Review: Run for the Hills | A Visit to BLMF Literary Saloon
“Their father had never been a bad parent. He had always been attentive, loving and patient. He had only become a bad parent when he disappeared, when he ceased to be a part of their life.”
Publisher’s Description: “Ever since her dad left them twenty years ago, it’s just been Madeline Hill and her mom on their farm in Coalfield, Tennessee. While she sometimes admits it’s a bit lonely and a less exciting life than she imagined for herself, it’s mostly OK. Mostly.
Then one day Reuben Hill pulls up in a PT Cruiser and informs Madeline that he believes she’s his half sister. Reuben—left behind by their dad thirty years ago—has hired a detective to track down their father and a string of other half siblings. And he wants Mad to leave her home and join him for the craziest kind of road trip imaginable to find them all.
As Mad and Rube—and eventually the others—share stories of their father, who behaved so differently in each life he created, they begin to question what he was looking for with each new incarnation. Who are they to one another? What kind of man will they find? And how will these new relationships change Mad’s previously solitary life on the farm?
Infused with deadpan wit, zany hijinks, and enormous heart, Run for the Hills is a sibling story like no other—a novel about a family forged under the most unlikely circumstances and united by hope in an unknown future.”
This book felt like watching an endearing childhood movie from the 2000s. A wild cast of characters that have a ton of heart, on an adventure you wish you could find yourself in one day. Tell me as a kid you didn’t also wish that maybe one day an older half-sibling would come and whisk you away on a blended family road trip?
I can’t say a lot happens in this book. But the cadence of the characters reminded me of a Fredrik Backman novel, and for that reason I was hooked. They were all very human and flawed, but special in a way that made you attached to them. The variety of backstories made the book feel full and I found myself caring about each one of the people that was brought into this chaotic story.
I wouldn't be surprised if this book is picked up by an indie filmmaker at some point, it has that ‘let’s look beneath the surface but in a way that makes you think too much about your own life even though you’re consuming this media to excape’ essence that we just can’t get enough of in today’s movie culture.
The ending was almost satisfying. If I had any criticism, I think the book could have used a few more chapters (how often does anyone really say this?) to round out the story. But if you want a heartfelt palette cleanser with low stakes but big feelings, this would be a great pick.
My rating: 3.75/5
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BLMF Literary Saloon (Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA)
We are continuing in our series of bookstores that live in Pike Place Market! This was my second find during my day in Seattle. Used books cover, quite literally, every surface of this store. I don’t think one more book could have physically made its way in. And while I found this overwhelming at first, I ended up enjoying the stocked shelves and winding aisles that made this small location feel like a cozy treasure hunt away from the market crowds.
BLMF has had the same owner for over 26 years, which is pretty rare and special. Every book is lovingly curated, and in case you’re wondering what BLMF stands for… I found the answer but I’ll let you guys speculate in the comments about that one.
