hate him as much as Holden Caulfield.
This is the first book I've read by this author and it will not be the last, I'm hooked and Kevin Ansbro goes on my list of "why isn't everybody reading this guys work?" If you haven't picked up one of his books then you're missing out. 100% recommended by me.
Blog review> https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2019...
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