Review
On Friday I remembered that I had book club on Sunday and that the author, Carrie Mesrobian was invited to talk about the book. I had a super busy weekend planned and knew that it would probably be near impossible to finish the book but I gave it a try because you're supposed to actually read the books for book club. I didn't finish the entire book by Sunday but the book was such a fast read that I made it far enough to fake it. I however, was honest to my fellow book club members and the author admitting that I was still reading the book (even though I peeked at the last couple pages so I knew the ending).
This is a book in a teenage boy's voice about having sex for the first time, figuring out what he's going to do after high school and just dealing with the day-to-day problems with family, work, girls and school like almost any other kid in this screwed up world.
My favorite parts of the book was when Sean was working at the Thrift Bin and looking for things to put on the breakroom shelf of weird donated items; million-year-old condom, crucifix made of wire hangers etc. I should do that with the things I find inside of books at the library (yikes). My other favorite scene was the first time he had sex with Hallie; oh the awkwardness of the condom. I also loved all the scenes with Otis - all of them.
The title of the book comes from the movie 'Better Off Dead' After Lane falls into a dump truck when trying to commit suicide off of a bridge; "Man, that's a real shame when folks be throwin' away a perfectly good white boy like that." I love that movie! Just not necessarily the title of this book. Did you know that authors aren't the ones that necessarily come up with the titles but that editors weigh in on the titles? Authors also don't have a lot of control when it comes to the cover art and I honestly said that I would have chosen the breakroom shelf as the cover.
I have given an honest review and rating of this book based on the superb writing of this story, even though I met the author Carrie Mesrobian at my book club and that she resides in my community. I recommend this book for older teens that are mature enough to handle the sex, drugs/drinking and swearing parts of the book.
This is a book in a teenage boy's voice about having sex for the first time, figuring out what he's going to do after high school and just dealing with the day-to-day problems with family, work, girls and school like almost any other kid in this screwed up world.
My favorite parts of the book was when Sean was working at the Thrift Bin and looking for things to put on the breakroom shelf of weird donated items; million-year-old condom, crucifix made of wire hangers etc. I should do that with the things I find inside of books at the library (yikes). My other favorite scene was the first time he had sex with Hallie; oh the awkwardness of the condom. I also loved all the scenes with Otis - all of them.
The title of the book comes from the movie 'Better Off Dead' After Lane falls into a dump truck when trying to commit suicide off of a bridge; "Man, that's a real shame when folks be throwin' away a perfectly good white boy like that." I love that movie! Just not necessarily the title of this book. Did you know that authors aren't the ones that necessarily come up with the titles but that editors weigh in on the titles? Authors also don't have a lot of control when it comes to the cover art and I honestly said that I would have chosen the breakroom shelf as the cover.
I have given an honest review and rating of this book based on the superb writing of this story, even though I met the author Carrie Mesrobian at my book club and that she resides in my community. I recommend this book for older teens that are mature enough to handle the sex, drugs/drinking and swearing parts of the book.
0
1
 - Vannetta Chapman)
