In The Reviewed Lives Of Puppets

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

#MLM #Asexual #ScienceFantasy

CW: Discussion of Sex, Described Panic Attacks, Genocide, Described Killing of an Animal, Violence, Murder, Blood, Xenophobia, Kidnapping and Imprisonment, Suicide, Betrayal of Trust, Classism, Totalitarianism, Arson, Grief, Dementia

5/5

If TJ Klune's other books have taught me anything, it's that I don't have to read the description before putting his work on my TBR list. In the Lives of Puppets was my first experiment with this. I put it on hold at the library as fast as I could. I only picked up from others what it would be about. All I got was that it had something to do with Pinocchio. That was plenty for me, I knew Klune would make his own magical and moving story from the material. I know the library hold lines for this book are long, but the wait was worth it.

In the Lives of Puppets is about Victor Lawson, human son of the robot named Giovanni Lawson. These two live in the forest with two other robots named Rambo and Nurse Ratched. Everything starts to change when they bring back a decommissioned robot from the local scrap yard. They give this robot the name Hap and a mechanical heart. Soon, the outside world catches up with Giovanni and takes him from his family and home. Victor, Rambo, Nurse Ratched, and Hap set out into a world they know nothing about, determined to get their father and friend back.

This is a highly emotional tale with a lot of twists and turns. Some ideas were predictable, like the idea that it would all work out in the end, but it still kept me on the edge of my seat. I was just as clueless about the world of this story as the main characters were. It's a rescue mission, a romance, a found family story, and a mystery all wrapped into one. The elements of Pinocchio are pretty obvious, but this book was moreso inspired by its source material than adapted from it. There are characters with familiar names, such as The Blue Fairy and The Coachman. Quotes from the original book are used at the start of each section. There are overarching themes of free will and what makes someone human. I have not read Carlo Collodi's book, so perhaps there is more pulled, but the story Klune wrote was magnificent and unique!

I was ecstatic to discover that the main character, Victor, is asexual! I have mentioned in previous posts that we desperately need more representation in books and other media for asexuality. I was able to see some of myself in Victor, and that's why representation is important. Victor found romance and wanted kisses, cuddles, the feeling of knowing another person extremely well, and to share his life with someone. He was shown to be uncomfortable with sex jokes and discussion of what he does in the bathroom. Proven through his love interest, he also experiences aesthetic attraction, something I've found allosexuals confuse with sexual attraction. Although this book takes place hundreds of years after when we readers are alive, it takes the time to address modern misconceptions about asexuality. I hope we will get to a point where these aren't happening, but I am immensely grateful for this sort of representation while we still need it.

In The Lives of Puppets also has great representation of several different disabilities, both mental and physical. Hap has a stutter and needs wooden prosthetics, but he and his family never see it as a problem. These things are just a part of who he is. Victor's mental health issues are never labeled, but it is clear that he has anxiety and gets panic attacks. He also does not strike me as neurotypical, but if he knows no other humans, perhaps that term becomes irrelevant. These are not the only disabilities that Klune has included. Each one is written well, handled with care, and contributes to the beauty of the book.

The top complaint I hear about Klune's books is that the pacing is too slow. The sub-genre Klune is working in, emotional fantasy that focuses on person-stakes, is meant to be like that. I have always enjoyed the pacing, preferring these books to take their time. It's possible that this story goes a little faster than The House in the Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door. The stakes for In the Lives of Puppets go beyond the main characters, it affects the whole world, but that's more of a side goal. Getting Gio back is what matters most to the main characters. I found myself with a few questions about the world state at the end of the novel, but realized they were things that did not matter to Victor and co. They didn't need answers. If you need your books to be fast-paced, this won't be the book for you, and that's okay.

If you're looking for a story about love of all kinds, humanity, and accepting yourself for all that you are, In The Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune is the book you should read. It has robots, butterflies, jazz music, and more. This story is much more than a new version of Pinocchio, but you'll have to find that out for yourself!