becksus's review against another edition
5.0
This book was touching in a way, but most of all funny. I found myself laughing out loud more than a few times, and the way it was written brought to mind 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'. It didn't try to be overly touching or to analyze things too much. The way the main character saw the world was very interesting.
igivemyselfthecreeps's review
5.0
I had trouble deciding whether to rate this 4 or 5, but went with 5. This book wasn't about very much. It was about a guy who becomes friends with a girl, and nothing romantic happens and no one changes anyone's whole life, but Rachel does have an impact on Greg, whether he chooses to admit it much or not. He was skating through life like it was a breeze but Rachel makes him see it differently. But not in a huge dramatic way, you know?
Anyway. I need to go re-watch the movie now but this was definitely worth the read. I bought it so long ago but glad I finally got around to it.
Anyway. I need to go re-watch the movie now but this was definitely worth the read. I bought it so long ago but glad I finally got around to it.
anikaas's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
For the first time ever I think a book is probably better as a movie.
For the first time ever I think a book is probably better as a movie.
rebeccamkdyer's review against another edition
5.0
It was a great book with a clear plot and a strong voice.
curlymunroe's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this audiobook....not your typical listen. There are many different voice talents, and it really makes it enjoyable. I really wonder if I would've enjoyed reading the physical book, as I did the audio book. This not a retelling of A Fault In Our Stars. This is hard as nails baseball bat approach coming of age story. When an aquietance from Hebrew School is diagnosed with luekemia, Greg's mother forces him to go over to her house to cheer her up. Thus begins the weird and rather awkward relationship between Rachel and Greg. In between all the Rachel visits, Greg gives the listener a run down of his love of film making. I want to talk about Earl, but I think Greg does an awesome job. I will just say Earl is the baseball bat in this story. Everyone needs a friend like Earl. One of the best audio book experiences I have ever had. Can't wait to check out the movie...
futurememory's review against another edition
4.0
A funny, strange, highly unsympathetic and realistic young adult novel. Had me holding back laughter on public transit several times. I'm pretty sure I loathe the main character and his complete lack of... well, any appealing qualities whatsoever, but it is a pretty good book about growth and how tragedy forces you to acknowledge certain unforgiving elements of life.
But yeah, Greg? The worst.
But yeah, Greg? The worst.
ectoplasmeg's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook of this in one day at work. I'm probably a bit biased since I enjoyed the movie. It's a bit refreshing from the usual manic pixie dream girl thing... And not in the John Green "I swear she's not a MPDG" way.
lauroberge's review against another edition
4.0
If all readers could agree on one point about this book, it would be that it shows honestly the impact of knowing a victim of cancer on a teenager.
Although Greg hadn't really been friends with Rachel before she was diagnosed with cancer, her illness changes his life very much. Through his disclaimers about how he is self-centered and a bad friend, it's easy to see that he begins to care a lot about Rachel, proving he isn't that bad of a character. I liked how he gets angry with her and her cancer, because no matter how stupid of him it is, it is his own way to react to such a hard period. There is no precise way to react when someone you know is dying, especially when you're a teenager and you already don't know what to do with yourself, and I think Me and Earl and the Dying Girl explained it perfectly.
Greg isn't a hero, or a loveable character. He's flawed and he knows it, which is even more annoying, because he then complains about it. However, he's human. He doesn't want to pretend he's perfect or he cares about things when he doesn't give a crap, so he's always honest and authentic, at least in his writing, when he isn't in real life. I liked that about him. His friend, Earl, is really mature and grown-up, no matter how ironic it is, considering the fact that he looks like a child. He brings some sense into Greg many times and he acts a lot more like a hero than his friend does, but he doesn't even seem to know it. I liked the fact that I didn't get to know much about Rachel's personality, because it shows how badly Greg got to know her. However, it is one of the reasons why I didn't get invested in her character, because she felt empty to me.
Overall, I really liked this story. There are things about the way it's written, as if Greg was writing it himself, that I wasn't too sure about, such as my cluelessness about Rachel's character, but I still can't see how else it could have been written.
Although Greg hadn't really been friends with Rachel before she was diagnosed with cancer, her illness changes his life very much. Through his disclaimers about how he is self-centered and a bad friend, it's easy to see that he begins to care a lot about Rachel, proving he isn't that bad of a character. I liked how he gets angry with her and her cancer, because no matter how stupid of him it is, it is his own way to react to such a hard period. There is no precise way to react when someone you know is dying, especially when you're a teenager and you already don't know what to do with yourself, and I think Me and Earl and the Dying Girl explained it perfectly.
Greg isn't a hero, or a loveable character. He's flawed and he knows it, which is even more annoying, because he then complains about it. However, he's human. He doesn't want to pretend he's perfect or he cares about things when he doesn't give a crap, so he's always honest and authentic, at least in his writing, when he isn't in real life. I liked that about him. His friend, Earl, is really mature and grown-up, no matter how ironic it is, considering the fact that he looks like a child. He brings some sense into Greg many times and he acts a lot more like a hero than his friend does, but he doesn't even seem to know it. I liked the fact that I didn't get to know much about Rachel's personality, because it shows how badly Greg got to know her. However, it is one of the reasons why I didn't get invested in her character, because she felt empty to me.
Overall, I really liked this story. There are things about the way it's written, as if Greg was writing it himself, that I wasn't too sure about, such as my cluelessness about Rachel's character, but I still can't see how else it could have been written.
jeanettesonya's review against another edition
4.0
I kind of loved the approach of this book. It's not written as a straight narrative. Sometimes it's script instead. Or movie reviews. As I read it, knowing it's been turned into a movie, I kept wondering how the character of the book is maintained in its film adaptation.
As for the story itself, it was good. Nothing ground breaking, but it had its moments, and at its core, it was a deeply difficult, sad book. Definitely recommended.
And now, I'm off to watch the movie.
As for the story itself, it was good. Nothing ground breaking, but it had its moments, and at its core, it was a deeply difficult, sad book. Definitely recommended.
And now, I'm off to watch the movie.