Balloon Animals

By Jonathan Dunne

Balloon Animals is a road-trip and pilgrimage of unusual dimensions.

Follow me, Jonny Rowe, on a wild goose-chase from Ireland to the USA with my American grandfather's remains in my red birthday balloon.

I use 'remains' in the loosest sense of the word: my grandfather, 45, puffed his last breaths of air into my birthday balloon before suffering a massive heart attack right there at my birthday party which becomes my deathday party.

Feeling responsible for 45's death and as a thank-you for filling Clinical Dad's void after leaving that questionable suicide note, I make it my quest to return 45 to his birthplace amongst the corn of Iowa, USA, suspended inside his soul-bubble. This journey might also help me with my identity-crisis ... I'm a genealogy student, by the way. And who knows, maybe I'll find love. I tend to find things when I'm not looking for them.

I have more detours on my pilgrimage than I had planned because 45 isn't the man we thought we knew ... if we ever knew him.

Join me on a desperate race against time to unveil the truth as my birthday balloon begins to deflate and loose 45 forever to the wind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonathan Dunne
• Release date: Dec 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301206049

Jonathan Dunne

Admittedly, Jonathan has done things arseways most of his life, from completing a BA in Literature in his thirties to fitting teeth brackets (30's, porcelain). During this general confusion, Jonathan has had various short stories published. Jonathan suffers from photophobia though has a tendency towards fireworks. Originally from Limerick, Ireland, he now lives the reclusive life in Toledo, Spain, as a bearded hermit, with his wife and three daughters. He is known to be found in the local cemetery at the weekend during daylight hours, though for goodness sake, don’t sneak up on him.  

Reviews for Balloon Animals

[librarykatz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Balloon Animals was a fun romp through a crisis of missing identity. Jonny, a post grad genealogy student, is floundering through his life, unsure of what to do next. Due to an unforeseen tragedy, Jonny is propelled into a search of comical proportions for that identity. But the question is, who does he really end up finding?

[misspider-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a very different book, full of weird episodes and surprising events, but in a good way. The beginning was a bit slow and felt repetitive, especially the scenes with his best friend Cha and the 'Reiki mistress', whom I couldn't relate to much. Several scenes felt overdone and unnecessary for the continuation of the story, like the author was still searching for the right tone. After some time, I really couldn't wait for Jonny to eventually be on his way to Iowa.Just as soon as he enters the airport, the real adventure begins and takes him on a surreal journey to the roots of his granddad's - and thus his own - fascinating history. That was the moment where I got hooked and couldn't wait to read what comical situation Jonny would stumble into next. The mood alternated between incredible and hilarious, but curiously, compared to the first half it felt less absurd to me. In between the story also pondered some serious considerations, somehow grounding the whole thing into the real world.'Balloon Animals' is an absolutely unique and fantastic tale the like of which I've never experienced before.(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

[huntersjones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Funny...sexy...intelligent.

This book is so well done I thought it was an autobiography when I first started reading it. Mr. Dunne takes the reader on a flight of fantasy in many ways. You will be captivated by the humanness of Johnny Rowe, from the first chapter. Congrats to Mr. Dunne for being one of the brave new wave of fiction writers that demands we, as readers, take a look--this is where an imagination can take you.

[elisabethzguta · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Balloon Animals is the craziest story, really out there, and I loved reading every minute of it. Jonathan Dunne has written a splendid tale and created memorable characters that are lovable despite their flaws. Real life drama could never be so hysterical. The story is different from anything I have encountered, as we follow Jonny Rowe's quest. The characters are a bit bizarre, yet I could relate to them. The more I read the more I laughed. There is also a sad side to this story. The ending was warm hearted. I definitely recommend this book if you want something different, funny and memorable.