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Checking Out

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'Checking Out' by Nick Spalding follows the story of Nathan James, a man who seemingly has it all - a luxurious lifestyle, a successful career, and a beautiful girlfriend. However, his life takes a drastic turn when he receives the devastating news of having an inoperable brain tumor, leading him to confront his mortality and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Through a series of hilarious and heartwarming adventures, Nathan navigates his newfound reality, finding humor and humanity amidst the challenges he faces. The book combines moments of rib-tickling laughter with touching insights, offering a unique blend of comedy and emotional depth. Spalding's writing style infuses British humor and wit, creating a narrative that balances light-hearted humor with poignant reflections on life and death.

Characters:

Characters are quirky and well-developed, with Nathan evolving from a superficial man into a more relatable and seeking character.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is humorous and engaging, adept at combining absurdity with poignant emotion, written in present tense to enhance immediacy.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Nathan, a 33-year-old man who learns he has an inoperable brain tumor, leading him on a quest to find meaning and come to terms with his impending death.

Setting:

The story is set in contemporary England, grounding the narrative in relevant societal context.

Pacing:

The pacing is mostly effective, balancing comedy and poignant moments, though some parts may feel a bit slow.
Right as I’m about to start taking questions, my uninhibited girlfriend has given me a seductive wink and pulled her slinky red dress up over her thighs to reveal the fact that she’s evidently forgott...

Notes:

The main character, Nathan James, is 33 years old and has an inoperable brain tumor.
Nathan is portrayed as having a superficial but not malicious personality.
The book mixes humor with tragic themes, often causing readers to laugh and cry simultaneously.
Nick Spalding typically writes from multiple points of view, but this book is solely from Nathan's perspective.
Nathan's adventures include a memorable scene at a donkey sanctuary that left readers in hysterics.
The book ends on a bittersweet note, avoiding a typical last-minute miracle resolution.
Set in England, the story mentions contemporary topics, including references to Trump.
Readers find Nathan's journey relatable as he tries to make the most of his limited time.
Several reviews mention that the book features a mix of humor, warmth, and absurd situations, making it enjoyable despite its heavy subject matter.
The author is noted for his clever British humor and unique character development.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers may include discussions of terminal illness, cancer, humorous depictions of death, and emotional distress.

Has Romance?

While the book includes a romantic subplot, it is not the central focus of the narrative.

From The Publisher:

What do you do when the doctor says you could die at any moment? Well...after you've made a cup of tea, of course.

Nathan James is young, successful and has the world at his feet. Unfortunately, he's also about to die-which ruins things somewhat. And now he's staring imminent death in the face, Nathan is having to rethink some of his life choices very hard.

This means embarking on a hectic journey of self-discovery that includes, amongst other things, losing his dignity to an inescapable bean bag, suffering screaming nightmares about a monstrous potato, and getting up close and very personal with a bipolar donkey.

All of which is fine, but then Nathan falls in love with a charming girl called Alison, which is a really stupid thing to do. Because how can you give your heart to someone when it might be about to stop?

From Nick Spalding, the bestselling author of Fat Chance, Bricking It and Mad Love, comes a comedy about dying-which is easy-and living, which is most certainly not.

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