I was super into this book at first, but it went wayyy downhill. As others have noted, the author sprinkles rape (including of minors), torture, animal cruelty, and other gratuitous violence throughout the entire second half of the book. He also makes the unjustifiable decision to use the n-word completely outside of any historical context, simply for the shock value I suppose. I kept hoping it was going somewhere despite all these issues, but the ending was completely anticlimactic. It's a shame because there were some wonderfully imaginative chapters, and I did like some of the humor. But overall, it felt like it was written by an edgy (and white/straight/male) teenager.

ETA Some people compared this to Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchett, who happen to be some of my favorite authors. I get the comparison on a very surface level (overall zaniness, some dry humor), but this book spends so much time wallowing in the depths of human suffering that I can't imagine any of those three writing anything like it. Not even Gaiman at his darkest. I think the difference is that they are interested in finding some of the awe and wonder in our existence whereas Michael Poore would rather hit the reader over the head with how shitty humans can be to each other. ( )

I expected this book to be fun -- and it was, but I also found it to be a very robust and deep novel. Overall, it reads more like interlocking short stories with the connecting theme being the main character and the ideas of what it means to seek redemption and how to be one's best self. ( )

I really loved the concept of this book although the second half dragged for me. I think it could’ve been a lot shorter. ( )

I went into Reincarnation Blues cold after receiving it as a recommendation from NetGalley. I thought the cover looked like The Hike and thought it was going to be in a similar vein. It is a strange little book at times and kind of a fun adventure.

The book follows Milo as he faces death for the 9,995th time. Each time he dies, he wakes up on the shore and is guided by Suzie aka Death as he recovers.

Milo has begun to enjoy his deaths, but perfection still alludes him. He states that he has chosen not to chase that dream since he is having too much fun. The problem is he only has 5 more chances to get it right before becoming nothing. If he can achieve it, he joins the oneness of the universe and has eternal bliss.

The reason Milo enjoys dying is because he has fallen in love with Suzie and each time he dies, he gets to spend time with her. Suzie also loves Milo, but knows this is a relationship that cannot be because Death cannot love a human being.

This now lays out the adventure as Milo has 5 more chances and Suzie becomes conflicted so much so that she considers giving up her position. The book continues looking it Milo's remaining lives as well as his time in the bardo.

This was a fun book with some predictable parts and some very slow parts. Overall, I loved the whole concept and storyline of the book. There were some of Milo's lives that just bogged the book down a bit. He has some very fast lives which are more enjoyable than his very lengthy extended lives. I was wondering why Poore made some of the decisions he did as his interactions with Suzie were much more enjoyable than his time on Earth.

As a reader, Milo becomes a great character as you get to know some of his lives and the choices he makes. There are some moments where Milo is conscious of his previous lives and makes choices to listen or not to listen to his past lives' voices. That was a lot of fun.

I did wonder if Buddhists will not enjoy one of his lives as he comes to know Buddha and does something that may anger some readers. Again a question of why he chose that path as it didn't really effect the character's arc.

As stated, I did enjoy the book as a whole, but did find myself skipping and coasting through some of Milo's lives as I enjoyed the Bardo' storyline much more. I just wish Poore had spent a bit more time there.

I gave this one 3.5 stars.

*I want to thank NetGalley for the early release. I received it for free in exchange for an honest review.* ( )

What a treat! This story has blossomed in my imagination ever since I read it. Whenever I would think about the trials and tribulations of my life my mind would unconsciously relate it back to Reincarnation Blues.

The main character, Milo, is a lot like me in one respect—sometimes I need to do something many, many times over until I get it right. That 'something' for Milo is enlightenment. And the 'many times over' part is his thousands of reincarnated lives, one by one. Sometimes he takes one good step forward on his eternal path of glory, and sometimes he takes two steps back. We all feel that.

Milo's love interest is Death. No, not that death. But actually, yes, that death. In Reincarnation Blues, death, aka the Grim Reaper, aka the one who snatches life away at the end, is personified as a young woman. So, yeah, the story is kind of a rom-com but in a wonderfully original way. ( )