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The Boy Detective Fails (Punk Planet Books)
by Joe Meno

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/102504.The_Boy_Detective_Fails?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Boy Detective Fails (Punk Planet Books)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171485545m/102504.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/102504.The_Boy_Detective_Fails?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Boy Detective Fails</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12851.Joe_Meno">Joe Meno</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8007063?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved everything about this book. From the characters, to the surreal plot, to the very manner of writing.
 
 The characters are absurd portrayals of mystery clichés, but rundown from the weight of the real world. Unable to cope with their surroundings, they're constantly trying to reclaim their former glory. Their attempts are short lived, feeble, and ultimately tragic.
 
 Depending on your point of view, the plot is either beautifully integrated or maddeningly splintered. So much of the Boy Detective's viewpoint is affected by guilt, sadness and medication that (I think) the fractured plot serves to illustrate his emotional loose ends. Mysteries are opened without ever being truly solved. The Boy Detective becomes the hero who intervenes just enough to discover the culprits, but lacks his former confidence to bring about a resolute end. Too fearful to truly solve any mysteries (lest he solve his own), the Boy Detective is perpetually torn between helping those in need and fleeing to a drug-induced haze. It's tragic and depressing, and perfect.
 
 Lastly, Meno's style of writing was refreshing. It's hard to describe without providing specific examples (and thus ruining the surprise), but it certainly completed the package.
 
 Warning : This book is not for everyone. Read this book if you've ever thought to yourself "I wish I could read something I haven't read before. Something really different."
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/564372?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Brian's review
rating:

bookshelves: fiction, trophy-shelf
recommended for: the Literary Lackadaisical
status: Read in November, 2007

I loved everything about this book. From the characters, to the surreal plot, to the very manner of writing.

The characters are absurd portrayals of mystery clichés, but rundown from the weight of the real world. Unable to cope with their surroundings, they're constantly trying to reclaim their former glory. Their attempts are short lived, feeble, and ultimately tragic.

Depending on your point of view, the plot is either beautifully integrated or maddeningly splintered. So much of the Boy Detective's viewpoint is affected by guilt, sadness and medication that (I think) the fractured plot serves to illustrate his emotional loose ends. Mysteries are opened without ever being truly solved. The Boy Detective becomes the hero who intervenes just enough to discover the culprits, but lacks his former confidence to bring about a resolute end. Too fearful to truly solve any mysteries (lest he solve his own), the Boy Detective is perpetually torn between helping those in need and f...more

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