nglofile's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. I keep vacillating on how I want to evaluate this book. There are aspects I definitely like and respond to well, but there are elements - both structural and topical - that I can't quite stand behind.
ichirofakename's review against another edition
3.0
For big fans of Dr. Frank only. And teens. Duh.
Fantasy version of the life of a dork in high school. Weak attempts at mystery detecting, extremely implausible sex, some nice twists, and all rendered amusing by recognizable Dr. Frank clever cleverness. All brought to an end when he was tired of writing it, with a flood of exposition. Unsatisfying. A little too much of the author's Catholicism drips through.
Fantasy version of the life of a dork in high school. Weak attempts at mystery detecting, extremely implausible sex, some nice twists, and all rendered amusing by recognizable Dr. Frank clever cleverness. All brought to an end when he was tired of writing it, with a flood of exposition. Unsatisfying. A little too much of the author's Catholicism drips through.
kstookley's review against another edition
4.0
(NOTE: Only a read a preview of one of the chapters, courtesy of NetGalley.com)
Right up front, King Dork realizes he's living a trope.. With full knowledge that he's a run-of-the-mill geek, he decides to own that part of his life instead of reject it. It's rather ironic that the story hinges on the King Dork-- aka Tom Henderson-- finding a copy of Catcher in the Rye, since his voice is so similar to Holden Caulfield's. The protagonist is keenly aware of the faults and hypocrisies of the adults around him, and merely wants to get by, In King Dork, Frank Portman adds another powerful voice to the well-worn canon of coming-of-age novels.
Right up front, King Dork realizes he's living a trope.. With full knowledge that he's a run-of-the-mill geek, he decides to own that part of his life instead of reject it. It's rather ironic that the story hinges on the King Dork-- aka Tom Henderson-- finding a copy of Catcher in the Rye, since his voice is so similar to Holden Caulfield's. The protagonist is keenly aware of the faults and hypocrisies of the adults around him, and merely wants to get by, In King Dork, Frank Portman adds another powerful voice to the well-worn canon of coming-of-age novels.
roxannima's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure how many uber dorks ended up getting that many sexual favors in high school, but I guess you're allowed to make up your own fantasies when you write a book. I did end up finding the narrator endearing to a certain extent though, which is more than I can say for a certain H.C.
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
after losing the battle with andromeda klein, i picked this one up instead and it was delicious. one day geeky tom henderson leaves his copy of 'the catcher in the rye' at school and delves into some boxes of his late father's things to find a spare. with catcher is a small library of the books his father owned in high school, which tom decides to read in an effort to learn more about the cop who died in a mysterious accident when (tom) was 8 years old. meanwhile there are other mysteries to solve: who is the enigmatic fiona that tom met at a party, and why did she allow him to grope her? what is tom's best friend sam hellerman up to? and what should they name their band? delightful.
carstensena's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this one as an audiobook. Terrific book, and a terrific audio rendering.
calamitywindpetal's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, Sexual content, Sexism, Ableism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Violence, Car accident, Murder, Sexual assault, Blood, and Suicide
amcwolfe's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the voice of this book quite a lot. The main character is funny, somewhat self-aware and definitely a teenager. The ending on the other hand, I found a little frustrating and didn't quite buy that Tom would totally give up on the mystery.
wombat_88's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
writewithapendragon's review against another edition
I can understand why this book is so critically lauded—it’s a great modern version of Catcher In the Rye. Unreliable narrator, unique and interesting perspective, authentic voice and believable characters.
Sometimes, that authenticity is just a lot, and even with ~modern sensibilities~ I don’t think the book needed any/nearly as many casual slurs. I would recommend this book to others with recommendation to check for triggers, but it is simply not my jam right now.
Sometimes, that authenticity is just a lot, and even with ~modern sensibilities~ I don’t think the book needed any/nearly as many casual slurs. I would recommend this book to others with recommendation to check for triggers, but it is simply not my jam right now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Bullying, Drug use, Violence, Car accident, Sexual content, Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Slurs used for all sorts of thing. Use of the word R*tarted used in excess.