Butter

Mar 12, 2013 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

You think I eat a lot now? That's nothing. Tune in December 31st, when I will stream a live webcast of my last meal. I can't take another year in this fat suit, but I can end this year with a bang. If you can stomach it, you're invited to watch...as I eat myself to death.

- Butter

This is the opening paragraph. If that isn't enough to catch someone's attention, then I don't know what else would.

Before I picked this book up, I was a little nervous. I've tried to read books which dealt with simil...more

You think I eat a lot now? That's nothing. Tune in December 31st, when I will stream a live webcast of my last meal. I can't take another year in this fat suit, but I can end this year with a bang. If you can stomach it, you're invited to watch...as I eat myself to death.

- Butter

This is the opening paragraph. If that isn't enough to catch someone's attention, then I don't know what else would.

Before I picked this book up, I was a little nervous. I've tried to read books which dealt with similar issues (Bed, By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead being only but a couple I can recall) and none of them worked for me. It's got to be tough to write about a subject like this while managing to keep it both interesting and relevant. How is it possible without going too over-the-top?

For the most part, I think Butter succeeded in showcasing the life of a young man who had lost (or maybe never even had) the things that most people rely on to help themselves feel like normal, functioning beings. Butter had me in its greasy little clutches from page 1. I zipped through it in less than a day. The story itself wasn't merely a placeholder for the main event. A lot happened in the time before the clock ticked down to the "will he or won't he?" situation.

What probably disturbed me the most was the amount of apathy this kid Butter got from strangers out in the internet world. As much as I'd like to believe that someone would have tried to step in to help a person who put themselves in this predicament, we all know of individualized real-life situations where terrible circumstances have happened in a group setting (murders, rapes, etc.) and the mentality has been to go with the herd and not make waves. I'd like to believe that the majority of the time, someone would step in and try to talk a person off a ledge, but there are these rare cases where no one does. And the coldness of it all was what really hurt my heart and moved me to tears.

"Only a guy with an ass as fat as yours could eat all that in one sitting."

"This guy is full of shit. You can't eat yourself to death."

"You're so stupid for trying this. I hope you do die-"

I'm glad that I read this book because the story is one I won't likely forget. In fact, there wasn't anything big which stands out for me as a dislike. The reason I didn't go higher on the rating is because Butter himself didn't always come across as genuine, and his crush Anna seemed very cardboard (neither one of them were very interesting characters). However, the overall book itself is worth the read. Stories like this and others such as Hate List are ones which schools would benefit from making required reading. Actually, I think stories like these are just good to remind us all, regardless of age, that compassion is much-needed in this world.

Look, I get it. It sucks to be next to the fat guy on the plane. Maybe he's taking up too much of your armrest or crowding you into the window, but trust me, nobody's more uncomfortable than that guy, having to squish into that tiny seat and knowing nobody wants to sit next to him.

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May 16, 2013 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

When lonely outcast 16-year old Butter decides to post a website proclaiming a countdown to his New Years Eve event: "Butter's Last Meal" where he plans to eat himself to death live, he finds that his popularity explodes. Suddenly, the 432-pound Butter finds himself inside of the cool crowd, buds with the jocks, invited to all the parties, and - for the first time - Butter finds he has friends, and the girl of his dreams doesn't seem so unattainable.

But as time goes on the the clock counts down...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2012

3.5.

Butter's a fat kid. That's something no one would argue with and something he himself identifies with. But he's so alone, and he's sad about being alone. He hates knowing what it is that keeps him alone is that number. Over the last few months, he's made good friends with Anna online -- Anna goes to his school, fits in with the in crowd, and has absolutely no idea the boy she talks to online (who goes by the name JP) is really Butter.

Then one day, Butter decides he's going to stand up for h...more 3.5.

Butter's a fat kid. That's something no one would argue with and something he himself identifies with. But he's so alone, and he's sad about being alone. He hates knowing what it is that keeps him alone is that number. Over the last few months, he's made good friends with Anna online -- Anna goes to his school, fits in with the in crowd, and has absolutely no idea the boy she talks to online (who goes by the name JP) is really Butter.

Then one day, Butter decides he's going to stand up for himself. He's going to eat himself to death. Online. So everyone can watch. When word gets around about this, Butter finds himself suddenly in with the popular group. But only because they aren't sure he'll actually do it. And hell, Butter doesn't know if he'll do it either.

Until he's utterly hurt by Anna. That's when he decides what his plan of action will be.

Butter had a fantastic voice, and this was one of the rare instances where I felt like the tackling of a weight issue in a YA book was handled well. Butter knew who he was and he wasn't necessarily ashamed of it. (view spoiler) I felt Butter's emotional highs and lows throughout.

But he is so far from perfect. In fact, no one in this book is cut and dry. They're all shades of good and bad. Butter has his moments of being a real great, sympathetic character, but then he has his moments of being a real jerk. His new-found friends, who are stereotypical "cool kids," aren't necessarily horrible people. They definitely mistreat him, but at the same time, they're sort of necessary for Butter's development in a way he doesn't always understand. (view spoiler) The adults in this book are imperfect, too.

What didn't quite work for me was that at times, it felt a little too message-driven. Online bullying is bad, and it's bad to hate yourself and consider suicide your only way out or your only way of getting attention or proving yourself to other people. It's bad to misrepresent yourself and it's bad to hurt other people. Had some of this been cut back a little bit, I think the message would have come out stronger via the story itself.

Lange's writing is great, and she nails the male voice well. The premise and execution work with the characters. This'll appeal to both girl and guy readers who like realistic stories. It is relevant.

Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/09/b... (less)

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May 11, 2013 Chantelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, amazing, favorites, life-lessons, dark, panacea-2013, on-the-list

SIGNED COPY OF BUTTER UP FOR GRABS!!!! FROM MAY 13-19 I AM HOLDING A GIVEAWAY ON MY BLOG!(US only)

The full review can be found here.

Butter was utterly captivating; from the cover, to the blurb, to the first paragraph through to the last. I honestly can't remember ever being so enamoured by one book, which unfortunately makes writing a comprehensive review a lot harder! However, if I could only use one word to describe this novel, it would probably be 'morbid', but let me explain.

"Butter" is a t...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, want-finished-copy

***Note: I'm kind of mean/bitchy in this review, so if you're easily offended, you should probably not read on...***

I'm going to be honest here. I generally don't have all that much sympathy for obese people, if they don't have some kind of disease and their only real reason for being obese is overeating/not taking care of their bodies. (I know it has to do with genetics, too, and I'm lucky that I have high metabolism, and that money plays a role in this too, but still.) I'm sorry if this sounds...more ***Note: I'm kind of mean/bitchy in this review, so if you're easily offended, you should probably not read on...***

I'm going to be honest here. I generally don't have all that much sympathy for obese people, if they don't have some kind of disease and their only real reason for being obese is overeating/not taking care of their bodies. (I know it has to do with genetics, too, and I'm lucky that I have high metabolism, and that money plays a role in this too, but still.) I'm sorry if this sounds rude or bitchy, but I just can't get myself to see how it's not their own fault. There are exceptions, of course, and I'm not talking about people who weigh a little too much, just the seriously obese like Butter. But in general, I just don't have much sympathy.

So my attitude meant that Butter and I didn't connect right away - in the beginning, I'll admit I was a little grossed out by how much he eats and by how he insists that it's not his fault. But after a while, he grew on me. As the story progresses, we get to see behind the facade, to read about his insecurities and all his troubles, and those did make me feel for him. It was eye-opening to see how every single aspect of his life is affected by his weight. His character growth is tremendous, and towards the end, I really grew to love Butter. Butter is a great character; so much more than what he seems to be. I just wish we'd gotten to know some more about his past, about how he turned into this 400-pound kid.

But even if I hadn't connected with Butter, I would have kept reading, because the concept makes this book impossible to put down. The whole idea is morbid and disgusting and just wrong - and completely intriguing. I was disgusted and horriefied, but I couldn't stop reading; I needed to know whether Butter would actually go through with it. There's an underlying sense of tension and fear of what Butter will do, the knowledge that there is no way this could end happily, that had me on the edge of my seat throughout.

I love the secondary characters. With one exception, none of them are black and white. They all make mistakes and none of them are really innocent in this whole thing, but you could always see where they're coming from. Even the characters I would have loved to hate, I couldn't, because you could see that they're not terrible people; they just make some bad decisions.

I'm not the best to judge, but I do think Erin Jade Lange handled the difficult topic of child obesity with great tact and grace. Her portrayal felt very honest and real, and I love how it never got preachy. There are so many ways this book could have preached about obesity or about bullying, but it doesn't - it just tells a story. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending - a little too happy for my taste - but in a way, I get it, because a darker, more pessimistic ending would have been really hard to take.

Butter is, at times, horrifying and, quite frankly, disgusting. (Seriously, it'll make you not want to eat ever again - don't give this book to an anorexic.) But it also tells a hopeful, honest, beautiful story. There are scenes that'll break your heart, and there are scenes that'll put a smile on your face. It's not an easy book to read, but I highly recommend it.

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...(less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss

I rated this as 4 stars, because while engrossing and consuming, Butter is not without its flaws. But I just could not put it down, and it has a fresh, exciting premise that I just could not say no to.

Butter is a character unlike any that I've ever read about before. In the land of YA literature, all the boys are god-like immortal creatures with chiseled abs, strong jaw lines, and finesse like that of whatshisface from How I Met Your Mother. But Butter has an overeating problem, and he is now...more I rated this as 4 stars, because while engrossing and consuming, Butter is not without its flaws. But I just could not put it down, and it has a fresh, exciting premise that I just could not say no to.

Butter is a character unlike any that I've ever read about before. In the land of YA literature, all the boys are god-like immortal creatures with chiseled abs, strong jaw lines, and finesse like that of whatshisface from How I Met Your Mother. But Butter has an overeating problem, and he is now morbidly obese: a junior in high school weighing in at over 400 pounds. He is socially inept and is bullied. (Like the incident that lead to him being called Butter - sickening. Real bullying, and it made my stomach turn, not just because it was gross, but the behavior of the boys in question was just disgusting.) Butter is so much more than his weight and his social status, though. He is remarkably funny and a talented musician; but his insecurities hinder him from exploring his talents further than his own bedroom.

He is also a little creepy. He has created a fake online persona which he uses to talk to a girl from his class that he is to afraid to talk to in real life. He lures her in with this created personality and makes her fall for him, all the while she has no idea that it's Butter who is doing this to her. And he creeps at her in class, too, which weirded me out a little. But with all the Edwardian characters out there, maybe he thinks that's what girls want. Shrug.

Because of Butter's complexities, and in spite of his weirdness, he is a sympathetic character, and I couldn't help but want to read on with his story. And when he announces to the world that he'll be eating himself to death on camera the night of New Year's eve, his story takes a turn for the twisted that is in turns irresistible and scary.

There is a dramatic flip with Butter's social status. Suddenly girls are noticing him, and he is being included in activities hosted by the popular kids. He finds himself out at parties on the weekends, and is slowly slacking on his other priorities, like his friendships outside of school and his homework. As the date looms closer, the anticipation builds and I found myself frantically flipping the pages. I was one of those popular kids: fixated on Butter's demise, rooting for him at the same time, and wondering if he was actually going to do it.

The ending did and did not satisfy me. On one hand, we do find out whether or not he follows through with his threats. On the other, I found his classmates' reactions to his behavior grossly inaccurate. In the end, there were many people who Butter wronged, and I don't believe they would have given that forgiveness as quickly and freely as they did in the book. Plus there was the anti-bullying message in the book which I agree with, but ended up as a sort of lecture, which I think is the easiest way to make a teen's eyes glaze over and turn them into a zombie. But that's just me.

In all, I think Butter was definitely an enjoyable, entertaining read. Butter is unlike any other book I've read before in many ways, from the characterization to the themes it deals with. I really commend Lange for creating this character as well as the book itself. It's important and I hope it reaches many people. I totally recommend it to readers looking for something different and engrossing.(less)

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Apr 19, 2013 Adrian rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book had me pulled into the night. Butter is a loveable, yet depressing character. I started getting really pulled in when the book mentioned Butter’s saxophone playing. I mean what are the odds that Butter and I share the same hobbies? It’s like this book made for me and given to me at the exact moment I needed it.
Butter has a very unique name, and lots of kids are wondering how he got that name, why he’s so fat, and why he sits by himself at the lunch table. Butter starts off with Butte...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Ben Balazs rated it 5 of 5 stars

Have you ever been in a situation where you sit alone at lunch? No one walks with you in the hall and the only time people talk to you is because they have to or they are making fun of you. Unfortunately Butter had that problem. His real name wasn't Butter, but as the story goes he ate a whole stick of butter so why not call him that. Butter was the outcast. He was under the impression that when you are over 400 pounds not many people want to hang out with you. Especially girls, girls never noti...more Have you ever been in a situation where you sit alone at lunch? No one walks with you in the hall and the only time people talk to you is because they have to or they are making fun of you. Unfortunately Butter had that problem. His real name wasn't Butter, but as the story goes he ate a whole stick of butter so why not call him that. Butter was the outcast. He was under the impression that when you are over 400 pounds not many people want to hang out with you. Especially girls, girls never noticed him. All of that changed online though. Online Butter could be the super jock who always hung out with his friends. He was popular and even was talking to a girl who actually liked him for who he was. Unfortunately she never had seen a picture of him and as she became more curious about his looks Butter was afraid his cover would be blown. The worst part about it all was that the girl that liked him online was his crush from school. He was struggling to keep the two worlds apart.
When Butter finally realizes that he is not liked by anyone and that he is the butt of many jokes, he wanted to end his life. How would he do it though? He wanted to go out with a bang. So he decided that he would eat himself to death and would air it live on his new website.
But that was the turning point. He became the talk of the school and everyone wanted to be his friend. He was invited to parties and to go out on the town. Was it all real though? Were these people actually his friends? No. They just wanted to place bets on his last meal. They weren't really interested in him. But one person that began to talk to him was his Internet girl, but he now had to face being two difference people. He was worried about leaving her when he ate his last meal, and that day was quickly approaching.
When it finally did approach his new found friends began to show their real colors and he was beginning to realize how important he actually was. So will he go through with it? That is the mystery.
Butter was a great book. It dealt with the issue of bullying and suicide in the course of a story about a young man who was very different physically but really in any other way. He was a good kid, who played sax, played Internet games, and enjoyed hanging out with friends. However when the other kids would not pay any attention to him why did it matter who he was?
I would recommend this book to young adults and adults. Although a scene of fear when Butter decides whether or not to take his life, it is dealt with great care and it is not very graphic. I would not say that the book is promoting suicide, it is making people aware of the severity of the issue and how even though a person may look perfectly content on the outside inside he or she may be crushed and have absolutely no self esteem. It also raises the issue of bullying and how it can hurt someone on the inside and may push him or her towards the idea of suicide. Butter teaches many lessons about being respectful to one and others and understanding that we have respect each other’s differences. Take the time and read this fantastic novel and gain great insight to the world of teenagers.
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Mar 18, 2013 Dover Librarian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullying, friendship, obesity, online-relationships, suicide, fiction

Butter is a high school student looking for attention. His morbid obesity plays a large part in his characterization and in the plot. He's an engaging guy and a great saxophone player, but his obesity obscures his personality. He feels his classmates see only his shape. After a bullying incident in the school cafeteria, Butter, in a fit of frustration, writes a blogpost describing his up-coming online suicide - death by eating. The rest of the book describes how Butter's classmates react to the...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Sahina Bibi rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I’m writing a review for books, I like to read other people’s opinions and read their review on GoodReads or Amazon. Why? Not because I’m swayed by what they say, but because it’s an eye opener to see the variations of interpretations that come from reading the same book.

When I opened some reviews for Butter, I was surprised. Pleasantly so, because everyone else’s uptake on the book matches mine. Some people even worded their reviews better in response to what it meant to them. A lot of ind...more When I’m writing a review for books, I like to read other people’s opinions and read their review on GoodReads or Amazon. Why? Not because I’m swayed by what they say, but because it’s an eye opener to see the variations of interpretations that come from reading the same book.

When I opened some reviews for Butter, I was surprised. Pleasantly so, because everyone else’s uptake on the book matches mine. Some people even worded their reviews better in response to what it meant to them. A lot of individuals, I’m glad to say, not only read the book, but took a deeper look in to what this meant to them. To us. To everyone.

And that’s where my review starts. With the widespread effect this book has on people about questioning what their life revolves around and what the term “bullying” really means to them.

So here’s Butter. A brutally honest novel about a boy and his love for food. Who eats when he’s happy. Eats when he’s sad. Eats to escape the eternal misery that is his life. Comfort, is what he finds from food. Sound familiar? A review I read so aptly put in to words what I was thinking while reading this book, and I shall quote them here. They said, “I'd say that Butter IS one of the most sympathetic characters in YA contemp lit today because of all of his struggles. He is all of us.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Erin Lange has created Butter out of a mould of who we are behind closed doors. It’s not just about obesity that has slowly become the common culture in Western countries, but rather we’re reading about loneliness, bullying, the need for friendship, the vulnerability of feelings. Written in a swift and honest manner, at times it’s hard to feel sorry for Butter as it feels like he brings it upon himself, and at other times you feel the ache for this character that may already exist in our real, everyday lives. The shopper next to you in line whose hands are full of junk food, the large individual who tries to get in to the lift next to you with an embarrassed smile when it means everyone else is squashed.

For me, Lange managed to give rise to the questions about society, culture, and why it should matter. Sure it’s good to be healthy, not being on the spectrum of “too skinny” or “too large” but it makes you wonder about the kind of people who try to reinforce this images in society and the impact of it on individuals – what we see in Butter. Who’s pushed to the edge of bullying that he contemplates eating himself to death. Over social networking sites, just because he knows he can reach more people. What does that say about the way our society deals with such issues and the kind of places kids like Butter can turn to when it gets too much for them?

I digress, but this book is more than just the tale of Butter and his woes as he attempt and fails and re-attempt to pick up the battered pieces of his life. Lange has brought to us a unique story with a voice that touches on important aspects of life today and winds them in to a heartfelt story that is sure to get your mind twirling.

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Feb 25, 2013 Les rated it 3 of 5 stars

Somewhere between dark humor and a psychological thriller. Butter is a morbidly obese (423 lbs) high school senior. Despite years of FitFab summer camps and mom's attempts to get him to eat healthier, he is taking insulin and parking in a handicapped spot because he can't walk from the regular student lot. He uses a special bench to sit on (at a table by himself) during lunch because he can't sit in a regular chair. He always seems to think the worst of others and blames them for ochestrating hi...more Somewhere between dark humor and a psychological thriller. Butter is a morbidly obese (423 lbs) high school senior. Despite years of FitFab summer camps and mom's attempts to get him to eat healthier, he is taking insulin and parking in a handicapped spot because he can't walk from the regular student lot. He uses a special bench to sit on (at a table by himself) during lunch because he can't sit in a regular chair. He always seems to think the worst of others and blames them for ochestrating his problems.

He is a natural saxophone player, but he has no desire to take music classes at school or perform with his teacher's jazz group because he hates visibility. He'd rather stay in the shadows and be ignored. When people do pay attention to him he assumes they're just focusing on negative perceptions (such as how big he is or how much he is eating).

He has a girl in several of his classes he has a crush on, but he knows she'd never be interested in him. So he creates a fake persona from a different school and tracks her down online. They develop a rapport but he resists her frequent requests to share photos. To buy himself some time he promises to meet her on New Years Eve.

However, his life takes a turn for the worse and he comes up with the idea of eating himself to death in a live internet feed. He creates a website called butterslastmeal.com and solicits suggests as to what foods he should stuff himself with. He plans to die on New Year's Eve, at least in part to solve the Anna mystery boyfriend problem. Along the way he uncovers a few cheats to help make sure he is successful (alcohol, drugs, messing up his insulin levels, eating food is allergic to, etc.).

Perversely, as word of his website and plans spreads he becomes popular, invited to hang out with the popular crowd that used to torment him. He goes to parties, goes bowling, does the kind of things he used to only dream of. His new friends are full of helpful suggestions because they've made side bets on what exactly will happen. He eventually realizes that they are befriending him because they know he's dying. He's just going to provide them with some short-term amusement then they'll move on to something new.

At that point he is hopelessly screwed. If he goes through with his plans he will obviously be dead. If he chickens out he will be worse than dead. He will be a bigger social pariah than before, a subject of scorn. The guys who used to harass him are his "friends" right now but if he lets them down by not killing himself they'll make his life hell. Meanwhile, Anna is cutting school hunting for "J.P." at his supposed school, so his cover may be blown before the final day arrives.(less)

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Jan 11, 2013 Cornmaven rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school

Quite the interesting novel about a morbidly obese teen who is struggling with the effects of his condition - the ostracization at school, the bullying, etc. His solution is extreme, but in many ways empowers him. Butter tells his story as an ongoing revelation - who he is, what he wants from life, how his obesity prevents him from pursuing his heart's desires and normal teen activities, the shallowness of teens which turns into an attraction as his popularity soars, the tightrope of diabetes wh...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Christiane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teens

Morbidly obese teen Butter's decision to go out with a bang (he plans to literally eat himself to death in a live web feed) leads to unexpected popularity and opportunities. So what happens as the deadline approaches? I think teens will really enjoy this book. It feels very current, is well written, and has engaging, likeable characters. Some swearing, sexual comments, and underage drinking unfortunately make this too mature for my 5th grade classes, but it is fine for middle schools. My only qu...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Ryan rated it 5 of 5 stars

The book butter is written by Erin Jade Lange, Butter is a 423-pound male that has a lack of friends due to his excessively large body. Butter is a great saxophonist, but is too shy to ever perform in front of anyone but his family. He lives with his loving mother and detached father.

The book begins when Butter decides to eat himself to death on New Years Eve with his entire school watching. He starts up an online page called “butterslastmeal.com” where he plans on keeping his followers updat...more The book butter is written by Erin Jade Lange, Butter is a 423-pound male that has a lack of friends due to his excessively large body. Butter is a great saxophonist, but is too shy to ever perform in front of anyone but his family. He lives with his loving mother and detached father.

The book begins when Butter decides to eat himself to death on New Years Eve with his entire school watching. He starts up an online page called “butterslastmeal.com” where he plans on keeping his followers updated to what he will eat, and do throughout this period of time.

After the website was created he started noticing a change, he was actually getting friends for the first time. The popular kids were now taking notice of Butters actions, and invite him into their crew. He slowly becomes to caught up in the whole popularity state that he forgets about the ones who actually love and care about him. Butter’s never been in this position before and so he does whatever it takes to please his followers by adding items to his “Last Meal” list.

Will he go through with the plan? Ever since Butter started becoming popular he’s loved all the attention he’s been getting from his “friends”. He knows if he backs out now he’ll just go back to the nobody he was a couple weeks ago. He knows that he’ll be the laughing stock of his school and be called a wuss for the rest of his high school years. Can he do it? Will he really pull through?

My thoughts-This book is without a doubt the best book I’ve ever read, it truly speaks to the soul and is very easy to relate to. This book has many issues that relate to real life scenarios. Fitting in and peer pressure both play huge roles in this book and understanding character development as well as the theme. In the beginning I didn’t quite understand the whole “eating himself to death” part, but throughout this novel, the author does a phenomenal job explaining Butters perspective on why he does what he’s doing.

All his so called “friends” are only his friends because of the website. They take advantage of him to learn more about what he’s doing and what he will include into his last meal. Butter’s “friends” are portrayed as good friends throughout the novel by inviting him to their parties and events. But in reality they just wanted to know what kind of foods he would be eating to kill himself.

In conclusion I felt that the book Butter was an excellent read and very relatable to every teen out there. This book leaves you questioning the things you’ve done from the past and really re think decisions you would make in the future. I recommend this book to anyone who's up for something fresh and entertaining!
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Dec 12, 2012 Esther Shaindel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debut-author-challenge

Full review on Reader's Dialogue: http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com/2...

The premise of the book drew me in before I even started reading. A boy so down about his size and his resulting social ostracizing, and a promise to commit suicide in a novel way, streaming live for all his classmates to see - definitely intriguing, in a morbid kind of way. But the book itself is not morbid - or not entirely, anyway. Butter is a funny guy, which no one appreciates because they can't see past his size. His...more Full review on Reader's Dialogue: http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com/2...

The premise of the book drew me in before I even started reading. A boy so down about his size and his resulting social ostracizing, and a promise to commit suicide in a novel way, streaming live for all his classmates to see - definitely intriguing, in a morbid kind of way. But the book itself is not morbid - or not entirely, anyway. Butter is a funny guy, which no one appreciates because they can't see past his size. His friend from fat camp recognizes Butter's true personality, but Butter can't process that because it's too tied up in fat camp experience, and he sees it only as being friends with another fat person, not a "real" person, not the people who "count."

His personality tones down the horror of what he's going through. Seeing the story from his eyes, the way he feels about each event, means that there's a sarcastic commentary to everything - everything except what matters to him, like the girl he likes or the real attention he gets from his new "friends." But when he talks about his plan to eat himself to death live, when he's busy compiling his last meal's menu, he's snarky and sarcastic.

While Butter is enjoying his newfound popularity, I as the reader was aghast at how his "friends" were reacting, realizing that this is a completely realistic situation. I could totally believe that this could happen in real life, and it's a sad commentary on teens' emotions and capabilities of immense hurtfulness and callousness. Butter's reaction is equally saddening, as a desperate boy clings to even the merest resemblance to friendship and acceptance.

Of course, as the date of his last meal gets closer, the tone changes and he begins to realize the realness of it. That brings a real dilemma, as he tries to decide if he'll go through with it. He isn't quite sure if his "friends" think he'll go through with it or not, and he knows there are some people who would tell the authorities if they thought he really will. So he tells his "friends" he'll do it of course, while telling everyone else it's just a joke.

Thus begins the really tense reading experience. Will he or won't he? What will his social outcome be? The ending fully satisfies, with the lessons he learns about friendship and real life, and relationships in general.(less)

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Sep 25, 2012 Dorine White rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Story- Butter is the nickname of a high school student who weighs over 400 pounds. He loves to play the sax, though not in front of people, and lives with his enabling mom and disconnected dad.

The story starts out with Butter deciding to make a website called, butterslastmeal.com. On New Year’s Eve, Butter plans to eat himself to death, with his high school watching online.

At first he isn’t sure if he really meant to do the announcement, but then the popular kids in school begin to take noti...more The Story- Butter is the nickname of a high school student who weighs over 400 pounds. He loves to play the sax, though not in front of people, and lives with his enabling mom and disconnected dad.

The story starts out with Butter deciding to make a website called, butterslastmeal.com. On New Year’s Eve, Butter plans to eat himself to death, with his high school watching online.

At first he isn’t sure if he really meant to do the announcement, but then the popular kids in school begin to take notice of him and Butter becomes an instant sensation. Butter gets wrapped up in the feeling of being popular, and continues to egg people on by adding food items to his “last meal” list.

What will Butter do? He knows kids only like him because they think he’s going to die. But, can he give up the brief popularity and the first chance that he’s had at getting to know Anna, his secret crush.

My Thoughts- This is a deeply moving book that delves into not only the problem of obesity, but also into peer pressure and the need to fit in. At first I was wary, how would this book work with all these kids pressuring Butter to kill himself? But, the author does an amazing job separating out the characters and developing Butter’s own individuality.

The side characters are all two faced. The kids we meet in the book are friendly, inviting Butter to events, sharing their lunch table, introducing him around school. They seem like great friends. It is only on Butter’s website that we see the sickness that is the real them as they offer Butter last meal suggestions. Sure, some of the kids think it is a joke, but some think it might be true. How sick!

There is so much depth to Butter. He is an amazing character. He is talented musically, able to play at nightclub level. He is kind and has a desperate crush on Anna, who he talks online with, under the handle, “saxman”. As a reader, you really go through this journey with him, and his choices are gut wrenching.

I did not know whether Butter would go through with his desperate plan, and that I think is one of the main themes of the book. As we get to know Butter, will he really do it? And what about Anna? If she finds out her “saxman” is really Butter, what will she do?

I really feel this is a good read for every teenager out there. It is a compelling story that builds and builds. You don’t want to put it down. It is also a story that is relatable. How many of us know someone or is someone that doesn’t fit in, for one reason or another? This book takes a deep look into the teenage world of popularity and pressure, and ends with some questions that will make you re-evaluate yourself.(less)

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Sep 24, 2012 Cecilia Gray rated it 4 of 5 stars

Butter follows the titular character on a quest to commit suicide by gluttony online after being bullied into this breaking point, but he finds his morbid goal gives him a newfound popularity and friendships that are ironically tied to his willingness to die in such a spectacular fashion.

Butter is about the new wave of bullies. Sure, it has old school bullies that give the fat kid his nickname of Butter, but it is too easy to demonize bullies who use physical intimidation. Lange doesn't make th...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Brandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, boy-books, bullies, library, realistic, teen, potential_booktalks

Morbidly obese teen creates a website, on a lark, announcing that he's going to eat himself to death on New Year's Eve, with a live web feed. There's a sudden uptick in his popularity, and he kinda likes it. Do his new friends really like him, or just being close to the drama? Are they encouraging, or egging him on? Is there a difference?

I have a very complicated response to this--on the one hand, I like Butter's voice, and he's very realistic--he knows he's not going to drop 200+ pounds overnig...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Mrs. S rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, read-in-2012

One interesting thing about this book is the way in which reading the blurb puts the reader in the same boat as many of the characters. It has one of the most arresting hooks of any book coming out this fall: Butter, the morbidly obese teenage protagonist has announced that he is going to eat himself to death. What's more, he is going to do it in one meal, broadcast live over the internet.

Will you watch?

Erin Jade Lange does a great job keeping Butter's story human, rather than veering into the e...more One interesting thing about this book is the way in which reading the blurb puts the reader in the same boat as many of the characters. It has one of the most arresting hooks of any book coming out this fall: Butter, the morbidly obese teenage protagonist has announced that he is going to eat himself to death. What's more, he is going to do it in one meal, broadcast live over the internet.

Will you watch?

Erin Jade Lange does a great job keeping Butter's story human, rather than veering into the easy, lurid territory of stereotypes about bullying and suicide. Butter's voice is frustrated, angry, lonely, scared, and full of the kind of hopelessness that it's so easy to truly believe when you're a teenager with a problem that seems impossible. In Butter's case, his weight has gotten so out of control that he can't imagine ever feeling normal or healthy. At school he is mostly invisible, called by a nickname that has lost all meaning to most of his classmates (one derived from a gruesome attack just before high school.) I think the best thing about this book is the way Lange captures the absolute certainty with which teenagers understand their perceptions of the world (especially negative perceptions) and then uses supporting characters to challenge some of those assumptions. Because Butter is the first-person narrator, it's easy to take his version of the truth as fact, which makes for a surprising reading experience when he learns to see things differently. I remember that certainty and that sense of hopelessness, about problems large and small. If you've ever stayed up all night certain the world is ending, only to see things differently in the light of day, you may recognize something of yourself in Butter.

Butter offers a conflicted, relatable male narrator, a realistic look at what it can feel like to be an outsider, and a unique take on issues of bullying and popularity. I recommend this to anyone looking for something a little different in contemporary YA.

I received a free, advance e-book copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Jul 13, 2012 Anjana rated it 2 of 5 stars

JP/Butter is an obese boy in high school with a love for the saxophone and quite obviously, food. Butter's high school life involves him pretty much being ignored by everyone as he's way past the weight to be bullied as the fat kid; most of his classmates just feel sorry for him now.
He's also crushing on a girl from his school called Anna, but she'd never talk to him if she knew who he really was so he uses fake online identity called JP, claiming to be a boy from a nearby high school, and gets...more JP/Butter is an obese boy in high school with a love for the saxophone and quite obviously, food. Butter's high school life involves him pretty much being ignored by everyone as he's way past the weight to be bullied as the fat kid; most of his classmates just feel sorry for him now.
He's also crushing on a girl from his school called Anna, but she'd never talk to him if she knew who he really was so he uses fake online identity called JP, claiming to be a boy from a nearby high school, and gets into an online relationship with her.

I've mixed feelings about this book. As soon as I read the blurb, I wanted to get my hands on Butter. I expected a powerful, emotional novel and I'll admit, the writing's actually pretty good but sadly, the protagonist, Butter, pissed me off. I'm not sure how I can love a book when I don't like the main guy in it.
Being overweight is a painful, mind-f**king ride for an obese person, or so I'd think but Butter's attitude in general was too cocky and arrogant for my taste. I tried to appreciate that he was strong despite being the fat guy who was stared at and mocked but I didn't even feel like he was a good person; his personality disturbed me and that's my main issue with this book. Most of the time, I just couldn't feel sorry for him or even support him.

However, setting that aside, I'll say it again, the writing is really good and holds your interest. The author manages to evoke all these emotions in you (trust me, it's going to be different for everyone) and it's obvious Erin has a way with words.
A guy claiming to eat himself to death on the internet? That's a pretty unique idea although at first I felt that it wasn't pulled off very realistically..but then again, teenagers are pretty dumb these days so maybe all the sudden popularity that Butter suddenly received from his classmates is understandable.

Over all, I would've liked this book more if it took a different direction with Butter's personality but there may be some people who actually like Butter just the way he is.

(less)

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May 16, 2013 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I finished this in 2 nights as it was such a good book. I felt so sorry for Butter as he was just so unhappy and his Mum didn't exactly help or understand him even though she obviously loves him a lot. I thought his Dad was really cruel the way he treated Butter. The story unfolded really quickly and gave a really good insight into teenage bullying and school "cliques" Even though Butter is in love with Anna I didn't really like her as a character as I found her a bit shallow. I liked Morgan muc...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Becka Hamill rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't exactly know what I expected from this novel, but I think I got a whole lot out of it.

Butter is 423 pounds, and fed up of being so. He has no motivation and sees life as a huge disappointment, no matter what he does. That's why he decides there's only one way out, and boy, does he want to go out in style. By setting up ButtersLastMeal.com and vowing to eat himself to death on New Year's Eve, Butter finds himself in the midst of popularity. The new focus of his peers. Everyone wants to kn...more

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Apr 19, 2013 Rebekah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Butter weighs 423 pounds. He has reached a point where his obesity no longer gets him made fun of, but rather pitied. He hates it, especially when it comes from the lips of his crush, the extremely popular Anna. Feeling as though no fat camps, doctors, or friends can help him, Butter creates a website and posts it where anyone from his school can see it. The website is titled 'Butter's Last Meal,' and it means exactly what it says.

Butter is going to eat himself to death, live on New Year's Eve....more

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Mar 17, 2013 Zoel rated it 3 of 5 stars

About the Characters

The characters in this book felt real to me to be honest, Marshall or “Butter” was an overweight high school student who practically saw the dark side of everything to life. He didn’t have much friends and he loved to play music on his Saxophone. I thought the kids who had bullied him were an exact replica of how horrible teens can be but I felt it was a bit over exaggerated to be honest. Not all kids drink, shop or even as divided into social cliques as everyone may think. A...more About the Characters

The characters in this book felt real to me to be honest, Marshall or “Butter” was an overweight high school student who practically saw the dark side of everything to life. He didn’t have much friends and he loved to play music on his Saxophone. I thought the kids who had bullied him were an exact replica of how horrible teens can be but I felt it was a bit over exaggerated to be honest. Not all kids drink, shop or even as divided into social cliques as everyone may think. At least speaking from my own high school perspective. I thought Anna was a great character who I saw a lot of myself in. Basically someone who had been changing herself and her likes just to be accepted by the people she called “friends”. Being insulted just for laughs and thinking nothing of it because she wanted to fit in. At times thought Butter’s attitude was a bit off putting but it made room for a great development towards the end which I loved.

About the Plot

The plot is what got me interested about this book and to be honest I felt a little morbid reading it at times. The way how death was treated as a game with those stupid High school students, they were horrible especially the kids who helped Butter do his bucket list. The pacing of the book was alright but the actual events that happened didn't exactly interest me as much as I thought they would. At times I just found myself wanting to get over with it. It was a great story that a lot of people can take away lessons from but the pacing and content might not be everyone’s cup of tea especially when dealing with Butter’s attitude.

About the writing style

I thought it portrayed Butter’s thoughts perfectly. I really enjoyed reading it. Butter’s voice was so clear to me in the words that in my head it was as if he himself was just talking through a speaker in my mind. I did enjoy it, it was easy to follow and wasn’t too lengthy on descriptions. Would I read more from this author? Definitely
Overall thoughts
I enjoyed reading it, I wish more interesting things had happened but it was good none the less. I give this a 3 stars. Maybe 3.5
(less)

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Feb 22, 2013 Aika rated it 3 of 5 stars

Butter is a novel about saxophone player who is obese, weighing 423 pounds and is only a junior in high school. This boy relieved his nickname Butter because he was bullied to eat a full stick of butter. He is in love with a girl named Anna, blond and skinny. They have been dating for about a year online, but she doesn't know his true identity yet. Butter is too ashamed to show her what he looks like, although she hae the element of surprise. He makes a deal with her that they would meet on New...more Butter is a novel about saxophone player who is obese, weighing 423 pounds and is only a junior in high school. This boy relieved his nickname Butter because he was bullied to eat a full stick of butter. He is in love with a girl named Anna, blond and skinny. They have been dating for about a year online, but she doesn't know his true identity yet. Butter is too ashamed to show her what he looks like, although she hae the element of surprise. He makes a deal with her that they would meet on New Years Eve, but it was also the day he would die. Butter created a website called butterslastmeal.com which he would record some of the foods he would eat on December 31st. Sme of his selections were strawberries (which he was severely allergic to), alcohol and of course a stick of butter. By creating this website, he learne that people "popular" kids are imaged him and respected his idea of suicide, they even encouraged it. For his last days, he would try to convince Anna in person that they should be together, diet severely, and insult his best friend, his music teacher.

At times of need, bullying can cause peopele to commit suicide. Throughout this book, Butter is constantly reminded of the way he got his nickname and why people bullied him. In the beginning of the novel, Butter sat and ate lunch isolated so hw couldn't be bullied or teased about his weight. Him being 423 pounds and eating unhealthy food didn't help people from staring or making disgusted looked on their faces. He got teased about having to buy two seats on an airplane so he could fit, and that if he sat on the tiny plastic chairs in the lunchroom, they would break. Butter decided to kill himself because he saw how his friend was losing weight but he couldn't, he was bullied into it.

I thought this book was somewhat disgusting. This boy's actions and food decisions made me uncomfortable, he decided to eat a second whole stick of butter. Throughout this novel, I felt uncomfortable which made me uncomfortable with this book. (less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Alex rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars.

Wow, what a powerful book. The premise is disturbing and sad, but it was so well-written.

"Butter" (as he is nicknamed) is a morbidly obese teenager who is sick of being ignored by his classmates. After a particularly bad day, he makes a website announcing that he will eat himself to death on New Year's Eve. What he doesn't expect is to suddenly be pulled into the popular crowd and egged on as his deadline approaches. Butter now has to figure out if he can go through with his suicide p...more

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Jan 19, 2013 AnnaBnana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

Butter is a 423 high school junior and for someone so big, he is forever shocked at how invisibly he travels through the hallways of his high school. Butter fills his emptiness with food and cures his melancholy by playing his saxophone and with late-night Internet chats with the beautiful Anna, to whom his identity remains anonymous. It's not enough though. It's never enough and after a particularly bad day at school, Butter decides he's done. He creates a web site and shares with his schoolmat...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Carrie Ardoin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-netgalley, gmta-luxury

Life is lonely and hard for 16 year old Butter. He's tipping the scales at over 420 pounds, and the ruthless kids at his high school gave him the unflattering nickname, that unfortunately stuck. The only things that gie him joy in life are playing his saxophone, his online relationship with a girl from his school (who doesn't know the truth about who she's talking to), and of course, eating.

Finally, Butter reaches a breaking point and decides to put up a website, where he proclaims that he will...more Life is lonely and hard for 16 year old Butter. He's tipping the scales at over 420 pounds, and the ruthless kids at his high school gave him the unflattering nickname, that unfortunately stuck. The only things that gie him joy in life are playing his saxophone, his online relationship with a girl from his school (who doesn't know the truth about who she's talking to), and of course, eating.

Finally, Butter reaches a breaking point and decides to put up a website, where he proclaims that he will be eating himself to death on New Year's Eve at the stroke of midnight. This changes his life in ways he never imagined. Will he go through with his suicide, or is that someone out there that cares enough to stop him?

This was an emotional and powerful book. I hope that it can get through to the kids who need to read it.

Butter is a complex character. We don't even learn his real name until the last page of the book. That is sad, because he's basically resigned himself to being Butter. He of course wishes he had the idyllic high school life--but at the same time, he's stuck in a vicious circle. He's doesn't have any friends because he's fat, but he's fat because he doesn't have any friends. He eats to fill a hole that food cannot fill.

He knows he eats entirely too much, but Butter still refuses to believe that his weight is his fault. His mom wavers back and forth between cutting down the amount of food he eats and basically being worried when he doesn't eat as much as he usually does.

When Butter made the blog and suicide threat, I'm not entirely sure he ever meant to go through with it. The ending of the book didn't really clear it up for me either--but I think that's the point. Butter himself probably didn't know whether he really wanted to die, or if he was just giving a cry for help.

I enjoyed seeing Butter interact with his classmates, but it was definitely bittersweet because they were probably only interested in him because of his blog. How different could Butter's life had been if he had only stopped being so introverted years ago?

In the end, this was a classic tale of "be careful what you wish for." Yes, Butter got friends and popularity, but the cost was very high. I believe that all teens will learn something from reading this book--but it will hold a special place for those who have ever been bullied.(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Kelly Hager rated it 5 of 5 stars

Butter is not happy. He's a teenage boy and he weighs over 400 pounds. He's so fat that everyone ignores him. He's not picked on for the most part, which is good, but no one pays any attention to him at all. And then he's had enough. He creates a website and says that he'll literally eat himself to death on New Year's Eve. All of a sudden, people are paying attention to him. Weird, right? But now people are being nice to him and he's popular for the first time. But that doesn't really help becau...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Sally Kruger added it

Review ARC eBook courtesy of NetGalley.com
Release date: 9-18-12

Weighing in at over 400 lbs. Butter has a weight problem, and he knows it. His mother is concerned but continues to cook his favorites and slip little goodies into his lunch sack. His father doesn't really say much unless the absence of comment is his attempt at making a statement.

School is filled with verbal attacks or pointed isolation. Butter knows the over sized desk in each room is there for him and him alone. He is also gratefu...more

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title link	preview: Butter
avg rating	preview: Butter Goodreads rating: 3.74 (832 ratings)
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