When William meets Sarah at a bar appropriately called the Bitter End, he is a few months short of his twenty-first birthday and about to act in hi...
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Jul 01, 2008
Morgan (Turbo)
rated it: 
I've read another of Ethan Hawke and thought he was good. So when I saw this book in the free box I couldn't just pass it up laughing that an actor actually thinks he can write too(like I could at a Mel Gibson or Bruce Willis novel). Quite contrary, Hawke has a writing voice that is simple, direct, and sometimes ingenious. Check out one of his character's resolutions: "I want to never waste energy degrading someone else. Also, I want to try not see life as a competition. If I can do th
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Oct 15, 2007
Patrick
rated it: 
An incredibly visceral, raw wound of a book, perfectly detailing everyone's experience of obsessive, passionate love that ends badly.
'I loved that stupid girl so much', he says. If you can't identify with that statement on some level, you have no heart...
A great debut from a promising author, who has far surpassed expectations as an actor/writer/artist.
A quick read that's very easy to pick up again, even if it has the effect of giving you an ear to ear grin at More...
'I loved that stupid girl so much', he says. If you can't identify with that statement on some level, you have no heart...
A great debut from a promising author, who has far surpassed expectations as an actor/writer/artist.
A quick read that's very easy to pick up again, even if it has the effect of giving you an ear to ear grin at More...
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Dec 05, 2010
Jenni Lou
rated it: 
I like Ethan Hawke as an actor. He’s quite understated, yet intense. Sensitive and self-aware. And he surely has playing the broody, conflicted man/boy down. Those character-centric qualities are ever-present in his first novel, The Hottest State, though they certainly don’t translate as well through his words as they do through his performances.
I must admit I was intrigued to read this because I had read most negative reviews of it. Why that piques my interest, I couldn’t say. I don’t More...
I must admit I was intrigued to read this because I had read most negative reviews of it. Why that piques my interest, I couldn’t say. I don’t More...
Aug 12, 2010
Stephanie
rated it:
Ethan Hawke will break your heart. The Hottest State chronicles one year in the life of young, dashing William Harding: aspiring actor and charming lover. When he first meets Sarah, a girl unlike any he's ever seen, he knows from the beginning that he's a goner. She's beautiful. She's elusive. Every little thing she does strikes William greatly. The passion the two share, the chemistry; it's all so surreal, that even he can't believe it. He knows right then and there, that she is the one, that s
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Jul 25, 2009
Karen
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Nov 15, 2009
CC
rated it: 
I read this such a long time ago, when it first came out. It's a novella, not a novel, per se. The characters felt familiar and the angst of William loving someone who didn't even know if she "liked" him half the time much less "loved" him gave the piece an honest vibe.
However, the lack of details throughout left me frustrated. Sarah is a nanny yet never seems to work, though she still manages to afford a New York apartment. William is an actor. He's successful en More...
However, the lack of details throughout left me frustrated. Sarah is a nanny yet never seems to work, though she still manages to afford a New York apartment. William is an actor. He's successful en More...
May 23, 2010
Corrina
rated it:
While Hawke is a good writer, this book contained too much language and sexuality for me. Instead of a "coming of age" novel, I kept wondering why it wasn't in the romance section of my library.
I think Hawke could've done a better job by keeping the sexual stuff out and getting into the main character, William's, head more and expanding his charcter. I felt like the sex was a crutch and Hawke was avoiding something. (Hint, Hint! Books don't need sex to be interesting or se More...
I think Hawke could've done a better job by keeping the sexual stuff out and getting into the main character, William's, head more and expanding his charcter. I felt like the sex was a crutch and Hawke was avoiding something. (Hint, Hint! Books don't need sex to be interesting or se More...
Jun 30, 2008
mia
rated it:
i honestly really enjoyed reading this book. i can remember it being mid-90s and seeing ethan hawke on tv and thinking of how much i loved him in reality bites and my young hipster literary self wanting to read this. it's gotten lots of eh reviews. but i don't care, i liked it. i think i'll catch the movie, as well.
Jul 09, 2009
Doug
rated it:
Ok - was NOT expecting to be profoundly moved by this book. But I was. Hawke seemed like he was staring straight into the most hidden parts of my consciousness. The way he described things like attraction, love, dysfunction, ect were just absolutely disarming to me.
It seems like we've all come up with euphemisms for how we are actually thinking about things like attraction and love, and Hawke takes those mechanisms and tears them down, using language that you've never eve let your mi More...
It seems like we've all come up with euphemisms for how we are actually thinking about things like attraction and love, and Hawke takes those mechanisms and tears them down, using language that you've never eve let your mi More...
Jan 01, 2012
Gia
rated it:
When I saw this book at the library I picked it up, wondering if this Ethan Hawke was the actor... It was. So, I decided to read the book, just for fun and since I admire him as an actor I wanted to see if he was a terrible writer. Well, guess what, he is all but that. I was surprised about how much I loved this book. His writing is articulate and direct and while it is not difficult to read it is very interesting.
The Hottest State is a book that just completely holds your attention from t More...
The Hottest State is a book that just completely holds your attention from t More...
Jan 24, 2009
Gene
rated it: 
I like Ethan as an actor, but boy, what a whiner in this book! ugh! Every character was unlikeable, even the minor ones, and I was hoping that as they all randomly crossed paths with each other, that they'd all end up crossing an actual path together and getting hit by a bus. That would be the ending this book needed, because then they'd all get what they deserved. They all were so selfish and self-absorbed, and it's sadly what the so-called Generation X embraces as its definition. Not that I kn
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Apr 23, 2010
Arianna
rated it:
[before reading:]
I read this book years ago, and remember liking it, but don't remember anything about it. So I wanted to pick it up again, because it seems like a quick read & I could use that right now!!
[after reading:]
Ethan Hawke writes heartbreak really, really well. Clearly he's been through his share. I loved the characters, and how real everything felt. The story ended on a note that rung true, as well. I truly appreciated the true-to-life-ness of this story. More...
I read this book years ago, and remember liking it, but don't remember anything about it. So I wanted to pick it up again, because it seems like a quick read & I could use that right now!!
[after reading:]
Ethan Hawke writes heartbreak really, really well. Clearly he's been through his share. I loved the characters, and how real everything felt. The story ended on a note that rung true, as well. I truly appreciated the true-to-life-ness of this story. More...
Dec 21, 2011
I have to admit it. I bought this book because I was feeling mean. Mean and cynical. When I saw Ethan Hawke's first book, with its lame-ass title, I couldn't help but pick it up (for a weighty $0.27 at the local Ecothrift). I bought it to read and make fun of. I bought it as a party conversation piece (You wouldn't believe what I have! Come check out my book by Ethan Hawke- aspiring author!). I certainly didn't buy it to be impressed. This is where what might figure that I'd have read it
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Jan 17, 2012
Pythia
rated it:
Primo romanzo dell'autore, letto dopo "Mercoledì delle ceneri". Se avessi rispettato l'ordine di pubblicazione, forse non avrei letto il secondo, e sarebbe stato un peccato davvero.
Hawke apre una finestra sul modo dei sentimenti visti da un punto di vista maschile, con intensità e sincerità. La prima parte del racconto ha qualche luogo comune di troppo, ma la narrazione scorre liscia, senza intoppi. L'ho trovato comunque un po' superficiale, soprattutto rispetto a "Mercoledì. More...
Hawke apre una finestra sul modo dei sentimenti visti da un punto di vista maschile, con intensità e sincerità. La prima parte del racconto ha qualche luogo comune di troppo, ma la narrazione scorre liscia, senza intoppi. L'ho trovato comunque un po' superficiale, soprattutto rispetto a "Mercoledì. More...
Nov 01, 2010
Margarette
rated it:
A lot of people wouldn’t pick up this book after reading who the author is, and with great confidence, they would say that actors should just leave literature to writers. But this is no Paris-Hilton-esque novel of egotism. American actor Ethan Hawke is best known for his lead roles in “Reality Bites,” “Before Sunrise,” its sequel “Before Sunset,” and “Hamlet,” but he decided to make room for one more skill in his biography, and that is writing.
In his debut novel, he sketches the story More...
In his debut novel, he sketches the story More...
Mar 07, 2008
Taylor
rated it:
This was a lot better than I remembered it.
The story of a first love, supposedly fiction, but it reads too much like something that's intimately a part of his history, so I would say it has to be semiautobiographical.
William is a young Texan actor, recently moved to NYC. He's young (20), attractive and cocky, and has no trouble with ladies, at least as far as the bedroom is concerned. One night out he meets Sarah, seemingly his opposite, a shy woman who wants to be a sing More...
The story of a first love, supposedly fiction, but it reads too much like something that's intimately a part of his history, so I would say it has to be semiautobiographical.
William is a young Texan actor, recently moved to NYC. He's young (20), attractive and cocky, and has no trouble with ladies, at least as far as the bedroom is concerned. One night out he meets Sarah, seemingly his opposite, a shy woman who wants to be a sing More...
Feb 20, 2011
Anthony
rated it:
Pure literary sewage of the Generation X slacker milieu that one finds depicted in movies like the author's Reality Bites or by limited film director Kevin Smith. It is a simple story that masquerades as a complex, insightful, and pretentious one depicting the pathetic romance between a temper tantrum throwing Texan with mommy and daddy troubles and his girlfriend who won't sleep with him. The book does deserve at least one star for the complaints that it got for its depiction of women.
Jan 29, 2012
Frenje
rated it:
It's pretty much impossible to read a book by a Hollywood actor and not be conscious of it with every page. And clearly a good actor is not guaranteed to be a good writer (one who reads lots of good work, and can recognize it when he sees good writing, yes, but that's hardly the same thing). But Ethan Hawke puts together a very decent piece here. I particularly liked the first half of the book, which seemed to slide off the pages with a real sense of authenticity.
Apr 11, 2010
Dianne
rated it:
Picked this up from the ad hoc library in our laundry...mildly interesting, especially given the author's celebrity status. Has a rather autobiographical feel...young man struggles with his obsessive love for a rather wacko young woman, who, in the end, turns out to be rather ordinary.
Wouldn't really recommend it, but if you stumble across it and haven't got another book at hand, it's not a complete waste of time. How's that for damning with faint praise?!
Wouldn't really recommend it, but if you stumble across it and haven't got another book at hand, it's not a complete waste of time. How's that for damning with faint praise?!
Aug 23, 2011
Jaime
rated it:
I was a little surprised by how well written the book was and by Ethan Hawke's talent. I thought the character and stroy development was strong and kept me engaged. If I have one complaint, it's the abrupt ending - it just didn't flow as well as the rest of the book. I'm not sure if this was intentional, but alas, it would not deter me from reading more of Hawke in the future.
Jan 29, 2012
Oceana2602
rated it:
"The love story of the 90s", was - I believe -what the review said, and yes, it does seem familiar somehow. The parties with strangers, the aimlessness of wandering through life with no idea what's going on or what one is doing there, whereever there may be.
But other than the fact that my 90s were pretty close to the characters nineties (minus the whole marriage and making movies thing), this book could be set at any time. It's a love story, and love, as we all know, is eternal. More...
But other than the fact that my 90s were pretty close to the characters nineties (minus the whole marriage and making movies thing), this book could be set at any time. It's a love story, and love, as we all know, is eternal. More...
Apr 14, 2011
Lola
rated it:
Ethan Hawke is such an amazing author, especially for an actor whose primary job is to read words, not write them. I read this because it was written by Ethan Hawke, being a fan of his acting work. The story of a sweet love affair between William and Sarah was almost made into a film, directed and starring Ethan Hawke Himself, which I have yet to see.
Jun 12, 2011
Sadsaint
rated it:
i think giving this 3 stars is very very very generous....probably should only be 1/2, at best, but get drunk at a party...no really, do this, and then recite aloud to bongos.
it works then.
i promise.
other than that, ethan....ethan...come on man, "i am the plumber. i am here to fix your sink."?
it works then.
i promise.
other than that, ethan....ethan...come on man, "i am the plumber. i am here to fix your sink."?
Nov 06, 2010
Erik
rated it:
I thought the insights and emotions conveyed in this story to be honest and expressed in a poetic yet simple way that made it accessible to anyone who has ever fallen in love. On the other hand, while being at times a touching reminder of what that feels like, it also gives the stark reality of the ugliness that can come from it.
Mar 13, 2009
You may think it is a stretch for an actor to write a book but here is what I liked about the book. Hawke captured exactly that feeling of loving/wanting someone beyond rationality, the inevitableness of the end and the ecstasy of the sweet spot!
Dec 12, 2008
Carson
rated it:
Good Book, though i personally found it hard to relate to the Characters their personalities were so dramatically different from my own. And you can obviously tell this is Ethan Hawke's memoir of a girl once loved, not William the main character.
Aug 16, 2009
Guy
rated it:
Inderdaad, de acteur. Dit moet zowat het meest klassieke debuut denkbaar zijn. Intelligente adolescenten die zich overgeven aan een tumultueuze verhouding die bij voorbaat gedoemd was om te mislukken. Je hebt het allemaal al eerder gelezen en gezien, het spelletje dat jonge geliefden met elkaar spelen, de verwarring, emotionele rollercoaster en ontnuchtering die erbij komt kijken, maar Hawke gaat nergens op z’n bek. The Hottest State is een bescheiden roman, met een franjeloze stijl, waardoor he
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May 25, 2009
Carol
rated it:
exquisitely written short novel: this man can write. A rather atypical love story, unrequited love that is, written by a male about his inability to make the object of his affection respond as he'd like. I'm finding it hard to put down.
Feb 05, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
I read this when I was sixteen. I think I may have read it about 5 times that year. I reread it again when I was 26 and still enjoyed it....but not the same feeling I had when I was 16. But still a great book.
Jan 07, 2009
Jen
rated it:
i do not hate ethan hawke, in fact i was rooting for him the whole time i read this book. and while parts of it were beautiful, i found the characters pretty unlikable. 2 1/2 stars.
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