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50 Ways of Saying Fabulous: Book 1
Sweet, fat, theatrical Billy-Boy was never cut out to be a farmer, but as his father’s only son he’s obliged to try. The cows are wayward and the chores are gruelling, but Billy finds escape in a fantasy world. A place where the turnip paddock becomes a lunar landscape, a lavender bed jacket a slinky space suit, a cow’s tail a head of beautiful blonde hair, and where Billy can become Judy Robinson, heroine of TV’s 'Lost in Space'.
But in an isolated conservative farming community in 1970s New Zealand, not everyone approves of Billy’s transformation. On the brink of adolescence, Billy is beginning to discover that growing up is far more complicated and confusing than he could ever have imagined. While the mysteries of sex confound him, emotions are unleashed which urge Billy to betray those closest to him.
'50 Ways of Saying Fabulous' is a poignant and endearingly comic novel. Anyone who grew up in a small town, grew up feeling that they didn’t fit in, or simply grew up will find this book funny, touching and unforgettably evocative of childhood lost.
Praise for '50 Ways of Saying Fabulous':
'I loved this funny sad tale of growing up a sissy in New Zealand. Graeme Aitken proves that even the most extraordinary events can occur to wonderfully ordinary people. If I knew fifty ways of saying fabulous, I’d use them all to praise this charming first novel.’ EDMUND WHITE
'Thoroughly engaging.' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
'A funny but also achingly sad first novel'. OBSERVER
'A sort of gay Adrian Mole ... There are laughs aplenty but also moments of agony ... Told with bare faced honesty, it is a warm, cruel, funny tale.' THE SUNDAY AGE
'Touching and sad, '50 Ways of Saying Fabulous' also has some very funny moments.' THE TIMES
'An entertainment, a gentle, poignant story of a fat boy who fantasises romance and glamour without yet having a name for what he is ... Aitken writes with a distinctive voice, one that is wonderfully evocative.' DENNIS ALTMAN, THE AGE
'... an important work ... What Aitken has demonstrated fabulously is his skill in the art of telling a good story ... his honesty and fearlessness in confronting those squirmy adolescent secrets is to be admired.' CANBERRA TIMES
But in an isolated conservative farming community in 1970s New Zealand, not everyone approves of Billy’s transformation. On the brink of adolescence, Billy is beginning to discover that growing up is far more complicated and confusing than he could ever have imagined. While the mysteries of sex confound him, emotions are unleashed which urge Billy to betray those closest to him.
'50 Ways of Saying Fabulous' is a poignant and endearingly comic novel. Anyone who grew up in a small town, grew up feeling that they didn’t fit in, or simply grew up will find this book funny, touching and unforgettably evocative of childhood lost.
Praise for '50 Ways of Saying Fabulous':
'I loved this funny sad tale of growing up a sissy in New Zealand. Graeme Aitken proves that even the most extraordinary events can occur to wonderfully ordinary people. If I knew fifty ways of saying fabulous, I’d use them all to praise this charming first novel.’ EDMUND WHITE
'Thoroughly engaging.' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
'A funny but also achingly sad first novel'. OBSERVER
'A sort of gay Adrian Mole ... There are laughs aplenty but also moments of agony ... Told with bare faced honesty, it is a warm, cruel, funny tale.' THE SUNDAY AGE
'Touching and sad, '50 Ways of Saying Fabulous' also has some very funny moments.' THE TIMES
'An entertainment, a gentle, poignant story of a fat boy who fantasises romance and glamour without yet having a name for what he is ... Aitken writes with a distinctive voice, one that is wonderfully evocative.' DENNIS ALTMAN, THE AGE
'... an important work ... What Aitken has demonstrated fabulously is his skill in the art of telling a good story ... his honesty and fearlessness in confronting those squirmy adolescent secrets is to be admired.' CANBERRA TIMES
137 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2015
40 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 15, 2024
I’m really glad that I stuck with this book. I found it a little hard to get into a follow at first due to what I first thought was a lack of connection between the chapters. After a while, I actually quite enjoyed the writing style, it flowed well and it felt I was reading a story as if someone was speaking it.
The book itself was good. I found this coming of age story set in rural NZ quite relatable (despite being Australian). Billy’s thoughts and emotions about the relationships he has and the way certain things made him feel was so accurately written and I didn’t expect to connect and resonate with this as much as I did.
I do wish the narrative thread was a little stronger throughout and at times I did find the quick jump to other characters and events a little disjointed.
The book itself was good. I found this coming of age story set in rural NZ quite relatable (despite being Australian). Billy’s thoughts and emotions about the relationships he has and the way certain things made him feel was so accurately written and I didn’t expect to connect and resonate with this as much as I did.
I do wish the narrative thread was a little stronger throughout and at times I did find the quick jump to other characters and events a little disjointed.
May 12, 2020
read the first 10 chapters provided free. Full of pre teen angst about body image, what school mates are thinking about him, and family struggles, bickering over farm chores to be done. Decided it was not worth the price to purchase book 2
January 8, 2017
An quick read. Well written. Am looking forward to reading the series.
December 13, 2018
NO.
I profoundly hated this book.
**************************
I received this book as a free kindle and I am a sucker for free things. Coming in, I expected it to be about a young boy, from rural Australia, who finds out and comes to terms with his sexuality.
Personally, I had no problem with the author saying the boy is a bit overweight, or that he is 12, or that he comes from the country side. Hey, it sounded delightfully out of the ordinary, promising a really interesting, one of a kind story. It seemed like it would most likely be pretty relatable for a lot of people (especially gay people) who often are represented in the media by walking talking stereotypes, if they are portrayed at all. And this kind of book could be helpful for young kids wanting to learn about their sexuality, by providing a positive role model.
But even though the story started promisingly, it very very quickly becomes too graphic for my taste. Its like the author did his best to find the grossest things in every single aspect adressed. Literally nothing was left unscathed, and I remember feeling very squirmish during the reading process.
For instance, I understand country life isn't all about meadows and fields, but did the author have to be so repetitive to state that it wasn't a good farm? Did he have to get into every detail about the manure and childbirthing process of cows and things? And don't even get me started with the rest of it: the author spends a completely disproportionate amount of time describing every roll on the main characters body, commenting on how he eats a lot, how he is just blubber, et all. Its pretty gross, pretty fat-phobic IMO, and it certainly doesn't read like the character even likes himself, which is pretty disenchanting for the reader, especially as this character has literally no redeeming qualities or positive attributes. He is basically defined by being a queer person who is unhealthily obsessed with food and has no other interests. Nor does he at any point come to terms with his weight - whether to change it or to accept it.
Speaking of gross, I get that the human body can be quite gross sometimes. Its ok, and normal, and even enjoyable, but again: did the author have to put so much emphasis on the first masturbation of a 12 year old boy ?? It's a natural thing, but the way it was written made me feel like a voyeur. Honestly, this book feels like a weird, distorted male version of Lolita, and it low key feels like the author deep down thinks being gay is wrong.
The subsequent relationship between the main character and another boy is anything but aspirable, or even appropriate for a character of that age, or for any young readers who may pick up this book not knowing that it is HIGHLY graphic. The sex scenes between two twelve year olds make me unconfortable, even more so that its casual sex and they outright admit that they dislike eachother and are just using one another for sexual gratification. So while I understand the need for fiction to portray gay coming of age novels that might even include masturbation and subjects of the like... The way it is described here is pointless, unnecessarily goory, and badly handled to say the least. Not to mention that sex (and other body functions) doesn't have to be disgusting. Shouldn't we be teaching kids to love their bodies and to be good, respecting partners?
Maybe I'm wrong and I don't really understand the target audience --- but if this is aimed soly at grown-ups, then the book should have a big-ass disclaimer on the cover saying it's inappropriate for kids, even if the main character is 12. And even so, like I said, this feels somewhat like voyeurism, and I can't see it being relatable to anyone other than pedophiles or.... gay people who were incredibly promiscous at age 12??? Is there a market for such people?? I think maybe this book would be better if it was addressed as a tragedy (boy is alone and abused) or as a satirical commentary on society's current obsession on glorifying sexuality at an increasingly young age. This story is neither (that would be too witty) and portrays itself as a "fabulous" comedy.
Furthermore, the narrator's voice is not good. Despite being a 12 year old boy, the only part of the book that makes this apparent is his inexperience in sex: other than that he is a clearly disillusioned middle aged man. Utterly unbelievable, without a single relatable thought for the age period, and way too non-chalant and unenthusiastic about everything in his life.
To end with, I will say the book has an open ending, so we don't even get the very limited satisfaction of learning how it concludes. Minus 400 stars.
I profoundly hated this book.
**************************
I received this book as a free kindle and I am a sucker for free things. Coming in, I expected it to be about a young boy, from rural Australia, who finds out and comes to terms with his sexuality.
Personally, I had no problem with the author saying the boy is a bit overweight, or that he is 12, or that he comes from the country side. Hey, it sounded delightfully out of the ordinary, promising a really interesting, one of a kind story. It seemed like it would most likely be pretty relatable for a lot of people (especially gay people) who often are represented in the media by walking talking stereotypes, if they are portrayed at all. And this kind of book could be helpful for young kids wanting to learn about their sexuality, by providing a positive role model.
But even though the story started promisingly, it very very quickly becomes too graphic for my taste. Its like the author did his best to find the grossest things in every single aspect adressed. Literally nothing was left unscathed, and I remember feeling very squirmish during the reading process.
For instance, I understand country life isn't all about meadows and fields, but did the author have to be so repetitive to state that it wasn't a good farm? Did he have to get into every detail about the manure and childbirthing process of cows and things? And don't even get me started with the rest of it: the author spends a completely disproportionate amount of time describing every roll on the main characters body, commenting on how he eats a lot, how he is just blubber, et all. Its pretty gross, pretty fat-phobic IMO, and it certainly doesn't read like the character even likes himself, which is pretty disenchanting for the reader, especially as this character has literally no redeeming qualities or positive attributes. He is basically defined by being a queer person who is unhealthily obsessed with food and has no other interests. Nor does he at any point come to terms with his weight - whether to change it or to accept it.
Speaking of gross, I get that the human body can be quite gross sometimes. Its ok, and normal, and even enjoyable, but again: did the author have to put so much emphasis on the first masturbation of a 12 year old boy ?? It's a natural thing, but the way it was written made me feel like a voyeur. Honestly, this book feels like a weird, distorted male version of Lolita, and it low key feels like the author deep down thinks being gay is wrong.
The subsequent relationship between the main character and another boy is anything but aspirable, or even appropriate for a character of that age, or for any young readers who may pick up this book not knowing that it is HIGHLY graphic. The sex scenes between two twelve year olds make me unconfortable, even more so that its casual sex and they outright admit that they dislike eachother and are just using one another for sexual gratification. So while I understand the need for fiction to portray gay coming of age novels that might even include masturbation and subjects of the like... The way it is described here is pointless, unnecessarily goory, and badly handled to say the least. Not to mention that sex (and other body functions) doesn't have to be disgusting. Shouldn't we be teaching kids to love their bodies and to be good, respecting partners?
Maybe I'm wrong and I don't really understand the target audience --- but if this is aimed soly at grown-ups, then the book should have a big-ass disclaimer on the cover saying it's inappropriate for kids, even if the main character is 12. And even so, like I said, this feels somewhat like voyeurism, and I can't see it being relatable to anyone other than pedophiles or.... gay people who were incredibly promiscous at age 12??? Is there a market for such people?? I think maybe this book would be better if it was addressed as a tragedy (boy is alone and abused) or as a satirical commentary on society's current obsession on glorifying sexuality at an increasingly young age. This story is neither (that would be too witty) and portrays itself as a "fabulous" comedy.
Furthermore, the narrator's voice is not good. Despite being a 12 year old boy, the only part of the book that makes this apparent is his inexperience in sex: other than that he is a clearly disillusioned middle aged man. Utterly unbelievable, without a single relatable thought for the age period, and way too non-chalant and unenthusiastic about everything in his life.
To end with, I will say the book has an open ending, so we don't even get the very limited satisfaction of learning how it concludes. Minus 400 stars.
October 22, 2017
Sweet, fat, theatrical Billy-Boy was never cut out to be a farmer, but as his father’s only son he’s obliged to try. The cows are wayward and the chores are gruelling, but Billy finds escape in a fantasy world. A place where the turnip paddock becomes a lunar landscape, a lavender bed jacket a slinky space suit, a cow’s tail a head of beautiful blonde hair, and where Billy can become Judy Robinson, heroine of TV’s 'Lost in Space'.
But in an isolated conservative farming community in 1970s New Zealand, not everyone approves of Billy’s transformation. On the brink of adolescence, Billy is beginning to discover that growing up is far more complicated and confusing than he could ever have imagined. While the mysteries of sex confound him, emotions are unleashed which urge Billy to betray those closest to him.
'50 Ways of Saying Fabulous' is a poignant and endearingly comic novel. Anyone who grew up in a small town, grew up feeling that they didn’t fit in, or simply grew up will find this book funny, touching and unforgettably evocative of childhood lost.
Praise for '50 Ways of Saying Fabulous':
'I loved this funny sad tale of growing up a sissy in New Zealand. Graeme Aitken proves that even the most extraordinary events can occur to wonderfully ordinary people. If I knew fifty ways of saying fabulous, I’d use them all to praise this charming first novel.’ EDMUND WHITE
'Thoroughly engaging.' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
'A funny but also achingly sad first novel'. OBSERVER
'A sort of gay Adrian Mole ... There are laughs aplenty but also moments of agony ... Told with bare faced honesty, it is a warm, cruel, funny tale.' THE SUNDAY AGE
'Touching and sad, '50 Ways of Saying Fabulous' also has some very funny moments.' THE TIMES
'An entertainment, a gentle, poignant story of a fat boy who fantasises romance and glamour without yet having a name for what he is ... Aitken writes with a distinctive voice, one that is wonderfully evocative.' DENNIS ALTMAN, THE AGE
'... an important work ... What Aitken has demonstrated fabulously is his skill in the art of telling a good story ... his honesty and fearlessness in confronting those squirmy adolescent secrets is to be admired.' CANBERRA TIMES
July 13, 2016
An interesting book that is more of a novella than a novel. this wouldn't have been an issue if I hadn't left for work with the page count at 75% only to fin I had one screen left then it went into adverts and reflections on the history of the writer and how it got turned into a film. Not what I wanted on my journey to work. It also ended on an unresolved note but without enough intrigue to convince me I needed the next one.
June 4, 2015
I had read and enjoyed all of Graham's other books and finally got around to reading 50 Ways, his first novel.
This book gives us an insight into the life of Billy, a pre-adolescent boy living on a farm in Central Otago in the 70's.
This is a tumultuous time of life for Billy as he grapples with his changing emotions and body.
This book gives us an insight into the life of Billy, a pre-adolescent boy living on a farm in Central Otago in the 70's.
This is a tumultuous time of life for Billy as he grapples with his changing emotions and body.
July 9, 2016
A pretty interesting account of growing up gay in the middle of nowhere. Although, perhaps the tale of how his parents met is actually the best bit - a tale you probably haven't heard before. Presumably this story is so good because it was polished (several times if you include the film version) but still I suspect there was always a good seem of truth behind the show.
January 25, 2016
A great coming of age story
The story was enthralling with its varied, gruesomely disgusting and at the same time inspiringly beautiful characters. The story jumps around a bit, but does so with purpose. Its a great read!
The story was enthralling with its varied, gruesomely disgusting and at the same time inspiringly beautiful characters. The story jumps around a bit, but does so with purpose. Its a great read!
October 1, 2016
I liked this book. It describes growing up gay in a world that is very different from my own. Apparently this edition is only the first half of the story; if the other half becomes available for free I may read it as well.
May 22, 2016
A story told very honestly but in an entertaining way.
July 28, 2016
I couldn't bear reading further....decided to call it quits when I was 23% way reading the book. It couldn't keep me interested. So bored and blah.
September 7, 2016
I didn't realize this was only book one! A quirky story about growing up gay in a rural area.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews