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9th out of 39 books
—
58 voters
Spud: The Madness Continues (Spud #2)
It's 1991, and John "Spud" Milton's journey to manhood is still creeping along at a snail's pace. Nearly fifteen, Spud's starting his second year at boarding school and, to his utter mortification, he's still a spud
But life at school's about to get a whole lot worse, and even more insanity awaits him this time around, from unrequited love to the most catastrophic school
...moreHardcover, 352 pages
Published
October 16th 2008
by Razorbill
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i bloody love the Spud books. :)
i don't really know how to compare this to the first one, whether it's better or not or if it's similar. it definitely carries on the same humour and with the same format as before. once again, Spud is tagging along with the Crazy Eight (now including Roger) and waiting for his balls to drop.
actually, i think this book developed and showed a lot more character and growth than the previous. this one seems to get a little more serious, which is suitable as Spud is...more
i don't really know how to compare this to the first one, whether it's better or not or if it's similar. it definitely carries on the same humour and with the same format as before. once again, Spud is tagging along with the Crazy Eight (now including Roger) and waiting for his balls to drop.
actually, i think this book developed and showed a lot more character and growth than the previous. this one seems to get a little more serious, which is suitable as Spud is...more
Holy heck. You're going to need to pause frequently so you can ease the diaphragmatic cramps from laughing. The casual violence (we went to breakfast, threw a first-year in the fountain, then went to rugby practice), the borderline alcoholism, the general shiftiness of all characters involved, and the deep and abiding love they have for each other is not only worth reading, it's a study in humanity. Somehow, even the "bonkers" characters are well-rounded, managing to be both tragic and hilarious...more
Spud: The Madness Continues, is about a boy named John Milton (Spud) who lives in south africa, and goes to a boarding school. He is part of a gang called the Crazy Eights, and is popular. The main character is John and he is the narator in the story. The setting is in Durban, South Africa. John's main internal conflict is him being called a spud, he wants to have puberty so he wont be called spud anymore. His main external is him being called spud, he sometimes gets bullied on, and he gets emot...more
five stars because it made me laugh out loud, repeatedly, in public. I was reading it while eating at a denny's (my power was out so no cooking for me), and kept laughing so much that a man asked me if the book was really that good. He then inquired if the book "was like television, only in book form?" This is a question for which I have to answer. But I certainly did laugh my face off while reading it.
1 like · like · see review
Spud: The Madness Continues is just as funny as the first book chronicling Spud’s adventures at boarding school, and this time, his vacation to London with his parents and crazy grandma Wombat. Spud writes with an honest voice, but so many things he experiences seem to be impossible! I suppose it may be harder for me to relate to the physical bullying because I am a girl, but all of Spud’s other concerns are easy to empathize with: mean teachers, crazy family members, breaking up with someone yo...more
An entertaining, compulsive, uncomplicated read with many laugh-out moments. The first book was quite scattershot and Van de Ruit succeeds in creating a more cohesive narrative this time around. Spud's miraculous success with the ladies is still a little hard to swallow, but all his other mishaps and bad luck make him a character to sympathise with. And his naivety and need to be a good person endears him to the reader. There's more cameraderie and less nastiness among the Crazy Eight but Gecko'...more
I decided to read this book because I loved the first one in the series.
This book completes the "Diary, autobiography or biography" category on my bingo board (It's a diary).
This book was just as funny, interesting and superbly written as the first with just a few slightly boring parts.
It's great because there is so much stuff going on in Spud's life which makes the book so funny.
The only problem were that it was very similar to the first book which made it slightly boring in some parts.
It was s...more
This book completes the "Diary, autobiography or biography" category on my bingo board (It's a diary).
This book was just as funny, interesting and superbly written as the first with just a few slightly boring parts.
It's great because there is so much stuff going on in Spud's life which makes the book so funny.
The only problem were that it was very similar to the first book which made it slightly boring in some parts.
It was s...more
In Spud: The Madness Continues, the madness of the Crazy Seven (Seven due to a loss of one boy in Spud; then Eight, when a new boy comes; then Seven, when the new boy leaves; then Eight, when they induct Roger the Cat as an official member; then Six, when two of the boys get expelled; then Seven, when one of the boys gets back) really does continue. Spud is going to turn 15 during this year, is no longer in his first trembling year at the school, and has high hopes for both ball dropping and hai...more
The Madness Continues is virtually an extension of the first book, the tone largely unchanged, but unlike the first book where the atmosphere looms dark at the end, TMC is a darker sequel, much darker than the first one.
Van De Ruit’s humor had not diminished in this instalment; here, we still see quirks from the Crazy Eight, introduction of the new first years, the new matrics, the end of the old era, and shocking revelations. There were other things to keep you entertained, like the trip to Eng...more
Van De Ruit’s humor had not diminished in this instalment; here, we still see quirks from the Crazy Eight, introduction of the new first years, the new matrics, the end of the old era, and shocking revelations. There were other things to keep you entertained, like the trip to Eng...more
In this book, Spud, who lives in South Africa, returns to his boarding school for his second year. He is part of a gang called the crazy eight that make alot of pranks and funny jokes. By the second year the crazy eight is the most popular dorme in the school and was the most desired room to change in to. The crazy eight consists of Rambo, Vern, Simon, Boggo, Fatty, Roger, Mad Dog and Spud.
In the second book you learn more about the crazy eight and their antics which i can relate to of the anti...more
In the second book you learn more about the crazy eight and their antics which i can relate to of the anti...more
There is alot of funny jokes, funny pranks, and some not so funny punishments, but when it comes down to it. They're still the seven crazy boys(plus a cat) that will not retire there funny crowns just yet. In this book told from John Milton's (a.k.a Spud's) point of view, we grow to love the crazy eight even more than before and with new adventures there is bound to be fun..and just a "hint" of trouble. Some say it is not as good as the first book but I think all the intersting stuff in the seco...more
The year is 1991, and Spud Milton's long walk to manhood is still creeping along at an unnervingly slow pace. Approaching the ripe old age of fifteen and still with no signs of the much anticipated ball-drop, Spud is coming to terms with the fact that he may well be a freak of nature. With a mother hell-bent on emigrating, a father making a killing out of selling homemade moonshine, and a demented grandmother called Wombat, the new year seems to offer little except extreme embarrassment and more...more
This is the book that every reader in South Africa has been waiting for. Will it be as good as the first one?
John Milton, aka Spud, returns to school. He approaches his 15th birthday, losing his girlfriend, The Mermaid, and acquiring another, Amanda. As if that isn’t enough, his mother decides that the family is emigrating. van de Ruit writes about my favourite character - his almost senile grandmother, The Wombat, with compassion, humour and style.
The Crazy 8 torment the new boys, struggle wit...more
John Milton, aka Spud, returns to school. He approaches his 15th birthday, losing his girlfriend, The Mermaid, and acquiring another, Amanda. As if that isn’t enough, his mother decides that the family is emigrating. van de Ruit writes about my favourite character - his almost senile grandmother, The Wombat, with compassion, humour and style.
The Crazy 8 torment the new boys, struggle wit...more
personally i liked the first spud better, but i still liked this one.... and i actually can't remember finishing this book... so my goal is to re-read it. i remember that this book was a lot more personal and dealt with spud and his english teacher's relationship. i recommend reading the first one before reading this one, but you'll be able to pick up if you start here. i am going to order the third one soon.
John van de Ruit's books are the only ones where I find myself laughing out loud unable to control the outburst. But while you are laughing, there are so many things within the stories that make you think. This particular book - the second in the series - is definitely my favourite as Spud has settled down at school but is still trying to find his own unique way and style.
...After watching the movie Spud, my son and I had a tug-of-war on who will be reading which of the spud's first. I would find him reading spud under his cover, after 'lights out' , using his phone torch. I loved the Madness continues...It was bitter, sweet, sereal and almost very real. And as my son said "I am the only boarding school my kids will know". A great read.
I discovered Spud when I was in South Africa two years ago; it was on a list of the ten most popular books in that country. I read it and thought it was hilarious; so did my 12-year-old granddaughter. In this second volume, Spud continues to chronicle his life at an all-boy boarding school. It's just as funny this time around.
Whilst I thouroughly enjoyed the book, it didn't quite match the love I had for the first book. Once again the colloquial language had me yearning for my country, and my childhood.
I would still recommend this book however. I am now waiting to be able to download the third instalment to my kindle - when it becomes available.
I would still recommend this book however. I am now waiting to be able to download the third instalment to my kindle - when it becomes available.
not quite as good as Spud but i still liked it
i would give it 4.8 stars so i'll round up and give it 5
it was basically a continuation of Spud and if u haven't read it i suggest u read that first (it will tell u all of the characters names and nicknames and also if they have a position ex. housemaster)
if u read Spud a long time ago and don't remember it too well i suggest u re-read it before u read this book
i would give it 4.8 stars so i'll round up and give it 5
it was basically a continuation of Spud and if u haven't read it i suggest u read that first (it will tell u all of the characters names and nicknames and also if they have a position ex. housemaster)
if u read Spud a long time ago and don't remember it too well i suggest u re-read it before u read this book
Feb 02, 2009
Eyenstyn
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
any south african that grew up in the 90's
Recommended to Eyenstyn by:
the sunday times
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I could resonate with the experiences of the author as i to have had similar memories of bullies, isolation and the feeling of inadequacey, during school times. The style of writing was easy to read and brilliantly described. I was not left bored but kept wanting more. It is a fun book to read
I had to read this book because I was forced to return the first novel in this series a little shy of the end and wanted to know how a few situations were resolved.
It was a funny book, but not nearly as good as the original. It felt as though the author realized how popular Spud was and tried to recreate it EXACTLY.
It was a funny book, but not nearly as good as the original. It felt as though the author realized how popular Spud was and tried to recreate it EXACTLY.
This book was just as good as the first one, which is also very good! Actually I think the first one may have been a tiny tiny bit better but this one was also really good! This book is the sequel to the book "Spud," about a boy in an all-boys boarding school in South Africa during the apartheid. This book is told through Spud's diary, and is a very funny, good read!
van de Ruit does not quite manage to capture the freshness and openness of his first "Spud". The title is apt, but the plot, characters and setting are lack-lustre compared to his first book. If he intends to produce one of these volumes for each of his high school years he is going to have to come up with a little more believability and variety.
Same as the original book - very funny and I actually enjoyed it. Find it relaxing to read something as easy, funny and uncomplicated as this. The story is still a bit pointless, so I expect to be disappointed at the end of the next book; I'll have to see what happens.
This book was just as good as the first! Whenever I picked it up I was assured of a good giggle and laugh! Although being hilariously funny, there is a definite underlying seriousness, which John van de Ruit brings to the fore with Spud's character. I can't wait to read the next book!!!
More laugh-out-loud descriptions of now third-form boarders, their views of the world and their behaviour in this sequel.
Again some of my enjoyment was in the recollection of similar people and incidents from my own boarding-school days just down the road from Spud's school.
Dec 30, 2012
Wanda Panda Hartzenberg
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
south-african-authors-all-time-grea
I absolutely adore this series. Spud and Wombat, the tension between Wombat and Spuds dad, the entire series makes me laugh out loud and even cry. I am soooo sad the series has come to an end but I am hoping that John van de Ruit is not done writing popular fiction
Mar 26, 2011
Angelika Brzozowska
added it
Spud is one of the greatest and funniest series ive ever read. Its written by a South African writter and knowing that made the read a breeze. It related a lot to me and got me into fits of laughter. And that pretty hard for a book to do :)
Sometimes a good book that revolves around a limited group of characters and plot premise should rest on its laurels, rather than spawn sequels. Such was my reaction to this sequel to the refreshingly entertaining "Spud", which I enjoyed immensely (as I did the movie). I therefore had a high expectation, but disappointingly, I found it to be just a recycling of the same jokes. In fact, I found the whole book structured like a series of unoriginal skits that became a little repetitive and tedious...more
I thought this book was a novel from a teenage boys point of view. I think Spud will grow up to be a manager because he likes bossing people around. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes novels about teenage boys.
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John Howard van de Ruit is a South African novelist, actor, playwright and producer. He has been a professional actor, playwright and producer since 1998. He was born in Durban and educated at Michaelhouse, where he stayed in Founders House and from where he matriculated in 1993. He then went on to complete a Masters degree in Drama and Performance at the then University of Natal.
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Jul 28, 2011 03:58am