Review Detail

Reader reviewed by gordon

O.K., here's the deal with this book. If you like a character with an interesting voice and some funny comments then this book will satisfy, but beyond that, it doesn't have much to offer. The first 50 pages or so are good, but the author definitely sets up some plot elements that he never delivers on. Also some of the turns just don't work. I know that sometimes the reader must suspend disbelief, but this goes a bit beyond those bounds. Another thing that bothers me about the book is that it is seems to have been rushed. As you get into the book you'll see what I mean. The scenes have a lack of set-up, there are some overly long narrative segments where the narrator just has too much control over the story instead of letting the story unfold. It reads like a really good first or second draft that needs some work. I read the book with a group, and we all started out loving the book, but the further we got into it, the more eyes rolled, and the more disappointed we became. Although the voice starts strong, it often faulters, allowing the author to break in.
For example:

If youre in a band, even an extremely sucky band, girls, even semihot ones like Celeste Fletcher and Deanna Schumacher, will totally mess around with you. Start a band. Or go around saying youre in a band, which is, lets face it, pretty much the same thing. The quality of your life can only improve (303 304)

This passage sounds like an adult giving advice in retrospect, rather than the voice of teenager. The only way to come to the conclusions stated in this passage is to have much experience in that department, something that the narrator does not. So, as far as reading the book, I don't really recommend it. Although you'll enjoy the beginning, you might ultimately you were a bit cheated.