What a weird and wonderful story this is. Vin Vambly is an auto mechanic from Minnesota, and Perry is an investment banker her meets in San Francisco. Vin decides to 'king' Perry; something we learn he's done with other men in the past. The journey that Perry is taken on is truly bizarre, and at times I could feel myself joining him in his frustration and confusion. The way it led to his epiphany on the mountain, and the crazy, bizarre and sometimes hilarious turns it took to get there kept me intrigued and glued to the page. Vin's character is at turns irritating, perplexing, heartbreaking, odd, beautiful, compassionate, loving, rage-inducing. My heart ached as bits of his back story were revealed and I was left hoping that we will ultimately see him rescued from his current position of being a lost king.The story unfolded in a truly deft fashion, where the reader is given the impression they are in on the plot, yet only know a bit more than Perry does at any given point in time. The ending was fitting for everything that had come before, but I am so glad there is at least one more book planned(though the name implies that it's a prequel - I need resolution for Vin!) I have to confess and admit that I am not usually speechless around books. With this one I was, maybe because something in it touched a sore point with me. This left me wanting a ‘Vin’ in my life, someone to help me get a hold of myself and get over things instead of standing there, wallowing in them. Forgiveness is not an easy thing to preach, write about or to try. It leaves you vulnerable and strong at the same time. Both the reaching out and the accepting are so so hard but leave us reborn, strong and supple at the same time. Such courage is rewarded, we are left much richer. Thankyou Mr Manning for having the gumption to write this.I loved Manning’s style, his quirky observations, his sense of humour, the camaderie. I love the feeling conveyed of not taking things, including ourselves, so so seriously, to see the silly in everything, to smile, laugh and enjoy. The story is surreal but the writing is so real, so full of craziness of daily life. Information trickled in slowly while I got to know the characters and I was allowed to piece everything together piece by piece. Most of the time, I was confused, was I reading some fairy tale or something real. Is Manning trying to trick me? Is Vin delusional, what is he doing, who is he? My heart aches for him, so confident, tough, quiXotic and so vulnerable.The story did not end with me having all the answers, because I don’t, I’ve got tonnes of questions which I look forward to resolving as I continue to read the next book.
What do You think about King Perry (2012)?
Do not call me Ashley. My Alcatraz name is... Blackberry.
—Princereader7
★★★★½ - Great, would highly recommend.
—DeathsOnlyAngel
