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The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party
by M.T. Anderson

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/169762.The_Astonishing_Life_of_Octavian_Nothing_Traitor_to_the_Nation_Vol_1_The_Pox_Party?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172369018m/169762.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/169762.The_Astonishing_Life_of_Octavian_Nothing_Traitor_to_the_Nation_Vol_1_The_Pox_Party?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31688.M_T_Anderson">M.T. Anderson</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8240540?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 5 of 5 stars Fantastic literature; one of my top books of all time, 
 
 I am blown away by the brilliant, lush style and more brilliant ideas and intellect of this coming-of-age and bildungsroman novel. I was delighted by the mystery of it and the growing horror, how the limited point of view of the little hero worked as he gradually makes his discoveries about the realities of his world. It reminded me of The "Handmaid's Tale: A Novel", which I have used as a textbook when teaching teenagers. It reminds me of The "Matrix" and "My Ishmael" as the viewer/reader learns through innocent eyes, as the veil begins to be pulled back. 
 It is fascinating to read reviews from people who find it abominable. What kind of minds do they have? What kind do I have? How can I be so utterly different - on the opposite pole - from these readers? This book is on my top ten favorites of all time and I am pretty old by now, and have read thousands of literary novels starting from 7, when I read "To Kill a Mockingbird". People say it should't be read by teens. I fervently disagree; I would have been thrilled to have had Octavian on hand in high school. I wish my daughter had read it. Kids are very smart with powerful intuitive radars, just like the main character in the novel. They "know something is happening...they (just)don't know what it is". They don't like being condescended to, having things over-explained; in fact, that might be one big reason kids don't much like reading anymore, because so much that is published for them these days is dumbed down and prettified, "whitewashed". The erudition and historical reference, the chaos and mystery of Octavian Nothing wouldn't have thrown me off when I was 12 but intrigued me to find out more. I've heard parents say they were too shocked by the sickness and brutality of the story; they had to put the book down and forbade their progeny from reading it. My goodness, parents, what about what is on the news every night? The evil in this delectable, astounding novel is disturbing, sure, but it is the true history of this country,and a brilliant look into the human psyche and ability for denial, to do evil in the name of "good" or of scientific research. To censor this book from youth would be like not letting them find out about Hiroshima or the Holocaust. Overprotect them from history and you end up with white kids not knowing why hanging a noose is a hate crime. Why not give them our history in the form of a great literary work, through great art? Octavian Nothing is destined to become a classic, and someday will be required reading everywhere, mark my words. 
 ~ by Lesley Thomas, author of coming-of-age novel Flight of the Goose 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/272844?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Lesley's review
rating:

recommended for: adult and teen readers
status: Read in September, 2007

Fantastic literature; one of my top books of all time,

I am blown away by the brilliant, lush style and more brilliant ideas and intellect of this coming-of-age and bildungsroman novel. I was delighted by the mystery of it and the growing horror, how the limited point of view of the little hero worked as he gradually makes his discoveries about the realities of his world. It reminded me of The "Handmaid's Tale: A Novel", which I have used as a textbook when teaching teenagers. It reminds me of The "Matrix" and "My Ishmael" as the viewer/reader learns through innocent eyes, as the veil begins to be pulled back.
It is fascinating to read reviews from people who find it abominable. What kind of minds do they have? What kind do I have? How can I be so utterly different - on the opposite pole - from these readers? This book is on my top ten favorites of all time and I am pretty old by now, and have read thousands of literary novels starting from 7, whe...more Fantastic literature; one of my top books of all time,

I am blown away by the brilliant, lush style and more brilliant ideas and intellect of this coming-of-age and bildungsroman novel. I was delighted by the mystery of it and the growing horror, how the limited point of view of the little hero worked as he gradually makes his discoveries about the realities of his world. It reminded me of The "Handmaid's Tale: A Novel", which I have used as a textbook when teaching teenagers. It reminds me of The "Matrix" and "My Ishmael" as the viewer/reader learns through innocent eyes, as the veil begins to be pulled back.
It is fascinating to read reviews from people who find it abominable. What kind of minds do they have? What kind do I have? How can I be so utterly different - on the opposite pole - from these readers? This book is on my top ten favorites of all time and I am pretty old by now, and have read thousands of literary novels starting from 7, when I read "To Kill a Mockingbird". People say it should't be read by teens. I fervently disagree; I would have been thrilled to have had Octavian on hand in high school. I wish my daughter had read it. Kids are very smart with powerful intuitive radars, just like the main character in the novel. They "know something is happening...they (just)don't know what it is". They don't like being condescended to, having things over-explained; in fact, that might be one big reason kids don't much like reading anymore, because so much that is published for them these days is dumbed down and prettified, "whitewashed". The erudition and historical reference, the chaos and mystery of Octavian Nothing wouldn't have thrown me off when I was 12 but intrigued me to find out more. I've heard parents say they were too shocked by the sickness and brutality of the story; they had to put the book down and forbade their progeny from reading it. My goodness, parents, what about what is on the news every night? The evil in this delectable, astounding novel is disturbing, sure, but it is the true history of this country,and a brilliant look into the human psyche and ability for denial, to do evil in the name of "good" or of scientific research. To censor this book from youth would be like not letting them find out about Hiroshima or the Holocaust. Overprotect them from history and you end up with white kids not knowing why hanging a noose is a hate crime. Why not give them our history in the form of a great literary work, through great art? Octavian Nothing is destined to become a classic, and someday will be required reading everywhere, mark my words.
~ by Lesley Thomas, author of coming-of-age novel Flight of the Goose ...less

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