Gun Love

A Novel

By: Jennifer Clement

Narrated by: Imani Parks

LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • “Fortified with wit and tenderness . . . Gun Love potently illuminates a puzzled land.”—O: The Oprah Magazine

NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST FICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TIME • SHORTLISTED FOR THE ASPEN WORDS LITERARY PRIZE

The searing, unforgettable story of a young girl's resilience, by the award-winning author of Prayers for the Stolen

Pearl's mother took her away from her family just weeks after she was born, and drove off to central Florida determined to begin a new life for herself and her daughter--in the parking lot next to a trailer park. Pearl grew up in the front seat of their '94 Mercury, while her mother lived in the back. Despite their hardships, mother and daughter both adjusted to life, making friends with the residents of the trailers and creating a deep connection to each other. All around them, Florida is populated with gun owners--those hunting alligators for sport, those who want to protect their families, and those who create a sense of danger.

Written in a gorgeous lyric all its own, Gun Love is the story of a tough but optimistic young woman growing up in contemporary America, in the midst of its harrowing love affair with firearms.

Mediocre

I’m glad it wasn’t longer than what it was. Felt like a padded out short story. Not sure why all the accolades for this book, other than people who have never been poor like to fantasize about what it must be like.

Great character writer

Jennifer Clement knows how to get you attached to a character. She includes the right combination of first person and omniscient narration, giving one the feeling of knowing someone intimately while also being in the background of their life - watching. However, the overall story line leaves the reader wanting more. Especially the ending. I had to rewind it several times to understand why it felt like it just suddenly stopped. But it's worth the listen just to come to know Pearl and her life growing up in her mothers car.