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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
I had mixed feelings about this. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to love it, if only because the first I'd ever heard of the book was when I read praise for the movie, which was hailed as something John Hughes would applaud. (I'm a John Hughes worshipper, the Brat Pack movies in particular.) Perhaps the movie has changed some things to be more in line with a Hughes-esque vibe, but I didn't really get it through this novel.
Unrelated to Hughes, I couldn't get behind the protagonist. Miles is a screw-up, a goof off, a high schooler who's only concerned with the Now, because he's too busy getting wasted to focus on much else. Sad, yes, but despite the fact that Miles has issues with his father's absence from his life, he has a seemingly good support network to combat his alcoholism...but this is never really addressed. I'm not sure if Tharp meant this novel as a cautionary tale, but if so, he failed, because Miles has a heck of a lot of fun while enjoying the booze (some depressing moments interspersed).
Back to Hughes: in Hughes' films, specifically Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles, the kids are the heroes of the film. Kids rule, parents drool. In The Spectacular Now, Miles is an antihero of sorts, because you want him to succeed, but to succeed in overcoming his alcoholism, which his parents are concerned about. (So, maybe this makes them an obstacle? They put a cramp in his style, thereby making them the bad guys?) This "antihero" idea leads to the question popping up in light of shows such as Dexter or (to a degree) Breaking Bad: are antiheroes today's heroes? Miles is a bit jerk, especially in regard to Aimee, as well as Cassidy. Do we cheer on this guy? Do we begrudge him any happiness because of his past and continuing mistakes? I'm not sure.
I'm still excited to see the film adaptation: I think, with some fine tuning, this could be a great film for a younger generations, and a nice hat tip to Hughes' work.
Unrelated to Hughes, I couldn't get behind the protagonist. Miles is a screw-up, a goof off, a high schooler who's only concerned with the Now, because he's too busy getting wasted to focus on much else. Sad, yes, but despite the fact that Miles has issues with his father's absence from his life, he has a seemingly good support network to combat his alcoholism...but this is never really addressed. I'm not sure if Tharp meant this novel as a cautionary tale, but if so, he failed, because Miles has a heck of a lot of fun while enjoying the booze (some depressing moments interspersed).
Back to Hughes: in Hughes' films, specifically Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles, the kids are the heroes of the film. Kids rule, parents drool. In The Spectacular Now, Miles is an antihero of sorts, because you want him to succeed, but to succeed in overcoming his alcoholism, which his parents are concerned about. (So, maybe this makes them an obstacle? They put a cramp in his style, thereby making them the bad guys?) This "antihero" idea leads to the question popping up in light of shows such as Dexter or (to a degree) Breaking Bad: are antiheroes today's heroes? Miles is a bit jerk, especially in regard to Aimee, as well as Cassidy. Do we cheer on this guy? Do we begrudge him any happiness because of his past and continuing mistakes? I'm not sure.
I'm still excited to see the film adaptation: I think, with some fine tuning, this could be a great film for a younger generations, and a nice hat tip to Hughes' work.
Moral of the story: Sutter is an idiot. The end. This book is...*sigh* i don't know what this book is, to be honest. It was so odd, so average, yet so realistic. I do not know how to feel about the ending. I like yet because it's real, but i hate it because Sutter is a freaking idiot.
a pretty good read. Sutter, a high school senior and perpetual partier always living in the "now" when faced with choosing between blatant honesty and kindess always chooses kindness. On his journey to self discovery, the school of hard knocks is inevitable.
I did feel it read a little like Catcher in the Rye, only not as dark and foreboding.
I did feel it read a little like Catcher in the Rye, only not as dark and foreboding.
The entire time I read this book I kept waiting for the moment where Sutter would finally become a decent human being and grow up. But it never happens. The ending just left me pissed off with it hinting at him basically growing up to be exactly as his dad is. An alcoholic asshole. He jerked Amy around the entire story and never once felt the same way. Just did it to make himself feel better. What?! Ugh.
This book reminded me strongly of The Catcher in the Rye, which I wasn't too fond of. From the very beginning I thought, "Great, another Holden." I'm not sure if everyone has this reaction, the story itself is pretty different.
I do like it more than Catcher. It was easier to make it through, I didn't get that feeling of forcing myself to finish.
I want to say more but I'm not sure how to without giving something away...
I do like it more than Catcher. It was easier to make it through, I didn't get that feeling of forcing myself to finish.
I want to say more but I'm not sure how to without giving something away...
Ack, 3.5 stars? Quick read, fun and engaging, but in the end it didn't really go anywhere.
**Warning: use of an F-bomb because of immensely strong feelings**Wow. At the end of a book you usually hope for a wow-factor. Let me tell you this is not a good "wow." I hated the ending (obviously), but I can't help thinking about Sutter. I take pity on him. As quoted by Professor Albus Dumbledore, "Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and most important the living who live without love." This guy truly has no love. If you're in a state of mind of (excuse my French) fuck-it-or-life-whichever-you-rather, then by all means read the book! But I have to say Sutter Keely is one protagonist that you can't help but hate even for a small period. As for Tim Tharp, I hope you don't have the ideas that Sutter Keely has because then I guess I'd have to pity you too. Although I did enjoy the theories.
A really difficult one to like. Sutter is just...a dick, sadly. And I guess at some point I was supposed to feel pity for him or hope for him or something other than sheer annoyance, but I never did. I thought I'd be rooting for him and Aimee but I just wanted her to get away from him. I guess I'm just not sure what I was supposed to take away from this.
I got a bit of a Catcher in the Rye vibe, and I hated that book too.
I got a bit of a Catcher in the Rye vibe, and I hated that book too.
Ugh! this book started out great but sucked at the end. I mean I was going crazy. I didn't understand did he like Cassidy? Did he love Aimee? Why did he have to break her heart and just be a drunk maniac? It just wasn't what I expected it to be. I think thats the problem I expected too much then I fail. I guess that's life for you. It's not fair!
3 stars, but I'll probably change that later, or maybe not. I'm just so confused right now, about this book and its ending. I mean, seriously, I don't know how I feel about this book and that's so frustrating! I loved the story, I loved Sutter, I loved Aimee (although she was a bit too naive for my taste, but well). But I just don't know, ugh, frustration!