Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
I really didn't care for this at all. I think the plot had promise, but the writing just brought everything down. There was no emotion, no excitement, and frankly, not much talent in the writing and development of the story and characters. The main character drank a lot, but I felt the author didn't go about it in a very decent way, especially when it come to Aimee drinking. The whole point of the novel didn't really even begin until the book was already halfway through. The characters were not developed at all. I had no emotional ties to any of them. And I really would have liked to hear more about some characters, such as bob, and less about others.
Overall, I really don't know how someone read this book and decided to create a movie based off of it. I don't recommend it at all. BUT, I will say, I've heard fantastic things about the movie. With great actors and a solid screenplay, I think The Spectacular Now will be an excellent movie.
Overall, I really don't know how someone read this book and decided to create a movie based off of it. I don't recommend it at all. BUT, I will say, I've heard fantastic things about the movie. With great actors and a solid screenplay, I think The Spectacular Now will be an excellent movie.
The best and worst thing about this book is that it is so honest. The characters are flawed but completely realistic. Sutter, our narrator, is kind-hearted, endearing, and a complete mess. If you didn't love him so much, you would hate him. I think we have all known a version of Sutter in our lives, the good-time guy who is so far in denial that it's impossible to get through to him.
This book started off wonderfully, but it becomes harder to read the further in you get. Readers are left feeling slightly sick at what Sutter is doing to himself, and worse, to Aimee. Similar to real life, you are torn between wanting to help and being fed up enough to walk away so you don't have to witness anymore self-destruction.
I hated the ending, but I think I would have hated it even more if it gave me what I wanted.
This was a very good book, I couldn't put it down. I probably will not read it again, but the story will stay with me for a long time.
This book started off wonderfully, but it becomes harder to read the further in you get. Readers are left feeling slightly sick at what Sutter is doing to himself, and worse, to Aimee. Similar to real life, you are torn between wanting to help and being fed up enough to walk away so you don't have to witness anymore self-destruction.
I hated the ending, but I think I would have hated it even more if it gave me what I wanted.
This was a very good book, I couldn't put it down. I probably will not read it again, but the story will stay with me for a long time.
Familiar, yet fresh.
Strange, yet realistic.
Precocious, yet childish.
This book gives teens more credit than some YA novels do, and that's why so much of the readership is comprised of adults.
I know a Sutter, and I know him well. People adore him and are drawn to him for the same reasons they are eventually disappointed by him, and find him vaguely sad. He's a phase in other people's lives, but he never changes himself. He is aware of his potential, aware of his charm, and of his insecurities, and his failings, yet is mostly blind to his own dark edges and the solutions to what ails him.
Some Sutters break free from their worn grooves, with or without an Aimee. Others watch, let, or cause one Aimee after another leave them behind.
The ending isn't the package we hope for when we love a Sutter, but the novel would not ring true if it were. I'm curious to see how the screenplay handles the ending, among other aspects of this fine book.
Strange, yet realistic.
Precocious, yet childish.
This book gives teens more credit than some YA novels do, and that's why so much of the readership is comprised of adults.
I know a Sutter, and I know him well. People adore him and are drawn to him for the same reasons they are eventually disappointed by him, and find him vaguely sad. He's a phase in other people's lives, but he never changes himself. He is aware of his potential, aware of his charm, and of his insecurities, and his failings, yet is mostly blind to his own dark edges and the solutions to what ails him.
Some Sutters break free from their worn grooves, with or without an Aimee. Others watch, let, or cause one Aimee after another leave them behind.
The ending isn't the package we hope for when we love a Sutter, but the novel would not ring true if it were. I'm curious to see how the screenplay handles the ending, among other aspects of this fine book.
It was good but not what i was hoping for. I didn't really like Aimee. But the book was still fast paste and enjoyable.And i can't wait for the movie!!
As I read this book, I was utterly enraptured. I loved the language, the anecdotes and the little nuggets of philosophy. And as fantastically wrought as Sutter's character was, I extremely disliked him (quite possibly the intention). However, I liked (not enjoyed) that Sutter's superficial relationships with most people were reflected in the fact that we didn't delve very deep into the other characters. There were only surface interactions and information that Sutter learnt, when he was actually listening.
But I don't think I actually liked the book. The plot was slow and very subtly there, whilst the majority of the characters seemed almost stereotypical. That said, the book seems to be a quite realistic (in some cases) description of a teenaged boy's life. There are many Aimee Fineckys and many Cassidys, also.
So... I liked the writing and the message Tharp was trying to convey... but I wasn't a huge fan of the plot.
But I don't think I actually liked the book. The plot was slow and very subtly there, whilst the majority of the characters seemed almost stereotypical. That said, the book seems to be a quite realistic (in some cases) description of a teenaged boy's life. There are many Aimee Fineckys and many Cassidys, also.
So... I liked the writing and the message Tharp was trying to convey... but I wasn't a huge fan of the plot.
There is so much to like about Sutter Keeley - his way with words, his generous heart, his appreciation for life in its myriad facets. I rooted for him, worried for him, and struggled with him. The author was quite skillful in bringing the downsides of Sutter's life into focus little by little, dialing us into reality. Still, I wondered how he'd perform the very difficult feat of bring this YA story to a close without saying too much or too little about Sutter and his choices, and I'm not sure I'm satisfied with the route chosen...
Wow. For anyone who knows, 4 stars means amazing and would definitely read again. I wish I could do 4 and a half. I didn't really care for some of the language but a lot of Young Adult fiction has that kind of language and it didn't really distract too much from the storyline. I loved the characters and how the main character drew me into his life. Definitely would recommend.
I loved this book. I had seen the movie and that was a little hokey for me so I thought the book was going to be the same way. And when I looked at Goodreads reviews, I was not impressed because a lot of people were so emotional about the book. But, I am a sucker for a book that is made into a movie, so I decided to read it anyway. Oh man, am I glad I did! I understand now why people go to emotional... You do feel hollowed out at the ending, but everything up until then is magical. And the writing is so good. It has been a while since a novel moved me the way this one did. I definitely recommend reading it.
I picked this up mainly due to the upcoming movie adaptation, but what really piqued my interest was that the story has been described as having the feel of a John Hughes film. Sadly, despite the ripe potential, it did not live up to my expectations and was a huge letdown. Much of the book hinges on the reader finding main character Sutter to be flawed yet likable, charming and funny, but I just couldn't warm to him. After a while I wanted to shake him by his shoulders and tell him to get his act together; maybe I would have liked him more if I had read this as a teenager. The worst thing about Sutter is that given everything he experiences and ample opportunities to choose a different path, he comes out of it exactly the same and doesn't change at all, which I found completely frustrating. The plot is also lacking; it meanders around from place to place, but nothing monumental ever really happens. Even a major event that was built to involving Sutter's father which could have been explosive and memorable ends up petering out. It got to the point where I just wanted to finish to see what happened, and while realistic, the ending was extremely unsatisfying and made me wonder what the point of it all was. Thanks to reading this, I am a lot less excited to see the movie now.
4.5
I’m mad. At the ending. At everything. At nothing.
This stupid book makes you think oh this is an amazing book! It’s so cute! Such a feel good book you know??? HA! YOU THOUGHT YOU DUMBO! Yeah no it’s no happy book, it’s no feel good book. Although it is amazing, it did not go my way at all. It would’ve earned a 5 if not for the fact that Amy annoyed me a little when I felt they made her almost too attached to Sutter...maybe?
I’m mad. At the ending. At everything. At nothing.
This stupid book makes you think oh this is an amazing book! It’s so cute! Such a feel good book you know??? HA! YOU THOUGHT YOU DUMBO! Yeah no it’s no happy book, it’s no feel good book. Although it is amazing, it did not go my way at all. It would’ve earned a 5 if not for the fact that Amy annoyed me a little when I felt they made her almost too attached to Sutter...maybe?