Editorial Content for Life in a Fishbowl

LIFE IN A FISHBOWL is the third book from Len Vlahos, owner of the Tattered Cover bookstore in Denver, Colorado. This book encompasses the life of a family facing terminal illness.

Jackie Stone shares a close relationship with her father, Jared. They do everything together and her father is seemingly the only person who completely understands her. When Jared become distant, Jackie can’t understand what she did to upset him. Soon after, the Stone family learns Jared has an inoperable brain tumor and is expected to live four months or less.

"LIFE IN A FISHBOWL is a great read for people searching for a new spin on the issue of terminal illnesses and the power they have on families."

Struck with panic, Jared attempts to sell his life on eBay in order for his family to be well-supported when he passes on. A wide array of people bid on his life: a nun, a teenage girl, a deranged man and a television director. In the end, the television director “wins” the life of Jared Stone and chooses to turn the Stone’s hardship into a widely popular reality show.

In the beginning the family --- apart from Jackie --- enjoy starring in a hit television show. As the show progresses, however, the members of the family are no longer stars, they are victims. They encounter attacks, a murder and an unfolding of events they never could have envisioned. Much to Jackie’s chagrin, her father is portrayed in a much more fragile medical and mental state than he is actually in.

LIFE IN A FISHBOWL is a book unlike anything I’ve read. Told from multiple points of view, the storyline includes all of the bidders, the Stone family and even Glio, the tumor himself. The progression of the plot was unforeseen throughout the book. The lack of true chapters provided an interesting and unique read, though I felt it also caused a feeling of chaos when reading. The shifts from one point of view to another are sporadically placed within each section of the book and feel misguided.

Though the majority of the characters were relevant additions to the story, I felt as though Glio was an unnecessary character and tended to weigh the plot down at times. Glio presented the memories and events in Jared’s life as other characters re-lived them and the repetition could easily lead to readers losing interest in the book.

LIFE IN A FISHBOWL is a great read for people searching for a new spin on the issue of terminal illnesses and the power they have on families.