stenaros's review against another edition
3.0
I absolutely adored this book when I read it in high school, so much so that it was one of the "books of my growing up" that I stored away in a trunk as I packed up my childhood after high school graduation. There is also a horrendous movie version, which I don't recommend.
I didn't love it as much this time through, but could see why I liked it at an earlier age. The book took place 20 years before my high school experience and the main character's life was so much freer than mine was. His parents were happily divorced, he had a girlfriend who was older, she lived with him, which was absolutely no big deal, they had a lot of sex which was also no big deal; the two of them did things totally alien to me like spending the night in the car with the heater running so they could watch the deer come by. It was a completely different world and I couldn't figure out why my life didn't look more like that.
My criticism of this book at my current age (20 years out from when I read it, 40 years out from the book's setting) is that there is absolutely no conflict. The main character is great, the girlfriend is great, the dad is great, the wrestling buddies are great, the coaches are great, the wrestling opponents are great, and so on. That said, I'm guessing this book developed out of a series of essays, because there are some great "living in Spokane, Washington" vignettes which are quite delightful. It's also fun to read about the wrestling practices, matches and preparations I checked to see if Terry Davis had written anything else because I think he's a good writer, and there are a few that I may check out.
I didn't love it as much this time through, but could see why I liked it at an earlier age. The book took place 20 years before my high school experience and the main character's life was so much freer than mine was. His parents were happily divorced, he had a girlfriend who was older, she lived with him, which was absolutely no big deal, they had a lot of sex which was also no big deal; the two of them did things totally alien to me like spending the night in the car with the heater running so they could watch the deer come by. It was a completely different world and I couldn't figure out why my life didn't look more like that.
My criticism of this book at my current age (20 years out from when I read it, 40 years out from the book's setting) is that there is absolutely no conflict. The main character is great, the girlfriend is great, the dad is great, the wrestling buddies are great, the coaches are great, the wrestling opponents are great, and so on. That said, I'm guessing this book developed out of a series of essays, because there are some great "living in Spokane, Washington" vignettes which are quite delightful. It's also fun to read about the wrestling practices, matches and preparations I checked to see if Terry Davis had written anything else because I think he's a good writer, and there are a few that I may check out.
genehack's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bgid's review against another edition
4.0
Very good coming of age story. I've seen the movie a million times. The book varies away a little and of course is always better.
claudiaswisher's review against another edition
5.0
Terry Davis is the reason Chris Crutcher is a published author. This novel is sooo much better than the film. The ending is very courageous for a new author. My guys really have to ponder it...and pondering is a good thing!
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