fagurfifill's review against another edition
4.0
Michael, at 16 an inveterate drug-abuser, street-wise beyond his years and taken hostage by his pubescent body, has to move in for a couple of weeks with his elderly uncle, a punch-drunk boxing champion, who, however, under a mysterious novel treatment is gradually getting his mental faculties back. It is here that Michael, seemingly for the first time ever, connects with people that are _not_ just out for what they can get: Cliff, uncle Jimmy’s old cut man, Dr. Parks, even Luna, the caretaker, with her hidden agenda, seems to be genuinely fond of her charge. And there is, of course, Uncle Jimmy himself: a young man at heart, suddenly waking up in an old body and not liking it one bit.
The story is told in 1st person perspective, from Michael’s point of view. His running commentary on and interpretation of his surroundings and the occurrences are funny, witty, insightful and show his being, despite his world-weary and cynical stance and deprecating views of himself, a kind soul, ultimately not buying into the general greed on display all around him. At some point we learn that Michael knows “The Catcher in the Rye” “like the back of my hand”, which seems very fitting.
A quick read and a gripping and original story. If you are not afraid the odd swear-word, depictions of violent death and explicit descriptions of male, pubescent fantasies, I’d say it’s fit from a mature YA audience upwards.
The story is told in 1st person perspective, from Michael’s point of view. His running commentary on and interpretation of his surroundings and the occurrences are funny, witty, insightful and show his being, despite his world-weary and cynical stance and deprecating views of himself, a kind soul, ultimately not buying into the general greed on display all around him. At some point we learn that Michael knows “The Catcher in the Rye” “like the back of my hand”, which seems very fitting.
A quick read and a gripping and original story. If you are not afraid the odd swear-word, depictions of violent death and explicit descriptions of male, pubescent fantasies, I’d say it’s fit from a mature YA audience upwards.
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