I wrote recently that I didn’t post a lot of book reviews for Lit Happens, a FB book club. I decided that I would indeed do another review for our February Selection The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride by Joe Siple. Camilla from Culinary Cam is hosting.
About the Book:
The international bestselling novel about Murray McBride, a lonely 100-year-old man who’s outlived just about everyone he’s ever loved. But when he meets a boy awaiting a heart transplant, Murray may learn something about finding meaning in life again . . .
With all his family and friends gone except an estranged grandson, retired Major League ballplayer Murray McBride is looking for a reason to live. He finds it in Jason Cashman, a spirited 10-year-old boy with a terminal heart defect and a list of five things he wants to do before he dies. Murray is determined to help Jason fulfill his dreams. Together, they race against the limited time each has left, ticking off Jason’s wishes one by one. Along the way, Murray remembers what it’s like to be young, and Jason fights for the opportunity to grow old. But when tragedy strikes, their worlds are turned upside-down, and an unexpected gift is the only thing that can make Jason’s final wish come true.
100-year-old Murray McBride finds new meaning in life, and starts a positive butterfly effect on the lives of those around him, in this series about coming of age, friendship, purpose.
This heartwarming coming-of-old-age novel is perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove and Mike Gayle’s All the Lonely People.
About the Author:
Long before The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride began winning awards and hitting Amazon bestseller lists, Joe Siple could be found at his computer, developing his voice as a writer. It took seventeen long years from the day he started his first fiction manuscript until Murray, Jason, and Tiegan propelled him to bestseller status. Seventeen years of failure and rejection…and growth.
Now, Siple’s stories are known from Austin, Texas to Sydney, Australia and from London, England to Cape Town, South Africa. Known for his heartfelt stories and relatable characters, Siple sees his writing as a tool for making the world a better, happier, move loving place.
He currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife and two daughters. (Taken from joesiplebooks.com)
What I thought…
It’s a great premise but I guess I am showing my age-bias. I had a hard time wrapping my head around a couple of things. First, could a 100-year-old man with a lung disease really pull this off. Second, could a 10-year-old child with a failing heart really be able to do all that he did? I know. I need to believe in miracles.
I think if Siple had presented this book as a fable, I could have appreciated it more. I also thought the opening and the ending, bookended by a magician telling his life story, was a bit odd. In fact, I had to stop and think a bit in the final chapter, “Who was this person now telling the tale?” I had forgotten. This was primarily due to the fact that the POV totally changes from the magician to Murray. (The format does, though, set up the second and third books in this trilogy.)
At times, Siple had Murray talking with the language and slang of someone who came of age during the 20s and 30s, so much so that Jason makes a bit of fun of him. But then when we’re inside Murray’s head, he thinks like a much younger man. It seemed more modern and a bit out of context. I also wanted to know more about his relationship with Chance, his grandson, which might have been resolved too quickly, and Murray’s modeling career. I think that would be an interesting story in itself—starting a modeling career when one is 100.
But, modeling doesn’t drive Murray. In fact not a lot does until he meets Jason.
I did enjoy Murray’s self-deprecating sense of humor and comments about aging.
I pick at the corner of my nose because I’m old and no one cares if I do stuff like that these days. (3)
She gave me a look like I should know it’s not called a heart ward anymore. I do. I just don’t care. (8)
I think I might be getting close to that stage in my life. “I just don’t care.”
Again, this is a heart warming tale full of lessons that need learned. I just couldn’t suspend my sense of disbelief. Call me jaded.
This was the first book in a trilogy. I probably won’t pick up the others.
The Food:
The Five Wishes of Mr. Murry McBride is not a food-centric book. There are cans of Chef Boyardee, some chicken soup, hamburger hot dish…. Not a lot to focus on.
Murray McBride is a famous baseball player from the 1920s and 30s. When he steps foot in Wrigley field again to help achieve one of the wishes, he instantly is taken back in time, especially of the smells like the popcorn aroma.
I think we all associate baseball with hotdogs (or peanuts and crackerjacks). I mentioned in a recent review of Ina Garten’s Go-To Dinners that I went immediately to her Hot Dogs in Puff Pastry, basically because I thought it was a totally unusual recipe to be in an Ina Garten cookbook. It was a quick and easy recipe and did elevate the hotdog. I’m not printing the recipe here but it is a simple idea. Just take a good all-beef hot dog (I used Nathan’s) and roll it in store-bought puff pasty spread with a bit of Dijon. Use an egg wash to seal the pastry and to brush the tops. She recommends Maldon salt on top. I used some Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute. According to Ina, these can even be prepped a few hours ahead and placed in the fridge until you’re ready to pop them in the oven. That’s exactly what I did.
The only thing I would do differently is to use a bit more Dijon inside. I served these with a side of broccoli salad and a LOT more mustard to dip in.
I really loved that I could make these ahead of time for a quick supper whenever we were ready. The meal just felt a bit more elevated because it was an Ina recipe.
I am hosting Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten for the February/March round of Cook the Books.
Announcement post here.
When my kids were young I would slit open the hot dog, stuff it with cheese, and wrap it in refrigerated crescent rolls. This reminded me of that. I didn’t know this book was the first in the series. The next two books must follow the life of the boy since McBride is gone.
I think one may be a flashback to Murray’s early days. But don’t quote me.
When an author is truly interested in the food his characters eat, it’s a pleasant surprise. Too bad this one wasn’t interested. It sounds like there is a forced element to the plot you described; I liked your review.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
True, but there are those books out there that throw a food slant in just to be a “foodie book.” There’s no substance in those either.
Thanks, for your review. I had the book reserved at my library, but will be canceling.
Well, I would give it a read. The message is good and I think some really liked it. Like I said, I’m probably too jaded.