Taking Flight

by JT Torres
Taking Flight cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Magical Realism
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Paperback • £7.99
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Technical
  • ID: 3052
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781912054022
  • Publisher: Fairlight Books
  • Published: 2021-07-08
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In 'Taking Flight,' JT Torres weaves a delicate and poignant story about the complex relationship between a grandson and his grandmother. As Tito grows up, his grandmother teaches him the art of weaving magic to keep loved ones close, a skill that becomes both a source of joy and a dangerous game as her mind deteriorates. Their bond is tested as they struggle with a particular spell that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, exploring themes of love, need, and the difficulties of mental illness. The novel beautifully captures the intricacies of family ties and the pain of watching a loved one succumb to dementia, making it a deeply moving and thought-provoking read.

Reviews
Eriereader · 2021-10-14
insightful 4.00

The book reads like a memoir and offers a deeply personal and introspective journey. The reviewer highlights the author's ability to convey complex emotions and experiences in a way that feels both intimate and universal.

This reviewer describes Taking Flight as a book that reads like a memoir, offering a deeply personal and introspective journey. They appreciate the author's ability to convey complex emotions and experiences in a way that feels both intimate and universal. The reviewer notes that the book's exploration of family, migration, and mental health is both heartbreaking and magical, making it a unique and compelling read. They also highlight the author's prose as masterful, capable of lingering in the reader's mind long after the book is finished.

Quick quotes

    Taking Flight is a perfect book to start on in this series and it is JT Torres' debut.

    It reads like a memoir, and it is, but the author also weaves in elements of magic and heartbreak.

    The author's prose is masterful, and the confrontation with grief and alienation is both inspired and moving.

Loree Westron's Blog · 2021-07-22
heartwarming 4.50

The book is a poignant exploration of loneliness and the need for unconditional love, blending humor and heartbreak. The reviewer appreciates the emotional depth and the way it resonates with universal human experiences.

This reviewer found Taking Flight to be a deeply moving story that captures the essence of loneliness and the universal longing for unconditional love. The narrative is both funny and heartbreaking, making it a relatable and emotionally rich experience. They particularly admire how the author weaves these themes together, creating a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned. The reviewer also notes that the book's exploration of these themes feels both personal and universal, making it a compelling read for anyone who has ever felt the ache of isolation or the joy of deep connection.

Quick quotes

    At its core, it is a powerful story about the desperation of loneliness and the very basic need for unconditional love.

    It is funny in places, heart-breaking in others, but always deeply human.

    The author's prose is masterful, and the confrontation with grief and alienation is both inspired and moving.

LoveReading · 2021-07-08
moving 4.50

The book is praised for its modern and heartbreaking exploration of family, migration, and mental health. The reviewer finds it to be a magical and deeply moving story that resonates with contemporary issues.

This reviewer commends Taking Flight for its thoroughly modern and heartbreaking yet magical exploration of family, migration, and mental health. They find the book to be a deeply moving story that resonates with contemporary issues and universal human experiences. The reviewer appreciates the author's ability to weave these themes together, creating a narrative that is both poignant and enchanting. They also highlight the book's emotional depth and its ability to linger in the reader's mind, making it a memorable and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    A thoroughly modern and heartbreaking yet magical exploration of family, migration, and mental health.

    The book's emotional depth and its ability to resonate with contemporary issues make it a standout read.

    The author's prose is masterful, and the confrontation with grief and alienation is both inspired and moving.

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