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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
I actually preferred the graphic adaptation more than the novel. The first person perspective really makes the protagonist sound like a dick. It’s true that teenage boys are mostly all immature and have their mind in the gutter but reading from a book from their perspective is good for some laughs but also frequently obnoxious. The plot is very solid but there is a surprising lack of character growth from the main character. Since the book is so brief, it works but could have been much improved by better character development and a more likable protagonist.
Fun family road trip book to listen to. Not sure I would’ve picked up in any other situation.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fun book and has a fun musical adaptation and it absolutely hilarious Love it.
I actually really liked this book. I bought it in high school, read maybe three chapters in and put it down for a while. Fast forward to my second year of college and I read it all the way to the end one random night. It's a funny, self-deprecating tale of a teenager who just wants to be cool. His world is built up by an AI pill he takes that talks like the man, the myth, the legend himself (Keanu Reeves). His upward spiral into cool-ness is nothing compared to his crash landing. I enjoyed this book a lot. It's a quick read but extremely worth the extra 5 minutes if you have it.
3.5 Stars.
Ned Vizzini some how managed to capture the horrors and benefits of extremely advanced technology all the way back in 2004. Pre iPhone.
While the characters were not always like-able, or even minimally moral, they rang true for the authentic teenage voice.
Originally, I only picked this up because I hoped to hear Will Connolly’s and George Salazar’s voices in my head for a few hours. I mean, c’mon; the musical is pretty grand.
However, instead I got a profound outlook on technology, teenage peer pressure, and as always with Vizzini’s work (and a David Levithan afterword), a little insight into the human condition.
Full review to come.
Ned Vizzini some how managed to capture the horrors and benefits of extremely advanced technology all the way back in 2004. Pre iPhone.
While the characters were not always like-able, or even minimally moral, they rang true for the authentic teenage voice.
Originally, I only picked this up because I hoped to hear Will Connolly’s and George Salazar’s voices in my head for a few hours. I mean, c’mon; the musical is pretty grand.
However, instead I got a profound outlook on technology, teenage peer pressure, and as always with Vizzini’s work (and a David Levithan afterword), a little insight into the human condition.
Full review to come.
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Remembering high school from a totally different perspective, in the eyes of nerdy awkward Jeremey Heere. Its funny to see what a shy boy is thinking, would and can do for feisty teenage love. It takes me back to those days when the school becomes a jungle of cliques, judging eyes, nasty rumors, lusty young love, strawberry flavored lip gloss, theatre club, trance, r&b, parties and everywhere reputation is king. And girls collecting shirts? I probly got a dozen haha! 4 stages of high school relationship: Hook Up, Going Out, Dating and Boyfriend-Girlfriend is also very relatable. and an extra 5th stage- the Ex. haha! again, i got a dozen of those. Don’t we all used to get these mixed up then. Despite the craziness and antics those days where sweet for me for i may be one of the cool, popular ones who may not have given a damn but in the inside i also just wanted to belong.
i was hoping for more from this book. it’s about a geeky kid who finds out about a new invention called a “squip” which is essentially a microcomputer in pill form that you can swallow and then you have your very own jiminy cricket inside your head, only instead of keeping you out of trouble, the squip can teach you how to be “cool.” apparently in mr. vizzini’s world, coolness is only acheiveable by buying expensive clothes at the mall, smoking pot, swearing a lot, drinking, skipping class and having indiscriminate sex. i’m sure this is also true in some parts of the real world, but as someone who survived high school without any of these vices and who doesn’t consider herself to have been a total dweeb… i’m a bit put off. ok, maybe i skipped one or two classes. (or maybe i didn’t do that until college…) it was an okay book and i will give the author points for also creating an interesting online trail to follow, but i’m not sure i could comfortably recommend this book to the young teens i meet at work.