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130th out of 437 books
—
508 voters
Good Times/Bad Times
Good Times/ Bad Times is the story of an eighteen-year-old boy groping to find himself, battling to protect a profound friendship, and manfully enduring torment – until he can endure it no longer.
Peter Kilburn, son of a down-on-his-luck Hollywood actor, has been sent East to take his senior year at Gilford, a once fashionable but now decidedly second-rate New England prep...more
Peter Kilburn, son of a down-on-his-luck Hollywood actor, has been sent East to take his senior year at Gilford, a once fashionable but now decidedly second-rate New England prep...more
Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages
Published
May 12th 1983
by Fawcett
(first published 1968)
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155th out of 313 books
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498 voters
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I remember being tremendously moved by this novel, so much that I looked for more works by James Kirkwood and acquired and read them. The story is told in the form of a letter from Peter Kilburn who is in jail for the murder of his school headmaster. This, however, is not a typical tale of murder and I found it unique in its deep melancholy and sadness of the memory shared in its pages, unlike Kirkwood's lighter, more humorous work. Good Times / Bad Times presents two young men at a New England...more
A nostalgic read. I last read Good times, Bad Times 40 years ago when I was a teen, and somehow though I have remembered little of the story, the title stuck. Probably because it was the title to the first track of the first side of the first LP by Led Zeppelin. Go figure. Anyway, I found it a good read. It doesn’t quite have the angst or flippancy of Salinger’s Catcher or the literary heft of John Knowles’ A Separate Peace, still it holds up well, capturing the time and place of a New England b...more
I read this book when I was in high school. It made me laugh out loud and also sit and sob at other times. I made my daughter read it years later but I don't think she liked it quite as much as I did.
Before I start my review, I have the highest hopes that after you’ve read this tattletale of mine, that you look for a copy of this novel anywhere possible.
I read Good Times / Bad Times just because of the fact that it is branded as the best young novel by the best young novelist and is a reminiscent of The Catcher in the Rye. The said classic is a hard act to follow so any title that resembles something existing is either loved or hated. But really, the moment I held myself on this one, I could...more
I read Good Times / Bad Times just because of the fact that it is branded as the best young novel by the best young novelist and is a reminiscent of The Catcher in the Rye. The said classic is a hard act to follow so any title that resembles something existing is either loved or hated. But really, the moment I held myself on this one, I could...more
Peter Kilburn is a young man in trouble. He's accused of killing the headmaster of his boarding school.
The Clarence Darrow style lawyer that has agreed to take his case is currently tied up with another matter and has asked his young client to write down the circumstances leading up to the event. What emerges is the story of a sad, smart, enaging young man who lost his mother at birth and who's been abandoned by an alcoholic actor of a father. Initially friendless at his new school, Peter soon...more
The Clarence Darrow style lawyer that has agreed to take his case is currently tied up with another matter and has asked his young client to write down the circumstances leading up to the event. What emerges is the story of a sad, smart, enaging young man who lost his mother at birth and who's been abandoned by an alcoholic actor of a father. Initially friendless at his new school, Peter soon...more
Dec 06, 2009
Sweetman Sweetman
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
teens and older
Recommended to Sweetman by:
found it by luck
I found this book in an English classroom and chucked it in my bag, carried it around for a much longer time than I ever thought I should and began reading it on a plane from Boston to LA. I could not believe how good it was and how it pulled me into the story. A truly unexpected find! Memorable characters and situations.
I had nearly forgotten this book that I read in high school about forty years ago. While browsing others' libraries here at GoodReads I ran across it, and now I would like to revisit the story and see if it is still as affecting as what I remember.
Still one of my favorite books ever. Have read it at least 20 times. Super well-written, somewhat autobiographical, timeless and unforgettable main character and best friend. But it is my favorite book because there is so much humour in it.
Interesting, but very strange. Was not what I thought it was from the liner notes. I suppose it's typical of the time period, but somewhat difficult to relate to now. Can't say I'd choose this over Catcher In the Rye, but it's a good book to read in comparison.
I read this when I was in high school, and was so fond of it, but take my advice, let sleeping dogs lie - it did not live up to my memories. The main character comes off as whiny and annoying, and his "best friend" is such a queen, yet we're supposed to believe they have the purest of platonic relationships. Sometimes you can't go back again.
Read back in high school days - loved it. I recommended to my husband and he wasn't as impressed. For some reason it really struck a chord with me.
This was required reading in high school. I'll have to revisit it to see if it lives up to my fond memories.
better than catcher in the rye, coming of age book that startled me and hung around in my memory
I read this as a teenager and was deeply touched by the characters created in this book.
Funny, but I don't remember this one as fondly as P.S. Your Cat is Dead
Catcher in the Rye meets A Separate Peace meets Brokeback Mountain.
Well, that review is based on reading it in high school.
Dec 04, 2008
Shari
added it
Good Times, Bad Times by James Kirkwood (1983)
My all time favorite coming-of-age novel.
Nov 07, 2011
Sherrie Collinson
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Sherrie by:
no one
One of my favourite books, read several times!
I read this back when I was still at boarding school and it captures the spirit of what it was like.
Made a big Impact on me circ 1980
Interesting and funny. I enjoyed it!
good writing and a good story
When I was in high school, forty years ago and oh-so-naive, this book embodied friendship for me.
Told as a frame story with the protagonist recalling the events from his jail cell, this work is a nicely paced prep school novel. The main characters are never one-dimensional (although plenty of the other students are). A balanced picture of the homosexual characters as well, since the gay/bi characters are not all in the 'villianous' or 'idealized' camp. The humor is wry and ironic, the tension palpable and well written.
Jan 30, 2013
Kathie Boselowitz
marked it as to-read
Q
This contained the most important sentence I could possibly have read as an adolescent. Jordan on homosexuality: "Any man who says he wouldn't whack off with Cary Grant is either a liar or can't get it up."
One of the best books ever written and a favorite of mine. One of my favorite accomplishments in life was acquiring a signed, first-edition hardback copy of this book.
Good Times Bad Times by James Kirkwood (1975)
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James Kirkwood, Jr. was an American playwright and author born in Los Angeles, California. His father, James Kirkwood, Sr. was an actor and director in silent films and his mother was actress Lila Lee. He died in 1989 of spinal cancer.
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