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The Deathday Letter
The clock is ticking...
Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.
Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never...
Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.
Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never...
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2010
17 people are currently reading
2163 people want to read
About the author
Shaun David Hutchinson
28 books5,046 followersShaun is a major geek and all about nerdy shenanigans. He is the author of many queer books for young adults. Find out more information at shaundavidhutchinson.com. He currently lives in Seattle and watches way too much Doctor Who.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
July 21, 2010
This book is about 15-yr-old Ollie on the day he gets his Deathday Letter. A Deathday Letter is basically a notice sent to you 24 hours before you are scheduled to die. So that sucks. Ollie, however, is your typical teenage boy. All he thinks about are sex, girls, food, and sex. So on his last day, what is there to do? Well, Ollie, his best friend, and his longtime crush are going to find out.
I did not like Ollie nor did I find his humor funny. As he constantly pointed out and exemplified, guys only think about sex. It was so relentless. I doubt there was one paragraph devoid of any mention of boobs. It wasn't funny or realistic, just tiring. Almost makes me want to be lesbian. I'm not a prude, mind you, but I'm in high school and get enough of this stuff in my actual life.
It could have just been more deep, ya know? A teenager on his last day, knowing its his last day? Pretty deep stuff. But alas, it was treated as one giant joke.
So maybe I was just in a bad mood when I read this. I'm sure some people will enjoy it and find it absolutely hilarious. But not me.
I did not like Ollie nor did I find his humor funny. As he constantly pointed out and exemplified, guys only think about sex. It was so relentless. I doubt there was one paragraph devoid of any mention of boobs. It wasn't funny or realistic, just tiring. Almost makes me want to be lesbian. I'm not a prude, mind you, but I'm in high school and get enough of this stuff in my actual life.
It could have just been more deep, ya know? A teenager on his last day, knowing its his last day? Pretty deep stuff. But alas, it was treated as one giant joke.
So maybe I was just in a bad mood when I read this. I'm sure some people will enjoy it and find it absolutely hilarious. But not me.
March 19, 2020
Only Shaun David Hutchinson can make death this freaking hilarious, I guess.
April 24, 2025
Ja, nee. Auch 2010 waren frauenfeindliche und homophobe Jokes nicht cool. 🙃 warum ich es überhaupt fertig gelesen habe? Irgendwas muss man ja in der Bahn machen, wenn die Kopfhörer leer sind 😭
January 12, 2020
So…. yeah……. this was a book. I really enjoy Shaun David Hutchinson’s later books, so I was interested in seeing what his 2010 debut was like. There definitely are elements in this book that remain in his books today, like a mostly contemporary story with one sci-fi/speculative element thrown in and a lot of talk about death and dying.
However, this had none of the charm or grace of his later books. Also, the main character was so aggressively heterosexual, which is not what I’m used to seeing in his books. Ollie is constantly talking about how much he loves boobs and wants to lose his virginity and plant his flag in a girl. It’s just exhausting. There are some gay side characters, but I just wonder if SDH didn’t think that in 2010 he could write a book with the protagonist being gay or if agents & publishers told him to change it.
Anyways, this book was just not good. Ollie is obnoxious as a main character. I can enjoy unlikeable characters if they’re interesting. But in my opinion, Ollie was unlikeable and boring. This book has a cool premise, you get a letter warning you that you will die within 24 hours and the main character gets his letter, but it wasn’t well-written, the characters weren’t interesting, and I felt like it didn’t actually say as much as it could’ve with the premise it had.
However, this had none of the charm or grace of his later books. Also, the main character was so aggressively heterosexual, which is not what I’m used to seeing in his books. Ollie is constantly talking about how much he loves boobs and wants to lose his virginity and plant his flag in a girl. It’s just exhausting. There are some gay side characters, but I just wonder if SDH didn’t think that in 2010 he could write a book with the protagonist being gay or if agents & publishers told him to change it.
Anyways, this book was just not good. Ollie is obnoxious as a main character. I can enjoy unlikeable characters if they’re interesting. But in my opinion, Ollie was unlikeable and boring. This book has a cool premise, you get a letter warning you that you will die within 24 hours and the main character gets his letter, but it wasn’t well-written, the characters weren’t interesting, and I felt like it didn’t actually say as much as it could’ve with the premise it had.
August 17, 2016
I'm pretty disappointed with this book. We Are The Ants by this author was absolutely incredible, which is why I picked up this book.
April 23, 2015
In a world where everyone gets 24 hours notice before they die, instead of seizing the moment, Oliver Travers wants to pretend that everything is normal on the day he gets his Deathday Letter. But armed with his two best friends, he'll turn this into a day that no one will ever forget. After a few mistakes, stumbles and wrong turns he'll patch up his life before he has to leave it, because the day is not all about him, or so he's about to learn. His friends are keeping secrets from him and Oliver is struggling to understand what's important. He'll realise that real living isn't about taking wild risks, it's about being with the people who you love and making every effort to leave your mark on the world.
I'm going to say it. I am. I'm angry. That's right. This book makes me so angry. And it's not the conundrum that is the Deathday Letter. Predictive or causative? That question will be never be answered. I'm angry at life. I've questioned life before. But I've never questioned life like I'm doing right now after having read this book. I'm stuck on "what's the point?" and "what comes after, if anything?" And this isn't what I want to be questioning, but I really can't help it. This book didn't rip my heart out. I'm not bawling my eyes out because a fictional teenager died (I was given plenty of warning). But I am stuck questioning my entire life. Have I been living sufficiently? It's not like The Deathday Letter is a guide to living your final day on earth, in fact I'd seriously recommend not doing 90% of the things that Oliver did on his Deathday, but it's still a reminder that maybe this will be my last day, only I won't get the warning he did. I won't get the chance to say goodbye to anyone. See where I'm getting at? I'm overcome with all these thoughts that I'm usually only bombarded with at 3 in the morning when I'm having a heart to heart with my sister. That's what this book will do to you. It'll hit you with a few jokes so you don't notice you're nearing a midlife crisis without the midlife. And it'll overwhelm you with cuteness you wouldn't think capable from a 15 year old boy who only thinks about what's in his pants, so you don't notice, until the very end, that you're thinking about your own inevitable death.
But enough about me, this book is about Oliver. Oliver is a jerk. Yeah, I said it. I've never been a 15 year old boy, so I couldn't tell you whether this is accurate or not. It probably is, but I didn't realise food and sex could be so all consuming. Oliver couldn't possibly make more mistakes on his final day of living. Seriously, he does everything wrong. Well, almost everything. His day isn't about cramming a lifetime into one day, it's about cramming 15 years of life, already wasted, into 24 hours. It's probably more about the love story than anything else. There always has to be a love story when someone dies young. Except that isn't exactly realistic, but it makes for a cute ending. You can really see Oliver's growth throughout the book, and when he finally realises what the day is really about, I choked up. It's obvious that Oliver never would have grown up without the Deathday letter, that's kind of contradicting, but I'm taking about emotional growth here, not physical growth. On one hand then, I'd like to think that the Deathday letter did Oliver a favour, even despite that mind boggling ending.
This book could have been the start of a very interesting series. Hutchinson set it all up, a mysterious Deathday Letter sent to you 24 hours before your due to die. A strange group of people that sit around questioning this anomaly. I would have loved a sequel uncovering the truth about the Deathday letters, especially given the circumstances underpinning Oliver's demise. But it's plain, that wasn't Hutchinson's intention when he wrote the book. It really has nothing to do with the Deathday letter, just the day.
I guess, in the end, the book is about how not perfect life is. But that, if you try hard enough, you can find little perfect moments within that make all the rest of it worthwhile. And sometimes, all it takes is a reminder like this one, to live the life you want for yourself. There's no ultimate bucket list to complete before you die. There's just seizing the moments that you get given and being thankful that you ever got any at all.
I'm going to say it. I am. I'm angry. That's right. This book makes me so angry. And it's not the conundrum that is the Deathday Letter. Predictive or causative? That question will be never be answered. I'm angry at life. I've questioned life before. But I've never questioned life like I'm doing right now after having read this book. I'm stuck on "what's the point?" and "what comes after, if anything?" And this isn't what I want to be questioning, but I really can't help it. This book didn't rip my heart out. I'm not bawling my eyes out because a fictional teenager died (I was given plenty of warning). But I am stuck questioning my entire life. Have I been living sufficiently? It's not like The Deathday Letter is a guide to living your final day on earth, in fact I'd seriously recommend not doing 90% of the things that Oliver did on his Deathday, but it's still a reminder that maybe this will be my last day, only I won't get the warning he did. I won't get the chance to say goodbye to anyone. See where I'm getting at? I'm overcome with all these thoughts that I'm usually only bombarded with at 3 in the morning when I'm having a heart to heart with my sister. That's what this book will do to you. It'll hit you with a few jokes so you don't notice you're nearing a midlife crisis without the midlife. And it'll overwhelm you with cuteness you wouldn't think capable from a 15 year old boy who only thinks about what's in his pants, so you don't notice, until the very end, that you're thinking about your own inevitable death.
But enough about me, this book is about Oliver. Oliver is a jerk. Yeah, I said it. I've never been a 15 year old boy, so I couldn't tell you whether this is accurate or not. It probably is, but I didn't realise food and sex could be so all consuming. Oliver couldn't possibly make more mistakes on his final day of living. Seriously, he does everything wrong. Well, almost everything. His day isn't about cramming a lifetime into one day, it's about cramming 15 years of life, already wasted, into 24 hours. It's probably more about the love story than anything else. There always has to be a love story when someone dies young. Except that isn't exactly realistic, but it makes for a cute ending. You can really see Oliver's growth throughout the book, and when he finally realises what the day is really about, I choked up. It's obvious that Oliver never would have grown up without the Deathday letter, that's kind of contradicting, but I'm taking about emotional growth here, not physical growth. On one hand then, I'd like to think that the Deathday letter did Oliver a favour, even despite that mind boggling ending.
This book could have been the start of a very interesting series. Hutchinson set it all up, a mysterious Deathday Letter sent to you 24 hours before your due to die. A strange group of people that sit around questioning this anomaly. I would have loved a sequel uncovering the truth about the Deathday letters, especially given the circumstances underpinning Oliver's demise. But it's plain, that wasn't Hutchinson's intention when he wrote the book. It really has nothing to do with the Deathday letter, just the day.
I guess, in the end, the book is about how not perfect life is. But that, if you try hard enough, you can find little perfect moments within that make all the rest of it worthwhile. And sometimes, all it takes is a reminder like this one, to live the life you want for yourself. There's no ultimate bucket list to complete before you die. There's just seizing the moments that you get given and being thankful that you ever got any at all.
December 22, 2016
Ollie receives a Deathday letter. He's fifteen years old and his life is about to end. Deathday letters arrive 24 hours before the actual death, so the recipient has the time to say goodbye. For Ollie the letter means he has one day left to really live. He is still young and hasn't done much of it yet, but he has one day left to live life to the fullest and he's going to use this time well. Together with his best friend Shane and his ex girlfriend and best friend Ronnie he tries to do things that are on the bucket lists they made for a school project. Ollie's last day is supposed to be one big adventure, a fantastic day that should teach him what it's like to feel alive.
The Deathday Letter starts with a terrible message for Ollie. He's going to die and there's nothing he can do about it. Instead of spending his last day quietly while being in shock, he decides to make it the best day he can think of. Ollie is kind, he's forgetful, he's still pretty clueless about girls and he does stupid things from time to time, which often made me laugh. Shane is a loyal best friend and even though Ronnie and Ollie have problems she's there for him on his last day. I liked the friendship element a lot. The deep connection between the main characters makes this book very special.
Shaun David Hutchinson has a great sense of humor. The way he describes what's going on in Ollie's mind is brilliant. Even though the topic of The Deathday Letter is a heavy one, the story feels light. It's a chaotic whirlwind filled with exciting adventures and impulsive decisions, I loved the energy. Death has a prominent place, it's a sad occasion, so I expected to read a story that would make me cry all the time, but instead Shaun David Hutchinson managed to make me smile. His story is about more than just life and death, there's so much in between. I loved the message he's spreading, no matter when your death date is going to be, make sure you've lived before it's there.
I really enjoyed The Deathday Letter's original twists and turns. Shaun David Hutchinson managed to surprise me over and over again. I loved his vivid descriptions and I could feel the despair, the warmth and the love. I liked how he used opposites to his advantage and turned them into an impressive story. The ending is fitting and I had tears in my eyes when I read it. I loved this crazy, beautiful and unique story.
The Deathday Letter starts with a terrible message for Ollie. He's going to die and there's nothing he can do about it. Instead of spending his last day quietly while being in shock, he decides to make it the best day he can think of. Ollie is kind, he's forgetful, he's still pretty clueless about girls and he does stupid things from time to time, which often made me laugh. Shane is a loyal best friend and even though Ronnie and Ollie have problems she's there for him on his last day. I liked the friendship element a lot. The deep connection between the main characters makes this book very special.
Shaun David Hutchinson has a great sense of humor. The way he describes what's going on in Ollie's mind is brilliant. Even though the topic of The Deathday Letter is a heavy one, the story feels light. It's a chaotic whirlwind filled with exciting adventures and impulsive decisions, I loved the energy. Death has a prominent place, it's a sad occasion, so I expected to read a story that would make me cry all the time, but instead Shaun David Hutchinson managed to make me smile. His story is about more than just life and death, there's so much in between. I loved the message he's spreading, no matter when your death date is going to be, make sure you've lived before it's there.
I really enjoyed The Deathday Letter's original twists and turns. Shaun David Hutchinson managed to surprise me over and over again. I loved his vivid descriptions and I could feel the despair, the warmth and the love. I liked how he used opposites to his advantage and turned them into an impressive story. The ending is fitting and I had tears in my eyes when I read it. I loved this crazy, beautiful and unique story.
August 9, 2010
I really didn't know what to expect with The Deathday Letter except for what happens on the first page which I already knew about, but if I hadn't I would've probably been quite shocked. I shouldn't have been since the book is written by a guy after all, and it's about a 15 year old crazy hormonal boy so it should be expected that there will be lots of talk about sex and girls.
This story is about a boy named Ollie that wakes up one day to find a Deathday Letter which means that he has only one day left to live. In this world everybody gets a Deathday Letter about 24 hours before they're going to die but nobody really knows exactly where they come from or how they know they're going to die, but the story really doesn't focus much on that but on Ollie's last day. At the beginning Ollie wants to keep on doing his normal everyday routine until he tells his best friend about the letter and his friend convinces him to ditch school and spend the day doing things he always wanted to do.
The author slips a little note before the first chapter to let the reader know that Ollie was definitely going to die at the end and to not expect any miracles. I didn't think I would have a problem accepting that but I did, while reading the book I felt like Ollie was becoming a friend and I really was hoping for a miracle towards the end I even got teary eye at one point. I thought the writing was great and it was so interesting for me to read from a male's perspective that was actually written by a male, you can really tell the difference and it felt so real. While reading The Deathday Letter I felt like Ollie was right there next to me telling me his story, there's plenty of laughs and funny moments but there's also a few thought provoking moments. I thought Ollie's adventures on his last day were pretty realistic and something that I could see a 15 year old doing, I loved the part when Ollie and his ex-girlfriend Ronnie are together towards the end it was sweet and I didn't want to see it come to an end. Of course you know when it's about to end because each chapter has a count down which was actually kind of nerve wrecking towards the end and all I kept thinking was that he was getting closer and closer to dying. This is definitely something that I would recommend, if you like different but fun to read and from a male point of view.
This story is about a boy named Ollie that wakes up one day to find a Deathday Letter which means that he has only one day left to live. In this world everybody gets a Deathday Letter about 24 hours before they're going to die but nobody really knows exactly where they come from or how they know they're going to die, but the story really doesn't focus much on that but on Ollie's last day. At the beginning Ollie wants to keep on doing his normal everyday routine until he tells his best friend about the letter and his friend convinces him to ditch school and spend the day doing things he always wanted to do.
The author slips a little note before the first chapter to let the reader know that Ollie was definitely going to die at the end and to not expect any miracles. I didn't think I would have a problem accepting that but I did, while reading the book I felt like Ollie was becoming a friend and I really was hoping for a miracle towards the end I even got teary eye at one point. I thought the writing was great and it was so interesting for me to read from a male's perspective that was actually written by a male, you can really tell the difference and it felt so real. While reading The Deathday Letter I felt like Ollie was right there next to me telling me his story, there's plenty of laughs and funny moments but there's also a few thought provoking moments. I thought Ollie's adventures on his last day were pretty realistic and something that I could see a 15 year old doing, I loved the part when Ollie and his ex-girlfriend Ronnie are together towards the end it was sweet and I didn't want to see it come to an end. Of course you know when it's about to end because each chapter has a count down which was actually kind of nerve wrecking towards the end and all I kept thinking was that he was getting closer and closer to dying. This is definitely something that I would recommend, if you like different but fun to read and from a male point of view.
May 30, 2010
This book is about a boy named Oliver Aaron Travers, who prefers being called just Ollie. Ollie is a typical 15 year-old boy who mostly thinks about is girls. That is until one morning he receives a Deathday letter. After someone receives a Deathday letter they only have 24 hours to live. When Ollie gets his letter he wishes his family would stop being all mushy about it and let him have a pleasant Deathday. On Ollie's Deathday he manages to jump off a bridge, steal clothes from Walmart, getting kicked out of a strip club, smoke pot and get high, almost have sex, learning how to drive a stick-shift,getting drunk with his best guy friend, Shane, having a feast with all of his favorite foods and last but certainly not least kissing his best friend, Ronnie who turns out to be the girl of his dreams. Even though Ollie knew he was dying he tried to despite the fact that he was and wanted to try and have one of the greatest days.
I'm going to make a text-to-self connection. I am going to make a text-to-self connection to Oliver. The reason why i think i can relate to Oliver is because he has great friends who always try to follow and help him when he's doing crazy stunts. I can relate to that because even if I'm going to do something crazy and spontaneous i can usually count on some of my friends to be there, right by my side. Also just like Oliver and his friends, me and my friends also know how to have a good time. We usually enjoy each others company and would be lost without one another just like Oliver and his friends.
I give this book 5 stars. The reason why i give it 5 stars is because i found it an excellent book. the reason why i thought it was so great is because i never wanted to put it down. I also found that the plot was suspenseful which is one of the reasons why i didn't want to usually stop reading. I also like the characters in the book, i found each characters personality great.
I'm going to make a text-to-self connection. I am going to make a text-to-self connection to Oliver. The reason why i think i can relate to Oliver is because he has great friends who always try to follow and help him when he's doing crazy stunts. I can relate to that because even if I'm going to do something crazy and spontaneous i can usually count on some of my friends to be there, right by my side. Also just like Oliver and his friends, me and my friends also know how to have a good time. We usually enjoy each others company and would be lost without one another just like Oliver and his friends.
I give this book 5 stars. The reason why i give it 5 stars is because i found it an excellent book. the reason why i thought it was so great is because i never wanted to put it down. I also found that the plot was suspenseful which is one of the reasons why i didn't want to usually stop reading. I also like the characters in the book, i found each characters personality great.
July 24, 2011
Ollie is your typical 15-year-old guy: he doesn't car about anything but girls, and maybe hanging out with his best friend. The day he receives his Deathday Letter, though, they decide to have the time of their lives.
I was expecting more, but after reading it I understand why I found it in the $1 bin only a year after its release. The Deathday Letter was little more than an excuse for Ollie and his friend Shane to go on an illegal spree of stupidity. We don't find out why there are Deathday Letters; they're not a new thing, since the book references Abe Lincoln's. We were introduced briefly to a group who question the Letters, but they're treated as nutcases.
So here we are, with the most interesting part of this story completely ignored (except when it works as a plot device: "please let me do Illegal Activity X--see my letter? I die tomorrow!"), and every third sentence from first-person-narrator Ollie is about sex or his penis. Seeing girls makes it hard, touching girls makes it hard, he'd like to have sex with girls, he'd like to have sex with Ronnie (girl; friend accompanying them), poor baby is going to die a virgin, boo hoo.
This isn't a story about a Deathday Letter. It's the story of a very stupid teenage boy and how he's too dumb to interact with his love interest without mentioning sex again. And then he dies, which you knew was going to happen anyway because the book makes a point of telling you before the story begins that Ollie dies. Why did I want to read this?
I was expecting more, but after reading it I understand why I found it in the $1 bin only a year after its release. The Deathday Letter was little more than an excuse for Ollie and his friend Shane to go on an illegal spree of stupidity. We don't find out why there are Deathday Letters; they're not a new thing, since the book references Abe Lincoln's. We were introduced briefly to a group who question the Letters, but they're treated as nutcases.
So here we are, with the most interesting part of this story completely ignored (except when it works as a plot device: "please let me do Illegal Activity X--see my letter? I die tomorrow!"), and every third sentence from first-person-narrator Ollie is about sex or his penis. Seeing girls makes it hard, touching girls makes it hard, he'd like to have sex with girls, he'd like to have sex with Ronnie (girl; friend accompanying them), poor baby is going to die a virgin, boo hoo.
This isn't a story about a Deathday Letter. It's the story of a very stupid teenage boy and how he's too dumb to interact with his love interest without mentioning sex again. And then he dies, which you knew was going to happen anyway because the book makes a point of telling you before the story begins that Ollie dies. Why did I want to read this?
May 25, 2010
I love this book.
As a girl, I found it freakily fascinating to read about the thoughts of a typical fifteen year-old boy. The narrator shamelessly lets readers into the gross, horny world of the boys I never understood in high school. At times he even attempts to explain what it is that makes boys so icky and unbearable in their teen years. This is the side of the book that made me laugh until my stomach hurt and wince and remember just what it was like to be in high school with guys that cracked sex-jokes all the time, acted weird, and were maddeningly inaccessible. Oliver can't help but be funny and lovable because he's so raw, so real, and so honest about everything.
The other aspect of the book, that this typical boy has one day left to live, had me crying like a ninny and loving him. It was dirty, funny, sweet, romantic, epic--just a perfect, powerful microcosm of life (and death).
As a girl, I found it freakily fascinating to read about the thoughts of a typical fifteen year-old boy. The narrator shamelessly lets readers into the gross, horny world of the boys I never understood in high school. At times he even attempts to explain what it is that makes boys so icky and unbearable in their teen years. This is the side of the book that made me laugh until my stomach hurt and wince and remember just what it was like to be in high school with guys that cracked sex-jokes all the time, acted weird, and were maddeningly inaccessible. Oliver can't help but be funny and lovable because he's so raw, so real, and so honest about everything.
The other aspect of the book, that this typical boy has one day left to live, had me crying like a ninny and loving him. It was dirty, funny, sweet, romantic, epic--just a perfect, powerful microcosm of life (and death).
June 10, 2011
This YA novel has a realistic setting, but the only fantastical thing about it is that people get something called a Deathday Letter a day before they die. When Ollie sees that one has been delivered to his house, he assumes it’s for someone older, say a grandparent. But no, it’s for him.
This sends him on a trail of what-ifs and adventures on his last day of existence. With the help of his friends he awkwardly parties, doing things he’s never done before, even illegal things. Skipping school, taking drugs, shoplifting, attempting to lose his virginity...nothing is off limits on this day since the clock is ticking. This novel tugged at my emotions since it’s both funny and sad.
There are copious references to sex as the author gives a juicy snapshot of a teenage boy’s mind. If you’re easily offended, this book isn’t for you. Otherwise, it’s unique, enjoyable and thought-provoking.
This sends him on a trail of what-ifs and adventures on his last day of existence. With the help of his friends he awkwardly parties, doing things he’s never done before, even illegal things. Skipping school, taking drugs, shoplifting, attempting to lose his virginity...nothing is off limits on this day since the clock is ticking. This novel tugged at my emotions since it’s both funny and sad.
There are copious references to sex as the author gives a juicy snapshot of a teenage boy’s mind. If you’re easily offended, this book isn’t for you. Otherwise, it’s unique, enjoyable and thought-provoking.
August 14, 2016
Wow!
The last page had all the impact the book needed. I'm still reeling, sitting here trying to articulate my emotions. Like, holy crap! I'm happy, in awe, on the verge of tears and completely stunned all at once. This book took me there.
I didn't expect anything less though from this author. I mean, he did write my favorite book of last year, so I was hoping for another whopper. He sure as heck didn't disappoint!
These kids in the story, Oliver, Shane and Veronica, were the kids you could've hung out with. So down to earth, and just general decent kids. The bond they have together is quite strong too, and you see it loud and clear from the outside.
So now I am thinking I need more from Shaun Hutchinson. Like, now! This wasn't as good as Violent Ends, but it's up there.
Seriously people, if you haven't read anything by this guy then get on it!! You will be blown away!
The last page had all the impact the book needed. I'm still reeling, sitting here trying to articulate my emotions. Like, holy crap! I'm happy, in awe, on the verge of tears and completely stunned all at once. This book took me there.
I didn't expect anything less though from this author. I mean, he did write my favorite book of last year, so I was hoping for another whopper. He sure as heck didn't disappoint!
These kids in the story, Oliver, Shane and Veronica, were the kids you could've hung out with. So down to earth, and just general decent kids. The bond they have together is quite strong too, and you see it loud and clear from the outside.
So now I am thinking I need more from Shaun Hutchinson. Like, now! This wasn't as good as Violent Ends, but it's up there.
Seriously people, if you haven't read anything by this guy then get on it!! You will be blown away!
March 3, 2016
The sad fact about this book? It's me. The humor, the family, the friends. That is my life. It's so perfectly a description of what goes on in my head. And I'm an adult female. Wonder what that says about me, having the mind of a teenage boy?
Eh, who cares.
I recommend this to someone who isn't looking for a happy ending in books, but a crazy hilarious journey to an inevitable end.
Eh, who cares.
I recommend this to someone who isn't looking for a happy ending in books, but a crazy hilarious journey to an inevitable end.
December 23, 2010
Shaun Hutchinson definitely didn't disappoint. This book was very light and kept me wanting to read. Don't let the title decieve you, The Deathday Letter is a wonderful book filled with adventure and love (the best kind).
July 21, 2019
If the mind of Ollie is an accurate representation of most teenage boys, then the mind of a teenage boy is mildly terrifying and scarily simple. What I liked about this was that Ollie was not trying to impress anyone and wasn't written like some unrealistic poetic John Green teenager.
Despite the shenanigans and ridiculousness of Ollie's "Deathday"- jumping off a bridge, trying to see a stripper, getting high, getting drunk, etc. - the book still manages an emotional gut punch without seeming manipulative. I appreciate that.
It wasn't ohmygodamazingincredible, but I'm glad I read it.
3 Stars
Despite the shenanigans and ridiculousness of Ollie's "Deathday"- jumping off a bridge, trying to see a stripper, getting high, getting drunk, etc. - the book still manages an emotional gut punch without seeming manipulative. I appreciate that.
It wasn't ohmygodamazingincredible, but I'm glad I read it.
3 Stars
January 5, 2020
First book of 2020 and it was really great! Unsurprisingly, of course, because Shaun David Hutchinson is one of my favorite authors and he hasn’t disappointed me. This was hilarious and thought-provoking and classic Hutchinson—even if it was a little different than the others. It’s so incredible to see that he was so talented even from his first book, and knowing that he just gets better and better. Also, I loved the 247 euphemisms for masturbation—each one more ridiculous and entertaining than the one before it.
May 26, 2014
Shaun David Hutchinson ist ein junger Autor, der in seinem Buch über einen Jungen Namens Oliver schreibt. Aber eigentlich nennen in alle nur Olli. Wie denn auch sei, Olli wird am Ende dieser Geschichte sterben. Es gibt kein Happy End – er wird abnippeln, so ist es halt im Leben von Olli. Es geht in diesem broschierten Taschenbuch mit 286 Seiten aber nicht um seinen Tod sondern um seine letzten 1440 Minuten seines Lebens. Und wer könnte diese Geschichte besser erzählen als Olli selbst.
Am 16. Oktober, ein ganz normaler Tag, erhält Olli einen Todestagsbrief, in dem steht:
Mr. Oliver Aaron Travers
Es ist unsere Pflicht, Sie zu informieren, das Ihr Tod planmäßig in den frühen Morgenstunden des 17. Oktober eintreten wird. Wir wären ihnen für ihre uneingeschränkte Mitwirkung in dieser Angelegenheit Dankbar.
Wir wünschen ihnen einen angenehmen Todestag.
Zuerst denkt sich Olli er macht seinen Tag als würde er Morgen wieder das gleiche tun. Doch Olli ist15 und er würde noch viele Sachen machen doch nun muss er alles in seinen letzten 1440 Minuten seines Lebens reinstopfen. Und als sein bester Freund Shane davon erfährt, fängt der Countdown erst richtig an!
Denn nun geht das Spektakel richtig los: Er kifft Drogen, lässt sich Tätowieren, springt von Brücken, denkt nur an Sex und die Sache mit Shane und Ronnie usw. etc.
Die Kapitel sind nach Zeit aufgeteilt so dass die Leser immer wissen wie viel Zeit Olli noch hat!
Hier der Klappentext:
Oliver Travers weiß: Am Ende dieses Tages ist er tot. Doch die letzten 1440 Minuten sollen die besten seines Lebens werden. Denn es gibt da eine ultimative Liste mit den Dingen, die man im Leben mal getan haben muss: von einer Brücke springen, sich ein Tattoo stechen lassen, ein Graffiti sprühen, also eben einfach bleibende Spuren hinterlassen und - ja, natürlich - ein Mädchen küssen. Das kann nur eine sein: Ronnie!
Ein Buch was mir sehr gefallen hat! Es lässt sich sehr gut lesen. Und man hat sich oftmals köstlich amüsiert. Es ist ein Buch für alle, die es verstehen, aus jedem Tag den perfektesten Tag ihres Lebens zu machen.
Es entsteht die Frage: Der Countdown läuft. Was würdest Du an Deinem letzten Tag machen, bevor Du stirbst?
Die Moral der Geschichte ist es aber auch, dass der perfekteste Tag des Lebens nicht nur aus kiffen, Sex, Stunts und Fressen besteht. ;)
Der Olli war echt ein cooler Charakter mit viel Humor und ich war schon ein bißchen traurig, genauso wie Shane und Ronnie, als die 1440 Minuten vorbei waren!
Am 16. Oktober, ein ganz normaler Tag, erhält Olli einen Todestagsbrief, in dem steht:
Mr. Oliver Aaron Travers
Es ist unsere Pflicht, Sie zu informieren, das Ihr Tod planmäßig in den frühen Morgenstunden des 17. Oktober eintreten wird. Wir wären ihnen für ihre uneingeschränkte Mitwirkung in dieser Angelegenheit Dankbar.
Wir wünschen ihnen einen angenehmen Todestag.
Zuerst denkt sich Olli er macht seinen Tag als würde er Morgen wieder das gleiche tun. Doch Olli ist15 und er würde noch viele Sachen machen doch nun muss er alles in seinen letzten 1440 Minuten seines Lebens reinstopfen. Und als sein bester Freund Shane davon erfährt, fängt der Countdown erst richtig an!
Denn nun geht das Spektakel richtig los: Er kifft Drogen, lässt sich Tätowieren, springt von Brücken, denkt nur an Sex und die Sache mit Shane und Ronnie usw. etc.
Die Kapitel sind nach Zeit aufgeteilt so dass die Leser immer wissen wie viel Zeit Olli noch hat!
Hier der Klappentext:
Oliver Travers weiß: Am Ende dieses Tages ist er tot. Doch die letzten 1440 Minuten sollen die besten seines Lebens werden. Denn es gibt da eine ultimative Liste mit den Dingen, die man im Leben mal getan haben muss: von einer Brücke springen, sich ein Tattoo stechen lassen, ein Graffiti sprühen, also eben einfach bleibende Spuren hinterlassen und - ja, natürlich - ein Mädchen küssen. Das kann nur eine sein: Ronnie!
Ein Buch was mir sehr gefallen hat! Es lässt sich sehr gut lesen. Und man hat sich oftmals köstlich amüsiert. Es ist ein Buch für alle, die es verstehen, aus jedem Tag den perfektesten Tag ihres Lebens zu machen.
Es entsteht die Frage: Der Countdown läuft. Was würdest Du an Deinem letzten Tag machen, bevor Du stirbst?
Die Moral der Geschichte ist es aber auch, dass der perfekteste Tag des Lebens nicht nur aus kiffen, Sex, Stunts und Fressen besteht. ;)
Der Olli war echt ein cooler Charakter mit viel Humor und ich war schon ein bißchen traurig, genauso wie Shane und Ronnie, als die 1440 Minuten vorbei waren!
April 18, 2015
Okay, I'm just going to start right off and say that Young Adult fiction isn't my usual cup of tea. I read this one because I needed a book by a debut author for my Fall Into Reading Challenge and when I did a search for that sort of thing The Deathday Letter by Shaun David Hutchinson came up several times. And my library actually had it. And the premise sounded interesting. But, just to be absolutely honest, if I'd known before I brought it home that it was YA....I don't know that I'd have ordered it up. Don't hate me, all you dear YA lovers who follow me...it's just who I am.
So what was the premise that reeled me in?
"The clock is ticking...Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls, until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.
Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never...."
Hutchinson has written a brilliant first novel. He's bang on target in his characterization of a 15-year old boy dealing with death and hormones all at the same time. The story goes from down-right hilarious ("Because a teenage guy with a penis is like a twitchy marine with a live grenade. Got it?") to heart-rendingly poignant ("There's so much to say, too much to say. I want to tell her that she's the most important thing that ever happened to me. I want to tell her that every night before I went to sleep, it was her that I thought about...").
Following Ollie...and his friend Shane and his love Ronnie...through his last twenty-four hours is a trip I'll never forget. It's the chance to watch a 15-year old "jerk" realize what's important in life--and death. The chance to learn lessons that some of us never learn in a life-time, let alone a single day. Ollie and his friends will make you laugh and cry...and wonder just what you would do if you were certain that you only had twenty-four hours left.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
So what was the premise that reeled me in?
"The clock is ticking...Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls, until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.
Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never...."
Hutchinson has written a brilliant first novel. He's bang on target in his characterization of a 15-year old boy dealing with death and hormones all at the same time. The story goes from down-right hilarious ("Because a teenage guy with a penis is like a twitchy marine with a live grenade. Got it?") to heart-rendingly poignant ("There's so much to say, too much to say. I want to tell her that she's the most important thing that ever happened to me. I want to tell her that every night before I went to sleep, it was her that I thought about...").
Following Ollie...and his friend Shane and his love Ronnie...through his last twenty-four hours is a trip I'll never forget. It's the chance to watch a 15-year old "jerk" realize what's important in life--and death. The chance to learn lessons that some of us never learn in a life-time, let alone a single day. Ollie and his friends will make you laugh and cry...and wonder just what you would do if you were certain that you only had twenty-four hours left.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
April 17, 2012
Here we have a very different novel that what I have read in the past. you have no supernatural or fantasy in the book. Its a book that you get pretty much modern day happening except for one detail. The Deathday letter, in the world in this book people get this letter 24 hours before they die. The book does not explain who or why these are sent and there is no story as to finding out why either. The writing is easy to read and very funny at times. You can read the difference when a Male author writes from a male POV, its very realistic.
In this book we meet Ollie, he is the receiver of the letter. So once he gets the letter he plans on going to school like normal and just ignore that in 24 hours he will die. Of course Ollie has a best friend who refuses to let the day be spent in school. So basically they find a bucket list from the 6th grade to see what they wrote they would do if they knew they would be dying. Now add Ollie ex-girlfriend to the group Ronnie, and you have 3 teenagers setting off to go get into crazy things. They end of jumping off a bridge and doing a certain illegal substance and the whole time Ollie is thinking of one thing, that he will die a virgin. While all this is happening you see each chapter is counting down the time and towards the end, I still hope that he wouldn't die or something crazy would happen. I also really hoped that if he was going to die, that it would be in a peaceful way which if you read the end you see it didn't. Now I know this is a YA book but honestly I wouldn't let my teenager read this until he is older due to certain parts of the book. I also didn't give it a higher rating just because I really don't like when people die in a book or movie. Its like when Nemo's mom got eaten by the barracuda, Yes I don't like that.
So if I were to recommend, which this book is recommendable just to a older YA group or Adults. Male's will love this book. The humor was the best part of the book.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2010...
In this book we meet Ollie, he is the receiver of the letter. So once he gets the letter he plans on going to school like normal and just ignore that in 24 hours he will die. Of course Ollie has a best friend who refuses to let the day be spent in school. So basically they find a bucket list from the 6th grade to see what they wrote they would do if they knew they would be dying. Now add Ollie ex-girlfriend to the group Ronnie, and you have 3 teenagers setting off to go get into crazy things. They end of jumping off a bridge and doing a certain illegal substance and the whole time Ollie is thinking of one thing, that he will die a virgin. While all this is happening you see each chapter is counting down the time and towards the end, I still hope that he wouldn't die or something crazy would happen. I also really hoped that if he was going to die, that it would be in a peaceful way which if you read the end you see it didn't. Now I know this is a YA book but honestly I wouldn't let my teenager read this until he is older due to certain parts of the book. I also didn't give it a higher rating just because I really don't like when people die in a book or movie. Its like when Nemo's mom got eaten by the barracuda, Yes I don't like that.
So if I were to recommend, which this book is recommendable just to a older YA group or Adults. Male's will love this book. The humor was the best part of the book.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2010...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2011
I had high hopes for this book, I just thought the synopsis sounded AMAZING, but this book just did not live up to my expectations. I did enjoy this book, but I really thought the focus of the book would be completely different. I was hoping the book would focus a bit more on the Deathday Letters, but I was disappointed. I really liked the idea of knowing when a person would die; this ensured you did everything you could to bring closure to yourself and your friends. Overall, I did think Ollie took advantage of his last day, but there were parts of his experience that were just a major let down. I don't want to say what they were because that may be a bit of a spoiler, but you would be able to figure this out if you read the book. I guess the story flowed more realistically without exploring the Deathday Letters, but it just left the book feeling a bit flat for me.
Part of my problem with this book is that Ollie came off as kind of a jerk to me. I did not hate him, but there were times where he was really hard to like. He is probably a realistic portrayal of a teenage boy, but as a female I kind of wanted to slap him a lot of the time. At the same time, Ronnie was kind of a pain in the butt. The only character I really liked was Ollie's best friend, Shane. He is a great balance for Ollie and without him the book may have completely flopped.
I will say that I absolutely loved the ending, which still seems weird, but it just was perfect. I understood Ollie and Ronnie's relationship better so their fighting made a lot more sense. I just wish this had been addressed sooner because I was getting very annoyed with the pair. So in short, this book was good, but not great. I think this is a book that might resonate more when guys, they might appreciate Ollie's humor more than I did. The biggest problem for me was that I expected this book to be different. I thought it was going to be more serious with less one-liners, but some people may enjoy the tone of "The Deathday Letter".
Part of my problem with this book is that Ollie came off as kind of a jerk to me. I did not hate him, but there were times where he was really hard to like. He is probably a realistic portrayal of a teenage boy, but as a female I kind of wanted to slap him a lot of the time. At the same time, Ronnie was kind of a pain in the butt. The only character I really liked was Ollie's best friend, Shane. He is a great balance for Ollie and without him the book may have completely flopped.
I will say that I absolutely loved the ending, which still seems weird, but it just was perfect. I understood Ollie and Ronnie's relationship better so their fighting made a lot more sense. I just wish this had been addressed sooner because I was getting very annoyed with the pair. So in short, this book was good, but not great. I think this is a book that might resonate more when guys, they might appreciate Ollie's humor more than I did. The biggest problem for me was that I expected this book to be different. I thought it was going to be more serious with less one-liners, but some people may enjoy the tone of "The Deathday Letter".
July 15, 2010
As the readers note on the very first page will tell you. There will be no miracle, no deus ex machina, that will come in and save our lovable main character. He will die at the end of the book, but the point is not his death, it's his life.
That statement is very true for this book. I fell so totally in love with Ollie that I kept wishing for that miracle, even though I knew it wasn't coming. Ollie was a fantastic person to be able to get inside the head of. He's funny and interesting, smart and just incredibly lovable. Being inside of a teenage boys head was a trip, the constant thought of sex and food had me rolling around laughing.
This was a great new take on death. Would you really want to know you're going to die 24 hours before it happens? I thought I would, but now I'm not so sure. It's not enough time to change anything, not enough time to make a mark on the world, not enough time to travel. There is just enough time to see all of your love ones grieve. But Ollie sure did his best to make the most of his Deathday!
The relationships between the characters was a great thing to be a part of. Ollie and his best friend were fantastic, they are close-knit friends who took each other as they really are and don't judge. Ollie and Ronnie (the girl he is in love with) had an interesting relationship, and you really get to dig deep into it as the book progresses. Ollie and his grandmother had such a wonderful, loving relationship that it really made me miss my grandmothers!
While the tone of this book was really light-hearted and funny, there was such a deeper and darker meaning to each event. You can really start to contemplate the meaning of life and death and what your life has meant, or you could just take it at the lighthearted surface and laugh your butt off. Either way, there is something amazing in this book for everyone and I suggest you all go out and get your copy now!
That statement is very true for this book. I fell so totally in love with Ollie that I kept wishing for that miracle, even though I knew it wasn't coming. Ollie was a fantastic person to be able to get inside the head of. He's funny and interesting, smart and just incredibly lovable. Being inside of a teenage boys head was a trip, the constant thought of sex and food had me rolling around laughing.
This was a great new take on death. Would you really want to know you're going to die 24 hours before it happens? I thought I would, but now I'm not so sure. It's not enough time to change anything, not enough time to make a mark on the world, not enough time to travel. There is just enough time to see all of your love ones grieve. But Ollie sure did his best to make the most of his Deathday!
The relationships between the characters was a great thing to be a part of. Ollie and his best friend were fantastic, they are close-knit friends who took each other as they really are and don't judge. Ollie and Ronnie (the girl he is in love with) had an interesting relationship, and you really get to dig deep into it as the book progresses. Ollie and his grandmother had such a wonderful, loving relationship that it really made me miss my grandmothers!
While the tone of this book was really light-hearted and funny, there was such a deeper and darker meaning to each event. You can really start to contemplate the meaning of life and death and what your life has meant, or you could just take it at the lighthearted surface and laugh your butt off. Either way, there is something amazing in this book for everyone and I suggest you all go out and get your copy now!
April 6, 2021
O livro nos conta a história do Oliver, que após receber a sua carta de morte, ele tem apenas 24h para viver o máximo que puder até que terá o seu fim.
O livro tem algumas mensagens bem reflexivas em partes do livros, cenas bem bonitas e tocantes, é a primeira vez que estou conhecendo o autor e eu gostei bastante da sua escrita. É uma escrita fluída que quando engata, você já avançou bastante na história. Conforme ele conta a história, ele vai acrescentando umas partes com piadas que são divertidas, mas ele sabe também como tocar no leitor. Sabe como fazer ele refletir um pouco sobre a vida e como estamos vivendo ela.
Confesso que dei uma comparada com They Both Die At The End, mas cada um tem o seu estilo e ambas vão ficar de alguma forma guardada comigo.
O livro tem algumas mensagens bem reflexivas em partes do livros, cenas bem bonitas e tocantes, é a primeira vez que estou conhecendo o autor e eu gostei bastante da sua escrita. É uma escrita fluída que quando engata, você já avançou bastante na história. Conforme ele conta a história, ele vai acrescentando umas partes com piadas que são divertidas, mas ele sabe também como tocar no leitor. Sabe como fazer ele refletir um pouco sobre a vida e como estamos vivendo ela.
Confesso que dei uma comparada com They Both Die At The End, mas cada um tem o seu estilo e ambas vão ficar de alguma forma guardada comigo.
April 15, 2016
I think I would have liked this book a bit more if I read it when I was 12. It has the lewd, lowbrow humor that I once admired. Its humor is riddled with cliched lines that wouldn't have bothered me before I gained a more critical eye. I would have found the characters to be older figures that I looked up to and inspired to be with their devil-may-care attitude, and their obsession with the lascivious. And the tepid twists would effect emotions from me.
But I'm not 12. So, the cliched lines that are slightly paraphrased from jokes I've heard countless times are an annoyance. The main character possesses an obsession with the sexual that even my 15-year-old self at his horniest would find excessive. The twists were disappointing, leaving no emotional impact -- I've seen them before, and the characters weren't developed enough for me to forget about their triteness.
On a positive note, the book ends the way it promises: with death. I liked how it didn't end in sentimentality with a corny message. The last few pages have some emotional depth, like they were written by a more mature author. I just wish Hutchinson harnessed his potential to create something with less humorless jokes. (He eventually realizes that potential with We are the Ants , which is masterful.)
Adolescent males mostly think with their dicks, but there's something nestled deep inside them that has a speck of logic. This book forgot about that speck, leaving nothing but sexual vapidity. Somewhere, buried underneath a pile of hookahs and testicles, is a story about self-awareness, the transience and preciousness of life, and familial love. That's a story I know Hutchinson can write.
But I'm not 12. So, the cliched lines that are slightly paraphrased from jokes I've heard countless times are an annoyance. The main character possesses an obsession with the sexual that even my 15-year-old self at his horniest would find excessive. The twists were disappointing, leaving no emotional impact -- I've seen them before, and the characters weren't developed enough for me to forget about their triteness.
On a positive note, the book ends the way it promises: with death. I liked how it didn't end in sentimentality with a corny message. The last few pages have some emotional depth, like they were written by a more mature author. I just wish Hutchinson harnessed his potential to create something with less humorless jokes. (He eventually realizes that potential with We are the Ants , which is masterful.)
Adolescent males mostly think with their dicks, but there's something nestled deep inside them that has a speck of logic. This book forgot about that speck, leaving nothing but sexual vapidity. Somewhere, buried underneath a pile of hookahs and testicles, is a story about self-awareness, the transience and preciousness of life, and familial love. That's a story I know Hutchinson can write.
March 2, 2012
I havent read anything like this before. I really enjoyed it. Its a 4.5 star rating from me. Poor Ollie - right from the very first page the author tells us he is going to die, nothing will change. Its inevitable. But still, I kept hoping they would find a loophole :( This has got to be one of the messed up/halirious/pretty awesome way to spend your last day on Earth. This book centers around a world where everyone receives a 'deathday letter' around 24 hours before they are going to die. And asks the question... Is it a good thing to have warning and be able to fix mistakes and say your goodbyes, or is it in fact, terrible and its better to be oblivious. Im still unsure. A few times whilst reading I was in hysterics. I am no prude, haha, but there was about 20 different ways of saying masterbating in this book - which made me think, 'ummmm, ew' a few times LOL. I love reading books written from a male perspective (and to be honest, I havent really read many books from male authors either) - so it made a really nice change. I loved how Ollie could accept homosexuals, loved his Nan, cared deeply for his family. I hated that he died a virgin. You evil beyutch Ronnie. LOL. This was a nice quick read and leaves you still thinking about it, long after you turn the last page :) Ill definately check out any future books Mr Hutchinson writes :) An awesome and very funny debut!!
July 2, 2017
I'm finished! I actually was pretty excited to read this. After Hutch's fml surprised me so much, I thought this would be surprising as well. The INTRO hooked me:
"The first thing you need to know about Oliver Travers is that at the end of this story he's going to die. There's no twist of fate that saves him, no deux ex machina, no deal with the devil that changes what's inevitably going to occur. He's going to croak, and that's just how it is.
But this story isn't about Oliver Travers's death, it's about his life, and the best person to tell that story is Oliver."
I'm gonna start with the characters. And I think that while Oliver was a cool character to some extent, something about his narration didn't resonate with me like the other character's from Hutch's books, particularly because he was just a horny teenager, and it got old after a while. Spoiler about At The Edge of the Universe: Oh, I went on a tangent there. This might also have something to do with the fact that I am ace and like... I don't see anyone that way and am not interested whatsoever in doing that? Oh well...
However, I must say that I enjoyed the friendship he had with Shane. And the Travers family was also fantastic. One thing about Hutch's books is family relationships. FML? Five Stages of Andrew Brawley? We Are The Ants? At The Edge of the Universe? So yeah... Making sense? I hope so. I loved Oliver's family so so much. We didn't get to see them that much but on the morning and night that Oliver received his Deathday Letter, but I loved them regardless. It is crystal clear how much the family loves each other.
The relationship between Oliver and Ronnie was okay. I didn't like it as much, which is hard for me to like LOVE a relationship but I find myself rooting for it usually, and here I didn't. But at the same time, I liked their friendship. Like if there hadn't been any relationship stuff in here, and it had just been Oliver hanging with his best friends, I would have enjoyed it so much more. Some of the things Oliver did were just amazing and I loved it. This is what would make me give it 4 stars out of 5. But then we keep progressing...
Now that I went to the aspects that I loved and didn't like much, I must talk about the concept of Deathday Letters. It is pretty interesting but I wish there was more to it. Part of me is satisfied it isn't explained much but some part of me wishes like it had taken a bigger part of the story, rather than just being a ticket for Ollie. But now let's talk about that ending, man. We all know he was gonna die, but
In the end, this was a good book. I get from it what I have gotten from every Hutch's book, which is me loving the side characters and the relationships they have with our main character. Makeshift families? I enjoy that concept. The writing style is so Hutch, but like I said before, here was more like a statement of "Teenagers are horny all the time," and I mean maybe? I guess? I am not sure but okay... but I did laugh several times while reading this book. There were funny moments, and I loved Shane and Ollie's friendship. I loved the Travers family. I liked the concept of the Deathday Letter... This book was okay. I give it 60/100. Which if I do the math would be 3/5 stars, which I can live by. Because I usually try to base myself on the star ratings here, and they say that 2 stars would be "It was okay" and 2 stars is just too low. It would happen to be my least favorite book written by Hutch, but I still love his books and the messages he tries to get across, even though I feel there was not much of a message here except live to the fullest.
"Carpe Mortediem!"
"The first thing you need to know about Oliver Travers is that at the end of this story he's going to die. There's no twist of fate that saves him, no deux ex machina, no deal with the devil that changes what's inevitably going to occur. He's going to croak, and that's just how it is.
But this story isn't about Oliver Travers's death, it's about his life, and the best person to tell that story is Oliver."
I'm gonna start with the characters. And I think that while Oliver was a cool character to some extent, something about his narration didn't resonate with me like the other character's from Hutch's books, particularly because he was just a horny teenager, and it got old after a while. Spoiler about At The Edge of the Universe: Oh, I went on a tangent there. This might also have something to do with the fact that I am ace and like... I don't see anyone that way and am not interested whatsoever in doing that? Oh well...
However, I must say that I enjoyed the friendship he had with Shane. And the Travers family was also fantastic. One thing about Hutch's books is family relationships. FML? Five Stages of Andrew Brawley? We Are The Ants? At The Edge of the Universe? So yeah... Making sense? I hope so. I loved Oliver's family so so much. We didn't get to see them that much but on the morning and night that Oliver received his Deathday Letter, but I loved them regardless. It is crystal clear how much the family loves each other.
The relationship between Oliver and Ronnie was okay. I didn't like it as much, which is hard for me to like LOVE a relationship but I find myself rooting for it usually, and here I didn't. But at the same time, I liked their friendship. Like if there hadn't been any relationship stuff in here, and it had just been Oliver hanging with his best friends, I would have enjoyed it so much more. Some of the things Oliver did were just amazing and I loved it. This is what would make me give it 4 stars out of 5. But then we keep progressing...
Now that I went to the aspects that I loved and didn't like much, I must talk about the concept of Deathday Letters. It is pretty interesting but I wish there was more to it. Part of me is satisfied it isn't explained much but some part of me wishes like it had taken a bigger part of the story, rather than just being a ticket for Ollie. But now let's talk about that ending, man. We all know he was gonna die, but
In the end, this was a good book. I get from it what I have gotten from every Hutch's book, which is me loving the side characters and the relationships they have with our main character. Makeshift families? I enjoy that concept. The writing style is so Hutch, but like I said before, here was more like a statement of "Teenagers are horny all the time," and I mean maybe? I guess? I am not sure but okay... but I did laugh several times while reading this book. There were funny moments, and I loved Shane and Ollie's friendship. I loved the Travers family. I liked the concept of the Deathday Letter... This book was okay. I give it 60/100. Which if I do the math would be 3/5 stars, which I can live by. Because I usually try to base myself on the star ratings here, and they say that 2 stars would be "It was okay" and 2 stars is just too low. It would happen to be my least favorite book written by Hutch, but I still love his books and the messages he tries to get across, even though I feel there was not much of a message here except live to the fullest.
"Carpe Mortediem!"
March 27, 2011
The Deathday Letter is about a 15 year old boy named Ollie whos' only interest are girls and sex. But one day, he recieves a letter in the mail telling him that he only has 24 hours to live. Ollie and his best friend undergoes all of these ludicrous adventures including smoking pot, facing his fears and best of all, setting things right for with his ex-girlfriend. Ollie tries to convince the love of his life to take him back after the break-up. Thats all he wants before he dies, one last love.
This book is amazing! When I began to read it, I was already hooked in the beginning! I love how Shaun David formats the chapters as the time Ollie has left to live. The plot is so breathtaking and adequete. However, some details were a little too provactive for my taste and the Shaun's writing pays attention to the protagonist's actions instead of setting, which I find very interesting. I also think that the ending was horrible. Shaun shouldn't have ended the book this way! He left me hanging!Overall, if I would've rated this book on a scale between 1-10, I would've given it a 9.5 because of it's plot, originality, sense of style and writing skills.
This book is amazing! When I began to read it, I was already hooked in the beginning! I love how Shaun David formats the chapters as the time Ollie has left to live. The plot is so breathtaking and adequete. However, some details were a little too provactive for my taste and the Shaun's writing pays attention to the protagonist's actions instead of setting, which I find very interesting. I also think that the ending was horrible. Shaun shouldn't have ended the book this way! He left me hanging!Overall, if I would've rated this book on a scale between 1-10, I would've given it a 9.5 because of it's plot, originality, sense of style and writing skills.
July 17, 2010
Where do I even begin?
Ollie has 24 hours to live, only he isn't sure how to spend his last day on earth. He just knows he wants to be with his friends and family, as long as they don't get all mushy on him. This book had me laughing from the beginning. I mean, if you don't like penis jokes or 15-year-old boys who masturbate, then this probably isn't the book for you because seriously, that's just the first page.
Somehow, Shaun David Hutchinson has managed to create a poignant, coming of age story for a boy who admits he's a jerk. About halfway through I wanted to put it down because I was so mad at how how badly he was screwing up his last day, but by then I was too far gone, too sucked into his life to walk away. And I'm glad I didn't.
Ollie's story had me laughing out loud one minute and crying the next. Being a teenager is confusing, but it's amazing how quickly you can figure things out when the clock is ticking. An excellent debut.
Ollie has 24 hours to live, only he isn't sure how to spend his last day on earth. He just knows he wants to be with his friends and family, as long as they don't get all mushy on him. This book had me laughing from the beginning. I mean, if you don't like penis jokes or 15-year-old boys who masturbate, then this probably isn't the book for you because seriously, that's just the first page.
Somehow, Shaun David Hutchinson has managed to create a poignant, coming of age story for a boy who admits he's a jerk. About halfway through I wanted to put it down because I was so mad at how how badly he was screwing up his last day, but by then I was too far gone, too sucked into his life to walk away. And I'm glad I didn't.
Ollie's story had me laughing out loud one minute and crying the next. Being a teenager is confusing, but it's amazing how quickly you can figure things out when the clock is ticking. An excellent debut.
March 21, 2011
After having The Deathday Letter by Shaun David Hutchinson on my shelf since last year, I had finally gotten around to reading it. I am happy that I did read it, because it had told me a lot about myself and the so many things I need, desire or want to do before I escape this world. However, there were parts which kind of didn't interest me, as although some of what they did is what many boys/girls desire to try out before they grow too old or die, they weren't necessarily activities that I want to do or try. So half of the time I didn't connect with the characters. But with that being said, Ollie felt like a real person; a real teenage boy. The teen boy's desires were executed perfectly but like I said, not perfectly with mine. Shane and Veronica also seemed real while reading. The relationship between Ronnie (Veronica) and Ollie was weird but it worked. This is a book that puts you in deep-thought however addressing a few sexual and illegal activities.
More to 3.5 stars.
More to 3.5 stars.
May 7, 2012
"Live every day like it's your last". In this story, people receive a letter 24 hours prior to their death, so they get to live their last day knowing this is their last day. That alone made me want to read this book - what a cool idea. It was an interesting idea intertwined with a nice story.
*spoiler now*
I was very bothered by the fact that Ollie's deathday letter led to his death, though. What would've happened had he NOT received the letter and NOT have been in the position to be hit by that particular car? I guess the letter could represent your death, and when your number is up, it's just up and you die. And maybe there's no way around that.
For me, the story itself takes a backseat to a world where people get 24-hour notice. I liked this: "[The letters] let us finish some of our unfinished business. But they're cruel, too, because...they don't give you enough time to finish something that's only just begun."
Really interesting concept!
*spoiler now*
I was very bothered by the fact that Ollie's deathday letter led to his death, though. What would've happened had he NOT received the letter and NOT have been in the position to be hit by that particular car? I guess the letter could represent your death, and when your number is up, it's just up and you die. And maybe there's no way around that.
For me, the story itself takes a backseat to a world where people get 24-hour notice. I liked this: "[The letters] let us finish some of our unfinished business. But they're cruel, too, because...they don't give you enough time to finish something that's only just begun."
Really interesting concept!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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