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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
I was expecting a lot more from this book, honestly. Okay, getting this out of the way now: I used to be a total Gleek. So when I saw that Chris Colfer had written a book about being a TV star, I was like, Gee, I need to pick this up. I think the one big thing that this book really has going for it is that you don't often get a TV star who writes fiction about being a TV star himself, no ghost writers, so it was interesting to see what that was like from that side of the perspective. (I chuckled at the author's note because gosh, I used to read a shitton of fanfiction about Kurt Hummel.)
Otherwise, it was't really my thing. I didn't like his writing style at all. I haven't read his other series in ages, but god, it's so juvenile. There are whole paragraphs in italics that are supposed to be characters wailing or yelling but it didn't quite get the effect that I think it wanted. Also. So many exclamation marks. There was a diverse cast of characters but they weren't really in-depth? The omniscent narrator worked better than having five entire POVs, I have to say, but still - it was too short of a book to really flesh them out. The road trip was short, because the first half of the book was spent talking about the characters' backstories.
Furthermore, I wasn't really fond of the portrayal of fandom and fanfiction that he shows and it's kind of disheartening to read that he sees it that way. Nothing but violence and screaming girls, really. And yeah. I know how rabid and awful Glee fandom was. I was in it. But I have read wonderful fanfiction that was fleshed out and beautiful and better than published stories, in Glee fandom, in Harry Potter fandom, in every fandom.
Otherwise, it was't really my thing. I didn't like his writing style at all. I haven't read his other series in ages, but god, it's so juvenile. There are whole paragraphs in italics that are supposed to be characters wailing or yelling but it didn't quite get the effect that I think it wanted. Also. So many exclamation marks. There was a diverse cast of characters but they weren't really in-depth? The omniscent narrator worked better than having five entire POVs, I have to say, but still - it was too short of a book to really flesh them out. The road trip was short, because the first half of the book was spent talking about the characters' backstories.
Furthermore, I wasn't really fond of the portrayal of fandom and fanfiction that he shows and it's kind of disheartening to read that he sees it that way. Nothing but violence and screaming girls, really. And yeah. I know how rabid and awful Glee fandom was. I was in it. But I have read wonderful fanfiction that was fleshed out and beautiful and better than published stories, in Glee fandom, in Harry Potter fandom, in every fandom.
Spoiler
I also felt like the ending was a cop out - seriously, Chris, STOP KILLING YOUR MAIN CHARACTERS? I didn't see it coming and it seemed really unnecessary so I felt kind of robbed by any character development in the story.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I thought??? It was going to be light and fluffy???? But then I was crying and???? Who decided this was ok??? This is not ok??? The thing on the back made it seem fun and happy???? But no?? It’s deep and meaningful and sad???? Who did this???? I’m suing them??
The style of writing and the way each chapter focused on one character but they hadn’t gotten to the road trip yet. I would’ve preferred to have the road trip at least start then build up the characters. This book just wasn’t for me.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love a road trip book and did not expect this one to have all the feels. I have to admit, I did kinda like it.
I'm not going to lie... I almost stopped reading this book.
I was halfway through and was fairly underwhelmed. Until the last 20 pages of this book, it was just a more adult version of a Disney Channel Original Movie.
Then I came to the end and I started crying in my college dorm's lounge. People were concerned.
The ending was beautiful, and I truly cried and could not stop for a solid five minutes. I loved it.
However, the first 250-ish pages of the book were just okay and a little TOO extra so I gave this book 4 stars.
I loved the characters and their individual stories. I think this book tells many stories that need to be told, most of which are addressed in the better fanfiction floating around the internet, but not actual published books.
As the title implies, this book is very much stranger than fanfiction. It's outlandish in the way only real life can be.
This book is witty, funny, a little raunchy, and heartbreakingly real. And, it's now one of my many favorites. So glad someone is telling the stories that need to be told. Well done, Chris Colfer! This book is wonderful.
I was halfway through and was fairly underwhelmed. Until the last 20 pages of this book, it was just a more adult version of a Disney Channel Original Movie.
Then I came to the end and I started crying in my college dorm's lounge. People were concerned.
The ending was beautiful, and I truly cried and could not stop for a solid five minutes. I loved it.
However, the first 250-ish pages of the book were just okay and a little TOO extra
Spoiler
(Like, really? The World's Largest Rubberband Ball rolled away and the media was more concerned with Cash than that? Like, what happened to it? Why did no one care?)I loved the characters and their individual stories. I think this book tells many stories that need to be told, most of which are addressed in the better fanfiction floating around the internet, but not actual published books.
As the title implies, this book is very much stranger than fanfiction. It's outlandish in the way only real life can be.
This book is witty, funny, a little raunchy, and heartbreakingly real. And, it's now one of my many favorites. So glad someone is telling the stories that need to be told. Well done, Chris Colfer! This book is wonderful.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have so many feelings right now.
This book was downright raw and I am so glad to have experienced it.
There were a few things with pov confusion that threw me off, but other than that, it was an emotional roller coaster.
This book was downright raw and I am so glad to have experienced it.
There were a few things with pov confusion that threw me off, but other than that, it was an emotional roller coaster.