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Skipped Parts (GroVont Triology #1)
by
Tim Sandlin
"Funny, shocking, downright revolting, and occasionally sad. Sandlin is a compelling storyteller...Skipped Parts is somewhere between The Catcher in the Rye and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues."
-Los Angeles Times Book Review
Banished to the hinterlands of Wyoming, rebellious Lydia Callahan and her thirteen-year-old son Sam have no choice but to cope. But while Lydia drinks and
...morePaperback, 400 pages
Published
July 1st 2000
by Riverhead Trade
(first published 1991)
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So I downloaded this free kindle book without having seen the cover or the YA designation (Young Adult as in teen). So glad I wasn't predjudiced and judge this one by the cover. I'm going to try to figure out the Facebook link with my Kindle, so that I can post a quote from the book. There have been too many to count, and kindle lets you highlight them and share them, supposedly, on Facebook. Hope I can manage it. Story of a teen boy and his weird mom, his pov is great and the writing has brilli...more
First part of the GroVont trilogy, and i had made the mistake of reading social blunders first.
The book introduces to the 13 year old sam callaghan.... and this is the problem with the book. His confidence and huimour in the 3rd book where he is well into adulthood rings true. In this book, the 13year old sounds exactly the same and this does not ring true.
Neither do his relationships with his mother, who is encouraging his sexual experiences with a 13 year old girl, Sam first wife in subsequent...more
The book introduces to the 13 year old sam callaghan.... and this is the problem with the book. His confidence and huimour in the 3rd book where he is well into adulthood rings true. In this book, the 13year old sounds exactly the same and this does not ring true.
Neither do his relationships with his mother, who is encouraging his sexual experiences with a 13 year old girl, Sam first wife in subsequent...more
In 1963, Sam is a 13-year-old boy who lives with his mother, Lydia. The two are under the thumb of Lydia’s father, who provides for them financially and has sent them to Nowhere, Wyoming as a form of punishment. The only other intelligent person in Sam’s grade is a girl named Maury, and the two of them set off to academically discover what happens in the “skipped parts” of novels—after the kissing and before the morning after. What is already a complicated situation becomes further complicated a...more
Skipped Parts by Tim Sandlin was by far a very interesting read.
Basic Plot:
This is the story of Sam, a 13 year old boy with no father and a very dysfunctional mother. He washes Valiums down with Dr. Pepper and wants to be the next greatest writer. Then he goes and accidently knocks up a 13 year old girl.
What I liked:
It was funny, and it's meant to be funny, it's just more of a satire funny than a comedy funny.
I loved Sam and Lydia (his mother) they had such a weird/great/unconventional relations...more
Basic Plot:
This is the story of Sam, a 13 year old boy with no father and a very dysfunctional mother. He washes Valiums down with Dr. Pepper and wants to be the next greatest writer. Then he goes and accidently knocks up a 13 year old girl.
What I liked:
It was funny, and it's meant to be funny, it's just more of a satire funny than a comedy funny.
I loved Sam and Lydia (his mother) they had such a weird/great/unconventional relations...more
Occasionally something in this book would remind me that the narrator/main character is thirteen years old. This always seemed like a jolt out of nowhere as the writing doesn't at all seem like a teenager. It feels much more like an adult trying to be a teenager by claiming ignorance of some things. Unfortunately, the book then goes on to explore those things, most of which involve sex, which is really unpleasasnt when I'm reminded that the main characters are thirteen.
There were some bits in th...more
There were some bits in th...more
Jan 03, 2012
Richard
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Richard by:
Gene Carpenter
Shelves:
modern-fiction
Skipped Parts takes place in the mid 1960s and is told from the perspective of a 13 year old boy who along with his single mother has been banished from North Caroline to western Wyoming by his grandfather. The name comes from the fact that the narrator and his new found friend Maury want to learn about sex but all the novels they read seem to skip the truly informative parts.
The plot of the story goes from extreme highs, precipitously drop to deep and dark lows and eventually climb back up to h...more
The plot of the story goes from extreme highs, precipitously drop to deep and dark lows and eventually climb back up to h...more
ON THE BANAL SIDE OF RAUNCHY.
“Children laugh at pain. It’s what makes them children.”—page 13
There were many parts of Tim Sandlin’s novel, ‘Skipped Parts,’ that I wish I had skipped. This novel came to me as a ‘free’ eBook from Barnes & Noble as part of their ‘Free Fridays’ promo (the hook) and when I read: “Skipped Parts is somewhere between The Catcher in the Rye and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues."-Los Angeles Times Book Review” (the line and sinker) I couldn’t wait to read it.
There were tim...more
“Children laugh at pain. It’s what makes them children.”—page 13
There were many parts of Tim Sandlin’s novel, ‘Skipped Parts,’ that I wish I had skipped. This novel came to me as a ‘free’ eBook from Barnes & Noble as part of their ‘Free Fridays’ promo (the hook) and when I read: “Skipped Parts is somewhere between The Catcher in the Rye and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues."-Los Angeles Times Book Review” (the line and sinker) I couldn’t wait to read it.
There were tim...more
This is a hard book for me to rate. I don't quite know how I feel about it.
Sam is a 13 year old boy who, along with his mother Lydia, is banished to GroVont, Wyoming by his grandfather because his mom messed up somehow. He doesn't fit in at school and is pretty miserable until he finds a friend in Maurey. Together they explore things beyond their maturity level and learn a big lesson the hard way.
It was hard to get into the book in the beginning. It was pretty slow but I thought it was well writ...more
Sam is a 13 year old boy who, along with his mother Lydia, is banished to GroVont, Wyoming by his grandfather because his mom messed up somehow. He doesn't fit in at school and is pretty miserable until he finds a friend in Maurey. Together they explore things beyond their maturity level and learn a big lesson the hard way.
It was hard to get into the book in the beginning. It was pretty slow but I thought it was well writ...more
Funny? No. Amusing? No. Reluctantly enjoyable? Yes very.
Are the Callahans a Wyoming family take on Tortilla Flat? The way Sandlin makes us see the logic of almost unbearable situations of outsiders certainly makes me think of Steinbeck. Who am I to argue with LA Times book review, but I have a hard time seeing many parallels with Tom Robbins, however.
I liked the characters a lot, there is a great warmth in the way they are described regardless of what they do or what situation they are in, and...more
Are the Callahans a Wyoming family take on Tortilla Flat? The way Sandlin makes us see the logic of almost unbearable situations of outsiders certainly makes me think of Steinbeck. Who am I to argue with LA Times book review, but I have a hard time seeing many parallels with Tom Robbins, however.
I liked the characters a lot, there is a great warmth in the way they are described regardless of what they do or what situation they are in, and...more
I really enjoyed this book. If you get offended by 'white trash' and teenage sex, maybe you should skip this one. The hero of this book is a 13 year Sam Callahan. He lives with his 28 year old alcoholic mother, Lydia in GroVant, WY. The part have been banished from their home in North Carolina by Lydia's over-bearing father. Sam meets 13 year old Maurey. They are both bright and enjoy reading. Maurey is curious about sex and talks Sam into experimenting with her. When they can't figure out how i...more
Mar 06, 2013
Leslie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
100books2013,
fiction
A different kind of coming of age novel that probably portrays this subject in a more true to life fashion than some others. The story is set in 1963 and Sam Callahan is the child of an alcoholic mother and therefore is mature for his age. He is bookish and feels like an outsider when he and his mother are forced to move from North Carolina west. When he meets an adventurous girl in his class and they decide to explore the "skipped parts" of the books that they are reading, Sam's life becomes ev...more
The problem with widely-acclaimed books is that I cannot quite get completely into them as I expect my self to be. It is a dangerous shituation because what happens is that I end up questioning my taste in reading and ability to grasp understanding on these well-critiqued novels. And without shame, that's what I did 50 pages into this book. Sure, I (kinda) knew what's going on in the story but I didn't get WHY it was happening. Really a wonder because with a plot as complicated as it has, writin...more
I knew going in that, based on the reviews, this was a "love it or hate it" novel. Fortunately, I came in firmly on the side of love.
And that's kind of what this book is about - love. At least, love from the point of view of a 13-year old boy being raised by a woman who can't take care of herself. First, though, the title: Skipped Parts refers to... well, it's best explained by this quote:
"In books people often kissed before things were either skipped or talked about so metaphorically no one kne...more
And that's kind of what this book is about - love. At least, love from the point of view of a 13-year old boy being raised by a woman who can't take care of herself. First, though, the title: Skipped Parts refers to... well, it's best explained by this quote:
"In books people often kissed before things were either skipped or talked about so metaphorically no one kne...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This book is not the great piece of literature it's been touted to be. There is a few funny moments, but I would definitely not call it "hilarious." Several grammatical errors grated on me. However, Sam is a sweet kid you can't help rooting for. Maurey is an impressive character and Lydia, though she'll never win Mother of the Year, means well. It surprises me that a man can write these female characters so well. I think anyone 16 and up can appreciate the deep moments of the book without being...more
Alcoholism. Dysfunctional family relationships. Mental illness. Teenage pregnancy. Doesn't sound hilarious, does it? Yet somehow Sandlin makes this coming-of-age story set in GroVont, Wyoming in the early 1960s, funny and touching as well as appalling.
13-year-old Sam Callahan and his irresponsible alcoholic single mother Lydia have been sentenced by his wealthy grandfather to live in GroVont in hopes that something there will help Lydia mature. And Sam and Lydia do mature in various way, finding...more
13-year-old Sam Callahan and his irresponsible alcoholic single mother Lydia have been sentenced by his wealthy grandfather to live in GroVont in hopes that something there will help Lydia mature. And Sam and Lydia do mature in various way, finding...more
First of all...let me say you should NEVER judge a book by its hideous and ridiculous cover. I can only presume this is one of the original covers for the novel [though it is now far more sleek and becoming].
Second of all...I downloaded this on a whim as it was free for the Kindle at the time not realizing that it was technically a YA novel, though I didn't mind as I've been on a bit of a YA stint lately. I came into it with no expectations and had zero idea on what the premise would be. Had I...more
Second of all...I downloaded this on a whim as it was free for the Kindle at the time not realizing that it was technically a YA novel, though I didn't mind as I've been on a bit of a YA stint lately. I came into it with no expectations and had zero idea on what the premise would be. Had I...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Quick summary: teenaged pregnancy in the early 60's told from the boy's perspective.
I can't say I liked this book at all. But much as you can't help slowing down to look at an accident on the highway, I couldn't help but finish reading the book. It started off slowly for me but as I read on, the characters began to grow on me. Disfunctionality thrives within the characters, in a way that makes them very real to the reader. Think reading instead of watching an episode of Teen Mom, set in another...more
I can't say I liked this book at all. But much as you can't help slowing down to look at an accident on the highway, I couldn't help but finish reading the book. It started off slowly for me but as I read on, the characters began to grow on me. Disfunctionality thrives within the characters, in a way that makes them very real to the reader. Think reading instead of watching an episode of Teen Mom, set in another...more
In the interest of being completely honest, I thought this book to be quite disturbing. I downloaded the book a while back on a Free Friday and let it stew on my NOOK for several months. I finally decided to give it a chance. I'm glad I did because it was a good book. The story tended to drag on at times and the authors style of writing threw me off in a few places. However, this is the first book that I have used the highlighting tool because there are some really funny phrases that made me lau...more
This book was about a boy and his mother growing up together in Whyoming during the 60's. There are lots of times that the boy is almost more of a parent then his own mother is. As the course of the book goes on you get to know this young man along with a few of the residents in town, including some of his mother's boyfriends and the woman who works at the diner, he and his mother frequent several times a week.
In some ways the boy is more of a grown up then his mother and in a lot of ways he's s...more
In some ways the boy is more of a grown up then his mother and in a lot of ways he's s...more
Thankfully it was a free sample as it was quite a frustrating book. I find it amazing that i even managed to finish it. The story starts out extremely slow and the main character is basically doormat from the first page all the way to the last. The story follows a predictable and generic path and sadly ends with me wondering why the book was even written in the first place.
It's basically a tween soap opera on paper. needless to say i think i'll be avoiding this author in the future since people...more
It's basically a tween soap opera on paper. needless to say i think i'll be avoiding this author in the future since people...more
A surprisingly good read that once again highlighted the reason we have the saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover." The silly movie-tie in photos painted a very different picture than the words inside. This is my first Tim Sandlin book but it won't be my last. I was so happy to find a frank book about teenage sexuality that avoided all the cliches. This was an exciting story from start to finish as we grow up right along with Sam, a boy who's had a tough start to life but is saved by his over...more
What a fun read! You will laugh out loud at times, and at others.. you will sigh and say "Poor Sam".
It is a story of coming of age, discovering sex, and understanding those around us, what it means
to be family, even with people you are not related to. Sam and Maury discover "biology". They did and said all of the things most of us only dreamed about and never, ever, spoke about out loud,much less actually DID at 13. (I wouldn't suggest you let your jr high kids read this.. you'll see why!)
Totall...more
It is a story of coming of age, discovering sex, and understanding those around us, what it means
to be family, even with people you are not related to. Sam and Maury discover "biology". They did and said all of the things most of us only dreamed about and never, ever, spoke about out loud,much less actually DID at 13. (I wouldn't suggest you let your jr high kids read this.. you'll see why!)
Totall...more
It started out quirky, and curious. It was funny in a sad way and sad in a funny way and I felt I could kind of relate to that. I enjoyed the voice of a 13 year-old acting as grown up but still very much a 13 year-old.
And then it just got weird. And I get that 13 year-olds have a fascination with sex. And I get that when you know nothing about something everyone else seems to know you "study" whatever clues you can find (in this book they study what the characters in books do before the author "...more
And then it just got weird. And I get that 13 year-olds have a fascination with sex. And I get that when you know nothing about something everyone else seems to know you "study" whatever clues you can find (in this book they study what the characters in books do before the author "...more
I think Tim Sandlin is a good writer. His writing easily put me in the era and allowed me to envision the small town and characters of the story. Unfortunately, I think his talents were wasted on this story. I have never willingly stopped reading a story before reaching the end of the book, but I considered doing so several times throughout this one. Not just because it isn't my type of story, but because in my opinion, this wasn't a story worth telling, no matter how well told. I can't think of...more
Let's just say I wouldn't want my kid under the age of 21 reading this book. The premise of a mother strongly encouraging her pubescent child to have sex, aiding and abetting the sexual encounters of children, and the detailed description of the sexual experiences as well as the outcome thereof, is off the charts. This author clearly appeals to some readers--might it be the shock value?-- but not to me. To compare this trashy item to Salinger's Catcher in the Rye is like comparing chewing gum wi...more
This book, told from the perspective of a 13 year old boy who has an irresponsible young mother with a drinking problem, was very enjoyable. Although, it is not at all a testament to good parenting, the descriptions of day to day like when banished to Wyoming by his grandfather are pretty entertaining. There were lots of plot twists that kept you guessing as to what in the world would happen next, but I found myself smiling and laughing to myself, especially the discussions between 2 13 year old...more
Hhmmm. I got this book as a Free Fridays selection for Nook, then I find out it's the first novel in a trilogy, and that it's Young Adult fiction. It was a bit raunchy and unbelievable, but entertaining, and quite funny in places. I was slightly appalled by the fact that a 13-year-old is exploring sex with another 13-year-old at the encouragement of his mother, but heck, I suppose in other worlds, far from mine, this is completely normal. I felt like the maturity level of the main character, Sam...more
Not my typical book, and I picked it up as a free Nook Friday book. Without spoiling anything, it's a story of a 13 year old boy who has a Mom in her 20s and they're shipped from the South to a small cowboy town in Wyoming. The Boy has questions about sex and well - figures out things along the way with a little help.
The part that drove me bonkers with this book were the random daydreams he had - I kept picturing Ralphie in "A Christmas Story".
Part of me felt sorry for this kid another part of m...more
The part that drove me bonkers with this book were the random daydreams he had - I kept picturing Ralphie in "A Christmas Story".
Part of me felt sorry for this kid another part of m...more
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Tim Sandlin wrote five novels about his problems and then ran out of problems so he wrote movies because, he says, you don't have to have problems to write movies. After a few years of that he developed all new problems so he went back to novels.
Sandlin spent his summer rite-of-passage years in Wyoming. He worked over 40 entry-level jobs including driving an ice cream truck, skinning elk, cooking...more
More about Tim Sandlin...
Sandlin spent his summer rite-of-passage years in Wyoming. He worked over 40 entry-level jobs including driving an ice cream truck, skinning elk, cooking...more
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“Depression is like a headache or true love or any of those indefinable concepts. If you've never been there, you don't know what it's like until you're too far in to stop the process.”
—
8 people liked it
“What makes people between the ages of eleven and fifteen such mean jerks? I’d rather be ninety-five than thirteen again.”
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1 person liked it
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