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I finished this book 📕 this morning and convinced the husband to watch the movie 🎥 with me tonight. Now, I am usually a generous film critic when the story is a book I have read: I want to be surprised with delight that the director has captured something new, perhaps. But alas, the movie fails to capture the sweet angst and bitterness of trying to repair their broken childhood. Read the book, the movie can be skipped. ⬇️

What to do when you finish ALL your Currently-Readings and you have no clue what to read next?! I panic 🤣😳

So, I end up choosing Meryl Streep‘s narration of newly released Tom Lake and then THIS because it was ready to borrow and I assume it will be quick (no time to change my mind and dither on what I *should* be reading #sigh)

Even better when I see my beloved Ann P has endorsed The Family Fang when I try to find exact book cover for gr…

Caleb and Camille Fang are performance artists. They do impromptu performances in shopping malls with audiences who are unsuspecting and probably never know that the chaos they‘ve just witnessed is supposed to be art. Their kids Annie and Buster are raised taking part in these fiascos.

Kevin Wilson is incredibly good at weird, while still giving me characters I care about and root for.

May‘s #bookspin, also #booked2023 for #weird .

My Topics book club is reading books we‘ve recommended to each other specifically for May. One that was suggested to me is The Family Fang, since I like quirky books and have liked Kevin Wilson in the past. My library didn‘t have it on audio, so I‘ve picked up a used copy through Pango Books. I always browse the other things a seller has, so also got the Kingsolver 🙂📚🤷‍♀️ as you do.

#scarathlondailyprompts because #vampires have fangs!

Although this doesn't come close to Nothing To See Here by this author, I still enjoyed it.

The Fang family will take you on a surreal adventure that will leave you wondering what will happen next. I wasn't expecting this book about dysfunctional family dynamics to actually end up involving a mystery, and the way it all unraveled was quite entertaining.

#Scarathlon #TeamSlaughter @Clwojick

Two children grow up being characters in their parents performance art pieces. Some would think that would be awesome. Clearly, in this case, it‘s not. And then the parents go missing. … how the adult children respond differs and their shared history requires they determine together what to do next. I enjoyed this one but not quite as much as Nothing to See Here.

Reading Wilson‘s first novel, I was surprised to see that he had actually mapped out his second novel already. Here the plot of Nothing to See Here is imagined as a script for a movie that one of the characters in this book will appear in.

Thank you so much @Mitch for my #littlechristmasswap gift. I have been really poorly today and this has given me something to smile about. I‘m so pleased you sent me this book, I love Kevin Wilson and can‘t wait to read it!

Omg I loved it! Quick recap, mom and dad are performance artists whose kids lives are falling apart and move homes. Things escalate. Told with flashbacks of their childhood through performance art pieces. Just a really delightful book. Funny, charming, awkward, and an ending I never saw coming, it‘s just wonderful. I wouldn‘t categorize it further but this author is moving into auto buy status. All the stars!

I‘ve lost a bit of reading momentum but am plugging way on The Family Fang which continues to be a delight! For Caturday, here‘s MacGruber helping me with Hermione‘s Time Turner sweater that I‘m making for my daughter.

I went into this one completely unaware and I am loving it. Called and Camille Fang are well known performance artists whose children are critical parts of their work. Years later, both kids end up coming home to be with their parents. So far, really interesting, and laugh out loud moments pop up out of nowhere but it‘s also very uncomfortable. I need to finish it so I can watch the movie.

Once again I wish there was a “pick -“ or So- so +. Which is where this book ranks. I think it started off great - two incredibly weird parents who include their 2 children Buster and Annie I what they call “art” which could include various types of deception and law breaking. Weird part is that I just read another book by the same author and he includes a movie I this one based on parts of the other book. Good, not great, definitely creative.

Wilson's novel tells of the spontaneous performances of the Fang Family that calls to mind not the performance art in a gallery space of a Marina Abramović & not the guerilla graffiti of a Banksy, but rather the ephemeral provocations promoted by the Situationists The following passage from Wikipedia of Situationist philosophy concerning the spectacle is a good summary of Caleb & Camille's art philosophy,👇

The following from the tagged book made me immediately think of the pictured movie, although I haven't watched it in years I recall really liking it:
"Annie remembered the way her parents would breathlessly describe one of Hobart's most famous pieces, the one that had first brought him to prominence. It was called The Uninvited Guest, and in this piece Hobart would break into the mansions that littered the West Coast, giant structures with an ?

Truth!

The reference to Nothing to See Here was the highlight of this book for me. I expected so much and the premise was good (two parents who are willing to sacrifice all for their art, even their children who are part of their performance), but unfortunately I didn‘t care for the characters nor the art nor the lives of the children as adults.

#SummerFun #ReadOutside #ATY2020 #BookRelatedToTheArts

#WeeklyForecast 25/20

Today I started America for Beginners. I hope it‘s less fluffy than its cover suggests. This week I also want to read the #NYRBBookClub book and I have been meaning to read the tagged book because I loved Nothing to See Here and @britt_brooke says this one‘s just as good!

I'm beginning to get excited whenever I see Kevin Wilson's name. He is a gifted writer with a knack for absurd stories.

This is the story of 2 siblings whose parents enjoy wreaking havoc in the name of art. When their parents disappear, leaving behind a bloody scene, Buster and Annie don't know if it's real or just another bizarre setup by their unpredictable parents.

I enjoyed that Wilson alluded to "Nothing To See Here" a couple of times.

Luckily this was a Prime selection, so I only lost time and not money. I was still disinterested at 30% but attributed that to reading one chapter here and there. By 42%, I still didn't care for the people. I'm bailing at 58% and maybe I'll seek out the movie and watch the last 30 minutes for a little closure. The children aren't bad but the parents just seem like horrible human beings and not even in a fun way. #dnf #bail #justwatchthemovie

#QuotsyApr20 Day 2: #Choreograph

Was pretty good but compared to other books I was reading at the same time, it didn‘t capture my attention. Felt like I finished it because I had to, obligated, more than I wanted to see how it ended.

Hi guys! Still deciding here! Leaning towards family fang, but most of these seem good. Also open to Evelyn but its nearly 500 pages(!)
#lmpbc #groupu @lovesbooks87 @aroc @TheWordJar

For those fans of Nothing to See Here that want to try Wilson‘s backlist, this is a great place to start!

It‘s an odd premise that I think people don‘t get, hence the stars. But if you did like Nothing, there‘s a good chance you‘ll enjoy Fang.

It seems like most people loved this book but I‘m struggling with it. I bought it because I loved Nothing to See Here so I thought I‘d try another book by the author. I‘m a little over half way through and finding it hard to care about what happens to these characters. They‘re not giving me the same warmth (pardon the pun) as the fire children did in NTSH.

Starting this today, just a random selection.

A great story about how your past dictates your future. I was rooting for the Fang kids the whole time, even while I was cringing at some of their actions. I can see why this one was a hit!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ After falling in love with Nothing to See Here, I‘m excitedly working through Wilson‘s backlist. Performance artist parents, Caleb and Camille Fang, finally take a “piece” too far. The progression of their bizarre antics is documented nonlinearly, and ultimately, their children are left wondering wtf is real? Absolutely cringeworthy family dysfunction. Nothing makes me happier than quirk and satire.

Grabbing a quick Christmas Eve workout because, Santa knows, I‘m going to eat and drink too much the next couple of days. 🎄🍪🥂🥃 Listening to The Family Fang on audio. I‘m officially a Kevin Wilson fan!

💚 Happy Holidays, Littens! 💚

Surprisingly enjoyed this tale of a quirky artistic family (which reminded me more of Tobias, Lindsey, and Maeybe Funke than the royal tennenbaums) that goes around doing performance pieces and how that has an effect on the now grown children. A different quick read.

I saw this movie a few years back, and I thought it was...meh. I kind of forgot I had the book on my shelf. I'm really glad I finally picked it up. It's funny and poignant and smart. It probably also helps that I have a strong dislike for performance art. As others have said, it's very Wes Anderson-y.

So I'm reading this book (which is great, btw) and one of the characters, an actor, is reading a script in which a woman is hired as a nanny to two children who randomly spontaneously combust. They are not hurt, but everything around them is. She gradually grows to love the children. BUT...just a few days ago I heard about a short story EXACTLY like this on one of my many book podcasts. Anyone know it? I'm dying to know which came first?

The June book for my summer book club. My mom didn‘t like it at all but it has lots of accolades so I‘m hoping for a good read and a great discussion.

Kevin Wilson has become an auto-read author for me, and I was totally absorbed in this one. It‘s about a couple whose whole life revolves around disrupting the status quo through unexpected performance art. Once they have kids, they involve them in their strange performances. Now, the kids are grown up and navigating their own kinds of art and relationships. If you like quirky characters and great writing, I highly recommend this! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My first really good read in a while. A truly dysfunctional family in every sense, but it still manages to be funny and optimistic. I can see why it isn't for everyone, but I truly enjoyed it!

My pick for #LMPBC Round 1 -
The Fangs performance art borders on small-scale “Project Mayhem” levels...create disarray in a public space to see what happens. But what are the long-term effects of this art on two young children forced to participate in the creative process? We meet Annie & Buster Fang at coincidently coordinating crossroads in their lives and see them process their parents‘/their family‘s art and it‘s lasting impact. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My #LMPBC selection has returned! I‘m looking forward to seeing everyone‘s comments. @Jerdencon - I finished your pick last week, but have yet to get to the post office...so sorry! It‘s been a pleasure reading with you, @mariaku21 and @MoniqueReads305 🤗! I hope to make it back for Round 3. 💚#GroupH!💚

So....incredibly strange. Nothing like Perfect Little World, also by Wilson, it details his broad mind — this story is terribly sad & mundane, and actually quite splendid, its characters so easily pitied.

Annie & Buster are children of the famous Fangs, performance artists who put their kids into outrageous/dangerous acts for Art‘s sake. They have 0 awareness of trauma instilled on their kids, always vying to outdo their peers & themselves.

?? Love this.

"She could not smash anything without breaking herself."

Loved this one. Second time reading it, this time for the teen bookclub I run at the bookshop where I work.

I know I'm in the minority with this one but it was just OK. It was clever and mildly entertaining but I found myself thinking, "What's the point?" This is something I feel like I might have enjoyed a lot more if I read it 15-20 years ago. 3 ⭐️.

Giggling to myself reading Family Fang in an ebook while also taking score for my pool league. It's slow going but keeps me on my toes. 😁 The things we do to keep reading.

This was a fabulous read! Hilariously funny and original, as well as disturbing. I would highly recommend this book and then watch the film, its a great film adaption. Read this!

#Awkward is having 1. Performance art parents who don't know when to be real 2. A would be boyfriend with impossible girlfriend criteria 3. A grieving bookseller find an abandoned baby 👶 #fallintobooks

The parents use their children as part of their performance art pieces (or what most people would call disturbing the peace, but whatevs), and refer to them as Child A and Child B (Annie and Buster). Beyond messed up, but strangely funny (dysfunctional families usually aren't my thing) and definitely a #familyaffair #AugustGrrrl @Cinfhen

Uh. What on EARTH did I just read? 🤔😳.

Quirky, clever family story told from the kids' POV. #kidsinamerica #90sinjuly

4.5⭐️ If you read one dysfunctional family book, make it this one! I fell in love with Annie and Buster, and Wilson did an amazing job of harnessing emotions into a fantastic narrative. Therese Plummer's narration is, as always, on point. @LitHousewife you have to listen to one of hers! Highly recommend this and highly recommend going audio!