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madisone's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide
Minor: Blood and Vomit
callmenick's review against another edition
TW: sexual assault
If you're looking to simmer in that magical feeling you got from watching DPS, just rewatch the movie instead of starting this book. I picked it up hoping it would add something new to the story, but no luck. 10 out of 15 chapters in and the writing still doesn't evoke any emotion from me. A significant amount of the dialogue is lifted straight from the screenplay yet the novel doesn't seem to explore the dynamic between the boys at all. It's a crying shame that N.H. Kleinbaum was given this gem of a plot and these brilliant characters to work with and the novel turned out to be incredibly disappointing. Had to stop at that absolutely insane assault scene which was completely pointless.
If you're looking to simmer in that magical feeling you got from watching DPS, just rewatch the movie instead of starting this book. I picked it up hoping it would add something new to the story, but no luck. 10 out of 15 chapters in and the writing still doesn't evoke any emotion from me. A significant amount of the dialogue is lifted straight from the screenplay yet the novel doesn't seem to explore the dynamic between the boys at all. It's a crying shame that N.H. Kleinbaum was given this gem of a plot and these brilliant characters to work with and the novel turned out to be incredibly disappointing. Had to stop at that absolutely insane assault scene which was completely pointless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
lee8's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
While i loved the movie and could watch it on repeat for days on end… this book disappointed me. It truly just feels like a simplified, less emotional version of the movie. I feel like the fast pace didn’t match the slowness of the movie and a story with so much detail and necessary slowness doesn’t translate into a book very well in this case. Not to mention the disgusting way the teacher and students think about women. The sexualization and assault of women made me dislike the book even more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gun violence and Suicide
sleepy_ink's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Loved it, me and all my friends read it and each of us cried, and we might be obsessed now...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Vomit
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
cos_is_me's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
LMAO just watch the movie. This is pretty much just a dull, tell-don’t-show, retelling of the film, with extra misogyny and no charm. It takes just as long to read the book as it would to watch the film, so read it if u want, but there’s really no point. The author makes it so hard to care about the characters because they’re written in such a dull way and doesn’t do anything to compensate for the absence of the actors’ energy or chemistry
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Suicide
probablytoolate's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, and Alcohol
kajasversion's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
An amazing novel, would definitely read it again. I was rooting for all of them (except Knox at the end cuz wtf man) and it really hurt to see what they were going through. The message of this book and what Oh Captain, My Captain tried to teach them is extremely valuable advice. Everyone should follow it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse
imrereads's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As you probably know, this is a novel based on a film, and you can honestly tell. It very often felt like the author was simply writing what was on the screen (or more likely, making the script look like a novel), afraid to make any decisions or interpretations of their own. I think if the author had, it would have benefited the book. It would have given it another layer of... something. I do wonder if I would have felt this way if I didn't know it was a novelisation.
It was still an enjoyable book, I will say. It's short and easy, I read it happily in one sitting. I just wish there was more oomph to it. I wish we got more into the characters' heads, because as is it, we only see them from outside, very much like a film.
It was still an enjoyable book, I will say. It's short and easy, I read it happily in one sitting. I just wish there was more oomph to it. I wish we got more into the characters' heads, because as is it, we only see them from outside, very much like a film.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Moderate: Cultural appropriation
harmonyriddle's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75 because the writing wasn’t too great (apart from the parts taken directly from the film). Also, some scenes were worse than in the film (e.g. the party with Chris and Kn*x).
also, some of the character descriptions didn’t match up to the film’s casting.
I still liked the book but expected more due to how much I love the film and because of how others talk about the book.
also, some of the character descriptions didn’t match up to the film’s casting.
I still liked the book but expected more due to how much I love the film and because of how others talk about the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault