Scan barcode
A review by sharonleavy
Me and Carlos by Tom Perrotta
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Digger is a soccer player, and a damn good one. He's popular, hard-working, determined, and goal oriented. He's at the top of his game and the best on the team - until Carlos moves from Honduras to attend the same High School.
Carlos ends up being every bit as good, if not better, than Digger and is soon noticed for his skill. Digger gets super jealous of Carlos and refuses to sit back and let everything he wants be taken away from him.
This story annoyed the hell out of me, which was the intention. I read it as a story about the weaponisation of white male privilege and how people like Digger will ALWAYS come out on top no matter who they need to crush on the way. UGH.
You look at any Twitter thread about discrimination and you'll find a hundred Diggers in there, dying to be oppressed. Their warped view of themselves and their perceived struggles would be laughable if it wasn't so utterly toxic and damaging to every other member of society. This is jock culture to the core - it's the "great athlete" first and criminal second. I hated Digger so much - but this story was so well done. Tom Perrotta is an author I will be looking out for.
You look at any Twitter thread about discrimination and you'll find a hundred Diggers in there, dying to be oppressed. Their warped view of themselves and their perceived struggles would be laughable if it wasn't so utterly toxic and damaging to every other member of society. This is jock culture to the core - it's the "great athlete" first and criminal second. I hated Digger so much - but this story was so well done. Tom Perrotta is an author I will be looking out for.