magpie_666's review
4.0
4/5 - Not an easy read, I'm sure many of us can relate to this in some way.
I'm not American, and I'm not a guy, but I am around the same age as the characters in this book. And unfortunately I can relate to the book in a small way. Yeah, it's more extreme than all of us can relate to (I hope anyway) but the message that it portrays is the same.
I was bullied at school and it still affects me every day. It's contributed greatly to who I am. And kids are awful when they are bullies. As adults we tend to know when it's going to far, and when to just think things instead of saying it. Kids don't.
I read the book in one sitting. Although I knew it wasn't going to end well, I still had to read and hope something good would come of it.
The writing was great and I thought it was funny how I just couldn't remember the names of the characters, and had to recognise them from their clothes. That's not a put down for the book. In a way it makes it more "80's" for me as I can never remember anyone's names from the 80's horror films either. Whenever my partner and I talk about a Friday 13th film, for example, I always describe the characters by their clothes.
It's a great story to bring out discussions with people. I would definitely recommend reading it and it's a really good choice for a book club. You'll get some great conversations out of it.
I'm not American, and I'm not a guy, but I am around the same age as the characters in this book. And unfortunately I can relate to the book in a small way. Yeah, it's more extreme than all of us can relate to (I hope anyway) but the message that it portrays is the same.
I was bullied at school and it still affects me every day. It's contributed greatly to who I am. And kids are awful when they are bullies. As adults we tend to know when it's going to far, and when to just think things instead of saying it. Kids don't.
I read the book in one sitting. Although I knew it wasn't going to end well, I still had to read and hope something good would come of it.
The writing was great and I thought it was funny how I just couldn't remember the names of the characters, and had to recognise them from their clothes. That's not a put down for the book. In a way it makes it more "80's" for me as I can never remember anyone's names from the 80's horror films either. Whenever my partner and I talk about a Friday 13th film, for example, I always describe the characters by their clothes.
It's a great story to bring out discussions with people. I would definitely recommend reading it and it's a really good choice for a book club. You'll get some great conversations out of it.
starkelsee's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
danjones_t4e's review
5.0
Wow. Hard writing a review for this one. Having been bullied when I was younger this story really resonated with me. And also made me think long and hard about how I would have acted/reacted were I in the main character's shoes.
I read this in one sitting tonight and by the time I finished I was just so emotionally unsettled. I just sat on the edge of my bed for probably the same length of time that it took me to read it. I love horror books and films but am only ever truly disturbed by the human monster. I don't want to give away too much as the description on the back sums it up perfectly: "ODD MAN OUT is a heart-wrenching tale of bullies and bigotry, a story that explores what happens when good people don’t stand up for what’s right. It is a tale of how far we have come … and how far we still have left to go."
A fantastic, tragic, thought provoking short story.
I read this in one sitting tonight and by the time I finished I was just so emotionally unsettled. I just sat on the edge of my bed for probably the same length of time that it took me to read it. I love horror books and films but am only ever truly disturbed by the human monster. I don't want to give away too much as the description on the back sums it up perfectly: "ODD MAN OUT is a heart-wrenching tale of bullies and bigotry, a story that explores what happens when good people don’t stand up for what’s right. It is a tale of how far we have come … and how far we still have left to go."
A fantastic, tragic, thought provoking short story.
ghostthereader's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
bookdenjen's review
4.5
This novella packs quite the emotional punch. It's a short book, but it took me a couple of weeks or so to get through it because my heart was terrified.
Odd Man Out is a great read, but I'm not going to give it a blanket recommendation to everyone. If you love horror or you've been tempted by all of the amazing reviews for Odd Man Out, I say absolutely download it and give it a read. The story is foreshadowed from the very beginning. If you find yourself terrified that something is going to happen, I think it's safe to say you'll be forewarned.
Odd Man Out is about a group of teenage boys who are spending the week at summer camp. It takes an honest look at bigotry and the fear of standing up for the odd man out. It's a brutal book and it's heartbreaking, but it's one of the best books I've read this year.
Odd Man Out is a great read, but I'm not going to give it a blanket recommendation to everyone. If you love horror or you've been tempted by all of the amazing reviews for Odd Man Out, I say absolutely download it and give it a read. The story is foreshadowed from the very beginning. If you find yourself terrified that something is going to happen, I think it's safe to say you'll be forewarned.
Odd Man Out is about a group of teenage boys who are spending the week at summer camp. It takes an honest look at bigotry and the fear of standing up for the odd man out. It's a brutal book and it's heartbreaking, but it's one of the best books I've read this year.
jimbob_luke's review
5.0
Wow! This story packs a punch. I really don't want to say to much, as the book description does it perfectly. We have all been in awkward situations similar to the ones described in the story. How did we react? Would we change things if we could? This book made me think about my past and will stick with me for a long time. A powerful and important book. Highly recommended.
- Danny
- Danny
5hadow_girl's review
5.0
This is a story that is going to stick with me/us.
I hope EVERYONE reads [b:Odd Man Out|32932696|Odd Man Out|James Newman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1478710844s/32932696.jpg|51798690], and recommends it to friends. It is going to turn some people around, and that’s a good thing.
A couple shout-outs, and the full review, are posted HERE.
P, L & N ♥
~sg
I hope EVERYONE reads [b:Odd Man Out|32932696|Odd Man Out|James Newman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1478710844s/32932696.jpg|51798690], and recommends it to friends. It is going to turn some people around, and that’s a good thing.
A couple shout-outs, and the full review, are posted HERE.
P, L & N ♥
~sg
jeanne25's review
3.0
This book is about hate and peer pressure. There were no sudden revelations. The author pretty much hints from the start what is going to happen and so it does. The story although in the extreme, is quite believable because tragedies like this still occur. I found the epilogue and afterword to be the best part of the book. Instead of telling us a story we know will end in disaster, it touches upon what lies beneath that hate. A very disturbing story because of hate crimes are real and tragic.
charshorrorcorner's review
5.0
It is with tears in my eyes that I finish this novella.
As an important church vote looms, Dennis suddenly remembers with clarity an incident from his childhood. All of a sudden, the reader is transported to the Black Mountain Camp for Boys.
During this one week summer camp, an atrocity is committed. One that will haunt Dennis, the other boys, and this reader. I doubt I will ever be able to forget Dennis or his former best friend, Wesley. Maybe I am not meant to. You're not meant to forget it either.
"We build walls to keep us separate, and when those walls eventually crumble and fall we blame the other for chipping away at the foundations. We point fingers right up until the moment we are crushed beneath the weight of our own intolerance. Everyone loses. In the end we all bleed red."
Timely quote there, isn't it?
Odd Man Out gets my highest recommendation. You should read it.
You can buy your copy here: Odd Man Out
As an important church vote looms, Dennis suddenly remembers with clarity an incident from his childhood. All of a sudden, the reader is transported to the Black Mountain Camp for Boys.
During this one week summer camp, an atrocity is committed. One that will haunt Dennis, the other boys, and this reader. I doubt I will ever be able to forget Dennis or his former best friend, Wesley. Maybe I am not meant to. You're not meant to forget it either.
"We build walls to keep us separate, and when those walls eventually crumble and fall we blame the other for chipping away at the foundations. We point fingers right up until the moment we are crushed beneath the weight of our own intolerance. Everyone loses. In the end we all bleed red."
Timely quote there, isn't it?
Odd Man Out gets my highest recommendation. You should read it.
You can buy your copy here: Odd Man Out
