100 Things 一
May. 1st, 2012 02:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mildmaythecatKicking off with one of the most recent books I've read:
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews.
One-Sentence Review If You're Pressed For Time (Or Just Lazy): A very bizarre book that won't give you anything deep and meaningful but will make you laugh until whatever you're drinking comes out your nose.
Why It's Awesome: This book is weird. I'll probably end up saying this about a lot of the books I review, but this one is really very strange. Greg, the protagonist, is a budding filmmaker who is determined to convince his school he doesn't exist and the reader that he's a despicable person with no redeeming qualities. Of course, you'll end up liking him anyway.
The titular Earl, Greg's best friend/moviemaking partner is responsible for a good chunk of the book's awesomeness. His half of their conversations tends to consist of inventive and improperly used cussing. He was a druggie by age thirteen and he lives with a bunch of brothers just as crazy as he is.
A lot of the awesome stems from the fact that this book is basically a meta masterpiece. Greg knows what the reader expects from a book about a terminally ill high schooler and never fails to lampshade and then subvert the trope in question. In fact, he comes out and warns you in the first chapter that if you're looking for a heartwarming story, you'd better look elsewhere. And that lack of saccharine plot twists really works in the book's favor. It's refreshing, in a terrible sort of way.
Also, whole chapters are written in movie script format (a lot less annoying and more humorous than it sounds) and you will laugh through the majority of the book. Yes, the book about a girl dying of cancer. Yes, I sound like a terrible person--and so will you when you read it and realize I'm right.
Okay, Fine, Here's The Downside: Well, again--if you're looking for any answers when it comes to coping with death, coping with life or finding your place in the world, drop the book and run like hell. You'll be disappointed. Greg also tries a little too hard in spots to convince you that you're an idiot for reading the book, with the result that you occasionally want to slap your narrator in the face.
And Now For Something Completely Different:
Play It All Night Long (Warren Zevon)
sweet home alabama, play that dead band's song...
http://www.box.com/shared/d00uxz0q1l
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews.
One-Sentence Review If You're Pressed For Time (Or Just Lazy): A very bizarre book that won't give you anything deep and meaningful but will make you laugh until whatever you're drinking comes out your nose.
Why It's Awesome: This book is weird. I'll probably end up saying this about a lot of the books I review, but this one is really very strange. Greg, the protagonist, is a budding filmmaker who is determined to convince his school he doesn't exist and the reader that he's a despicable person with no redeeming qualities. Of course, you'll end up liking him anyway.
The titular Earl, Greg's best friend/moviemaking partner is responsible for a good chunk of the book's awesomeness. His half of their conversations tends to consist of inventive and improperly used cussing. He was a druggie by age thirteen and he lives with a bunch of brothers just as crazy as he is.
A lot of the awesome stems from the fact that this book is basically a meta masterpiece. Greg knows what the reader expects from a book about a terminally ill high schooler and never fails to lampshade and then subvert the trope in question. In fact, he comes out and warns you in the first chapter that if you're looking for a heartwarming story, you'd better look elsewhere. And that lack of saccharine plot twists really works in the book's favor. It's refreshing, in a terrible sort of way.
Also, whole chapters are written in movie script format (a lot less annoying and more humorous than it sounds) and you will laugh through the majority of the book. Yes, the book about a girl dying of cancer. Yes, I sound like a terrible person--and so will you when you read it and realize I'm right.
Okay, Fine, Here's The Downside: Well, again--if you're looking for any answers when it comes to coping with death, coping with life or finding your place in the world, drop the book and run like hell. You'll be disappointed. Greg also tries a little too hard in spots to convince you that you're an idiot for reading the book, with the result that you occasionally want to slap your narrator in the face.
And Now For Something Completely Different:
Play It All Night Long (Warren Zevon)
sweet home alabama, play that dead band's song...
http://www.box.com/shared/d00uxz0q1l
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no subject
Date: 2012-05-01 06:31 pm (UTC)Pity a lot of books here are in German and I don't have much time to be reading anything that isn't scientific... I sometimes wish I'd still read as much as I used to :/ Hopefully I'll get back into that one day when time is on my side again - even if I am a complete bum when it comes to classics, both books and films ;)
Haha, you're not a horrible person! Or maybe I am one too, I dunno; I've laughed at quite a few things that essentially are grim. But I think that if you avoid doing that in an inappropriate situation, it's all cool :)
P.S: How would you rate the book in a scale of 1 (horrible) to 5 (fantastic)?
no subject
Date: 2012-05-01 06:40 pm (UTC)Ahh, I have been so lazy about reading lately! I hope this project will motivate me...and you are definitely not the only one ignorant to the so-called classics. ^^;
LOL, yeah, I probably would've gotten weird looks laughing at that book in public...
Hmm...probably a 3.5/5. I didn't want to open with the Absolutely Frickin' Epic recs, lest I run out later. ;)