galfarhan's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
I don't know what I did not love about this book !
But still not a 5 star book!
Maybe I will change my mind later!
I don't know what I did not love about this book !
But still not a 5 star book!
Maybe I will change my mind later!
reyreyb's review
4.0
This book was absolutely incredible, and even heartbreaking at points, at least to me. I hated Baback when he rejected Leonard’s check, because he never gave Baback a reason to think he was messing with him.
Baback also said that his problems and other people’s problems were worse than his, when he had no clue what Leonard had been through.
When it was said that something horrible happened between Leonard and Asher, I was curious as to what it was, and even guessed correctly what it was—though before I realized that I hoped it wasn’t true. Despite this correct guess, I still found myself feeling incredibly gross (for obvious reasons) after learning Asher raped Leonard, and felt even worse when it was revealed he did it many times.
The fact that the letters were from Leonard to himself made them seem more sad, as it showed what he hoped he could have, compared to his shitty life. The ending was a tad lackluster, but I can easily put it aside when I remember the brilliance of the rest of the book.
Baback also said that his problems and other people’s problems were worse than his, when he had no clue what Leonard had been through.
When it was said that something horrible happened between Leonard and Asher, I was curious as to what it was, and even guessed correctly what it was—though before I realized that I hoped it wasn’t true. Despite this correct guess, I still found myself feeling incredibly gross (for obvious reasons) after learning Asher raped Leonard, and felt even worse when it was revealed he did it many times.
The fact that the letters were from Leonard to himself made them seem more sad, as it showed what he hoped he could have, compared to his shitty life. The ending was a tad lackluster, but I can easily put it aside when I remember the brilliance of the rest of the book.
courtneys__library's review
2.0
I hated this. I wish that the whole book was about Herr Silverman because he was far more interesting. I found this incredibly unrealistic and whiny. The plot alone was interesting but it just didn't deliver for me
jasrnine's review
4.0
I think this book is really honest with the portrayal of depression. It actually gives depth into how much bullying and bad upbringing can do to a person's mental health.
I read people's reviews and some said that just because he has a sad past, doesn't excuse him to act like that, which is true, but if the only thing you get out of the book is how it's trying to justify Leonard, then I think you kinda missed the point.
Of course, there are some disturbing thoughts from Leonard that I totally don't agree with, and if I ever see Leonard in real life, I would probably think he's weird and would go away from him immediately. But at the same time, this book makes me see why he plans, thinks, and acts the way he does. It gives you something to think about instead of blaming it full on the weird kid that is Leonard Peacock and his inexcusable behavior. Remember that we're reading about a character whose mental health is not the best here.
The only thing I wish could be done better is the ending. I think it could be done longer, just another chapter to let us see a glimpse of what comes after the worst has passed, but that's only because I'm a sucker for a happy ending, lol. So I guess the current ending is okay too because maybe things in life just don't get better that quick. Hope all the best for Leonard I guess.
I read people's reviews and some said that just because he has a sad past, doesn't excuse him to act like that, which is true, but if the only thing you get out of the book is how it's trying to justify Leonard, then I think you kinda missed the point.
Of course, there are some disturbing thoughts from Leonard that I totally don't agree with, and if I ever see Leonard in real life, I would probably think he's weird and would go away from him immediately. But at the same time, this book makes me see why he plans, thinks, and acts the way he does. It gives you something to think about instead of blaming it full on the weird kid that is Leonard Peacock and his inexcusable behavior. Remember that we're reading about a character whose mental health is not the best here.
The only thing I wish could be done better is the ending. I think it could be done longer, just another chapter to let us see a glimpse of what comes after the worst has passed, but that's only because I'm a sucker for a happy ending, lol. So I guess the current ending is okay too because maybe things in life just don't get better that quick. Hope all the best for Leonard I guess.
ficklefever's review
4.0
this book made me cry.
i guess this is more of a 4 than a 5 because i didn't always feel so hot about the footnotes, and the writing structure felt odd at times. but those letters... i couldn't help it. i teared up.
i guess this is more of a 4 than a 5 because i didn't always feel so hot about the footnotes, and the writing structure felt odd at times. but those letters... i couldn't help it. i teared up.
strange_and_unusual's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
kevinweitzel44's review
4.0
Actual Rating: 3.5
Okayyyyyy...so first things first, I really did enjoy this book. I genuinely thought the voice of the character was both uniquely interesting and believable. Also I found the plot moved extremely quickly and I wanted answers as much as I wanted to keep reading for character development and whatnot.
My problem was...
The ending.
So basically the books about a kid named Leonard Peacock. Leonard has a father who abandoned him and a mother who ignores him completely, and aside from that, he has 4 friends. On his 18th birthday he plans on murdering his ex-best-friend and committing suicide.
Things I enjoyed:
The voice. The narrator was very interesting, I loved having the perspective of the shooter, and I really enjoyed Leonard's random bits of humor, it lightened up the book.
The characters. The four characters who are his friends,. were all very interesting and well developed and really moved the story, especially because their reactions made me really feel for Leonard.
I enjoyed the plot also, it was really good and I liked the speed of it and the events that unfolded.
I LOVED that the letters from the future were written by him, some of my favorite parts in the book were through those letters, oh, and his little sidenotes :P
Things that could've been better:
THE ENDING.
HONESTLY THOUGH.
It was just plain old irritating and VERY clichéd. I mean, come on...
Also, I wasn't a very big fan of Leonard's decisions. His decisions led the end of the book to have no damn resolution
Also, Herr Silverman's arms
In conclusion however, the goods outweighed the bads, I REALLY did enjoy this book and it was an insanely quick and moving read, I just really wished it had a better ending, the ending sort of ruined the book for me, but I still do love the first 4/5 of it.
So pick it up, it's good!
Okayyyyyy...so first things first, I really did enjoy this book. I genuinely thought the voice of the character was both uniquely interesting and believable. Also I found the plot moved extremely quickly and I wanted answers as much as I wanted to keep reading for character development and whatnot.
My problem was...
The ending.
So basically the books about a kid named Leonard Peacock. Leonard has a father who abandoned him and a mother who ignores him completely, and aside from that, he has 4 friends. On his 18th birthday he plans on murdering his ex-best-friend and committing suicide.
Things I enjoyed:
The voice. The narrator was very interesting, I loved having the perspective of the shooter, and I really enjoyed Leonard's random bits of humor, it lightened up the book.
The characters. The four characters who are his friends,
Spoiler
Walt, his father figure. The Iranian Guy, that dickface, Lauren the Jesus Ass Kisser, and Herr Silverman his teacherI enjoyed the plot also, it was really good and I liked the speed of it and the events that unfolded.
I LOVED that the letters from the future were written by him, some of my favorite parts in the book were through those letters, oh, and his little sidenotes :P
Things that could've been better:
THE ENDING.
HONESTLY THOUGH.
It was just plain old irritating and VERY clichéd. I mean, come on...
Spoiler
The revelation that he was raped by Asher was disturbingly surprising and yet very obvious at the same time. I predicted it, but it was too weird to imagine for me, so I guess that was kind of a good surprise.Also, I wasn't a very big fan of Leonard's decisions. His decisions led the end of the book to have no damn resolution
Spoiler
He fucking left Silverman? After everything? He couldn't have waited a day!?!? And I was so irritated by how fine he was with not talking to his mother. Obviously he won't get therapy now. Oh and his friends, he lost them, he'll still see Asher, nothing bad happens to Asher, he gets NO consequences for manipulating and raping his best friend. They could've at least arrested Asher's uncle! Wait? Die he die? I don't know...anyways, I was just SO fucking angry that almost nothing was wrapped upAlso, Herr Silverman's arms
Spoiler
That was fucking dumb. The huge secret was that he has a tattoo that represents he's gay and was a sign of homosexuality during the Holocaust. Firstly I think it's a dumb tattoo, sorry, but also it wasn't that big of a deal. In today's society kids wont care that much about a teacher's orientation and it's not like him keeping it a secret made them respect him, half the kids in the classes were douchebags anywaysIn conclusion however, the goods outweighed the bads, I REALLY did enjoy this book and it was an insanely quick and moving read, I just really wished it had a better ending, the ending sort of ruined the book for me, but I still do love the first 4/5 of it.
So pick it up, it's good!
mayawe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
fav_rav's review
3.0
A relevant story about trauma, feeling irrelevant, different, weird. Not the most captivating story of all time, but oddly relatable in a way. Matthew’s writing style (or was it Leonard’s thought process/storytelling? I’m not sure) wasn’t very appealing to me and the ending left me quite dissatisfied.