I liked this book so it shouldn't surprise me that you didn't. ha. Elena would be horrified by your review.

Haha, it is almost comical how hit-or-miss we are with books....craziness. I can see Elena's look of horror.....but still, I would have the exact same look if she proclaimed it was her favorite book....hehe

Wow, I totally disagree with your review. "Filth and immorality?" Give me a break. There are way more books with worse language and situations than this one.

I'm sorry, but this book is filth. The f-word was thrown into almost every dialogue. This novel was degrading to young adults. The teen characters seemed to have no qualms with doing whatever they pleased, with no thought of the consequences. Yes, there are worse books out there. But we should not promote filth, especially in the minds of 13-year-olds shopping at Borders just looking for a good read.

I'm not sure if you're aware, but a fair amount of teens use the "F word" in every dialogue. It's the vernacular of the past twenty years. What you seem to miss is the fact that teens are actually people (although many seem content to forget this fact), and do not fall into any one category. Some are gay, some are jewish, some are ruled by feelings, some can't get over their ex. Some love punk music, some are straightedge, some are reckless. They're all unique, just like people.

If you actually bothered to get more than 10 pages into this book, you'd realize that the authors are not glorifying this lifestyle, not encouraging teens to go out and have sex with every single individual, to get wasted and not to think of consequences. There are certainly characters who do so- take Norah's alcoholic friend, Caroline, or Nick's over-sexed bandmate. In both cases, the protagonists make it clear that they do not agree with such behavior, and the authors seem to go out of their ways to depict the promiscuity and over-indulgence of these minor characters in a very negative light. And, to add to the whole anti-drug message,both Nick and Norah define themselves as what they call "straightedge", meaning they do not choose to take drugs, consume alcohol, or smoke cigarettes.

As for the "immoral" makeout scene, I couldn't disagree with you more. This is not some premeditated act of promiscuity, but rather an impulsive action on Norah's part. Nick never actually intended for Norah to kiss him- that much is plain from his reaction to the kiss. What the two discover is that they share a common bond- a devotion to music, and really bad exes. Except for Norah's desperate attempt to get him to love her at the Camera Obscura concert, the two remain fairly chaste. I think what you need to remember is that these are eighteen year olds, legal adults, acting as they see fit. When you're that young, sometimes it seems silly to think about the consequences.

I found the "he said, she said" format interesting, because it shows the same set of events from two very different points of view, and allows the reader to see the differences in how Nick and Norah perceive their world.

I agree that the premise of the book is a bit unrealistic, and I also agree that strangers rarely understand each other at a glance, but that alone was not enough to make me hate it. Still, even if I had hated the book, I wouldn't have deemed it complete and utter filth, because I think that sort of judgement is negative and destructive. Despite the fact that I hate religious books, I have found that, as long as I am willing to keep an open mind, I can enjoy books like Ted Dekker's Blink. As much as I disagree with books containing conservative religious themes, I would do my best to give an honest review of the book itself without letting my own prejudices color the whole damned critique.

I don't think the book will make young people promiscuous or foul-mouthed so much as make kids, who are more active these days, relate to the characters. I get how people wish that teens were more innocent, but because not all of them are, they're looking for fiction that reflects their reality.

Most great american literature that is read in school has these extremely conflicting ideas and language, along with bad habits and doing things without thinking. Consider that when you say that this along with other books is simply a "bad message" or however it is you worded it. With negative moments comes learning and some things need to be seen past the surface to totally comprehend what the work of literature is trying to show.

Examples of works of literature read in schools that are arguably "negative" or "bad influences" include but are not limited to The Catcher and the Rye, The Scarlet Letter, and The Great Gatsby.

especially in the minds of 13-year-olds shopping at Borders just looking for a good read.



if a thirteen year old doesn't either understand the meaning of the f-word or have the urge to use it verbally or physically there is something wrong with them.
That book has taught me a lot about life and love...and at times lust. there is nothing wrong with that. if you don't like it then please don't write a 1000 word report on why it sucked so bad. maybe some people would rather find out about teenaged love and how ugly it can be without any sensoring.
You can't tell me that as a teenager love was all butterflies and rainbows. there was a lot of things you don't want to admit but at the time you were proud of like loss of ...certain things... and the knowledge of how you're going to hide that hicky from your mom or how your dad isn't going to know about the bassist of the queer core band you almost slept with in the ice room at marriot.
thats life. no sensoring. no silver linings. just life.

Crowxqueen wrote: "Most great american literature that is read in school has these extremely conflicting ideas and language, along with bad habits and doing things without thinking. Consider that when you say that th..."

but catcher in the rye was amazing. :D

I haven't read this book, but I would just like to say thanks to whoever wrote this review, because they have convictions and stood up for them. Sometimes I have a problem with that.

I'm 17, and I read this book about 2 and a half years ago and I believe your book review makes you sound very ignorant to say the least.
I thought this book was great for a young teen read.
Also, to clear some things up, it's not that Norah glanced at Nick and new everything about him. The things that she did know were from him going out with one of the girls from her school. Nick would make her mix tapes and and love notes then she would give them to Norah to listen to or read. And if you actually read the entire book you would know that they are both trying to figure each other out and learn new things about each other through the whole thing. Even in the last chapter they learn something new.
Of course some of the things that happened are un-realistic but that's part of the magic of literature. How many people would read books if they were like everyday life?
As for the profanity; almost every "young adult" swears and uses some vulgar humor. That is one of the things that IS realistic so you should have enjoyed that. And it's not de-moralizing to authors or whatever it was you said up there. It's called using everyday dialogue in order to connect with readers. Authors do it all the time.
And the switching of characters was tedious? You must either be very lazy or have ADD if a little back tracking was too much for you to handle. Some of the greatest authors use similar kinds of techniques. One of them being Toni Morrison in The Bluest Eye.
You should think about NOT writing reviews for books that you barely gave half a chance.

Snorkle wrote: "I'm sorry, but this book is filth. The f-word was thrown into almost every dialogue. This novel was degrading to young adults. The teen characters seemed to have no qualms with doing whatever the..."

Yes these kind of books are connected to why kids act the way they do these days. BUT not like there not going to learn it from other places. I learned the F-word in about 5th grade and I only read Harry Potter then. I learned more of this stuff from peers than I did books. Not to mention, most teens don't read books anymore. Out of all the kids at a school only a few would read books for enjoyment.

I did think it was ruining its effect with throwing the f-word everywhere but that IS how teens talk.. so its very accurate in that way. This is a great example of how teens and parents and the world acts today. Teens go to clubs, moshes, and stay out all night and there parents just dont care.

Anyway, I thought the book, more towards the end, was very sweet, thoughtful and taught me a few things. I am frigid like that girl was and it's shown me that I need to break free (just a little).

And by the way, if kids are starting to swear and act like this just from a book, that is incredibly stupid. Books shouldnt decide how you act. It's up to parents to teach there kids that that isn't the right thing to do. Don't blame it on the books these days, blame it more on the parents. Personally (off subject) I think its because of the X Generation (which my brother's wife explains as the F.U. Generation) had kids which turned them into what we have now... the Me Generation. I'd prefer not to be in this generation.

I COMPLETELY agree.
But, I finished it, hoping for something to make me like it.
Nothing.

Lauren wrote: "Snorkle wrote: "I'm sorry, but this book is filth. The f-word was thrown into almost every dialogue. This novel was degrading to young adults. The teen characters seemed to have no qualms with do..."

Well for one most kids use that word as much as they used it in the book. To me it was completely normal. I actually thought it was really accurate to how teens talk and thought it was all completely fine :)

Snorkle, I agree with 95% of what you said about the book.

Sorry, f word in every dialouge? Realistic enough for me. I go to prep/boarding school, and everyone swears that much. I nkow you think we're jsut a bunch of trashy teens right now, but it's just how we talk. Most teens my age talk like i do, whether they'r in vermont, new jersey, or california. Immorality, while i agree hooking up with a guy you met that night wasn't the best idea, wasn't really in the book. If you listen in on high school rumors, they could have done much worse.

Oh, shut up. This book was amazing and you are a stuffy, pompous tosspot. Go away.

I am SO GLAD you reviewed it the same way I did. I also found the constant throw of the F-word as completely unnecessary. However, I didn't even get to stomach the book halfway, it was too much.

I loved. Absolutely loved it. The plot and story was completely unrealistic, but the characters weren't. No one was all good or all bad. As for the profanity. I'm 14 and my best friend speaks like that every day. Teeenagers today, the impressionable ones and the ones that actually act like that, don't read. Unless its assigned they don't read. Sometimes not even then. We are all entitled to our own opinions, but I find you calling a book, any book, "filth" slightly offensive.

I really don't see how anyone can feel as though they have the right to completely and utterly trash something they didn't even finish. I mean, seriously, it's a short book. If you finish it and still hate it, ok - I can respect that. Otherwise, stop being such a pompous jackass.

Thank you for having the courage to stand up for what is good and right. I personally don't know anyone who talks like that, teen or adult.

BEST. FUCKING. BOOK. EVER. This book is amazing. And if you just got past the fact that, ohmygod, people are actually physically atracted to each other and *gasp* they react on it, then you could see that this book isn't even about sex or making out or the "f-word." It's about understanding and music and connection and ideas, falling recklessly in love and trusting yourself to another person. If your so short minded that you can't even see past a simple word to actually appreciate the book, then you don't deserve to read it anyway.

I just do not get why people object to bad language (i.e. the F word) in books, personally I don't swear and I prefer not to hear it but when it is in a book it is so very easy to ignore. Is that just me?

I haven't read this book so I can honestly and without bias say that you need to get off your high horse and accept that 'fuck' is just another word that is part of the English vocabulary, it's just another way for people to show expression and for an author to create realism to teen characters, because without cuss words the teen vocabulary is practically cut in half

I agree with Alex. You can't not like a book becuase of the profanity, and it can't be so bad, because other people have liked/loved this book- hell, it's become a movie!

I think it's interesting how you suggest that the novel makes teens "act the way they do". I would argue that it is likely describing how teenagers act instead of reinforcing it. In 2006, when this novel was written, I was 20, and believe me, when I was a teen, I said "fuck" every other word... when I was with my friends. I never swore at work or at school or around my parents, but put me with my friends, and I swore ALL THE TIME. It's just teenage idiolect. Teens swear. They see as a form of rebellion at first and then it becomes a trend. And frankly, who cares? Everyone has a different language set depending on who they're with. And teens, especially teens involved in that music scene, swear. You may not "approve" of it, but that doesn't mean that a novel representing that fact is "filth." A novel about teens and music that had no swearing in it would be unrealistic unless it took place at a religious camp or something. Using moralistic words does nothing to further an argument, because morals are subjective. You may not like the language in a novel, but that doesn't mean the novel is "filth". Sheesh. There is a commonly used word in "Huckleberry Finn" that I'm uncomfortable with, but would I argue that Mark Twain was a crap writer? Nope.

Actually, here is a scene from "Misery", the movie based on the Stephen King novel, that this argument reminded me of:

Annie Wilkes: It's the swearing, Paul. It has no nobility.

Paul Sheldon: These are slum kids, I was a slum kid. Everybody talks like that.

Annie Wilkes: THEY DO NOT! At the feedstore do I say, "Oh, now Wally, give me a bag of that F-in' pig feed, and a pound of that bitchly cow corn"? At the bank do I say, "Oh, Mrs. Malenger, here is one big bastard of a check, now give me some of your Christ-ing money!" THERE, LOOK THERE, NOW SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!

I HATE it when people write terrible reviews of books, and they never even finished it! What's the point of writing a review when you're incapable of of doing so correctly, since you never even probably glanced towards the end!!

I think it was pretty cute..:D

Thank u for standing up for your convictions! I personally dont know anyone who swears that much either, and the only time i hear that in movies is if its like "the town" or "unknown" where everyones either a druggie or bank robber or in an intense life-threatening situation. I think there are teens that swear - a lot - and go out and make bad decisions and have sucky lives, and i think that its ok to write about these things - actually i encourage it! - as long as the reader can get some redemption from it. "Before i fall" is one of those books: full of language and sexual content, but ttly real and life changing and mind boggling. But sometimes, its just too much and too unrealistic.

I appreciate your review.

“The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it” - George Washington

@Yearning to Read: Hopefully I misinterpreted what you wrote with regards to "I think there are teens that swear - a lot - and go out and make bad decisions and have sucky lives". Are you suggesting there is a correlation between swearing and making bad decisions? If you are not suggesting this and I am confused by your wording, I apologize, but if you are... seriously? Seriously?

Dude or Lady, I swear like a sailor. I swear when I'm driving. I swear at home. I swear with my friends and family. The only time I don't swear profusely is at work, and even there I curse mildly at times.

And you know what? I'm an extremely successful person. I have an excellent job in management at a world-renowned company, I'm 27 and on my second house, I have two degrees and am working on a third part-time, I'm well-read, very fit, and I have a wonderful partner and friends.

The presumption that SWEARING causes you to have a "sucky" life is one of the biggest piece of bullshit I have EVER read. That's right bullSHIT. Don't freak out now that I used a SWEAR.

Ugh, I never wanted to get into arguments with people on this site, but I couldn't let this one go.

Again, I apologize if that's not what you meant, but if I did interpret it properly, then I mean every word and you need to get a life. A lot of people on this thread need to get out of their bubbles. Oh my god, swearing! Run for the hills.

J. wrote: "I appreciate your review.

“The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it” - George Wash..."

You realize G.W. died in 1799, right? You know, back when women weren't persons and racism was cool. I'm pretty sure the "practice of swearing" has also altered in people's perspectives.

Careful everyone, the super classy comment police are out in full force.

So I get why you didn't like it, your arguments are valid except your issues with swearing. Swearing is just a part of explicit diction. Sometimes it makes the general tone or message stronger. Also, the book is about teenagers...what do teenagers do? We swear. A lot. I think it makes the book realistic and if you don't like swearing, good luck finding a decent book that doesn't have it.

Brianna wrote: "So I get why you didn't like it, your arguments are valid except your issues with swearing. Swearing is just a part of explicit diction. Sometimes it makes the general tone or message stronger. ..."

Not all teenagers swear and I've read a ton of books with little to no swearing in them. I can look past a bit of it, but it's kinda tasteless and low class when it's in every sentence. Same for people that use it in every sentence.