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If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?
Alan Bennett is all set for his senior year to be the best year ever. He’s the school’s star jock, star writer, star everything . But that’s before Duncan Stein enters the scene. Stein, the new boy at Cayuta High, is nicknamed "Doomed" by his classmates, and Alan thinks he’s a total joke. Then Stein invents a newspaper called REMOTE , with personal ads everyone wants to imitate. Suddenly, Stein is most WANTED himself, even by Alan’s own girlfriend! Could Alan possibly lose his girl to such a freak?
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
19 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
M.E. Kerr
46 books58 followersM. E. Kerr was born Marijane Meaker in Auburn, New York. Her interest in writing began with her father, who loved to read, and her mother, who loved to tell stories of neighborhood gossip. Unable to find an agent to represent her work, Meaker became her own agent, and wrote articles and books under a series of pseudonyms: Vin Packer, Ann Aldrich, Laura Winston, M.E. Kerr, and Mary James. As M.E. Kerr, Meaker has produced over twenty novels for young adults and won multiple awards, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her lifetime contribution to young adult literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 26, 2020
This was a book that rocked my early teen years, and at one time I'd have given it five stars. Rereading it now as a much, much older adult? Eh - this story of teens in an upstate New York high school barely scrapes the three star level.
Things that I didn't even notice when I was younger drove me up a tree now: how all the seventeen-year-olds speak like thirty-five-year-old English literature professors who have a divorce or two under their belts, AND, why on earth would Alan skip football practice to help his mother deliver a Welcome Wagon-type basket to some newcomers? Yes - I know it was done so that two particular characters could have their first meeting, but why not come up with a more plausible scenario?
One of the reasons I loved this book so much when I was a teen was the character of Sophie, the unpopular, but brilliant sister. With her dark-tinted glasses, and I-don't-give-a-damn-if-you-like-me attitude, she was my role model. I'm still fond of her, but now I see her wish to get contact lenses as a desire to conform, and be like every one else, and doggone it - that annoys me.
Sigh. I should have let this one remain a fond memory. I guess sometimes it's a mistake to revisit old favorites.
Things that I didn't even notice when I was younger drove me up a tree now: how all the seventeen-year-olds speak like thirty-five-year-old English literature professors who have a divorce or two under their belts, AND, why on earth would Alan skip football practice to help his mother deliver a Welcome Wagon-type basket to some newcomers? Yes - I know it was done so that two particular characters could have their first meeting, but why not come up with a more plausible scenario?
One of the reasons I loved this book so much when I was a teen was the character of Sophie, the unpopular, but brilliant sister. With her dark-tinted glasses, and I-don't-give-a-damn-if-you-like-me attitude, she was my role model. I'm still fond of her, but now I see her wish to get contact lenses as a desire to conform, and be like every one else, and doggone it - that annoys me.
Sigh. I should have let this one remain a fond memory. I guess sometimes it's a mistake to revisit old favorites.
March 7, 2013
Another classic novel from the 70's. The only roadblock I had to full immersion was that newspaper. Today's technophiles may not understand old school communications. The relative anonymity of submitting ads to PO Boxes rather than using electronic spaces such as email or twitter will probably be a bizarre contrast to the current rampart exhibitionism.
My favorite part was the end. I liked that it was abrupt. I liked that the seemingly egotistical narrator got a comeuppance in a way. Alan's emotions seemed selfishly driven; he didn't grow or learn from the varied experiences he had throughout the story. For him, every event was isolated - he never pieced together a full picture. He thinks of himself as a deep intellectual, but the end shows just how immature and emotionally stunted he really is. Pinning all his "growing up" on one person, who is deeply flawed and selfish in her own right, he thinks himself too special, to be too far above the reality of her following her own needs. Rather than allowing himself to understand any deeper message, he simply rolls over and wallows in self-pity.
I like that it ends there. I like that the interpretation of what happens next is completely up in the air. Optimists will think he'll get it together, go to college and finally write that book. The pessimists (me) will think he'll stay at home, do nothing and blame everybody else for his own shortcomings.
My favorite part was the end. I liked that it was abrupt. I liked that the seemingly egotistical narrator got a comeuppance in a way. Alan's emotions seemed selfishly driven; he didn't grow or learn from the varied experiences he had throughout the story. For him, every event was isolated - he never pieced together a full picture. He thinks of himself as a deep intellectual, but the end shows just how immature and emotionally stunted he really is. Pinning all his "growing up" on one person, who is deeply flawed and selfish in her own right, he thinks himself too special, to be too far above the reality of her following her own needs. Rather than allowing himself to understand any deeper message, he simply rolls over and wallows in self-pity.
I like that it ends there. I like that the interpretation of what happens next is completely up in the air. Optimists will think he'll get it together, go to college and finally write that book. The pessimists (me) will think he'll stay at home, do nothing and blame everybody else for his own shortcomings.
December 9, 2014
Although this book was first published in 1973, I hadn't heard of or read it until now in 2014. It's about a popular high school teenage boy who trashes the new kid at school because he threatens his popularity. At home, Alan lives with his mom and grandfather, while his estranged father tries to become a part of his life from distant New York City, so he has that to deal with as well. Lastly, he has a crush on the new kid's mother and he hates himself for liking anything related to his "enemy."
Unfortunately, Alan isn't a very likeable character. As most novels about coming of age, Alan grows up as the school year and novel progress. He gets more likeable the more he suffers, but I still wasn't really rooting for him. By the end, I felt like I knew him a little better, but not much of the other characters. They all seemed pretty one-dimensional and interchangeable.
Still, I'd recommend this book for teens of today. The novel has traces of The Catcher in the Rye and its storyline is still mostly relatable and provides some good moral lessons.
Unfortunately, Alan isn't a very likeable character. As most novels about coming of age, Alan grows up as the school year and novel progress. He gets more likeable the more he suffers, but I still wasn't really rooting for him. By the end, I felt like I knew him a little better, but not much of the other characters. They all seemed pretty one-dimensional and interchangeable.
Still, I'd recommend this book for teens of today. The novel has traces of The Catcher in the Rye and its storyline is still mostly relatable and provides some good moral lessons.
March 23, 2011
If I love you, am i trapped forever had a story that really entertained me. I've always been the kind of girl who loves romance, yet at the same time is aware of its different angles and aspects. This novel reminds me of many real life situations that probably happen around the world on a day to day basis. The kind of relationship when one of the people gets tired of being so close and needs space! After all, if i love you am i trapped forever? The context of the book and the way the author wrote it truly pulled me in. I already knew from the title that I would love this book but i was surprised when I finished it. Since it was written in the 70's, it is one of the many examples that states that relationships are always the same no matter when or where you are. This book could've been written now because of how accurate it was. I think the characters were all so involved with each other as well and made the chemistry of it all a little more interesting to find out about. Throughout the book, not only is there romance but drama with friends and parents and everything that goes on during a teenager's life NOW. I always hoped desperately that this book would be made into a movie because to see the interpretations of the characters on film would be entertaining to watch. The reason this wasn't one of my favorite books though was because I was extremely confused the first couple of pages. When I read, I personally like to be immediately sucked in and know what is going on! I would definitely recommend this book to guys and girls though! Guys would most likely not even want to pick this book up after reading the cover but I bet they could relate to the overall plot and story line. Maybe then some guys would finally understand the different feelings of girls when they aren't together!
April 24, 2010
Stylistically, this book kind of reminded me of How To Say Goodbye in Robot. Or rather, Robot should have reminded me of this book since If I Love You was written in the '70s. But that's the order I read them in.
This book is kind of weird. The end especially. I think I wanted a happier, tidier ending than this book gives us. But also disturbingly intriguing. I'm not quite sure just how well this book has held up over time, but the human emotions and the teenage struggle to find one's place in the world and to understand the complex nature of love is pretty much timeless.
This book is kind of weird. The end especially. I think I wanted a happier, tidier ending than this book gives us. But also disturbingly intriguing. I'm not quite sure just how well this book has held up over time, but the human emotions and the teenage struggle to find one's place in the world and to understand the complex nature of love is pretty much timeless.
June 2, 2015
Sixteen year old Alan Bennett lives in Cayuta, NY, with his mother Alice who is a hostess for a Welcome Wagon type organization called Finger Lakes Friends, and grandfather who runs Bennett’s Department Store. Alan’s father, Ken Kinney, had married his mother on the rebound of a romance with a girl named Pam, but then turned around and ran off with Pam before Alan was born. Alan is a senior in high school and says, “I’m the most popular boy at Cayuta High. Very handsome. Very cool. Dynamite.” He is going steady with Leah Pennington and is all set for his senior year to be the best year ever. Then Duncan (Dunc) Stein shows up. Dunc’s parents have moved to Cayuta to open up Rushing Farm, a treatment center for alcoholics. The gangly, homely Dunc is everything Alan is not and at first is nicknamed "Doomed" by his classmates. Alan thinks he’s a total joke. Then Stein invents an underground school newspaper called Remote, with personal romance ads which everyone wants to imitate. Suddenly, Stein is most wanted himself, even by Alan’s own girlfriend! Meanwhile, Alan’s dad wants to get to know his son better and has him come to New York City for a weekend, but that doesn’t go too well. While he’s gone, can Alan possibly lose his girl to such a freak as Dunc?
As to language, some profanity (“for Chrissake” and “My God”), a lot of cursing with the “d” and “h” words used frequently, and even a little vulgarity (such as the “s” word and referring to a guy’s a**) all occur. Nearly every adult smokes cigarettes. There is quite a bit of drinking alcohol, even by underage Alan. Also, dating, going steady, school dances, and after-dance parties in the homes of kids “who had the darkest basement, or the most rooms to find some privacy in” are an important part of the plot. Before I read it, I would have thought that this book might have more sexuality in it, but some is found even if not overt. A love affair between Dunc’s mother and the school football coach seems to develop. A girl makes a joke about having “social intercourse” but not “sexual intercourse.” Alan develops a crush on Dunc’s mother and “even had fantasies of making love to her.” And when Alan writes about the night he and Leah decide to go steady, he says, “The rest of the scene is too personal,” and explains, “It’s a story about people and how their minds work, not a story about how their bodies work. Most people’s bodies work pretty much the same way, and the clothes on their bodies come off in pretty much the same way.” I try not to read too much between the lines, but I have to wonder about the reference to clothes coming off. I have to admit that the author writes in a way that tells an interesting story and keeps the reader’s attention. However, this fact does not necessarily make a story good and worth reading. It is a very worldly tale about very worldly people.
I suppose that If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever? is intended to portray the kind of growing up angst that teens felt especially in the early 1970s. Believe me, I know all about it—I was there. Assuming that the plot is set fairly contemporary to the publishing date, Alan’s senior year would have been around 1972-1973, and my senior year was 1971-1972. It is painful to see Alan’s fall from winner to weiner; one actually feels a little sorry for him, but he does admit that some of it is his own fault, the result of his inflated attitude of himself. The action may depict the experiences of many high school students of that era, though not mine. Yet for godly young people who are being raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, I can’t see that this would have any relevance to their lives. Alan and his family do go to church, but it doesn’t seem to have much impact on his thinking. Solomon said, “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 11:8). I realize that not every situation in life wraps up neatly and “happily ever after,” but youth is a time to rejoice, not to read depressing novels like this one. M. E. Kerr is an alias for Marijane Meaker. Under that pseudonym she has produced over twenty novels for young adults and won multiple awards. If the rest are like this one, I plan to stay away from them.
As to language, some profanity (“for Chrissake” and “My God”), a lot of cursing with the “d” and “h” words used frequently, and even a little vulgarity (such as the “s” word and referring to a guy’s a**) all occur. Nearly every adult smokes cigarettes. There is quite a bit of drinking alcohol, even by underage Alan. Also, dating, going steady, school dances, and after-dance parties in the homes of kids “who had the darkest basement, or the most rooms to find some privacy in” are an important part of the plot. Before I read it, I would have thought that this book might have more sexuality in it, but some is found even if not overt. A love affair between Dunc’s mother and the school football coach seems to develop. A girl makes a joke about having “social intercourse” but not “sexual intercourse.” Alan develops a crush on Dunc’s mother and “even had fantasies of making love to her.” And when Alan writes about the night he and Leah decide to go steady, he says, “The rest of the scene is too personal,” and explains, “It’s a story about people and how their minds work, not a story about how their bodies work. Most people’s bodies work pretty much the same way, and the clothes on their bodies come off in pretty much the same way.” I try not to read too much between the lines, but I have to wonder about the reference to clothes coming off. I have to admit that the author writes in a way that tells an interesting story and keeps the reader’s attention. However, this fact does not necessarily make a story good and worth reading. It is a very worldly tale about very worldly people.
I suppose that If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever? is intended to portray the kind of growing up angst that teens felt especially in the early 1970s. Believe me, I know all about it—I was there. Assuming that the plot is set fairly contemporary to the publishing date, Alan’s senior year would have been around 1972-1973, and my senior year was 1971-1972. It is painful to see Alan’s fall from winner to weiner; one actually feels a little sorry for him, but he does admit that some of it is his own fault, the result of his inflated attitude of himself. The action may depict the experiences of many high school students of that era, though not mine. Yet for godly young people who are being raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, I can’t see that this would have any relevance to their lives. Alan and his family do go to church, but it doesn’t seem to have much impact on his thinking. Solomon said, “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 11:8). I realize that not every situation in life wraps up neatly and “happily ever after,” but youth is a time to rejoice, not to read depressing novels like this one. M. E. Kerr is an alias for Marijane Meaker. Under that pseudonym she has produced over twenty novels for young adults and won multiple awards. If the rest are like this one, I plan to stay away from them.
August 9, 2016
Summary:
Alan is the star of his high school class. He is popular, dating a beautiful girl, and also pretty smart. Everything seems to be going well until, Doomed (a high school geek), writes a newsletter questioning the reality of love. From there, things begin to crack. Alan's family life is not what someone would think a star athlete's home life would be. He has to deal with his father, whose drunken antics proves to be a barrier to Alan's happiness. Alan also ends up falling in love with Doomed's hot mom, but that is obviously not a great idea. Finally, Alan has to figure out what his true thoughts are and Doomed ends up with the popularity that he desires (although he states that he does not desire it).
My thoughts:
I feel like this reads like a movie. There are a lot of hidden items within this book, which to avoid more spoilers than the summary I'm leaving out. As a teenager, I remembered not having a particular interest in the book, but I found myself reading more adult fiction as a teenager than I do now as an adult. I found the twist of the popular jock telling the story instead of the nerd to be interesting. This includes a fall from grace basically, but Alan doesn't seem to whine about it. I feel like there is a lot of character growth within him, without being the jock who suddenly stays popular and becomes the most caring individual in the world as well. I don't like Doomed. I am a nerd, so I tend to like them, but Doomed's depression seems to sink into me. I just dislike him and don't really want him to raise in social status. That's unusual for me, but it may mean that I recognize the flaws more than the other characters in the book, which would be excellent character development on Kerr's part. For a relatively short book, this is rather slow. Much more is happening inside reflections and thoughts of the characters than outside with action to move the plot along. That makes the novel more suited for older teenagers.
Alan is the star of his high school class. He is popular, dating a beautiful girl, and also pretty smart. Everything seems to be going well until, Doomed (a high school geek), writes a newsletter questioning the reality of love. From there, things begin to crack. Alan's family life is not what someone would think a star athlete's home life would be. He has to deal with his father, whose drunken antics proves to be a barrier to Alan's happiness. Alan also ends up falling in love with Doomed's hot mom, but that is obviously not a great idea. Finally, Alan has to figure out what his true thoughts are and Doomed ends up with the popularity that he desires (although he states that he does not desire it).
My thoughts:
I feel like this reads like a movie. There are a lot of hidden items within this book, which to avoid more spoilers than the summary I'm leaving out. As a teenager, I remembered not having a particular interest in the book, but I found myself reading more adult fiction as a teenager than I do now as an adult. I found the twist of the popular jock telling the story instead of the nerd to be interesting. This includes a fall from grace basically, but Alan doesn't seem to whine about it. I feel like there is a lot of character growth within him, without being the jock who suddenly stays popular and becomes the most caring individual in the world as well. I don't like Doomed. I am a nerd, so I tend to like them, but Doomed's depression seems to sink into me. I just dislike him and don't really want him to raise in social status. That's unusual for me, but it may mean that I recognize the flaws more than the other characters in the book, which would be excellent character development on Kerr's part. For a relatively short book, this is rather slow. Much more is happening inside reflections and thoughts of the characters than outside with action to move the plot along. That makes the novel more suited for older teenagers.
January 9, 2010
“You use the words winner and loser to o frequently Alan,” she said, “I don’t like it.”
“It’s a fact of life, though. There are the winners and there are the losers. Of course,” I added generously, “there are the in-betweens.” Alan Bennett is a sixteen-year-old popular jock with good looks and an even better looking girlfriend, Leah. He has everything going for him until Doomed moves into town. Doomed is what Alan would call of the Jewish persuasion. He is tall, balding, and refuses to play sports despite Alan’s best attempts to “befriend” him. Dunc Stein, (Doomed) surprises everyone by publishing his own newspaper featuring adds for one night mystery romances. All the girls flock after poetry reading, hard hearted Dunc, but none can keep him for longer than one night. That is until Dunc reads Leah’s secret ad to his paper and answers it. They plan a secret date while Alan is in New York meeting his father who abandoned him before birth. Alan finds the letter between the two and takes his revenge by spending long nights with Dunc’s young, beautiful stepmother, Catherine. Just as Alan forgives and forgets about Leah, Catherine runs away with his football coach.
If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?, originally printed in 1973, has been awarded as a Marshal Cavendish Classic. The characters were unusual, realistic, and hilarious. The theme is centered around love, the different types of love, and how much it changes. Relationships are scrutinized and love is defined in many ways. The ending was abrupt, but the mysterious future allows the reader to imagine what he or she wishes.
“It’s a fact of life, though. There are the winners and there are the losers. Of course,” I added generously, “there are the in-betweens.” Alan Bennett is a sixteen-year-old popular jock with good looks and an even better looking girlfriend, Leah. He has everything going for him until Doomed moves into town. Doomed is what Alan would call of the Jewish persuasion. He is tall, balding, and refuses to play sports despite Alan’s best attempts to “befriend” him. Dunc Stein, (Doomed) surprises everyone by publishing his own newspaper featuring adds for one night mystery romances. All the girls flock after poetry reading, hard hearted Dunc, but none can keep him for longer than one night. That is until Dunc reads Leah’s secret ad to his paper and answers it. They plan a secret date while Alan is in New York meeting his father who abandoned him before birth. Alan finds the letter between the two and takes his revenge by spending long nights with Dunc’s young, beautiful stepmother, Catherine. Just as Alan forgives and forgets about Leah, Catherine runs away with his football coach.
If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?, originally printed in 1973, has been awarded as a Marshal Cavendish Classic. The characters were unusual, realistic, and hilarious. The theme is centered around love, the different types of love, and how much it changes. Relationships are scrutinized and love is defined in many ways. The ending was abrupt, but the mysterious future allows the reader to imagine what he or she wishes.
November 23, 2009
Alan had it all--good looks, popularity, and the girl, Leah Pennington. And quicker than you can say REMOTE he lost it, to a bald-headed, lanky senior named Duncan "Doomed" Stein. His life turned upside down, and there was no going back.
All this happening leads Alan to questioning what love is. Leah, for one, says Alan treats love as a trap, which is where the clever title comes from: "If I love you, am I trapped forever?" Alan's de\ad, who left his mother long ago for another woman, shows no love whatsoever to his new wife, Pam. Speaking of Pam, she believes love is all understanding and forgiveness, so every time Alan's dead cusses and verbally abuses her, she "understands." Doomed wrote about love in his newspaper, basically saying romance was temporary. But the only love Alan knew led to a broken heart. There's just so many perspectives on love given in this novel.
All this happening leads Alan to questioning what love is. Leah, for one, says Alan treats love as a trap, which is where the clever title comes from: "If I love you, am I trapped forever?" Alan's de\ad, who left his mother long ago for another woman, shows no love whatsoever to his new wife, Pam. Speaking of Pam, she believes love is all understanding and forgiveness, so every time Alan's dead cusses and verbally abuses her, she "understands." Doomed wrote about love in his newspaper, basically saying romance was temporary. But the only love Alan knew led to a broken heart. There's just so many perspectives on love given in this novel.
March 3, 2012
odd perspective. the narrator is popular but well meaning and confused, also he has a girlfriend and refers to her as "my girl, leah." The reason i keep reading it was because of Doomed. Doomed has doomed himself to transient and unrequited love and has accepted that as his quest and has named himself appropriately. He causes waves of intrigue via his haughty attitude and underground publication dedicated to espousing the ephemeral nature of love.
WHOA, all of a sudden but actually in retrospect i could see it coming, the narrator gets jaded and starts drinking red wine alone and reading notes from the underground to nourish his russian soul. he has the hots for this older woman and starts to idolize her in a creepy way that i didnt want to know about. i felt really alienated from all of the characters after all that. that made sense. Doomed went on to experience love rather than intellectualize it and planned to attend YALE. the whole thing was odd.
WHOA, all of a sudden but actually in retrospect i could see it coming, the narrator gets jaded and starts drinking red wine alone and reading notes from the underground to nourish his russian soul. he has the hots for this older woman and starts to idolize her in a creepy way that i didnt want to know about. i felt really alienated from all of the characters after all that. that made sense. Doomed went on to experience love rather than intellectualize it and planned to attend YALE. the whole thing was odd.
June 5, 2008
My roommate picked this up at the library used book sale as something of a fluke. We found the title hilarious (we were actually disappointed we couldn't find another one of the author's other books, Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack) and started reading it aloud to one another during dinner/spare time for kicks.
I think it starts out pretty mediocre verging on the hilariously bad, but it really finds its stride in the middle. Having almost the identical family situation as the main character, the part where he meets his estranged father was particularly poignant.
All in all, not a particularly great book, but for a light and fluffy young adult novel, it works well.
I think it starts out pretty mediocre verging on the hilariously bad, but it really finds its stride in the middle. Having almost the identical family situation as the main character, the part where he meets his estranged father was particularly poignant.
All in all, not a particularly great book, but for a light and fluffy young adult novel, it works well.
August 14, 2011
Things I remember about this book: it was narrated by a cocky teenager who thought he was really attractive; he had a girlfriend he liked mostly because she was attractive; the other main character was named Duncan, although the narrator called him "Doomed"; Duncan wrote poetry and published a zine called "Remote"; Duncan talks about the Paul McCartney song "Maybe I'm Amazed," which wasn't popular at the time (it didn't chart until a few years later); and one other thing that's a spoiler so I won't mention it here.
Not too bad for a book I read over 30 years ago.
Not too bad for a book I read over 30 years ago.
June 8, 2015
Loved it as a Kid...
...Loved it as a kid-at-heart. As I remember, M.E. Kerr was getting a little outdated when I read her books, and none of my young friends seem to have heard of her, so do your favourite teenager a favor and suggest this, and her other books, like "Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack!" to them. The books messages are timeless and Me. Kerr, perhaps wisely, perhaps unknowingly left out references that would make the stories seem ancient to young eyes, such as specific fashions or fads that define decades.
...Loved it as a kid-at-heart. As I remember, M.E. Kerr was getting a little outdated when I read her books, and none of my young friends seem to have heard of her, so do your favourite teenager a favor and suggest this, and her other books, like "Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack!" to them. The books messages are timeless and Me. Kerr, perhaps wisely, perhaps unknowingly left out references that would make the stories seem ancient to young eyes, such as specific fashions or fads that define decades.
December 2, 2009
This 1973 young adult book offers a classic take on the shifts from seeing the world outside of the comfortable, sensible way it looked before the black and white swirled together. The narrator is a disdainful jock who likes things to make sense. He opens by explaining his use of the phrase "those of Jewish persuasion" as a kindly way to speak of those of such leanings.
I quite enjoyed the parallels to Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.
I quite enjoyed the parallels to Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.
February 23, 2014
I wanted to give this 5 stars, but I just couldn't.
The story started slow, but picked up quickly.
I read this all in one sitting, not a great feat since it s a short book. Never the less. I was sad when I finished this book.
Take that how You may.
The story started slow, but picked up quickly.
I read this all in one sitting, not a great feat since it s a short book. Never the less. I was sad when I finished this book.
Take that how You may.
March 22, 2016
GOOD
This book was a good one! But the ending was horrible. I don't even know if you could called it an ending! It seems to me that the writer just decided in the middle of the chapter that the book was finished.
This book was a good one! But the ending was horrible. I don't even know if you could called it an ending! It seems to me that the writer just decided in the middle of the chapter that the book was finished.
July 2, 2007
A book about the enduring problem of trying to hold onto one's identity while in a romantic/love/sexual relationship with another person. Does it ever really get easy?
August 7, 2011
I liked the way the book was written, however I don't think it is timeless. And I was unhappy with the ending, but I think that is the author's intent.
May 27, 2017
I gotta say, I only loved the ending of this book.. I don't know, I kind of felt lost when I reached the middle of the book. So yeah.. I loved how it didn't end in a typical "teenagers-love" way.
June 24, 2015
Not as weird as some of her other works (Little Little) but still kind of strange and fun. Nothing is resolved really.
August 3, 2015
This book is a bit dated (I have a great version with the 1973 cover - classic), but the questions of love and relationships are timeless.
September 18, 2016
Oh yeah....
Oh those emotional hurdles , those growing pains during the final year of high school. The title really says it all.
Oh those emotional hurdles , those growing pains during the final year of high school. The title really says it all.
Read
April 30, 2020Duncan Stein is doomed as a senior at Cayuta H.S. – he won’t try out for sports, school activities or hanging out at Murrays after school. “I don’t go that route,” he says.
Then how can Doomed, which is how Alan Bennett – the monster of the story - calls Duncan, be so popular? His underground newspaper is read at all the football games, he gets dates to dances and even Leah, Alan’s girlfriend, is falling for him.
Read p. 33: “Editorial”
To make matters worse, Alan’s “so-called father” has turned up after 18 years hoping to see his son. Alan spends his senior year thinking about love and its effect on people.
Then how can Doomed, which is how Alan Bennett – the monster of the story - calls Duncan, be so popular? His underground newspaper is read at all the football games, he gets dates to dances and even Leah, Alan’s girlfriend, is falling for him.
Read p. 33: “Editorial”
To make matters worse, Alan’s “so-called father” has turned up after 18 years hoping to see his son. Alan spends his senior year thinking about love and its effect on people.
October 21, 2017
My favorite of her books, solid YA and holds up pretty well overall. A few cringey language moments (Alan says something is "faggy" late in the book), but the angst is still prescient and overall message still rings true.
July 18, 2022
I found this for 50 cents at a yard sale - i don't normally ready YA fiction (especially from the 1970's) but found it engaging and realistic - coupled with a downbeat ending which was par for the course back then, it was well worth the time.
April 13, 2019
Alan is arrogant, but he knows it. He tells the tale of how the tables are turned in his senior year of high school as he falls from golden boy to outsider.
January 4, 2024
0____0
January 23, 2026
Good story...go in bearing in mind it was written 53 years ago and some of the references and attitudes of the characters will make more sense.
October 15, 2009
Here are some truths about this book:
--Is it bad that I hated Duncan too? Because like Alan, I hated Duncan, and not just because Alan did. In high school I would have fallen for Duncan but I never would have been special enough for him; at the end of the day, after all, he just ended up with the prettiest girl in school like anyone else in the world would have if given the option. (I'm being hyperbolic but you know exactly what I mean.) So sadly predictable.
--CATHERINE! I love how this was explored; Kerr really captures that feeling you get about an adult you fall a little in love with and you know you can't have them so you find other ways to bring them into your life. It's different from feeling that at thirteen; when you're nearly an adult but not there yet, the self-awareness sets it apart as this very specific thing. Well-played.
--Written in the 1970s, but I only can REALLY tell because of a few of the references as well as the lack of technology. Holds up in so many ways, which is lovely to see.
--DAD! You are terrible! Keep getting therapy, OK?
--PAM! Get the heck out of there. You're too lovely for it.
--The grandfather is so much like so many members of my family I could cry a little. I hope I never become someone who congratulates while cutting down, who doubts as they hope, who lets their lack of faith in others shine so brightly.
(Read: 112)
--Is it bad that I hated Duncan too? Because like Alan, I hated Duncan, and not just because Alan did. In high school I would have fallen for Duncan but I never would have been special enough for him; at the end of the day, after all, he just ended up with the prettiest girl in school like anyone else in the world would have if given the option. (I'm being hyperbolic but you know exactly what I mean.) So sadly predictable.
--CATHERINE! I love how this was explored; Kerr really captures that feeling you get about an adult you fall a little in love with and you know you can't have them so you find other ways to bring them into your life. It's different from feeling that at thirteen; when you're nearly an adult but not there yet, the self-awareness sets it apart as this very specific thing. Well-played.
--Written in the 1970s, but I only can REALLY tell because of a few of the references as well as the lack of technology. Holds up in so many ways, which is lovely to see.
--DAD! You are terrible! Keep getting therapy, OK?
--PAM! Get the heck out of there. You're too lovely for it.
--The grandfather is so much like so many members of my family I could cry a little. I hope I never become someone who congratulates while cutting down, who doubts as they hope, who lets their lack of faith in others shine so brightly.
(Read: 112)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2020
Alright now, this time I happened to read a book by M.E.Kerr that shows us the life of a boy - Alan Bennett, writing down his life experiences that forces him to strip out of his own identity on the way. I give 'If I love you, am I trapped forever?' a 3.3/5 rating to be precise. You get to see the best part of the book when this question gets asked by the most unexpected character in his story. Alan's mind is shattered as the new boy, "Doomed", who used to be an introvert, a not-so-attractive guy in almost all imaginable aspects as a result of all his love failures, now goes on to gain popularity among the girls in town and it's localities after his school newspaper work turns out successful.😲
I'd recommend this one for those looking for a quick read- to get to know the story of teenagers and high school lives of our older generation. To see how interestingly Alan handles his life after his estranged father comes back for him may also be a good enough reason for you to give this book a chance.
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I'd recommend this one for those looking for a quick read- to get to know the story of teenagers and high school lives of our older generation. To see how interestingly Alan handles his life after his estranged father comes back for him may also be a good enough reason for you to give this book a chance.
For more reviews like these, do visit our Instagram
www.instagram.com/bookhuntwithus
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