Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
By Matthew QuickI read this book in one evening, which is rare for me. Part of that is because it’s not the longest book ever (I read it on Kindle and have seen different printed page counts, under 300 seems safe), but mostly it’s because I just had to know what was going to happen. This book is all about one young man, Leonard Peacock. The entire book takes place on one very special day, his eighteenth birthday -- though he does give us some backstory via his own remembrances of how he got to this place. And what is this place? A place of loneliness so deep and dark that he’s decided he’ll exit this world on the same day he'd entered it. But he won’t be exiting it alone, he’ll he taking his ex-best friend, Asher, with him.
First things first though, there are presents to deliver to the only people in his life that matter: His neighbor Walter - an aging, sickly, chain-smoking, Bogie loving gentleman who often offers Leonard comfort in the form of a spot on his couch, a Bogie movie, and some apt movie quotes, along with the sense that he needs Leonard in his life. Baback, a brilliant violinist, who allows Leonard to sit in on his lunch time practice sessions. Lauren, a homeschooled preacher’s daughter, who Leonard finds fascinating. And Herr Silverman, the one teacher he connects with.
Once their presents are delivered, Asher will get his, then Leonard will turn the gun on himself. Then it’ll be over. Right? Simple. Unless… Maybe Leonard’s mom will remember it’s his birthday this time. Maybe someone else will figure it out and that someone will make everything okay, even though it’s not… not really -- still someone, anyone, realizing it’s his birthday might makes it seem okay. Maybe one of his four friends will pick up on a clue as he’s delivering a present. Would anyone make him open the fifth present… the one he wrapped for himself?
As the day unfolds and we learn more and more about how hopeless Leonard feels, and how maybe the anger he has for Asher goes far beyond the fact that his former friend is now a popular, bully, jock, whereas Leonard is more the freak.
The only real negative to this book was the ending. It felt weak for such a strong story. I won’t totally spoil it but I think it’s safe to say that the most responsible person in the whole book, does a lot, but it feels like they still dropped the ball. Then again, that is what this book is - everyone is constantly missing the clues that Leonard is throwing at them. Heck, he’s doing everything but walking around with a bullhorn yelling out each and every painful detail for the world to hear. Still, despite the ending slipping just a wee bit, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is the best book I’ve read so far this year.
* Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost in order to review it. I offered no guarantee of a positive review, though I only request books I think I'll like because why read a book you think you’ll hate?
