Review: The trouble with truffles... and unicorns
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 26, 2013
Charles should have known better than to bring home a unicorn that he found while hiking in the woods one day. But as a widower trying to raise his middle-school daughter Lexi, he thought a pet unicorn would make her happy, so he brought it home. Unfortunately the unicorn was an ungrateful wretch who had only insults for Charles and demanded haute cuisine instead of the tasteless livestock pellets that Charles fed him.Heading into town one night to find some truffles for the unicorn, Charles is completely unprepared for the adventure that awaits him. In the space of a few hours, he meets an old high school friend, runs down a girl with his car, faces gangs of marauding thugs, learns about voodoo first-hand, and narrowly escapes with his life.This was one of the most original and enjoyable stories that I've read in a long time. It ran the gamut from laugh-out-loud funny to cringing during one very gruesome scene. The characters ranged from bland and clueless (Charles) to certifiable nut cases (Andromeda, who had a bizarre eating disorder) to abusive and whiny (the unicorn). After a great build-up, the story's climax was a complete surprise, but it was perfectly believable within the context of the story.Highly recommended for a great short read. And if your kid wants a pet, stick with dogs and cats, and if they don't like their food, let them whine all they want.