The Disenchantments

Nov 20, 2011 Alexa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: out-2012, early-reviewers, arc, young-adult, 2011-reads

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

3.5 stars

I felt pretty disconnected at times with The Disenchantments. I love reading from the male POV, and even though I rooted for Colby, he didn't do much for me. Colby's in love with his best friend Bev, and for most of the book, I had a hard time understanding why. Bev was distant and didn't seem to care about Colby's feelings. I just couldn't get myself to like her. Eventually, Bev explained why she had been acting that way. And I got it....more

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Feb 10, 2012 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, contemporary

This cover screams Fun in the Sun! This blurb screams Road Trip and Music! So I was going into this expecting a light, fun, read. It's nothing like that. It has it's fun moments for sure, but the story is very sad bordering on depressing with a deep "finding oneself" message. This is not a bad thing at all. In fact I often enjoy books with this vibe, but going into this with opposite expectations really threw me for a loop.

The story is told in Colby's point-of-view. He and his best friend Bev ha...more This cover screams Fun in the Sun! This blurb screams Road Trip and Music! So I was going into this expecting a light, fun, read. It's nothing like that. It has it's fun moments for sure, but the story is very sad bordering on depressing with a deep "finding oneself" message. This is not a bad thing at all. In fact I often enjoy books with this vibe, but going into this with opposite expectations really threw me for a loop.

The story is told in Colby's point-of-view. He and his best friend Bev have been planning a year long trip around Europe for years. Leaving on a road trip to tour with Bev's girl band, she tells him the Europe trip is off. Colby spends the bigger part of the book brooding over this, upset towards Bev for lying to him for months. I understood where he was coming from, but I didn't get why he was depressed about it to such degree. Losing a year he could have spent at college is definitely not fun - especially when it's unplanned, it's hardly the end of the world. Plenty of high school graduates take a year off before going to college and end up with great careers. For Colby, it was as if he was losing his whole future.

It's not all sad however. We do have some fun parts where the girls play their very bad music, meet some intriguing people who take them on mini adventures along the way. These can seem a bit far fetched, but are still entertaining. The girls are all so unique with their quirks and fun spirits. The whole cast is really great which helps brighten the mood of the book. The only character I did not like very much was Bev. She's very moody and secretive for the most part, refusing to explain why she suddenly backed out of the trip. She gives off a lot of angst which I never particularly enjoy. Colby though, he's a great protagonist. His voice is real; he may be dramatic but his feelings still feel true. So overall, even though I wasn't expecting such a serious vibe with forlorn emotions, the characters absolutely saved the day and I was still able to have fun with the story. I'm fairly certain, especially now that you know what to expect, most readers will enjoy this more than I did.

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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads (less)

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May 04, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Some books snug up to my heart. They imprint themselves on me to the point where they become a personal experience, appealing to a part of me that wonders and thinks and feels deeply.
Nina LaCour's finely written book The Disenchantments crept up on me hooking me into some deep and contemplative thinking. Colby, the narrator, muses to himself, “I want to find the right fit. I'm getting closer, but I also know that I might never really have everything figured out. I might be searching forever”....more Some books snug up to my heart. They imprint themselves on me to the point where they become a personal experience, appealing to a part of me that wonders and thinks and feels deeply.
Nina LaCour's finely written book The Disenchantments crept up on me hooking me into some deep and contemplative thinking. Colby, the narrator, muses to himself, “I want to find the right fit. I'm getting closer, but I also know that I might never really have everything figured out. I might be searching forever”.
Right. We all might be searching forever, yet that's what living is all about: searching, reaching, redefining, refining and back again.
When I say the book crept up on me, I mean it lolled me into thinking it was a coming-of-age-teen-angst set of scenarios. I couldn't have been more off. Colby's confused and hurt. His broken heart drips with angst and disappointment. Everything he had dreamed of is suddenly ripped from him looking more and more like an old beater car sitting in a junkyard.
He hits the road in an old blue VW bus named Melanie. It's filled with his three friends, girls whose not-so-good band takes them from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon and several little burgs in between to play one-night gigs.
His dream of a trip to Paris and wandering throughout Europe, with his best friend and love of his life, now wilts before him, a fantasy, an enchantment, that threatens to plague and destroy him. Still he drives highway 101, literally moving on with life.
In the throes of disappoint he's asked about his ability to dance well. He replies, “It's because I don't give a shit…In just a little while we will forget things we used to want and adjust to the lives that we're given”.
It's with these disenchanted words that I became enchanted with the direction of the book. If you decide to pick it up to read, and I hope you do, don't let the torment of the first third of the book fool you. Coming-of-age isn't only for young adults. It's for all ages who wonder and question, who reach for understanding the mystery of life's many alleys and towers.
As a metaphor for life, the road trip took me along with Colby and friends on an exploration, meeting characters of all ages along the way who have elected to live their lives in significantly different ways. They hold one thread in common, the universal experience of letdowns and highs.
Colby comes to a point where he wonders whether all of the disappointments aren't meaningless or random. “It is better to think that fate is the reason my plans have been ruined – that it might be because there's something for me out there, or something that I'm meant to do...”
Toward the end of the book as Colby rides along in the vintage bus, he sees his eyes reflected in the rearview mirror and the flowers and trees out the window. Aristotle's writing that theater should be, “True to life and yet more beautiful,” comes into his mind.
I say close to the same thing about The Disenchantments. It is true to life and it is beautiful. As Colby observed about the girl band, “They want to make music, so who cares if they don't know how?”
My translation would be something like, “Live your life. Who cares if you don't know how?”(less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Eden rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thinking about it, I get the feeling that Colby's perspective, while male, is really written for girls. Though he has his own problems, so much of his interior development involves Bev, Meg and Alexa that I can't imagine any guy picking this up. It makes it less realistic, yes, but at least it doesn't detract at all from my enjoying the story, as a girl.

Colby's head is a thoroughly comfortable place to be. He has his tantrum-y moments, and he also has his insightful moments that make you go,Yes....more Thinking about it, I get the feeling that Colby's perspective, while male, is really written for girls. Though he has his own problems, so much of his interior development involves Bev, Meg and Alexa that I can't imagine any guy picking this up. It makes it less realistic, yes, but at least it doesn't detract at all from my enjoying the story, as a girl.

Colby's head is a thoroughly comfortable place to be. He has his tantrum-y moments, and he also has his insightful moments that make you go, Yes. That's what discovery and creation are about. Meg and Alexa's sisterly bond provides an excellent foil for the rocky relationship between Colby and Bev (if relationships can be foils, hehe), and the individuals themselves also shine with their own character arcs. One can almost forgive Bev's unsavoury behaviour by the end... but not quite. Which is a bad thing, but also a good thing, as LaCour manages to keep our sympathies with Colby.

I didn't know what to expect from this road trip story, but if all road trips novels are like this (Antony John, Thou Shalt Not Road Trip , anyone? *goes off into squeeing fits*) then I'm all for them. There weren't a multitude of forgettable side characters, as I feared; in fact, I'd say Jasper was my favourite out of all of them. (Him and his tattoos and his big-world dreams! <3) All of the secondary characters are completely winning with their own back stories.

The themes of music and love are intertwined in fascinating ways, though it's difficult to explain here without giving away too much. The Disenchantments may be the worst girl band ever, but LaCour manages to work in a solid thread of music history through Colby's family. The questions on love Colby and the girls raise are as deep as the sculptures Bev creates and the street art Colby makes. Alexa's notebook of jobs (apparently they rack up to the 400s) is an interesting twist on the careers question.

This, most definitely, is a real feel-good self-discovery novel. Who doesn't love those warm fuzzy feelings at the end of a book?

The cover:

I'm a sucker for sunlight, and this cover gives off an old-school vibe for some reason, which makes it even better. The sunglasses add the right summery feel, too. The only thing is that no boy is going to pick this up. And it's a male protagonist, too. *facepalm*

*Review originally published on Pass the Chiclets.(less)

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Feb 26, 2013 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, california, contemporary, for-review, music, roadtrip, young-adult, oregon

This book isn't very long. At all. And the writing style is very bare bones. There just isn't a lot of detail. Because of that, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. And it took me awhile to get into. But I finally did, and though I will never adore this book, it was a good, solid read with a great message.

What you should know before you read it:

~Like I said, the writing lacked detail. If you are descriptive person, this book probably won't work for you. You might not hate it, but I doubt you wi...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books, own, favorites

Wow, tell me why I don't read contemporary more often? Talk about powerful. I think contemporary novels are the type that really keep you thinking about your life and the people surrounding your life. Although it is still a work of fiction, I think there is much truth behind the words of contemporary novels that just aren't behind words in paranormal or horror. I feel like contemporary speaks to you in a way other genre's just don't. There were so many messages, morals, ways to relate to these c...more Wow, tell me why I don't read contemporary more often? Talk about powerful. I think contemporary novels are the type that really keep you thinking about your life and the people surrounding your life. Although it is still a work of fiction, I think there is much truth behind the words of contemporary novels that just aren't behind words in paranormal or horror. I feel like contemporary speaks to you in a way other genre's just don't. There were so many messages, morals, ways to relate to these characters you just don't find in say, hush hush or Anna Dressed in Blood. This was quite an eye-opening read for me, so let me continue...

The story is told in the point of view of Colby. Colby is a guy, a very sweet, confused, funny guy. Four years ago Colby and his best friend, Bev, had planed to travel all across Europe. Except, once The Disenchantments start their tour, Bev confesses that she is actually going to college in the fall. Poor Colby is heartbroken and lost. Has no idea what to do with his life. Before I go any further I'll explain to you who The Disenhantments are. It is an all girl band made up of Bev, Meg, and Alexa. Colby is kind of the groupie I guess. He's their best friend and goes to everyone one of their gigs. Anyways, throughout the entire novel we see Colby overcome this sudden change of events. After all, for four years him and Bev planed on touring Europe. It doesn't help she kept this secrete from him until last minute.

Well, we learn throughout the novel how Colby overcomes all this. His love for Bev is still there, even when they get into little tiffs. It was quite a different and new experience to read Colby's story. I rather enjoyed it. Not only was it witty and fun, but the characters were great, especially Colby. Despite being a guy, I still felt connected to him. Maybe it was because I felt sorry for him, or maybe I could really relate, I just felt totally connected to the dude. I'm going to be right out honest with you guys and say I got a little emotional. Can't say a tear or two didn't fall while reading this. This really pulls at your heart-strings at points. I can't say it will do the same to you, but it did it for me. Why? Because it touched home for me, I guess. I'll be gradutating this year, I've got University in a big city awaiting me in September. Truthfully, I really don't know what to do with my life. I've got one side of me saying, teacher, but the other saying just be free for a year. Seriously, the devil and angel are wearing me out. This is kind of how Colby is thoughout the book. He's on a scale, one way leads to what he might want, the other leads to what he doesn't really want, but is a very possible future.

In the end he makes a decision that I think was best for him. I can't tell you what this decision is, you'll have to read the book to find out, but it was a good decision. You get to really know Colby's character, so I think his decision really reflected him, and not the girl. Just saying.

I want to sound convincing, and make you guys read this book when it is released, but I fear I'm not doing a very good job. If you enjoy contemporary, I think you'll really enjoy this. From start to finish, you'll be bobbing your head to the upbeat pace of this book. It was so hippish and 'rad.' Retro and adventureous. You'll meet some interesting charachters, laugh, maybe get angry at times. I think readers will really enjoy Colby's story.

So overall I say this book was completely rad. Truly something I'll be thinking about for the next couple of days.

My rating:
5 'rad' paint brushes (because Colby is a wonderful artist)

Angela(less)

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Mar 12, 2013 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: beach-reads, fiction, ya

Fans of Sarah Dessen there is something new to read while you wait for SD"s next novel. It is the story of Colby and Bev, best friends since elementary school, and Bev's band members, Meg and Alexa, as they tour for a month after graduation before heading to college and the great big world. Of course it is the story of unrequited love, betrayal, loss of innocence, trust, and growing up. There are lots of "last times..." and trying to figure out the world as everything seems new. All four band me...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Mrs. S rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, read-in-2013

I realize that when I give five stars to a book, it's usually done one of a few different things to me: maybe it kept me on the edge of my seat, made me gasp or cry or laugh out loud. Sometimes, though, and I think these might be my secret favorites, it's just made me feel full in a way that's hard to explain. It's not teary, necessarily, although it often makes me want to cry a little. I'm talking about books that let you feel your feelings without slapping you in the face with them. For me, th...more I realize that when I give five stars to a book, it's usually done one of a few different things to me: maybe it kept me on the edge of my seat, made me gasp or cry or laugh out loud. Sometimes, though, and I think these might be my secret favorites, it's just made me feel full in a way that's hard to explain. It's not teary, necessarily, although it often makes me want to cry a little. I'm talking about books that let you feel your feelings without slapping you in the face with them. For me, this wasn't a loud or flashy or arresting read; it took its time and unfolded slowly. But before I knew it, I was at the end with that feeling in my chest that I can't quite put my finger on other than to say that most of the art I love (paintings, poetry, dance, TV, books...) makes me feel that way.

Initially, this book had me worried. See, SO MANY PEOPLE have talked about totally loving this book, and for the first 40-50 pages, I wasn't feeling it. I mean, it was fine, I liked it fine, but I was already starting to think, "My god, how am I going to blog about this if all it is is fine?"

And weirdly, I can't point to a spot and say, "Yeah, there's where it grabbed me." It was more like tea steeping--the flavor, so to speak, gets stronger and stronger over time until you have the perfect cup of tea (and then you better take the leaves out right quick before it gets bitter, but that part of the metaphor doesn't apply here, so let's say it's a nice herbal tea where you don't have to worry about that as much.)

My favorite characters were Meg and Alexa--I'd read their book, for sure. Either of their books. I loved Alexa's hope and the reality underneath Meg's impulsive boppiness. For me, they provided an entry point into a setup I'm not usually crazy about (the lovelorn boy, the deliberately withdrawn girl, their inevitable broken love story). But by the end, even Colby and Bev's sad, confusing relationship had drawn me in. It walked the line between frustrating and implausible really well, and I wound up rooting for just about everyone. (less)

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Jan 07, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Colby has been best friends with Bev ever since they were young children. (They are now high school graduates.) Bev is in a band with two other young women, Meg and Alexa. The band has some end of the summer gigs before college begins. Colby is the driver for the band on this small tour. Through his eyes we discover his conflicts over who he is; how he behaves; how he misunderstands relationships around him. (I give the author a lot of credit for being able to write as a teen male protagonist.)...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Savannah S rated it 3 of 5 stars

So originally, I loved the concept of the book. Finally a book about a band (or at least somewhat about a band!)! I'd been searching one for what seemed like forever, and finally one turned up.

I was sort of expecting a lot from it, which is maybe why it came up short for me. I just wasn't particularly fond of the characters. Well, that's not quite right. Colby was fine, and I really liked Meg and Alexa. But the problem was that I hated Bev. Like sure, I know we're supposed to sort of hate her d...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Hilda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Addictive and beautiful, The Disenchantments is one of my favorite contemporaries this year.

The Disenchantments kicks off with two best friends Colby and Bev graduating from high school. Colby is ecstatic because in one week, he will be touring Europe with his best friend Bev. They have planned the tour since the beginning of high school year, and he can hardly wait for them to spend a year together in amazing countries in Europe. Before the much-awaited journey in Europe, the two best friends w...more Addictive and beautiful, The Disenchantments is one of my favorite contemporaries this year.

The Disenchantments kicks off with two best friends Colby and Bev graduating from high school. Colby is ecstatic because in one week, he will be touring Europe with his best friend Bev. They have planned the tour since the beginning of high school year, and he can hardly wait for them to spend a year together in amazing countries in Europe. Before the much-awaited journey in Europe, the two best friends will spend a one-week last tour with Bev’s girl band, The Disenchantments. But in the first day of their tour, Bev suddenly announces that she can’t go to Europe with Colby because she will go to college. Colby is angry and confused of the sudden announcement, but more than everything he is hurt because Bev has never told him about her plan to go to college. But the show must go on and Colby is their only roadie. With no back-up college plan or any desire to travel alone in foreign countries, Colby must find out during this one-week tour: what would he do next after The Disenchantments’ tour ends?

First of all, I just want to praise Nina LaCour for her wonderful writing! When I was reading it, it was very easy to imagine myself sitting in the backseat of the van along with the members of The Disenchantments. The story in this book is split into eight days, and it was like watching an imaginary movie unfolding before my eyes. The events flow really well and I like to get to know all of these characters. They all bear their own unique characteristics that make them stand out.

Colby is a wonderful protagonist that I really like. He’s an artist with observant eyes and laid-back attitude. He’s the type of guy best friend any girl would love to have. His undying love to Bev is really sweet as well. I love how they have been best friends since childhood. However, Bev is not a character I instantly warmed up with. She is tough, secretive, and confusing, and I didn’t really appreciate her for hurting Colby in purpose. But she has her own reasons for her decisions, and once I get to know her more, I begin to see things that Colby has always seen in Bev.

The rest of the members of the band have stunning qualities as well. Meg is loud, cheerful, and basically the type of girl you would like to hang out with. She’s the type of person whose presence would brighten the whole room. Meg’s sister, Alexa, is the responsible one in the band. She’s almost like their secretary, but it’s cute that she believes so much in fate. When Alexa leads them far away from their destination because she insists to follow what Magic Eight Ball said, it’s such a smile-inducing moment for me. Every character in the book has their spotlight moment, and they feel like my dear friends when I closed the book.

I think everyone can relate easily to issues presented in The Disenchantments. Like Colby, we all have experienced moments when we doubt about what we really wants to do in our lives. We have the vague image of what we want to do, but we don’t know yet what steps we should take to get there. And like Bev, we all have secrets that mold us into what we are now. Each character in this book has their own issue and I think they handle it pretty well in the end.

All in all, The Disenchantments would appeal most to fans of contemporary. I would recommend it to people who are looking for good road-trip books with characters they can identify themselves with. :)

It isn’t complicated, it isn’t surprising. It is simple and sad. She told me thousands of lies, so many that it could take forever to forgive her, and there are so many things I could say back to her right now. About being cowardly. About being deceitful. About being reckless with someone else. But I don’t want to say any of that. Instead, I step toward her and she drops her arms from over her chest. I hold her close and she holds me.

And it doesn’t take forever, all it takes is this.(less)

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Sep 30, 2012 Armchair rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: rocked-my-world, totally-adorable

This book is legit.

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Colby, Bev, Meg, and Alexa have just graduated from high school, and they're going on tour of the Pacific Northwest in a turquoise Volkswagen bus named Melinda. The Disenchantments are a terrible riot-grrl inspired band with their own pet boy/chauffeur/truth-speaker. They have less than two weeks to tour the Pacific Northwest before they deposit Meg at college in Portland, Alexa returns to S.F. and high school, and Colby and Bev fly to Europe...more This book is legit.

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Colby, Bev, Meg, and Alexa have just graduated from high school, and they're going on tour of the Pacific Northwest in a turquoise Volkswagen bus named Melinda. The Disenchantments are a terrible riot-grrl inspired band with their own pet boy/chauffeur/truth-speaker. They have less than two weeks to tour the Pacific Northwest before they deposit Meg at college in Portland, Alexa returns to S.F. and high school, and Colby and Bev fly to Europe for the big adventure. So when Bev tells Colby that she's going to college instead of Europe, on their first day out of the city, it not only crushes his heart but throws his whole future (and the tour) into question. The show must go on an as Melinda wends her way along the California coast the four teenagers learn about each other and themselves, the world outside San Francisco and high school, and the difference between dreaming big and doing big.

A few weeks ago I read Lola and the Boy Next Door, and noted that the San Francisco of that novel was a sort of Disney-fied, Full House version of the real deal. The Disenchantments is legit. By the eighteenth page I knew that a Bay Area native had written this book, and checking out the author blurb confirmed. It's in the locations, the setting description, the way that the characters view themselves and others...it's in the dialogue:

"Why the fuck not steal a tool kit? That shit is useful."

I laughed out loud so many time reading this novel just because the venues, conversations, and observations are just so dead-on. The Disenchantments tour takes them up the California coast to Arcata, a truly singular place where I finished my college degree. Again, it was clear that the author had not only been to Arcata, but actually lived there. It would be so easy to slip into stereotypes for that little city where the sixties never ended. The description of driving into Fort Bragg, scene of The Disenchantments first disenchanting experience, where the world goes gray is hilariously accurate.

The novel is very rich due to the author's genuine familiarity with the people and places she is writing about: the hopelessness of Fort Bragg, the anything-can-happen weirdness of Arcata, the initial appeal and swift boredom of Weaverville, and the clean promise of Portland. The girls and Colby discover that nothing about their summer is turning into what they thought it would be, but in some ways it's better, because it's real. Each of the characters has a distinct perspective and journey, and LaCour blends these and their journey together into a rich, true-to-life narrative.

The character development in this novel is outstanding. Each character is so well written that by novel's end I felt like I could predict what each would do in any given situation. La Cour juggles the complexities of the different relationships beautifully: Alexa and Meg as sisters who are different but loving, Colby's love for Bev but his uncertainty about her feelings, Bev as the guarded frontwoman for the band and social group. It stirred up a lot of emotion: I felt angry, happy, sad, melancholy, hopeful...the full range while reading this novel.

It's a beautiful journey written with love by an insider. East-Coasters just don't write West-Coasters like this. Satisfying. (less)

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Sep 16, 2012 Joe rated it 3 of 5 stars

I kept expecting the author to reveal that Colby, the male narrator, is gay. But he isn't, and I'm not spoiling anything by telling you so. In fact, the book will be more enjoyable if you don't have that expectation and accept the fact that the author has created a male teenager who thinks and acts like a girl: that is, he broods over relationships and analyzes them endlessly and can spend entire nights with a smokin' hot girl without even touching her, and he keeps drawing her neck because it's...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Ciara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids-books, read-in-2012

i had a tough time with this book. i know it's YA, but there were like no stakes whatsoever. it's told from the perspective of a teenage boy named colby. he is best friends with bev, who heads up an all-girl rock band called the disenchantments. colby, bev, & another member of the band just graduated from their fancypants san francisco art high school & have decided to take the band on tour before everyone scatters to pursue their post-graduation plans. one girl still has another year of...more i had a tough time with this book. i know it's YA, but there were like no stakes whatsoever. it's told from the perspective of a teenage boy named colby. he is best friends with bev, who heads up an all-girl rock band called the disenchantments. colby, bev, & another member of the band just graduated from their fancypants san francisco art high school & have decided to take the band on tour before everyone scatters to pursue their post-graduation plans. one girl still has another year of high school left. another is moving to portland to attend lewis & clark college. colby & bev have plans to travel together in europe...or so colby thinks. their first day on the road, bev confesses that she secretly applied to RISD & was accepted. she has decided to go to college instead of europe, leaving colby kind of high & dry on the whole "what i did with my summer vacation" front.

& need i even explain the obvious, which is that colby has a raging crush on bev & had this whole fantasy going where they totally get together while traveling in europe together? so her ditching out to go to college isn't just about europe. it's also about his boners. & frankly, i HATED reading this dude's bizarre sense of entitlement when it comes to his crush on his best friend. he acts so fucking betrayed, which i guess is a reasonably accurate depiction of annoying teenage behavior, but it was still just awful to read.

he decides to continue with the tour anyway, & in between pretty typical scenes of crappy basement shows, the only real "tension" comes from the big question of whether colby & bev will get together or not. anyone who has ever read a book before already knows the answer to this question. i mean, if they don't, why the hell would the book even exist? there's also some kind of lame plotline about how they swing by a tattoo studio & find a photo of colby's dad's old band's record cover tattooed on someone's back, which sets them off on a scavenger hunt to track down the tattooed guy & get an explanation as to why he has this obscure band tattoo. & this eventually leads to colby meeting up with some famous graffiti artist he admires a lot & being encouraged to pursue his dreams, which involve a) banging bev, & b) going to europe without her. he also discovers that bev's home life isn't so awesome, & neither is his own, which was apparently a major newsflash even though you'd think he might have caught on when his mom moved to france.

aside from the stupidity & precious "individuality" of each of the characters (one of them paints peace signs on her hands & wears a headband with bells on it--like you wouldn't want to rip it off her & throw it out the van window after thirty seconds; another runs out & gets a spur of the moment chest tattoo on the second day of tour to commemorate how awesome tour is), there's also tons of stuff about how the band really sucks but they make up for it by being sexy girls. i read an interview with the author in which she was asked why she chose to make the band kind of shitty. she was like, "i just wanted to underscore the fact that this wasn't a serious band that was going to try to make it big; it's just friends having fun for the summer before they pursue their real lives." fair enough & everything, by why so much focus on the girls' looks? it was like reading everything i hate about all "women in rock" books ever, fictionalized & presented as if it was in any way a positive thing. every time the girls play a show, the audience is described as being initially stunned by how sucky they are, & then forgiving because the girls are all so pretty & sexy. that is GROSS & anti-feminist. ugh, i hated it. i don't know what the hell i would do if my teenage daughter was reading something like this & absorbing the message that it's totally acceptable to suck at what you do as long as you're cute while you're doing it. yuck yuck yuck. & the author drops a lot of little hints & bits about riot grrrl, name-dropping bands like sleater-kinney (which technically didn't start until riot grrrl was in its death throes, but whatever), but apparently she didn't absorb some of riot grrrl's more overt messages about musicianship, such as "don't need you to say we're cute". i came away from this book feeling surprised that it was written by a woman. one thing i will say: she did a bang up job capturing everything that is fucking unbearable about the male narrative voice. i just don't really think that's a good thing. (less)

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Jun 27, 2012 kari rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ya

Disenchanting?
Most definitely.
So I guess this one is aptly named.
Actually 1 1/2 stars ... barely.
I won't be reading this author again. I didn't feel that I was reading the voice of a guy for the most part. Other than when some other guy says hey bro, I started to wonder if Colby was, in fact, a girl with a gender neutral name, particularly since the love interest, Bev, makes out with boys or girls.
Speaking of the love interest, in order for this story to work, the author needs to sell me on...more Disenchanting?
Most definitely.
So I guess this one is aptly named.
Actually 1 1/2 stars ... barely.
I won't be reading this author again. I didn't feel that I was reading the voice of a guy for the most part. Other than when some other guy says hey bro, I started to wonder if Colby was, in fact, a girl with a gender neutral name, particularly since the love interest, Bev, makes out with boys or girls.
Speaking of the love interest, in order for this story to work, the author needs to sell me on the idea that this character is worth the trouble. I need to feel that she is fabulous and that, of course, Colby would be crazy about her since everywhere they go, she is making out with someone. Everyone is attracted to her. She must be fantastic, right? Not so much.
Also, I didn't get any idea of Bev's sparkling or wonderful personality. Why is everyone attracted to her? Just because she's hot? All I really get to know is that the back of her neck seems to be quite fetching as Colby draws it over and over and one of the girls mentions how pretty her neck is since she has just shorn her hair. And her long tan legs and her graceful hands are described, but who she is? Yeah, not so much. And the smoking just because they're on tour. Is this supposed to make me think she's so cool?
So, she suddenly announces that she has changed her mind on the plan they've had for four years, a plan to take a year and travel around Europe. So, yep, she's out and then spends the entirety of the road trip pouty and angry that Colby has the audacity to ask her why. Again, for this character to work, I have to feel that I care about why, that it matters, that she is worth it. I am worn out with angsty teenage girls who make their own drama instead of dealing with anything. When Bev's deep dark secret is revealed all I thougt was: "Really?" *yawns*
This pretty much sums up how I feel about Bev and it's in her own words: "I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't know how I could have done this." p. 247
As a reader,I can't stand her and I don't know why anyone would put up with her nonsense. The author hasn't managed to sell me on the idea that this girl is anything special. Instead, I'm left with the idea that Colby is an idiot for having wasted years of his time with this nasty piece of crap. Sorry, that is just how I feel. If I had a friend who lied to me for four years, almost each and every day of those four years, I wouldn't be saying okey-dokey when I hear her idiotic reason. Yeah, that's just how I roll. I know this is a story and not real life, but this kind of bad treatment from a friend makes steam come out my ears because we're supposed to think it's okay (since she was finally forced to tell the truth).
So, Bev aside, the whole of this is just meh. I didn't think their epic road trip seemed like they were having fun. It seemed mostly boring, riding around in the van, stopping at this or that uninteresting place.
Nothing here is memorable.
(less)

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Jun 19, 2012 BAYA Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Colby and Bev (his best friend and secret crush), made a pact; graduate from high school and then spend a year traveling all over Europe. They have been planning this trip for years. The kick off to their great adventure is a short road trip with Bev’s band ; The Disenchantments. About 20 miles into the trip Bev tells Colby she is not going to be going on the epic European adventure. She is going to go to Rhode Island School of Design in the fall. Colby is devastated, he has no idea how to handl...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Kendra rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was quite excited to read this book after loving LaCour's Hold Still. This wasn't quite as excellent, in my opinion, but it's lighter and fun, and I definitely enjoyed reading it.

The narrator here is Colby, a just-graduated HS senior about to embark on a road trip up the CA coast with his BFF Bev and her band, The Disenchantments. They aren't musically gifted, but they're hot girls with musical instruments, so who cares?! Colby is the roadie and is along for the ride because he's secretly in l...more

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May 15, 2012 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Best friends Colby and Bev go on a road trip with sisters Meg and Alexa who, together with Bev, are the girl band The Disenchantments. Colby, Bev, and Meg have just graduated from San Francisco's arts magnet high school. Bev and Colby are supposed to head off to Europe after the band trip, but we learn early on that those plans have changed. As the friends drive from SF to Portland in Colby's uncle's VW bus (affectionately named "Melinda") we get to know the characters and they gain a better und...more

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May 10, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: art, families, music, ncbla2013, travel, road-trip, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. While it is a road trip book, this book is certainly a whole lot more than that. Four friends (Bev, Meg, Alexa) embark on a week-long musical tour of small towns in the Pacific Northwest before heading toward their future. Three of the girls comprise an attractive, enthusiastic but not particularly skilled band called The Disenchantments while Colby is their roadie an VW bus driver. The plan is to travel up the coast from San Francisco, drop Meg off at her dorm in her new college in Portland, an...more While it is a road trip book, this book is certainly a whole lot more than that. Four friends (Bev, Meg, Alexa) embark on a week-long musical tour of small towns in the Pacific Northwest before heading toward their future. Three of the girls comprise an attractive, enthusiastic but not particularly skilled band called The Disenchantments while Colby is their roadie an VW bus driver. The plan is to travel up the coast from San Francisco, drop Meg off at her dorm in her new college in Portland, and then Bev and Colby will head off to Europe for a year of travel, something they've planned for years. When Bev reveals that her plans have changed; instead of heading to Europe, she has been accepted at RISD, where she plans to attend college. Colby is in love with Bev, and much of the rest of the book explores his trying to find out the reasons behind Bev's change of heart. As the band moves from venue to venue, they meet all manner of interesting characters while Colby tries to heal his wounded heart. While I loved the musical references to some of the soundtracks of my own past history--the Chiffons, the Supremes, Heart, Sleater-Kinney--and Colby's constant sketching, I was never really able to understand why Bev wasn't more forthcoming about her change of heart. It seems that a relationship based around dishonesty isn't much of a relationship at all, right? I'm glad that Colby could forgive and understand Bev's actions since I would have struggled with that for longer than he did. It was also hard for me to understand the whole band thing, too. I'm not sure I get the point of an all-girl band whose appeal is their attractiveness and not their ability to play music. Wouldn't it be better to acquire the skills needed to make music? Or is their poor playing some way of poking fun at the musical establishment? There are all sorts of other plotlines as well. Colby's mother is in France, learning to speak another language while her husband waits at home. A little more detail about that relationship might have helped as well as more about Alexa and Meg.)His dad and uncle were in a band of their own years ago, inspiring a bit of nostalgia for their own touring days. When the travelers happen to meet a tattoo artist desperate to leave his own home and find a copy of a painting by Colby's mother in a tattoo book, I became disenchanted with the storyline because there were just too many coincidences and contrivances for my taste. I'm not sure that I could buy that Colby would invite Jason, someone he barely knew, to accompany him on his European adventure either. Maybe, but why couldn't he go alone? (less)

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Apr 24, 2012 Evan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I finished this book in February. It's April and I still think about it. I think that says enough, right?

Well, here's a few more things to consider: there's a scene early in the book -- the band's first show in some dude's basement -- that had me smiling the whole way. Upon reading that scene, I knew that this was not going to be a slog through romantic angst or trauma or manufactured danger. This was going to be a quest for understanding and purpose (because the world is always demanding we "h...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Lucy Maud rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books

The Teaser: Colby and Bev are best friends with a plan. After graduation they'll put off college and travel around Europe together. And if Colby has his way, somewhere in some hostel, Bev will realize that she feels the same way he does: decidedly more than friendly. Before they can leave for Europe though, they're headed out for a 10 day tour with Bev's band. The worst wannabe riot grrrrrrl band in the history of history. As the tour winds its way out of San Francisco, through Northern Californ...more The Teaser: Colby and Bev are best friends with a plan. After graduation they'll put off college and travel around Europe together. And if Colby has his way, somewhere in some hostel, Bev will realize that she feels the same way he does: decidedly more than friendly. Before they can leave for Europe though, they're headed out for a 10 day tour with Bev's band. The worst wannabe riot grrrrrrl band in the history of history. As the tour winds its way out of San Francisco, through Northern California and into Oregon both Colby and Bev have to face the hard fact that what's best for them might not be the same thing anymore.

What Stood Out: I loved every single character in this book. I loved Colby's dad and his Uncle Pete. I loved Jasper, Sophie, even the guy with the PBR at the first show they played. And I loved Alexa and Meg most of all. Every single person who dropped into the story, even for 3 seconds, was a fully realized person with a back story and their own motives. Just like Bev's mini-world of sculptures, I bet Nina LaCour has an entire journal filled with stories about even the most minor faces who populate her world. The people of The Disenchantments are truly truly amazing.

What Didn't Work: Maybe because every single character was so awesome, it really stood out (in the bad way) that Colby and Bev are the most boring leads ever. I wanted her to suck it up and I wanted him to stop beingsuch a pushover more times than I could count so that we could get back to Miranda the Van and the crowd reactions to the terrible shows.

Anything Extra Special?: Too many to count. Seriously, it's the little things with this book. But let's start with these.

Road Trip
Who hasn't wanted to jump in an old VW van with 3 of their best friends and travel along some of the prettiest country in America? Road trip books are always on my favorite read lists because they usually spawn great music playlists and heightened tension from being in such a small space for so long. The Disenchantments is no exception, one of my newest, dearest wishes is for LaCour to release all 12 of Meg's playlists. Rock on great American tradition, rock on.

Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney is Bev's favorite band and they sort of serve as a stand-in for all riot grrrl groups in the story. Sleater Kinney will forever hold a place in my heart for getting me through high school in one piece (maybe I am more like Bev than I want to admit) and my crush on Carrie Brownstein is unparallelled. Especially after her stint on NPR's All Songs Considered podcasts.

Graffiti
I've said it before and I'll say it again: If a book has even a passing interest in graffiti, I will gobble it up. While all four leads in The Disenchantments went to an arts based high school, Colby is the only one who focused on traditional two dimensional drawing and painting. Graffiti became an interest of his after doing a school project and the story keeps circling back to his maybe there, hidden desire to try it out for himself.(less)

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Apr 16, 2012 Adrienne rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 13, 2012 Gigi Olivia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chic-lit, favourites, inspiring-novels, messed-up-mcs, ya-novels

Here's what I love about road trip books: the characters are always in search of something they lack in their lives, and most of the time they don't even know what they're looking for. In many ways, books like The Disenchantments are very relatable to teenagers.

Often, I find myself wondering the point of living day after day with just assignments and projects and homeworks and textbooks as my companions. What would I do after high school? What can I do? Even those with a clear target, we are al...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen, music, high-school, coming-of-age, friendship

“We felt so small with the city lights stretching forever below us, and we yelled at the top of our lungs because we were just these small humans but we felt more longing than could ever fit inside us.”

Colby and Bev have made plans to travel to Europe after graduating from high school. College can wait for a year, exploring the world and doing their own thing is more important. Bev is the lead singer of a band with her girlfriends Alexa and Meg. They call themselves the Disenchantments. They are...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Guitar Chick rated it 4 of 5 stars

For the record, I was totally obsessed with all the music in this book at one point or another in my continuing adolescence, so this book holds a really special place in my heart simply for playing Heart, etc. all the time.
The writing is excellent. It's written from a guy's point of view, which either fails epicly or really brings the story together. In this case, it's the latter.
The only character I had trouble with was Bev, but that was the point of the book, and it is resolved in the end.
I lo...more

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Mar 06, 2012 laaaaames rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to laaaaames by: Brandy Colbert

Short review: every single character in this book's relationship status on Facebook is, hopefully, "It's complicated".

Long review:

Dear Colby, protagonist of this book,

Nearly ten years ago, I made plans to move to my dream big city. My best friend decided she would too, with the plan of arriving a few months after me. It sounded like the best future in the world. Then suddenly when I talked about it she grew uncomfortable and shuffly, and one day she refused to talk to me and refused to say why....more

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Mar 04, 2012 Liana rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful read. I couldn't put it down. I wouldn't have picked up this book except I read a couple other reviews saying it was fantastic and they made me so excited about it. So I grabbed it as soon as I could and I wasn't disappointed. It's everything a great road trip novel should be. Always moving and full of hope. Plus I love the names Colby and Bev. Especially Bev. Her name seemed to be perfect. The voices of all the characters were very strong. Their struggles were relatable. The qu...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Wandering Librarians rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, friendship, realistic-fiction, ya

Best friends Colby and Bev are finally doing it. While their classmates head to college, they are jetting off to Europe exactly as they’ve been saying they would since the 8th grade. The only thing that stands between them and Paris is a week-long tour with Bev’s girl band, The Disenchantments. As soon as the tour is over, they’ll drop off band mates Meg and Alexa and hit the road. At least, that’s the plan. Early into the first day of the tour, Bev drops a bombshell: She’s applied to RISD for t...more Best friends Colby and Bev are finally doing it. While their classmates head to college, they are jetting off to Europe exactly as they’ve been saying they would since the 8th grade. The only thing that stands between them and Paris is a week-long tour with Bev’s girl band, The Disenchantments. As soon as the tour is over, they’ll drop off band mates Meg and Alexa and hit the road. At least, that’s the plan. Early into the first day of the tour, Bev drops a bombshell: She’s applied to RISD for the fall, and she’s going. A formerly overjoyed Colby is suddenly broken hearted, angry, and without a plan. His feelings for Bev have long since ceased to be platonic, but even putting that aside he feels betrayed that his best friend since he was 9-years-old lied to him, continuing to plan the trip while secretly applying to college. The Disenchantments is the story of a band on the road, but it is also the story of Colby coming to accept Bev’s decision, and to make some decisions of his own.

This book is very very hip. Colby is an amazing artist with a growing fascination with graffiti. Bev is a casually bisexual, naturally gorgeous would-be riot girl who rocks impulsively shorn hair, tight white tank tops, and has a savant level proficiency at whittling. (Yes, I said whittling.) Meg wears mod dresses and buys Supremes albums on vinyl, while her sister Alexa dresses in hippie garb and has a notebook filled with more than 700 career choices. Colby and the band are driving around the Pacific Northwest in a vintage VW van named Melinda. I mean, really. I think I’ve made my point.

Personally, I loved the references to Sleater-Kinney, to gay married dads, to Banksy, to tattoo artists, and to French films I’ve never seen. It reminded me of watching Sex and the City- I knew it was an overblown representation of a niche group of people, but there was certain glamour to it that I couldn’t help but love. Of course, there are people who hated watching Sex in the City because it was an overblown representation of a niche group of people who they found really very annoying, so if over privileged teenage hipsters press your buttons, this is a book to skip.

The Disenchantments does have more going for it than its commitment to a métier. Instead of the typical will they/won’t they dynamic of most teen books, we learn fairly quickly that they won’t, so instead of spending the book in a tizzy of suspense, readers are surprised by the turns the characters take with one and other. LaCour’s characters explore whether or not romantic love can last, and how that question affects both families and young couples. She also delves into the issue of how our perception of people and events often differ greatly from reality, something that it is all too easy for teens and adults alike to forget.

All said, The Disenchantments is a unique and well done YA book. It will appeal to older teens with artistic interests, or to those who see themselves as falling somewhere outside of mainstream American culture.(less)

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Feb 11, 2012 Tori rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: drama, chick-lit, favorite-ya, read-in-2012, ya

Os Desencantos - Nina LaCour

04/02/2012

Sinopse:Colby e Bev têm um pacto de longa data: pós-graduação, pegar a estrada com a banda de Bev, e, em seguida, passar o ano perambulando pela Europa. Mas momentos depois da turnê começa, Bev faz um anúncio chocante: ela está abandonando seus planos - e Colby - vai começar a faculdade no outono.O que vai acontecer em seguida?

Eu amo romances contemporâneos,as vezes penso porque não leio mais desses,esse livro chegou para mim como ARC,não estava esperando na...more Os Desencantos - Nina LaCour

04/02/2012

Sinopse:Colby e Bev têm um pacto de longa data: pós-graduação, pegar a estrada com a banda de Bev, e, em seguida, passar o ano perambulando pela Europa. Mas momentos depois da turnê começa, Bev faz um anúncio chocante: ela está abandonando seus planos - e Colby - vai começar a faculdade no outono.O que vai acontecer em seguida?

Eu amo romances contemporâneos,as vezes penso porque não leio mais desses,esse livro chegou para mim como ARC,não estava esperando nada desse livro,eu não tinha gostado da sinopse,mas, me enganei.The Disenchantments é um livro roadtrip, e como toda roadtrip ou é de romance ou é de suicídio. Nesse caso é de romance.

A história é contada pelo ponto de vista de Colby. Colby é um cara muito doce,confuso e engraçado. Quatro anos atrás, Colby e sua melhor amiga, Bev, tinham planejado viajar em toda a Europa.Mas momentos depois das The Disenchantments começar sua turnê, Bev confessa que ela está realmente indo para a faculdade no outono. Pobre Colby está inconsolável e perdido. Não tem idéia do que fazer com sua vida. Antes de eu ir mais longe eu vou explicar quem são as The Disenchantments.The Disenchantments é uma banda de garotas formada por Bev, Meg, e Alexa. Colby é um tipo de groupie ( Fã), eu acho. Ele é o melhor amigo de Bev e vai para todos seus shows. De qualquer forma, ao longo de todo o romance vemos Colby superar esta súbita mudança de eventos. Afinal de contas, durante quatro anos ele e Bev planejaram uma turnê pela Europa.

Bem, nós aprendemos ao longo do romance como Colby supera tudo isso. Seu amor por Bev ainda está lá, mesmo quando eles entram em desavenças pequenas. Foi uma experiência bastante diferente e nova ler a história de Colby. Eu gostei bastante. Não só era espirituoso e divertido, mas os personagens eram grandes, especialmente Colby. Apesar de Colby ser um menino, eu me senti ligada a ele. Talvez fosse porque eu senti pena dele,eu me senti totalmente conectada com ele.

Eu fiquei emotiva com esse livro ( eu não fico emotiva em todos os livros) pois eu passei pelo mesmo problema que Colby passou,acho que todos passam.

No final, ele toma uma decisão que eu acho que era melhor para ele. Eu não posso te dizer que decisão é, você vai ter que ler o livro para descobrir, mas foi uma boa decisão.
(less)

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May 09, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I honestly don't think I could have rated this any lower, even if I'd wanted to (which I definitely didn't). I mean, just from reading the summary alone, I knew I had to read this--I mean, come on now: impending graduation, long-time best friends, music, and a road trip--especially after it came highly recommended to me by my friend, Meagan. So, though I almost hesitated in requesting this book as a gift from the English faculty at my college for my having been chosen as their best student or wh...more I honestly don't think I could have rated this any lower, even if I'd wanted to (which I definitely didn't). I mean, just from reading the summary alone, I knew I had to read this--I mean, come on now: impending graduation, long-time best friends, music, and a road trip--especially after it came highly recommended to me by my friend, Meagan. So, though I almost hesitated in requesting this book as a gift from the English faculty at my college for my having been chosen as their best student or whatever, I am so glad that I said, "Screw it. If I want a YA book for free, that's what I'm asking for." Because, believe me, The Disenchantments is SUPER worth it.

(And the back of the cover is AWESOME and I kind of wish the back of the cover was actually the front of the cover, but whatever because the colors are all bright and cool looking and it just all works.)

These characters are fantastic. I was wary at first that Bev was tiptoeing the line between authentic and Manic Pixie Dream Girl, and I may have disliked her character because of how she treated Colby, but she grew on me a bit more as the book went on. And though I'm also usually wary of boy perspectives written by women (because let's be honest, we all know guys and whatnot, but it's still really hard to pin down an authentic boy POV when you're not a boy), I feel that Nina LaCour did an amazing job at making Colby sound like a real teenage boy who has no idea what the hell the future will bring him. Adopted sisters, Meg and Alexa, were very strong supporting characters and I loved their relationship with each other, as well as their relationship with Colby and Bev. They aren't just throwaway characters, while Bev and Colby take center-stage. The entire group is a unit crafted from really individualized characters, defined by their pasts and their experiences together and their impending futures, which are splitting them all apart. It's really fun to read all of the characters' interactions with each other. Even minor characters like Sophie and Jasper and the graffiti artists Colby meets later in the story (and I suppose you could throw Colby's dad and Uncle Pete in this group, too) read very real, with their own histories and stories that we get only glimpses into.

Plot-wise, the story kicks off with Colby and Bev heading to their last day of school, which serves as a sort of exposition chapter that introduces not only to these characters but to their long-standing plan. Bev and Colby are going to go to Europe and spend a year seeing all the places they've wanted to go, right after The Disenchantments finish their short-lived tour of the Northwest. Only Bev drops the bomb that she's going to college and Colby is left reeling, but more importantly left wondering when his best friend became a girl he barely even knows anymore. It's a great premise, one that is made even more true by the fact that graduating from high school is definitely one of those times in your life when you start saying goodbye to friends and then wonder when you stopped being friends at all. LaCour hits all the bases: the tension between the best friends who may or may not have feelings for each other, the conflict of suddenly realizing that for the first time in years they'll be apart, and the fear of what happens next when you're faced with growing up without your best friend by your side. I tore through the book in a few hours total. The writing was brilliant and engaging, and the characters brought the story to life in such a way that it's difficult to pause without wanting to go back to this road trip and these relationships.

Side note, I really really really wanted Colby and Meg to end up together. I was so sure it was going to happen, too! All their interactions together made me think they'd be such a good couple, and after the skinny dipping in the hot tub and their many talks aside from everyone else, I just felt like that's where the story was headed and it seemed like a fitting place to head (fueled also by the fact that originally Colby fills his empty calendar with a repeated note to get over Bev for each day over the summer), and I was prepared to profess how they were the best pairing ever and blah-blah-blah, all that gushy cuteness. That's not to say I'm disappointed that the book didn't go my way or that I like it slightly less now because of that fact (it wasn't my story to craft, after all), but it would've been an extra bonus if Meg and Colby did end up in a relationship at the end.

Having said that, though, I do like that all the threads of The Disenchantments aren't entirely wrapped up. Sure, (view spoiler), but at the same time, we don't know if it'll last. Bev is going to Rhode Island for college; Colby is going to Europe with (view spoiler). Meg is settled in her dorm room in Portland; Alexa still has one more year of high school to finish, without her band-mates and without her sister. We don't know what the future holds for these characters, but we leave them on a hopeful note, one that says their friendships are greater than the distance between them. And with how terrifying growing up and growing apart is, that's a happy enough ending for me. If you love a strong contemporary book with compelling characters who feel extraordinarily real and honest, definitely check out The Disenchantments.(less)

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