Mr Breakfast

I came across [b:Mr. Breakfast|61178503|Mr. Breakfast|Jonathan Carroll|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666577117l/61178503._SY75_.jpg|73292721] via a Guardian review and was intrigued by the concept: a magic tattoo that allows you to visit alternative universe versions of yourself. It is executed in a thoughtful way. I always like someone learning about parallel versions of themselves who made different choices. The pacing is good and the ensemble cast deployed well. However, I was expecting a reasonably fun read and the tone was not as comedic as I anticipated. I found it more existential and preoccupied with death than madcap or picaresque. Although the dinosaurs were amusing, overall [b:Mr. show more Breakfast|61178503|Mr. Breakfast|Jonathan Carroll|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666577117l/61178503._SY75_.jpg|73292721] left me feeling sad. I also wasn't keen on a woman experiencing psychosis being used as a murderous deus ex machina.

Thus the three stars aren't so much a judgement on the quality of writing and plotting as reflecting my expectations and mood. I think the involvement of alternate universes primed me to expect more of a sci-fi style narrative, in which characters are concerned with how and why weird things are happening. Instead, [b:Mr. Breakfast|61178503|Mr. Breakfast|Jonathan Carroll|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666577117l/61178503._SY75_.jpg|73292721] is a literary examination of roads not taken and tragedies of daily life, using alternate universes as a convenient tool. It read to me like magical realism. I wasn't at all sure what to conclude from from the ending. Perhaps that every choice we take in life leads to joy or sadness or both, but all will ultimately end in death? A bit of a downer, really. show less

When Graham's career as a stand up comedian tanks, he decides to go on a road trip from east coast to west coast to start a new life. In North Carolina his car breaks down and he happens upon a tattoo parlor where he surprises himself by being drawn immediately to a tattoo design with such a powerful attraction that he has it put on his arm. It turns out that the tattoo is the instrument that will change his life by enabling him to choose alternate life paths. His attempts to navigate the rules of this magic, and its implications and outcomes make for a thought-provoking and entertaining read. It's tantalizing to consider our own what if.... possibilities, and Graham's experience gives us the opportunity to view his navigation of the show more journey(s). show less

I rarely read fantasy and I loved this book. I found the premise of the tatoo, with its very specific rules, as a door to alternate lives fascinating. The characters were well drawn and believable even though their situation was not realistic, or was it. I don't how to look at the end but the journey was so much fun, I don't care.

I like Jonathan Carroll's work enough to have picked this up while knowing literally nothing about it. But it just didn't grab me. The fact that the main character is a stand-up doesn't help. I'm familiar with that world and at first I was like "oh, okay, this should be interesting." But then... I don't know. The details and vibe just began to feel off. And outside of that, I just wasn't drawn into the book. I put it down a few weeks ago and it's due back at the library; I'm okay with returning it largely unread.