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Castration Celebration
by
Jake Wizner
It’s High School Musical—rated R!
When the girl who’s foresworn men meets the boy who’s devoted himself to picking up women, there’s bound to be drama—perfect for a sixweek summer program devoted to the arts. Olivia’s summer goal: to write a musical that censures men with wandering eyes. Max’s summer goal: to hone his acting skills, along with his talent for attracting the ...more
When the girl who’s foresworn men meets the boy who’s devoted himself to picking up women, there’s bound to be drama—perfect for a sixweek summer program devoted to the arts. Olivia’s summer goal: to write a musical that censures men with wandering eyes. Max’s summer goal: to hone his acting skills, along with his talent for attracting the ...more
Library Binding, 304 pages
Published
May 26th 2009
by Random House Books for Young Readers
(first published May 9th 2009)
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Any book that quotes entire passages of "Much Ado About Nothing" and Valerie Solanas' "The SCUM Manifesto" is all right by me. "Castration Celebration" is such a book. My students think the cover looks like "High School Musical," but don't be deceived. This is, as one happy reader told me, "about a bunch of kids being really witty and sharp." Sex jokes, profanity, and drug use abound. But I don't think there's anything here that would really...more
I would never have read Castration Celebration had it not been banished to the adult fiction area of our local library. Having now read the book in full, I can only disagree with their decision.
The story follows a group of teenagers attending a summer arts camp at Yale University. Just before leaving for camp, Olivia had the misfortune of walking in on her father (a university professor), being fellated by one of his graduate students. Olivia is understandably disgusted. She swears ...more
The story follows a group of teenagers attending a summer arts camp at Yale University. Just before leaving for camp, Olivia had the misfortune of walking in on her father (a university professor), being fellated by one of his graduate students. Olivia is understandably disgusted. She swears ...more
My favorite parts from Castration Celebration were the scenes from Olivia's script, which included some lyrics that I really wished had been accompanied by music. If it resembles anything like Avenue Q, then it sounds like a winning musical to me. :) I think she captured the essence of girls AND boys in her scenes, and it was amusing to see how she would banter with Max and use that in her writing.
Maybe I missed it, but I wish that Olivia's "sordid" past had been explained mo...more
Maybe I missed it, but I wish that Olivia's "sordid" past had been explained mo...more
Okay, I admit- while reading this, I often gawked and tried to figure out exactly why it is a teen book. In many ways, I think Random House was ballsy on this one- no pun intended. It is lewd, crass, risque- but underneath all that, it actually does have a good plot and weaves a good story. While this isn't necessarily a book I would feel comfortable holding a giveaway for (though I did get it from a contest from Princess Bookie), I still wouldn't flat out say no, don't read it. This...more
Olivia is seriously pissed at guys, and with good reason. She recently walked in on her dad fooling around with one of his grad students, but at least now she has a great topic for the musical she’s writing at summer arts camp at Yale, a musical she’s titled Castration Celebration. But Olivia’s not prepared for when scenes from her play start to star her and a certain cute but cocky actor Max in real life. Even if Olivia is the least bit interested, she’s not willing to trust Max since the only ...more
Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com
Olivia has had it with men!
After walking in on her dad fooling around with a grad student, Olivia decides that she must write a musical to express her outrage at the situation. Yale University’s summer arts camp is the perfect place to craft her masterpiece. Olivia’s musical is aptly titled Castration Celebration.
She tries to sequester herself in her dorm suite and finish the daunting task put before her, but Olivi...more
Olivia has had it with men!
After walking in on her dad fooling around with a grad student, Olivia decides that she must write a musical to express her outrage at the situation. Yale University’s summer arts camp is the perfect place to craft her masterpiece. Olivia’s musical is aptly titled Castration Celebration.
She tries to sequester herself in her dorm suite and finish the daunting task put before her, but Olivi...more
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Consider High School Musical meets Reefer Madness *if* Kevin Smith had written them both.
This book, by the author of *Spanking Shakespeare* , is rated 14+, but while the first pages can be taken for shock value as to what the young female protagonist has to say, it's fails to maintain and sort of "cuteness" as the book progresses. There are a few humorous passages, mostly concerned with literary popculture references (Trust me, even if you hated the series, you don't want t...more
This book, by the author of *Spanking Shakespeare* , is rated 14+, but while the first pages can be taken for shock value as to what the young female protagonist has to say, it's fails to maintain and sort of "cuteness" as the book progresses. There are a few humorous passages, mostly concerned with literary popculture references (Trust me, even if you hated the series, you don't want t...more
The crude humor did not in any way make up for the slow pacing and simple plot. There was so much potential for conflict and discussion, but the book felt like one big sex joke with some pot thrown in for fun. I felt that the character development was "surprise, you're Jewish" or "i'm cute and basically superficial". I'm possibly being too harsh since there were some potential "issues" that could have been addressed rather than mentioned and forgotten (yes, not e...more
What does a girl do when she walks in on her father being "Monica Lewinsky'd" by one of his grad students? Well, if she's Olivia Sands she heads off to performing arts camp at Yale University and writes the musical "Castration Celebration." Olivia has also sworn off boys for the summer but the very first person she runs into (literally) is playboy Max. He is intrigued and besotted and willing to try to get Olivia to reverse her ban on boys. Olivia and her roommates devise a t...more
"THE book", as my manager called it. It's definitely hit some hot buttons with my bosses. As such, I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I don't think I was expecting this...
This book is hysterical! It is definately not for the sensitive-minded: contains references to sex, drugs, sex, gender-bending, sex, foul language, sex, more drugs, etc. You get the picture.
It helps that I read a much more disturbing book beforehand, but even still, this story is full of d...more
This book is hysterical! It is definately not for the sensitive-minded: contains references to sex, drugs, sex, gender-bending, sex, foul language, sex, more drugs, etc. You get the picture.
It helps that I read a much more disturbing book beforehand, but even still, this story is full of d...more
I really think the saying needs to be changed to “You can’t ALWAYS judge a book by its cover.” The dogmatic assertion that appearance never reveals content is belied by the hard work of focus groups and graphic designers industry-wide; consider the initial impressions one receives from the front of Jake Wizner’s gleefully profane teen novel “Castration Celebration.” Across the bottom, a row of well-scrubbed youngsters leap with theatrical whimsy; above, in unabashed letters as tall as they, that...more
There were funny parts of the book, but I was surprised again and again at how nasty it was - in a juvenile, unsubtle, and not-very-funny way. The characters were all one-dimensional, and the premise that the book begins with - that the main character gets the idea for the play when angry at her father after she walks in on him cheating on her mother - is abandoned as soon as she meets a cute boy. I believe the author is an 8th grade teacher, and while 8th graders may talk like the characters in...more
This book brings to mind the saying, "It's not the destination that matters...it's how you get there." It is exceedingly obvious what is going to happen in the story. Within the first thirty-ish pages, the reader knows exactly what is going to happen between the two main characters Olivia and Max. Having said that, I would like to refer back to the quote at the beginning of this review. I laughed all the way through this book. The dialogue, especially between Olivia and Max, was perfec...more
I'm going to go with what a lot of other reviewers are saying and tell you that the cover is kind of misleading. I was expecting a book that was mocking "High School Musical" and it's...well to me it's not. It's just a more perverse version. Did I enjoy the book? Yes, it's a quick read. But I found myself thinking that I must have been quite a prudish teenager, and that somewhere along the line I must have missed what guys "really talk like" because there was a LOT of se...more
Editor's Note: I did not finish this novel.
Jake Wizner's debut novel, Spanking Shakespeare was rude, crude, and socially unacceptable--I loved it. His newest offering, Castration Celebration takes it further. Perhaps a little too far, even.
The story is that of six teens at an arts camp for the summer. The main character walked in on her father having sex with one of his seventh grade students, and now is working on a musical named Castration Celebration, complete with lyr...more
Jake Wizner's debut novel, Spanking Shakespeare was rude, crude, and socially unacceptable--I loved it. His newest offering, Castration Celebration takes it further. Perhaps a little too far, even.
The story is that of six teens at an arts camp for the summer. The main character walked in on her father having sex with one of his seventh grade students, and now is working on a musical named Castration Celebration, complete with lyr...more
I only read the first 49 pages of this novel. I had high expectations going in, but I felt Wizner took the more juvenile route. I thought that the concept could have been done with great wit and intelligence but instead stayed more in the gutter than it needed to.
That said, it did provide for a lovely incident over lunch. A new employee at a nearby cafe was trying to be friendly when she realized I was a person from the library. She made the mistake of asking me what I was readin...more
That said, it did provide for a lovely incident over lunch. A new employee at a nearby cafe was trying to be friendly when she realized I was a person from the library. She made the mistake of asking me what I was readin...more
Ok...this is getting four stars, but I didn't like it. It was well-written, objectively, and Jake Wizner has undeniable insight into seventeen-year-olds. But seventeen wasn't a year (or a state of mind) that I had any desire to be reminded of, as a 26-year-old. I think it's likely that this book will appeal strongly to actual teens, particularly the theater and music geeks, but it didn't do anything for me. I found it slightly sexist at times, too, but the kind of sexist where you're a teena...more
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This book was billed as the R Rated High School Musical. I agree with the R rated part, but not so sure about the HSM part.
The book kind of shocked me and made me realize; a) I'm old b) I'm sheltered and c) holy cow, I can't imagine being so free to talk about the topics this book covers.
This book shocked me a bit and it was different. I think I'll leave it at that.
Although, I did like the story of the characters learning how to be better friends, how to...more
The book kind of shocked me and made me realize; a) I'm old b) I'm sheltered and c) holy cow, I can't imagine being so free to talk about the topics this book covers.
This book shocked me a bit and it was different. I think I'll leave it at that.
Although, I did like the story of the characters learning how to be better friends, how to...more
This is completely raunchy and bawdy and gross...and sooooo much fun. Even though I can't imagine it happening, this would make an awesome teen popcorn movie. I don't think I'd recommend it for anyone under 15-years-old: lots of drug use, blow jobs, casual sex, couple of f-bombs...it pretty much has it all.
Worth it alone to read the scene where two characters are having a discussion about Twilight. Being set at theater camp, they immediately make up lyrics to a revised version of ...more
Worth it alone to read the scene where two characters are having a discussion about Twilight. Being set at theater camp, they immediately make up lyrics to a revised version of ...more
I had to crack open my thesaurus to find enough words to describe Castration Celebration. Here is the long list of descriptive words I came up with, crude, funny, comical, hilarious, offensive, sardonic, and sarcastic. Drug use, casual sex, and castration jokes galore, Castration Celebration is not for the easily offended.
I am not easily offended and I enjoy books that have a weird sense of humor. I absolutely loved Castration Celebration! It was one of the funniest books that I have...more
I am not easily offended and I enjoy books that have a weird sense of humor. I absolutely loved Castration Celebration! It was one of the funniest books that I have...more
This book is hilarious and undoubtedly inappropriate, which is what makes it so great. There is no real castration in the book though which, not to sound crazy, is a little disappointing.
The end is also sort of a let down. It seems a bit rushed. And without giving the ending away, I think it gives the book too much hope, it is called Castration Celebration.
But the characters are enjoyable and exciting to get to know more about. Wizner just could have taken this book to a ...more
The end is also sort of a let down. It seems a bit rushed. And without giving the ending away, I think it gives the book too much hope, it is called Castration Celebration.
But the characters are enjoyable and exciting to get to know more about. Wizner just could have taken this book to a ...more
Plot:
Castration Celebration was one of those books that are absolutely addicting, and you can't put down. I had really high expectations for how funny this book would be because of the things I'd heard about it, and it completely surpassed them. I was literally laughing-out-loud while reading this book; I don't think I've ever read anything nearly this entertaining.
It was fast-paced, and a really quick read. The end of chapters left me wanting to read the next chapter because I ju...more
Castration Celebration was one of those books that are absolutely addicting, and you can't put down. I had really high expectations for how funny this book would be because of the things I'd heard about it, and it completely surpassed them. I was literally laughing-out-loud while reading this book; I don't think I've ever read anything nearly this entertaining.
It was fast-paced, and a really quick read. The end of chapters left me wanting to read the next chapter because I ju...more
Infinite Playlist
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Shelves:
mine,
mood-funny,
mood-romantic,
friendship,
music-bands-concerts,
genre-ya,
genre-contemporary
Kurz und knapp
Für alle, die keine Lust auf das 0815-Teeniedrama haben. Diese Teenager sind kreativ, witzig, natürlich ebenfalls ineinander verliebt und verworren, aber sie nehmen das ganze mit mehr Humor als für viele Mädchen glaubwürdig wäre. Trotzdem bringt Jake Wizner mit seinem erfrischenden Schreibstil so viel Schwung in die Seiten, dass das Buch so schnell vorbeirauscht wie Sommerferien.
Lang und breit
Auf Castration Celebration bin ich durch eine Empfehlung von Lette...more
Für alle, die keine Lust auf das 0815-Teeniedrama haben. Diese Teenager sind kreativ, witzig, natürlich ebenfalls ineinander verliebt und verworren, aber sie nehmen das ganze mit mehr Humor als für viele Mädchen glaubwürdig wäre. Trotzdem bringt Jake Wizner mit seinem erfrischenden Schreibstil so viel Schwung in die Seiten, dass das Buch so schnell vorbeirauscht wie Sommerferien.
Lang und breit
Auf Castration Celebration bin ich durch eine Empfehlung von Lette...more
This book was funny. It was crass and kinda gross at times, and I think I had some similar conversations when I was in high school (or, you know, last week). The lyrics were to the musical made me laugh out loud at times. But . . . there wasn't any particularly likeable cahracters, and the whole book seemed to lack heart. Like a funny guy at a party who you know is really just a jerk. After a beer or two, you can laugh along, but you don't want to be his friend. I don't want to be friends ...more
I read this book mostly because I had read so many disparate reviews, and I wondered if it was worthy of the praise or deserving of the criticism. In the end, I have concluded that while Spanking Shakespeare definitely runs laps around this one, if you're not comparing the two, Castration Celebration isn't all bad on its own.
The setting is an arts camp for high school students at Yale University, and there are two protagonists - Olivia, a playwright who is angry with men after her f...more
The setting is an arts camp for high school students at Yale University, and there are two protagonists - Olivia, a playwright who is angry with men after her f...more
This book was so cute! I absolutely loved it! From the beginning title to the very end with the ending of the play, it was quirky, a bit suspensful, and utterly fantastic. Though the title is a bit misleading, it does prove a point in the hilarious play that Olivia writes for her playwriting class. Though it was kind of obvious of some things relationship-wise, some things definitely took me by surprise which I definitely enjoyed, though the content is not for everyone, I think that there are ma...more
I am still giggling and shaking my head weeks after reading this book. CASTRATION CELEBRATION is bawdy and offensive if it’s not your kind of book. Luckily, I enjoyed every minute of it.
In CASTRATION CELEBRATION, witty sexual innuendo is the name of the game. The characters’ repartee is so fast that if you don’t watch out, it might give you whiplash. Flirtatious teasing and suggestive comments fly back and forth, almost without stop. Even when Olivia and Max weren’t flirting, the chara...more
In CASTRATION CELEBRATION, witty sexual innuendo is the name of the game. The characters’ repartee is so fast that if you don’t watch out, it might give you whiplash. Flirtatious teasing and suggestive comments fly back and forth, almost without stop. Even when Olivia and Max weren’t flirting, the chara...more
God, I love this book! It is so totally "inappropriate" and over the top but that is precisely what makes this such a fantastic read. I love it. I love the offensive title that seems to scare away all men. I love the subject matter. I love the openness with which Jake Wizner writes about sex and other "off-limits" topics including bestiality.
Here's an example of scene that had me laughing out loud:
"You know that book Twilight?" Max asked.
...more
Here's an example of scene that had me laughing out loud:
"You know that book Twilight?" Max asked.
...more
This book is pretty much as ridiculous as it sounds. Really, it's just weird. It's the good kind of weird, but it won't be that way to everyone. Definitely do not read this book if you are easily offended or easily grossed out. The book doesn't sugarcoat anything; it's pretty crude.
Even though this book is a little crude, it's hilarious. A lot of the jokes are of the gross, teenage-boyish variety, but I still laughed. Not only is there the plot about Olivia, Max, and their friends, b...more
Even though this book is a little crude, it's hilarious. A lot of the jokes are of the gross, teenage-boyish variety, but I still laughed. Not only is there the plot about Olivia, Max, and their friends, b...more
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I was supposed to be born on Hitler’s birthday. To my mother’s great relief, I arrived late and was born on Freud’s birthday instead. My parents wanted to name me Max, but my grandfather, a Holocaust refugee, strenuously objected, saying the name sounded too German. My original birth certificate read Baby Boy Wizner.
My mother was a college dean, and I spent the first ten years of my...more
More about Jake Wizner...
My mother was a college dean, and I spent the first ten years of my...more
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