halfway through i was thinking it was the best book i've ever read. then the second half wasn't quite as strong. and a few of the amazon reviews i've just read have made me doubt myself. but all that aside, i still really enjoyed this book. especially after a piece of shit like the kite runner, which almost caused me to leave reading fiction to the lazy housewives it's intended for. anyway, back to the book i'm posting about.

along with making me laugh, cry and horny at times, i put it down sort of wishing i could live within it for a while. and now i have a bit of a crush on the book and miss it. fuck, i'll just say it. i like the way this book makes me feel about myself.

some other things. music plays a big part. in a good way though. i hate when authors use a bunch of cultural references to try and prop up their shitty writing, and that isn't the case here.

comic books play a part too. unfortunately, mostly marvel and i'm a dc guy. apparently, dc sucks.

i heard about this book in a bret easton ellis interview. he said it was one of his favorite novels from his generation of writers.
and parts of it take place at camden college, the stand in for bennington that ellis uses in his books. although his camden college is in new hamshire and this one is in vermont.

I wasn't so impressed with it?

As far as I can remember, I read it a few years back. I remember disliking the style of writing & not being impressed until about a third of the way through, where I enjoyed the second third but again was disappointed towards the end. I honestly don't remember much of it, though I've never had any particular urge to re-read it, nor can I remember much of the story, though, maybe i should read it again because apparantly I have missed some of it's charm?

I liked the style of writing, so maybe that's the difference. Because there isn't a whole lot going on story wise.

I've actually heard from a few people who were disappointed by the book and found it to be overwritten. The author has another novel called Motherless Brooklyn that's supposed to be better.