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Kelly (and the Book Boar)'s Reviews > Grasshopper Jungle
Grasshopper Jungle
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by
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
This books begins like so many others – an angsty teen lets us in on his pathetic little life. Austin is Polish and might be gay. He’s always horny and likes to draw and keep track of history in his journal. He lives in Iowa and has a real dynamo of a dog who is great at taking dumps. He’s Polish and he might be gay. He’s definitely horny. Did I mention some of that already? Well, if I say it 57,000 more times I’ll maybe come close to how many times Austin brought it up. Yeah, it’s a rough beginning.
About a third of the way through, there was finally get a glimpse of how things may not be quite what they appear
and I was really hoping this book would go from blah to BOOM.
I mean, we’re talking about it potentially being the end of the world
with giant mutant praying mantises
action, gore, even a super secret bunker complete with training videos on how to deal with the potential apocalypse
Sadly, in spite of all of this, Austin still spent much of his time bemoaning the status of his love life.
Many people complain about the voice of young adult characters being too mature, their behavior a little too refined, their vocabulary a little too impressive. Trust me when I say you want it that way. Good gravy is the alternative so much worse.
Andrew Smith wrote a great coming of age story with Winger. He did not need to write another one. He definitely didn’t need to use the same annoying voice for his male lead without giving him any redeeming qualities when creating Austin. Smith himself said this was a book that was never intended to be published and, unfortunately, you can tell. I wish the editors would have put their hands in the pie a whole lot more. The sci-fi story was fun and fresh and I seriously dug it. But the melodrama? It needed to be left on the cutting room floor.
Sidenote: It seems a lot of people are handing out mass quantities of stars on this one because it’s so strange. If you are looking for weird (and I mean WEIRD) without the angst, skip Grasshopper Jungle and check out John Dies at the End instead.
This books begins like so many others – an angsty teen lets us in on his pathetic little life. Austin is Polish and might be gay. He’s always horny and likes to draw and keep track of history in his journal. He lives in Iowa and has a real dynamo of a dog who is great at taking dumps. He’s Polish and he might be gay. He’s definitely horny. Did I mention some of that already? Well, if I say it 57,000 more times I’ll maybe come close to how many times Austin brought it up. Yeah, it’s a rough beginning.
About a third of the way through, there was finally get a glimpse of how things may not be quite what they appear
and I was really hoping this book would go from blah to BOOM.
I mean, we’re talking about it potentially being the end of the world
with giant mutant praying mantises
action, gore, even a super secret bunker complete with training videos on how to deal with the potential apocalypse
Sadly, in spite of all of this, Austin still spent much of his time bemoaning the status of his love life.
Many people complain about the voice of young adult characters being too mature, their behavior a little too refined, their vocabulary a little too impressive. Trust me when I say you want it that way. Good gravy is the alternative so much worse.
Andrew Smith wrote a great coming of age story with Winger. He did not need to write another one. He definitely didn’t need to use the same annoying voice for his male lead without giving him any redeeming qualities when creating Austin. Smith himself said this was a book that was never intended to be published and, unfortunately, you can tell. I wish the editors would have put their hands in the pie a whole lot more. The sci-fi story was fun and fresh and I seriously dug it. But the melodrama? It needed to be left on the cutting room floor.
Sidenote: It seems a lot of people are handing out mass quantities of stars on this one because it’s so strange. If you are looking for weird (and I mean WEIRD) without the angst, skip Grasshopper Jungle and check out John Dies at the End instead.
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Reading Progress
April 2, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 2, 2014
– Shelved
April 25, 2014
–
Started Reading
April 25, 2014
–
0.0%
"I requested this because I loved Winger. Now that the library notified me it's finally my turn I decided to read the synopsis. This is so not my usual idea of a good time.
***crossing my fingers but feeling skeptical***
"
***crossing my fingers but feeling skeptical***
"
April 29, 2014
– Shelved as:
read-in-2014
April 29, 2014
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-7 of 7 (7 new)
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by
Christina (A Reader of Fictions)
(new)
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rated it 4 stars
Apr 29, 2014 11:48AM
What other books are you reading about questioning sexuality? Because I want them and I've read very few.
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I edited that first sentence, because you're right - lots of popular YA books right now have angsty whiners for the MC, but I haven't come across many angsty whiners who are also questioning their sexuality. David Levithan is my favorite popular young adult author when it comes to not being afraid to discuss sexuality.
Ah, yeah, I know about Levithan, but aside from a couple authors who specialize in it, I don't see much sexuality-questioning. Too bad. I hoped I was missing a secret trove.
Nice review lady, sounds like a pass on this one.
Christina (A Reader of Fictions) wrote: "Ah, yeah, I know about Levithan, but aside from a couple authors who specialize in it, I don't see much sexuality-questioning. Too bad. I hoped I was missing a secret trove."I would like to read more of this too, but it takes a special author to write realistically and not end up creating a character that comes across as a huge butthole.
Kat Stark wrote: "Nice review lady, sounds like a pass on this one."Thanks. Tons of people loved it, so there's a good chance it was my problem and not the book. I just did not like the MC (AT ALL) and wanted more sci-fi and him to just STFU ; )
Kelly (and the Book Boar) wrote: "Kat Stark wrote: "Nice review lady, sounds like a pass on this one."
Thanks. Tons of people loved it, so there's a good chance it was my problem and not the book. I just did not like the MC (AT ..."
I've been there!
Thanks. Tons of people loved it, so there's a good chance it was my problem and not the book. I just did not like the MC (AT ..."
I've been there!
