Although crows are the main characters, this book is nothing like Caw of the Wild, and the crows are nothing like real crows. They are parodies of human behavior, and I used crows as the vehicle because, since they were not real...in fact, some of them were puppets that came to life...I was able to weave in ridiculous scenarios that would never be possible in real life. But they fit the themes of the story, and I have always used humor to explore human nature. Here, that takes human nature to the extreme.
Dervish, the chaos machine, never seems to take anything seriously and gets himself and everyone around him into trouble. Although he has a big heart, it's mostly filled with love for himself. He isn't cruel, and I think most readers will find him lovable.
Walter, his brother, is a naive soul...too trusting in some ways and too cautious in others. Betrayed and not able to cope with the harshness of modern life, he finds an idealized but impossible love object in Gypsy. She is another damaged soul, and whereas Walter thinks too much, Gypsy doesn't think at all, and her lack of insight is both a liability and a catalyst for Walter's growth.
Throw in an eccentric vet who treats ants that have met with unfortunate shoe accidents, and watch her try to treat the animals in her clinic in quite unconventional ways.
If you like light reading with twists you never see coming, sprinkled with an emotional gut punch or two, this might be something you'd enjoy.
A review from Readers' Favorite:
"Barb Kirpluk's Seahorses in the Olive Jar is a sharp, playful book that mixes a large helping of whimsy, balanced by some moments of genuine feeling."
"Barb Kirpluk's talent shines in crafting a wide range of characters who feel alive and flawed, with hilarious interactions."
"Loki the endearing Shetland Sheepdog, quietly won my heart with her gentle persistence and loyalty, becoming the very tender counterpoint to the madness."
"Very highly recommended."
