Acclaimed YA author C. K. Kelly Martin offers a sexy, soulful story of one confused boy, two girls, and all the complications that ensue in this ro...
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reviews
Jan 07, 2012
Alyssa
rated it: 
Martin does diversity - with her characters and plot lines - extremely well, a reason why I enjoyed this book as much as I did. I was pleasantly surprised that Martin supported and represented minorities, as well as addressed "taboo" (and often clichéd) situations. Although this book wasn't without its faults, I'm very glad that there is an author out there that gets the idea of diversity, and that she took that aspect of reality to her story. This is definitely my favourite of Martin'
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Jan 04, 2011
Arlene
rated it:
To say I’m slightly conflicted about this book is a huge understatement. I finished it yesterday, and I’ve been thinking how I feel about the content and the characters since then, so I’ll warn you now, my comments below are unorganized and might be borderline ranting... just so you know... Okay, who am I kidding... it’s a rant... full blown rant.
First of all, I’m giving it three stars because I liked the narrator of this story. Mason is a sixteen year old junior in high school, who More...
First of all, I’m giving it three stars because I liked the narrator of this story. Mason is a sixteen year old junior in high school, who More...
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Feb 04, 2012
Stacia ~ platonic
rated it: 
I skim read this one. There wasn't much going on other than the plot following around one guy who was trying to sort out relationship issues. After an awkward experience isolates him from a good friend, he turns to an older woman and starts to internally obsess over her a little. The age difference is a sure sign that nothing is permanent, and the book ends <spoiler>back at square one, with him starting over with the first girl.</spoiler>
The book was pretty one-note. The in More...
The book was pretty one-note. The in More...
Dec 26, 2010
Ari
rated it: 
I saw the cover of this book and for some odd reason I thought it was about two poc. I now realize Mason is white and the brown-skin belongs to Kat. Who knows what I was thinking. I also didn't know the story took place in Canada. I was completely confused when Mason said he only had a year and a half till he left home since y'know, in the U.S. it would be two years. Not that this bothered me, the story was a great one. I do wish that Kat had been better developed. I guess since Kat was trying t
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Sep 03, 2010
Diane
rated it:
Mason is a 16 year old boy who loses his virginity in the first chapter. He and his best friend, Kat, have too much to drink at a party, she sees her boyfriend with another girl, and things get out of hand (she was a virgin too). The next week he can’t understand why she’s avoiding him and his friends are treating him differently. When he meets Colette, a friend of his new stepmom, everything changes. She’s 23 and he can’t get her out of his mind.
Apparently, a 16 year old is “of age” More...
Apparently, a 16 year old is “of age” More...
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Sep 03, 2010
Shanyn
rated it:
My first surprise when reading this book was that it's from the boy's viewpoint - when I skimmed the summary, I just assumed that it would be from a girl. After I got that under control, I was bombarded with 20 different names of people-I tried to keep them straight but ended up just giving up and reading through hoping I would figure it out later (I did).
Needless to say, I didn't start out so well.
The story overall was fine - it did not go the way I imagined. I thought t More...
Needless to say, I didn't start out so well.
The story overall was fine - it did not go the way I imagined. I thought t More...
Jun 13, 2010
Kari
rated it: 
The premise if this book is what first caught my attention besides the title, luring me in with the older woman theme but without a large age gap. Only six years apart, Mason and Colette can still find some common ground, allowing one to mature and the other to air on the side of reckless abandon, creating an enduring dynamic. Though this relationship forms the primary basis of the plot, Mason’s interactions with his and family are also dominant, showing smoothly and efficiently both More...
May 30, 2010
laaaaames
rated it:
I wish C.K. Kelly Martin wrote ten books a year so I would have more of them to read. I mean, good god. They are so awesome. And they are so awesome because they are not super high concept or paranormal or trend-jumpy, they are just books about people living, and sometimes they do good things and sometimes they do bad things, but mostly they just do THINGS because life is rarely very black and white, so why should books about people be either?
I like Martin's boy protags a lot. They a More...
I like Martin's boy protags a lot. They a More...
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Nov 23, 2010
Kelsey
rated it:
Surprisingly, The Lighter Side of Life and Death was my first CK Kelly Martin novel. I've had it sitting on my TBR pile for quite awhile now and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. It was definitely different than I was expecting but it was a refreshing change from all the female POVs I've been reading lately.
To begin with, Mason was a character that I just had to like right away. His warm and easy going personality just made him an extremely likable main character from the start. Mas More...
To begin with, Mason was a character that I just had to like right away. His warm and easy going personality just made him an extremely likable main character from the start. Mas More...
Jul 18, 2011
Audrey
rated it:
full review on my blog, holes In My brain
This book is good. It’s really good. I can see the appeal of CK Kelly Martin now, I think her writing is more about the voice and the character than telling the story in a step by step manner. She pinpoints Mason’s voice from the very first page and fleshes him out as things get complicated making him one of the best male voices I’ve read in a while**. I loved how realistic he seemed, and what I loved even more is that Martin didn’t rely on som More...
This book is good. It’s really good. I can see the appeal of CK Kelly Martin now, I think her writing is more about the voice and the character than telling the story in a step by step manner. She pinpoints Mason’s voice from the very first page and fleshes him out as things get complicated making him one of the best male voices I’ve read in a while**. I loved how realistic he seemed, and what I loved even more is that Martin didn’t rely on som More...
Apr 29, 2011
Say
rated it:
stories on cougar relationships always fascinates me, i mean will the older woman fall for the younger guy? will their circle of friends approve it? how will the story end? and a lot of questions more. well, reading this book definitely entertained me in that department.
this is a story of mason who just had the most wonderful time of his life....well, almost. after an amazing performance of his life (he's in a play, btw) and doing it with his best friend kat medina (love the g More...
this is a story of mason who just had the most wonderful time of his life....well, almost. after an amazing performance of his life (he's in a play, btw) and doing it with his best friend kat medina (love the g More...
Jun 12, 2010
April
rated it:
Sixteen year old Mason has just experienced the best night of his life. He has flawlessly pulled off his role in the closing night of his play, he had an awesome cast part, AND he just lost his v-card to his best friend, Kat. However, we all know the book would totally suck if his life stayed perfect. This is the part where we cue the conflict. Turns out, Kat doesn't quite know how to handle that night.
What results in The Lighter Side of Life and Death is an honest, gripping portraya More...
What results in The Lighter Side of Life and Death is an honest, gripping portraya More...
Aug 22, 2011
Megan
rated it:
After reading One Lonely Degree, I just had to get my hands on anything else that C.K. Kelly Martin had written. She has this way with words, her prose,that just makes you fall in love with her writing. She also has this uncanny way of knowing how to write perfectly from a teen POV and it amazes me everytime.
I loved Mason`s character and voice in this novel. He was so sweet and caring that it was hard not to like him. He was also your typical teenager dealing with everyday dramas th More...
I loved Mason`s character and voice in this novel. He was so sweet and caring that it was hard not to like him. He was also your typical teenager dealing with everyday dramas th More...
Dec 06, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
If it were possible, I would've given the book 3.5 stars. I did like it, but I wasn't totally amazed by the originality or writing style.
I really liked the main character, Mason. I thought most of the characters were well done, and what they were going through was realistic. People who like books about realistic high school relationships would probably like this book. It deals with friendship, and when things get complicated by friends wanting more, and also other friends feeling left out/ More...
I really liked the main character, Mason. I thought most of the characters were well done, and what they were going through was realistic. People who like books about realistic high school relationships would probably like this book. It deals with friendship, and when things get complicated by friends wanting more, and also other friends feeling left out/ More...
Jul 27, 2010
Midnight
rated it:
This was my first time reading a novel by Martin, but wow, has she ever left an impression. I'll admit, I was a bit wary to begin reading the novel so I kept putting it off, but finally, I grabbed it and just began... and I'm glad I did. In some ways, The Lighter Side of Life and Death was exactly the kind of book I expected it to be- a teen romance which goes awry with the main lead needing a distraction to get over it- but it was also so much more than that.
With honest storytelling More...
With honest storytelling More...
Jun 03, 2010
Jenny
rated it:
If there's one thing C. K. Kelly Martin can do better than almost anyone, it's write from the perspective of a normal teenage boy. She somehow manages to get inside their heads and portray them with realism and honesty, leaving no stone unturned and nothing to the imagination. Her debut novel, I Know It's Over, also used male narration, leaving me to think that that was as good as it got. Thanks to The Lighter Side of Life and Death, it got better.
From reading the summary, you're pro More...
From reading the summary, you're pro More...
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Nov 13, 2011
Lesley (My keeper shelf)
rated it:
Posted on http://mykeepershelf.blogspot.com/2011/1...
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I started reading The Lighter Side of Life and Death, from the blurb is sounds like a sixteen year old boys dream scenario of having an affair with an older woman (cougar alert) which in a way it was, but the way it was written by c.k. kelly martin just made the story so much more and it didn't feel particularly sordid or distasteful at any point.
Sixteen year old Mason has a " More...
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I started reading The Lighter Side of Life and Death, from the blurb is sounds like a sixteen year old boys dream scenario of having an affair with an older woman (cougar alert) which in a way it was, but the way it was written by c.k. kelly martin just made the story so much more and it didn't feel particularly sordid or distasteful at any point.
Sixteen year old Mason has a " More...
Jul 03, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
When 16-year-old Mason loses his virginity to his friend Kat, the girl he's had a crush on forever, he's elated. He thinks that sharing this experience will move their relationship to a deeper level, but unfortunately, that's not what happens... Instead, Kat won't even make eye contact with him, his best friend (who also had a crush on Kat) is hurt by their betrayal, and somehow, the whole school knows exactly what happened. Hurt and confused by Kat's rejection, when 23-year-old Colette flirts
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May 28, 2011
Precious
rated it:
Originally posted at Fragments of Life.
In the YA world that’s dominated by heroines, Mason’s narrative was a breath of fresh air. I found his confused state, as well as everything he felt, very realistic and natural for a teenage guy. After living the best day of his life – delivering a great performance, enjoying the best party of the year, and losing his virginity to his best friend and crush, Kat – lady luck seemed to grow tired of him and waltzed out of his life.
What I lo More...
In the YA world that’s dominated by heroines, Mason’s narrative was a breath of fresh air. I found his confused state, as well as everything he felt, very realistic and natural for a teenage guy. After living the best day of his life – delivering a great performance, enjoying the best party of the year, and losing his virginity to his best friend and crush, Kat – lady luck seemed to grow tired of him and waltzed out of his life.
What I lo More...
Sep 10, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
I live my life scandal free, so I know I enjoy reading books with a little scandal because I find it interesting to watch characters amidst scandal. Of course it only works when it is well written, and in this book it is.
First off I couldn't believe how strong this male voice was and I knew this was a female author but I had to keep checking the back to make sure there was still a picture of a girl author. Anyway, the voice was right on. Martin would add these little details like som More...
First off I couldn't believe how strong this male voice was and I knew this was a female author but I had to keep checking the back to make sure there was still a picture of a girl author. Anyway, the voice was right on. Martin would add these little details like som More...
May 08, 2011
Nomes
rated it:
I automatically wanted to read this book regardless of the premise because I really love the way C K Kelly Martin writes. (Not that the premise was so bad, just that I plan on reading her books regardless of the blurb)
C K Kelly Martin captures the teen voice so authentically and without any sentimentality ~ it really is refreshing to read. Her books just feel honest.
Likewise ~ I adore her prose. It is neither overly literary or simply commercial. I love the way she tells More...
C K Kelly Martin captures the teen voice so authentically and without any sentimentality ~ it really is refreshing to read. Her books just feel honest.
Likewise ~ I adore her prose. It is neither overly literary or simply commercial. I love the way she tells More...
16 comments
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Nov 08, 2011
If you read the book jacket or any reviews and are at all interested, just get the book. I couldn't put it down. Her writing is so natural and engaging that the chapter divisions were slightly annoying and I ignored them almost completely.
Mason was SO well-written. I understood every thought he had, every good and bad decision, every moment of happiness, lust, confusion, anger, and pain. He made sense on every level, as did his relationships with friends, parents, and his new step-mo More...
Mason was SO well-written. I understood every thought he had, every good and bad decision, every moment of happiness, lust, confusion, anger, and pain. He made sense on every level, as did his relationships with friends, parents, and his new step-mo More...
Sep 29, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
On the night after a great performance in his high school play, Mason Rice finds himself having a wonderful time celebrating. Little did he expect to find himself having sex with his best friend, Kat. He's always been attracted to Kat, but so has their other best friend, Jamie. Which is the main reason why neither guy has ever made a play for Kat. No one wanted to mess up their solid friendship.
But the aftermath of their encounter ef More...
On the night after a great performance in his high school play, Mason Rice finds himself having a wonderful time celebrating. Little did he expect to find himself having sex with his best friend, Kat. He's always been attracted to Kat, but so has their other best friend, Jamie. Which is the main reason why neither guy has ever made a play for Kat. No one wanted to mess up their solid friendship.
But the aftermath of their encounter ef More...
Aug 12, 2010
Steph Su
rated it:
C.K. Kelly Martin’s third novel, THE LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE AND DEATH, is a nuanced tale of the complexities of contemporary romance. It doesn’t quite have the punch and memorability I seek in contemporary realistic fiction, but it will nevertheless find fans among those who like their love stories quieter and subtler.
I adore Mason, the protagonist, in a way that is less than adulation but more than pleasant enjoyment. He is the realest boy I have read about in a long time, with typica More...
I adore Mason, the protagonist, in a way that is less than adulation but more than pleasant enjoyment. He is the realest boy I have read about in a long time, with typica More...
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May 27, 2010
I LOVED THIS.
Seriously, C.K. Kelly Martin is one of my favourite YA authors. I think her novels are so significant and important and everyone should be reading them and every time I finish one of her books, I want to hand them to a million people and be like, YOU NEED THIS! Even if I don't know them! Which makes me sound kind of creepy, but really it's because C.K. touches on so many emotional truths, I feel safe in making the assumption that there is something in her books that a More...
Seriously, C.K. Kelly Martin is one of my favourite YA authors. I think her novels are so significant and important and everyone should be reading them and every time I finish one of her books, I want to hand them to a million people and be like, YOU NEED THIS! Even if I don't know them! Which makes me sound kind of creepy, but really it's because C.K. touches on so many emotional truths, I feel safe in making the assumption that there is something in her books that a More...
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Feb 06, 2012
Mariah
rated it:
I read this book over vacation in like two days. It was a pretty good book but it was hard to get into. Masons dad is getting married to this new chic and he meets one of her friends at the bridal shower. He meets up with her at the coffee shop one day and gives him a ride home and from there it goes downhill. he starts waiting for her after work and is falling head over heals for while she is too. Even though its complicated because shes so much older and has a boyfriend, they start hanging out
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Jul 09, 2010
Hannah
rated it:
Well, The Lighter Side of Life and Death gives us a glimpse into Mason's head and shows us the way he copes with his many problems. Beginning this book, I didn't have high hopes for this. However, I clearly underestimated this title since this was so great! I loved Mason's voice, and his subtle sense of humor. Whenever I got one of his jokes, I felt so clever. The characters were so real, so easy to like, and so relatable; I know that I'd have to problem making friends with them if they were rea
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Nov 20, 2010
Jen
rated it:
This book is about 16 year old Mason; he has a lot of teen friends, but things change forever when he sleeps with his friend Kat.
He feels like he can't be around his friends anymore.
He then actually gets involved in a 23 year woman who is a friend of his stepmom.
I just didn't think the plot was that interesting.
He feels like he can't be around his friends anymore.
He then actually gets involved in a 23 year woman who is a friend of his stepmom.
I just didn't think the plot was that interesting.
Apr 03, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
I just finished this YA for review and found it totally unlike any YA that would have been available when I was a teenager. It has explicit language and sex, but I guess this is what teens are looking to read now. It does teach a wonderful lesson about friendship and relationships, which to me is its redeeming quality
Sep 24, 2011
Terrie
rated it:
I have no idea how this got on my "to read" list.
All I can say good about it is that it was readable and I finished it.
It is a story about a 16 year old boy's first sexual experience with his best friend who then doesn't want to talk to him anymore. Then he hooks up with a 23 year old. This is a straight forward, no funny stuff, kinda boring book.
The characters seemed way off to me. The teenagers were insightful, intelligent and concerned about thin More...
All I can say good about it is that it was readable and I finished it.
It is a story about a 16 year old boy's first sexual experience with his best friend who then doesn't want to talk to him anymore. Then he hooks up with a 23 year old. This is a straight forward, no funny stuff, kinda boring book.
The characters seemed way off to me. The teenagers were insightful, intelligent and concerned about thin More...
