This was a good read, though it wasn't clear straight away where it was going. The main strength of this novel lies in the original characters that each have a clear voice of their own. The supernatural element makes adds some fun to the story of this "gifted" family, but it is not the only focus of the book. As the relationships between the members of the Telemachus family develop, the book becomes more engaging and towards the end of the book, I really didn't want it to end. All of them are unlikely heroes, but you find yourself liking them more and more, even Frankie, as the strangest things and yet most ordinary things happen to them. A fun book!

Short Blurb:

A generations-spanning family of psychics--both blessed and burdened by their abilities--must use their powers to save themselves from the CIA, the local mafia, and a skeptic hell-bent on discrediting them in this hilarious, tender, magical novel about the invisible forces that bind us.

The Telemachus family is known for performing inexplicable feats on talk shows and late-night television. Teddy, a master conman, heads up a clan who possess gifts he only fakes: there's Maureen, who can astral project; Irene, the human lie detector; Frankie, gifted with telekinesis; and Buddy, the clairvoyant. But when, one night, the magic fails to materialize, the family withdraws to Chicago where they live in shame for years. Until: As they find themselves facing a troika of threats (CIA, mafia, unrelenting skeptic), Matty, grandson of the family patriarch, discovers a bit of the old Telemachus magic in himself. Now, they must put past obstacles behind them and unite like never before. But will it be enough to bring The Amazing Telemachus Family back to its amazing life?

Cover Review:

The cover isn't something I'd be really interested in, or intrigued by. The blurb though makes up for it pretty well. It had me hooked right there, before I even started reading!

Review:

The best thing about Spoonbenders is its pace. There's never a dull moment throughout the story. There's no chance for me to mentally urge the author to 'Go on!' The speed is exhilarating, it made me keep turning the pages even when my body wanted me to take a break.

There was a lot of shifting between the past and present, all through the book. It depends on the author how the shifting turns out. In this case, the shifting was real smooth. Not at all confusing, despite the fact that there were no breaks to indicate the change of time.

All the characters, Teddy, Irene, Maureen, Frankie, Buddy, Matty and even Smalls and Archibald were all intriguing characters. The chapters, all following different characters always ended in a cliffhanger, making me wait for the character's chapter to reappear in order to know what happens next! But it was a good wait because all characters had something interesting to tell!

My favorite parts were the chapters following Buddy. I found him to be the most mysterious character in the book. He seemed to know everything and yet know nothing at all. It made him to be all the more interesting and intriguing!

And the ending? My God, it's the best!

Spoonbenders was a real page turner, and a must read for anyone and everyone!

Spoonbenders gets a 5 Stars rating, because it deserves it!

Spoonbenders is a quirky and amusing novel about a dysfunctional family of psychics and con artists. The Telemachus family—Teddy and Maureen and their three children—were a national sensation until the day they went on television and were less than magical. Twenty years after their fall from grace, grandson Matty discovers that he has some psychic powers like his family, and finds himself caught up in the middle on the ongoing family drama as they fight for money, power, and love.

The novel is told from the perspective of the main members of the family, jumping back and forth to show their different abilities and priorities. This gives it the classic feel of an intergenerational novel, with family secrets and troubles being hidden and revealed. The hijinks and troubles with the government, with the local mob, and with each other are amusing, but also carry the level of threat of a gangster story or similar to keep narrative tension. The writing is straightforward and Gregory carefully withholds small details and reveals them with dramatic or casual effect. Unsurprisingly, the characters are larger than life, especially charismatic trickster Teddy and outsider son Buddy, and their complex family relationships give the novel a fun humanity akin to any family drama.

Spoonbenders feels like a Wes Anderson film written down. It is imaginative and enjoyable, a great light read with some decent stakes and a combination of real powers and tricks.