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yodamom's review against another edition
1.0
OK, I did not finish it so my reveiw may be unfair. I did not like the pace nor the characters. I quit.
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
I could really relate to Fanboy and I felt like my story was being told for maybe the first time. These are real people with real feelings. I can think of no higher praise.
applegnreads's review against another edition
4.0
This was horrifying, sad, hopeful, etc. I cried a couple of times and a few times didn't even want to finish, but by the end I was a fan.
celtic_oracle's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. One - yay for the great focus on comic geek culture! Two - yay for a page-turner that I had a hard time putting down.
And then there's three - boo for the final scene with Dina. Where did that come from? It doesn't fit, and comes off as nothing more than wish fulfillment. Ditto the second flashing from Kyra - seriously? At least the first one kind of has a purpose from a character standpoint. But someone who explicitly states she doesn't want to be seen as a sex object suddenly letting it all hang out? Um, no.
And four - boo for the ending. Left me completely meh. So I guess three stars is a reasonable compromise.
And then there's three - boo for the final scene with Dina. Where did that come from? It doesn't fit, and comes off as nothing more than wish fulfillment. Ditto the second flashing from Kyra - seriously? At least the first one kind of has a purpose from a character standpoint. But someone who explicitly states she doesn't want to be seen as a sex object suddenly letting it all hang out? Um, no.
And four - boo for the ending. Left me completely meh. So I guess three stars is a reasonable compromise.
immoralrite's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing
thebrainlair's review against another edition
4.0
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga (2007)
labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this. Up until the end.
It's a great story, really. I don't remember what made me put it on my library to-read list, though the title alone got my attention. It's like a story about my friends from high school and my friends now. I'll let you decide which is which.
I like Don (I think that was the kid's name? Though it's only used once or twice...maybe I should call him FB), and I felt for him. Excruciatingly felt for him. Wanted to reach through the audiobook and punch people in the face felt for him. And I wanted very much to read his comic book (don't ask me how to spell it).
He was very much overdramatic moody teenager in his own right, but stuff really sucked for him, and the whole situation was very unpleasant. I liked that Kyra appeared and was a supplement to his friendship with Cal. Despite the fact that Cal kind of forgot about him when his jock friends were around, I really liked him. I liked that he straddled both "worlds", jock and nerd, and did them both well.
I liked Kyra. I liked her because she was responsible for all the Neil Gaiman references, and because she was dark and moody. I genuinely wish the story had not ended for her the way it did, though, again, moody overdramatic teenager. Though her overdramatizing was a lot more well deserved than FB's. Mother death does that.
I liked the bullet-as-worry-rock, though there was something deeply unsettling to me every time it was mentioned and relied on so heavily.
I did not like the huge fight scene between FB and Kyra. At all. At all at all. It was cruel and unnecessary and I said nasty words to my phone while that part was playing through my headphones.
I was worried from the start about the meeting with. Um. Bendis? I don't know if he's an actual person in real life or not, so hopefully I'm not offending every comic fan in the world by not spelling that right. I didn't think he would be rude, but I knew this wasn't going to be the magical moment he was expecting, where all his dreams came true.
The scene worked, because you didn't hate the guy. Not even when FB started hating him. It's like meeting your favorite actor and discovering that s/he isn't going to fawn all over you like you'd hoped in your imagination and run away with you. I'm looking at you, Hiddleston. Don't let me down.
I was worried about the party scene, expecting the extremely stereotypical plot point of going to the high school party, everyone is friends now and all is forgiven, kumbayah. And when he started talking to Dena, and she was talking about what a genius he is, I cringed. Please tell me they're not. She's not going to drunkenly hit on him, or worse, profess her true love.
I liked where we ended with Tony the Step Fascist (best nickname ever, by the way). The ending to the mother part not so much, I would've liked something in the way of, "Remember how you stopped wanting to hear about the douchebags tormenting me?" I mean, my parents never told me they were tired of me complaining about how I was treated back in the day. That would've destroyed me. Though I did eventually stop bringing it home with me, that may have helped.
And the "revenge is a dish best served cold" scene...well, I enjoyed that far more than I should admit. And I'm keeping that in mind, should my godchildren grow up and get picked on. We may have to have a quiet conversation away from his parents. (NOT telling Falon. She's almost 15, and she knows how to throw a punch. That's enough). Up to and including the scene in the principal's office, which.........god, didn't we all have that fantasy in high school?
This would've gotten another star if it weren't for that ending. I didn't want FB to "save" Kyra, or anything that trite. That would've bumped it down to 2 stars. But her ending was very unsatisfactory. Left a bad taste in my mouth. It really messes up her character overall.
Oh, also, Joss Whedon mention. Hmm. That makes me want to bump it up to four stars, but I won't.
It's a great story, really. I don't remember what made me put it on my library to-read list, though the title alone got my attention. It's like a story about my friends from high school and my friends now. I'll let you decide which is which.
I like Don (I think that was the kid's name? Though it's only used once or twice...maybe I should call him FB), and I felt for him. Excruciatingly felt for him. Wanted to reach through the audiobook and punch people in the face felt for him. And I wanted very much to read his comic book (don't ask me how to spell it).
He was very much overdramatic moody teenager in his own right, but stuff really sucked for him, and the whole situation was very unpleasant. I liked that Kyra appeared and was a supplement to his friendship with Cal. Despite the fact that Cal kind of forgot about him when his jock friends were around, I really liked him. I liked that he straddled both "worlds", jock and nerd, and did them both well.
I liked Kyra. I liked her because she was responsible for all the Neil Gaiman references, and because she was dark and moody. I genuinely wish the story had not ended for her the way it did, though, again, moody overdramatic teenager. Though her overdramatizing was a lot more well deserved than FB's. Mother death does that.
I liked the bullet-as-worry-rock, though there was something deeply unsettling to me every time it was mentioned and relied on so heavily.
Spoiler
Especially once Kyra was involved. I saw the "Kyra steals the bullet/suicide fear" coming very early on, but this didn't feel like that kind of YA, so I wasn't worried.I did not like the huge fight scene between FB and Kyra. At all. At all at all. It was cruel and unnecessary and I said nasty words to my phone while that part was playing through my headphones.
I was worried from the start about the meeting with. Um. Bendis? I don't know if he's an actual person in real life or not, so hopefully I'm not offending every comic fan in the world by not spelling that right. I didn't think he would be rude, but I knew this wasn't going to be the magical moment he was expecting, where all his dreams came true.
The scene worked, because you didn't hate the guy. Not even when FB started hating him. It's like meeting your favorite actor and discovering that s/he isn't going to fawn all over you like you'd hoped in your imagination and run away with you. I'm looking at you, Hiddleston. Don't let me down.
I was worried about the party scene, expecting the extremely stereotypical plot point of going to the high school party, everyone is friends now and all is forgiven, kumbayah. And when he started talking to Dena, and she was talking about what a genius he is, I cringed. Please tell me they're not. She's not going to drunkenly hit on him, or worse, profess her true love.
Spoiler
That scene ended up being a favorite, though. I liked that she kind of verbally slapped him around, told him to get over it and move on. The make out session was a bit much, but I'll chalk that up to drunkenness, and a plot device to move the Kyra storyline forward.I liked where we ended with Tony the Step Fascist (best nickname ever, by the way). The ending to the mother part not so much, I would've liked something in the way of, "Remember how you stopped wanting to hear about the douchebags tormenting me?" I mean, my parents never told me they were tired of me complaining about how I was treated back in the day. That would've destroyed me. Though I did eventually stop bringing it home with me, that may have helped.
And the "revenge is a dish best served cold" scene...well, I enjoyed that far more than I should admit. And I'm keeping that in mind, should my godchildren grow up and get picked on. We may have to have a quiet conversation away from his parents. (NOT telling Falon. She's almost 15, and she knows how to throw a punch. That's enough). Up to and including the scene in the principal's office, which.........god, didn't we all have that fantasy in high school?
This would've gotten another star if it weren't for that ending. I didn't want FB to "save" Kyra, or anything that trite. That would've bumped it down to 2 stars. But her ending was very unsatisfactory. Left a bad taste in my mouth. It really messes up her character overall.
Oh, also, Joss Whedon mention. Hmm. That makes me want to bump it up to four stars, but I won't.
missbookiverse's review against another edition
4.0
Kurz und knapp
Auf jeden Fall ein Buch, das ich aus einem brennenden Buchladen retten würde. Es eignet sich wunderbar für alle Comicvernarrten, die ihre bebilderten Lieblingsseiten auch mal gegen Text pur eintauschen wollen, ohne auf die Erwähnung ihrer Lieblingshefte und Künstler verzichten zu müssen. Aber Achtung vor Charakteren, die so echt sind, dass sie schon mal nerven können.
Lang und breit
The Astonishing Adventures Of Fanboy and Goth Girl beweist mal wieder, dass ich Bücher mit langen Titeln liebe. Vermutlich werde ich auch gar nicht viel über diesen Roman sagen können, weil mir eben schnell die Worte wegbleiben, wenn ich etwas richtig toll fand.
Zuallererst gibt es da die äußerst liebenswerten Charaktere, die alles andere als fehlerfrei daherkommen. Hauptfigur Donnie (bzw. Fanboy) ist sogar ein ziemliches Weichei. Er verkörpert den typischen Schulloser, der so gut wie keine Freunde hat, Sport hasst und Comics liebt. Durch seine Rolle, die Fanboy voll auslebt, geht er einigen Lesern sicher schnell auf die Nerven. Fanboy hat einfach keinen Arsch in der Hose, lässt sich herumschubsen und bemitleidet sich mit Vorliebe selbst. Aber ich mochte ihn trotzdem. Gerade als Teenager sieht man es halt gern so, dass alle anderen Schuld haben. Außerdem hat mir seine Begeisterung für Comics gefallen. Ich konnte mit vielen Namen und Titeln zwar nichts anfangen, aber die Leidenschaft, die von Fanboy ausgeht, vor allem wenn er an seinem eigenen Comic (pardon, „graphic novel“) Projekt arbeitet, war mitreißend. Genau wie er habe ich der Begegnung mit seinem Comicidol Bendis entgegengefiebert und entgegen aller Vermutungen gehofft, dass Bendis ihn nicht enttäuschen würde. Was habe ich gelitten als er Bendis dann endlich trifft und... pssst, müsst ihr natürlich selbst lesen.
Ganz unvermittelt tritt Kyra – Goth Girl – in Fanboys Leben und mischt es ordentlich auf. Das vorlaute Mädchen ist genau wie Fanboy eine gewöhnungsbedürftige Figur. Durch ihren Zigarettenkonsum und Sprachgebrauch kommt sie sehr derbe rüber, aber ich konnte immer wieder ein paar Funken Wahrheit in ihren harten Aussagen entdecken. Stück für Stück blitzt da auch ein verletzliches Mädchen unter der wütenden Schale durch, das mit einer komplizierten Vergangenheit zu kämpfen hat. Ich hätte garantiert Schwierigkeiten mich mit Kyra anzufreunden, aber aus der Ferne einer Buchseite konnte ich in Ruhe ihren Mut und ihre Offenheit bewundern.
Ganz kleine Rollen wie die von Fanboys Mutter und ihrem neuen Freund sind Barry Lyga ebenfalls ausgezeichnet gelungen. Er versteht es einfach sie durch kurze Gespräche zu charakterisieren und ihnen am Ende sogar eine relativ große Bedeutung zu geben.
All das garniert Barry Lyga mit seinem erstklassigen Schreibstil, viel Originalität und einer großzügigen Portion Humor. Definitiv einer meiner neuen Favoriten.
Die Unbeantworteten
Wie sieht Kyras Familiensituation aus? Was hat sie so abgebrüht?
Das erste Mal mit Barry Lyga?
Nein. Ich habe davor schon seinen Roman [b:Boy Toy|733111|Boy Toy|Barry Lyga|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1272339482s/733111.jpg|719300] gelesen, der mir genauso gut gefallen hat. Der Protagonist ist auch nicht so jammerig.
Das letzte Mal mit Barry Lyga?
Auf keinen Fall! Ich will inzwischen alles lesen, was dieser Herr verfasst hat. Dazu zählt zum Glück auch eine Fortsetzung von Fanboy und Goth Girl namens Goth Girl Rising. Ich bin gespannt.
Buchcover umtauschen?
No way. Das digitale Cover sieht allein ja schon toll aus, aber in echt glänzt das Hellblau sogar metallisch. Mit der roten Hardcover-Ausgabe würde ich mich allerdings auch zufrieden geben.
Auf jeden Fall ein Buch, das ich aus einem brennenden Buchladen retten würde. Es eignet sich wunderbar für alle Comicvernarrten, die ihre bebilderten Lieblingsseiten auch mal gegen Text pur eintauschen wollen, ohne auf die Erwähnung ihrer Lieblingshefte und Künstler verzichten zu müssen. Aber Achtung vor Charakteren, die so echt sind, dass sie schon mal nerven können.
Lang und breit
The Astonishing Adventures Of Fanboy and Goth Girl beweist mal wieder, dass ich Bücher mit langen Titeln liebe. Vermutlich werde ich auch gar nicht viel über diesen Roman sagen können, weil mir eben schnell die Worte wegbleiben, wenn ich etwas richtig toll fand.
Zuallererst gibt es da die äußerst liebenswerten Charaktere, die alles andere als fehlerfrei daherkommen. Hauptfigur Donnie (bzw. Fanboy) ist sogar ein ziemliches Weichei. Er verkörpert den typischen Schulloser, der so gut wie keine Freunde hat, Sport hasst und Comics liebt. Durch seine Rolle, die Fanboy voll auslebt, geht er einigen Lesern sicher schnell auf die Nerven. Fanboy hat einfach keinen Arsch in der Hose, lässt sich herumschubsen und bemitleidet sich mit Vorliebe selbst. Aber ich mochte ihn trotzdem. Gerade als Teenager sieht man es halt gern so, dass alle anderen Schuld haben. Außerdem hat mir seine Begeisterung für Comics gefallen. Ich konnte mit vielen Namen und Titeln zwar nichts anfangen, aber die Leidenschaft, die von Fanboy ausgeht, vor allem wenn er an seinem eigenen Comic (pardon, „graphic novel“) Projekt arbeitet, war mitreißend. Genau wie er habe ich der Begegnung mit seinem Comicidol Bendis entgegengefiebert und entgegen aller Vermutungen gehofft, dass Bendis ihn nicht enttäuschen würde. Was habe ich gelitten als er Bendis dann endlich trifft und... pssst, müsst ihr natürlich selbst lesen.
Ganz unvermittelt tritt Kyra – Goth Girl – in Fanboys Leben und mischt es ordentlich auf. Das vorlaute Mädchen ist genau wie Fanboy eine gewöhnungsbedürftige Figur. Durch ihren Zigarettenkonsum und Sprachgebrauch kommt sie sehr derbe rüber, aber ich konnte immer wieder ein paar Funken Wahrheit in ihren harten Aussagen entdecken. Stück für Stück blitzt da auch ein verletzliches Mädchen unter der wütenden Schale durch, das mit einer komplizierten Vergangenheit zu kämpfen hat. Ich hätte garantiert Schwierigkeiten mich mit Kyra anzufreunden, aber aus der Ferne einer Buchseite konnte ich in Ruhe ihren Mut und ihre Offenheit bewundern.
Ganz kleine Rollen wie die von Fanboys Mutter und ihrem neuen Freund sind Barry Lyga ebenfalls ausgezeichnet gelungen. Er versteht es einfach sie durch kurze Gespräche zu charakterisieren und ihnen am Ende sogar eine relativ große Bedeutung zu geben.
All das garniert Barry Lyga mit seinem erstklassigen Schreibstil, viel Originalität und einer großzügigen Portion Humor. Definitiv einer meiner neuen Favoriten.
Die Unbeantworteten
Wie sieht Kyras Familiensituation aus? Was hat sie so abgebrüht?
Das erste Mal mit Barry Lyga?
Nein. Ich habe davor schon seinen Roman [b:Boy Toy|733111|Boy Toy|Barry Lyga|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1272339482s/733111.jpg|719300] gelesen, der mir genauso gut gefallen hat. Der Protagonist ist auch nicht so jammerig.
Das letzte Mal mit Barry Lyga?
Auf keinen Fall! Ich will inzwischen alles lesen, was dieser Herr verfasst hat. Dazu zählt zum Glück auch eine Fortsetzung von Fanboy und Goth Girl namens Goth Girl Rising. Ich bin gespannt.
Buchcover umtauschen?
No way. Das digitale Cover sieht allein ja schon toll aus, aber in echt glänzt das Hellblau sogar metallisch. Mit der roten Hardcover-Ausgabe würde ich mich allerdings auch zufrieden geben.
electrobyte's review against another edition
Just not feeling it, doesn't feel like anything is happening and I'm over half way.
thewallflower00's review against another edition
5.0
Somewhere along my writing research I stumbled upon Barry Lyga's journal, who was giving a series of posts on writing advice. There wasn't a lot that was new to me, but I did like the conversational style he used. It reminded me of Jim C. Hines, but aimed at the younger. So I thought I might try one of his books. Plus the story idea appealed to me--goth girls were one of my adolescent fantasies.
But what struck me was how similar it was to stories I wrote in my teenage years. A disaffected loser who does nothing but introspect and whine forms a relationship with an unstable goth girl. Hilarity ensues. Of course, saying the two are similar are like saying "Old Man's War" and "Avatar" are similar. That's what made it the most fun, but that's a characteristic that can only appeals to me.
Now I'm a Barry Lyga fan, and I plan to read more of his novels soon.
But what struck me was how similar it was to stories I wrote in my teenage years. A disaffected loser who does nothing but introspect and whine forms a relationship with an unstable goth girl. Hilarity ensues. Of course, saying the two are similar are like saying "Old Man's War" and "Avatar" are similar. That's what made it the most fun, but that's a characteristic that can only appeals to me.
Now I'm a Barry Lyga fan, and I plan to read more of his novels soon.