Synopsis
Philip Noble is a grieving child, struggling with the loss of his father who died in a car accident. The weight of his grief leads him to the ghost of his father, now a tormented member of ‘The Dead Fathers Club’. The Dead Fathers Club is exclusive to fathers who have been murdered, and are seeking the release from the torment of waiting to cease being ghosts, and finally be put to rest. When Philip is told this, his sense of responsibility increases massively, as well as his sense of revenge.
We watch Philip as he attempts to follow the instructions of his father, survive school, getting girls, and finding normality in the new family unit that has been established following the devastating absence of his father.
My Rating
Four out of five stars.
Themes
Bereavement, the family unit, grief, mental health, hope and revenge.
My Review
A crossover of Hamlet and A Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time, Matt Haig writes The Dead Fathers Club, centred around 11-year-old Philip Noble – a boy struggling to find his identity and place within school, developing, and learning valuable life lessons – as well a learning the truth to grief and the struggle of finding, and being guided by the ghost of your dead father who insists to have been murdered by his own brother.
We watch Philip, in his plots of murder, the trials and tribulations of first love, surviving secondary school and making mistakes. This book contains all the ingredients for a thoughtful and in-depth novel tackling grief and re-animating Shakespeare’s brilliant tragedy – Hamlet. The constant thoughts and feelings expressed in the first person by an 11-year-old, this book is hilarious and heartwarming (as well as slightly heartbreaking).
This book makes you laugh, cry and cringe at the twists and turns in the face of grief and following the demands of a dead father. Philip’s devotion to his father, and willingness to do anything to bring him back – or at least give him peace, and get rid of Uncle Alan, who is well and truly making himself at home. We see Philip’s sense of loyalty and love, always putting his parents first, often internally fighting over who to please, mum or dad?
Haig’s ability to write, does not falter in this novel, and if you’re looking for a summer read thats quick, deals with grief, or maybe you’ve been looking for a modern re-write of Hamlet, this one is worth picking up.
To begin with, I was excited to read this novel, however, I was uncertain of how well it would, or could be executed (pun not intended), especially in creating a novel based upon the story of Hamlet. However, Haig exceeded my expectation by stripping the story back, including the subtle similarities that makes Hamlet still such a brilliant play, (such as the inclusion of making his mother and Uncle watch a film about a man murdering his brother) as well as his lack of trust, and near insanity at times. He created this novel, so smoothly, it is a wonderful, as well as easy and quick read that you can dig your nails deep into and engross yourself with, and by the end, you’ll be rooting for Philip, no matter the outcome.
Thank you for reading,
Aimee
Aimee 