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My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies
High school sophomore Adam Zeigler, who lost his father to a sudden accident two years ago, thinks the best way to live life is behind the spotlight. As a member of the theater crew, he believes he's achieved it all when he wins the coveted job of spotlight operator. But that was before a young actress, Summer, appeared in his view. Instantly smitten, Adam is determined to win her over. But to do so, he'll have to defy his best friend and break the golden rule of his techies and actors don't mix.
Set against the backdrop of a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Zadoff's latest is a bromance, a love story, and theater story in one. The politics of love and high school collide as Adam struggles to find the courage to step out of the shadows and into the light.
Set against the backdrop of a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Zadoff's latest is a bromance, a love story, and theater story in one. The politics of love and high school collide as Adam struggles to find the courage to step out of the shadows and into the light.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2011
8 people are currently reading
611 people want to read
About the author
Allen Zadoff
21 books423 followersAllen Zadoff is the author of nine novels and a memoir, including the thriller series “The Unknown Assassin”, which debuted to starred reviews and was a YALSA Top Ten Pick for Reluctant Readers. The series has been translated into over a dozen languages and is being developed by Sony Pictures. A former stage director, Zadoff is a graduate of Cornell University, the Harvard University Institute for Advanced Theater Training, and the Warner Bros. Writers Workshop. As an experienced technologist, he has embraced the intersection of AI and the creative process, becoming an expert in using AI tools to enhance storytelling. His latest book, "The AI Revolution for Writers," explores the potential of AI in writing and offers practical guidance for writers and creatives. Visit Allen at www.allenzadoff.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 28, 2021
Adam has had a rough-go. His father passed away tragically two years prior and he lives with his mom. To cope, his BFF had recruited him to join the Tech Crew for the Theatre Department. He lives for his time on the catwalk, running lights and doing load-in. There is an unspoken rule. Actors and Techies DON'T MIX.
When Adam sees a beautiful and talented young woman join the cast as one of the fairies in Midsummer Night's Dream, he's smitten.
The show, itself, is in a state, when a prissy rich kid with grand ambitions try to take over the show, disaster strikes. Adam saves the show and he may get the girl.
The topics of coping, this unspoken rule of techies and actors not mingling, Adam's ability to create with light and the metaphor of light/art aiding him in his grieving are all addressed in a very respectful and honest way.
Adam has a great support system in his BFF, his mom, his anxious drama teacher and even the understudy actress.
The messages of finding your own light, sticking to your gut and defying social norms are all something to get behind in this positive uplifting tale of theatre, Shakespeare, friendship and hope.
When Adam sees a beautiful and talented young woman join the cast as one of the fairies in Midsummer Night's Dream, he's smitten.
The show, itself, is in a state, when a prissy rich kid with grand ambitions try to take over the show, disaster strikes. Adam saves the show and he may get the girl.
The topics of coping, this unspoken rule of techies and actors not mingling, Adam's ability to create with light and the metaphor of light/art aiding him in his grieving are all addressed in a very respectful and honest way.
Adam has a great support system in his BFF, his mom, his anxious drama teacher and even the understudy actress.
The messages of finding your own light, sticking to your gut and defying social norms are all something to get behind in this positive uplifting tale of theatre, Shakespeare, friendship and hope.
May 27, 2025
"You're still young," I say.
"I’m forty-three years old," Mr. Apple says. "That’s one hundred and seven in gay years."
I kind of love histrionic stereotype (complete with tiny dog) Mr. Apple.
Anyway, this is a fun, solid entry in the always-underpopulated "contemporary YA with a male protagonist, written by a guy" genre. My thoughts aren't cohesive enough for a paragraph, so bullet points it is:
* I don't know a thing about tech but I enjoyed learning about it here, especially Adam's specialty in lighting.
* Adam is a somewhat goofy but generally likable protagonist (if you can get past his zitty face. I couldn't), and as best-friendships can also be hard to come by for male protagonists, Reach keeps him grounded nicely.
* Derek is like if Jesse St. James had a British accent and were into theater instead of show choir (one of many ways in which the whole tone of this book evokes Glee, and not just because it was published in 2011 - older than I initially thought!).
* A nod to the ways in which the grief of losing a parent sticks with you for years is well done.
* There's not much time to develop romance, as the story spans only a handful of days getting ready to pull off the spring production, but Summer is nice and I really appreciated Adam & Grace striking up their odd little friendship.
January 19, 2016
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My Life, Theater, and Other Tragedies is the first book I've ever seen about technical theater, so of course I had to pick it up!
I was really glad to see someone tackle the subject, and even happier when I read the author's bio and saw that he was in theater himself. I did technical theater in high school (I'm now pursuing stage management as my career), and it completely defined my high school life. Zadoff really hits the nail on the head with how clique-ish tech theater is for kids--the inside jokes and the rules of being of the "techies," not to mention that most of the technical reference were spot on and I think easy to understand for an outsider.
Aside from just a cool portrayal of high school theater, the story follows the romance of your Average Joe techie, Adam, who has a crush on an actress named Summer. It's a bit of a Romeo and Juliet romance because--gasp!--a techie can't date an actor! Back in high school, this was serious stuff, guys! Actors and techies are like different species! So Adam has to face excommunication from his fellow techies if he ever wants to be with Summer. A bit corny, but I found it hilariously true.
Another challenge Adam faces is to make his mark on his high school's theater, but the rich and privileged lighting designer Derek is always trying to steal his spotlight (excuse the pun.) I found this plot realistic, too. The same way the same pool of actors always get the leads, the same technicians tend to get the best jobs. Adam's artistic journey was portrayed well and the ultimate product of the show is something that I'd actually love to see.
So far I've done nothing but praise the book, so why the three stars? I'll admit it: this is gimmicky. Theater is my life and I got every inside joke Zadoff packed in, but I'm not sure anyone who didn't do theater in high school would care for this book. The characters were pretty thin. For Adam, it was okay that he was just your average socially awkward teenage boy because it made you want to root for him, but his love interest and rival didn't have much to them. There was also this whole backstory about Adam's father dying in a way that lead Adam to be afraid of the dark. The fear of the dark is relevant to his work in lighting, but otherwise, this just irked me. Of course Adam is socially awkward because his dad's dead. It's okay that Adam doesn't go out a lot because his dad's dead. Adam can't do that, his dad's dead! You catch my drift? The story could have worked out exactly the same way without this subplot.
Regardless, I breezed through this book and laughed on almost every page. If you are or were ever a theater kid, it's definitely worth the read.
My Life, Theater, and Other Tragedies is the first book I've ever seen about technical theater, so of course I had to pick it up!
I was really glad to see someone tackle the subject, and even happier when I read the author's bio and saw that he was in theater himself. I did technical theater in high school (I'm now pursuing stage management as my career), and it completely defined my high school life. Zadoff really hits the nail on the head with how clique-ish tech theater is for kids--the inside jokes and the rules of being of the "techies," not to mention that most of the technical reference were spot on and I think easy to understand for an outsider.
Aside from just a cool portrayal of high school theater, the story follows the romance of your Average Joe techie, Adam, who has a crush on an actress named Summer. It's a bit of a Romeo and Juliet romance because--gasp!--a techie can't date an actor! Back in high school, this was serious stuff, guys! Actors and techies are like different species! So Adam has to face excommunication from his fellow techies if he ever wants to be with Summer. A bit corny, but I found it hilariously true.
Another challenge Adam faces is to make his mark on his high school's theater, but the rich and privileged lighting designer Derek is always trying to steal his spotlight (excuse the pun.) I found this plot realistic, too. The same way the same pool of actors always get the leads, the same technicians tend to get the best jobs. Adam's artistic journey was portrayed well and the ultimate product of the show is something that I'd actually love to see.
So far I've done nothing but praise the book, so why the three stars? I'll admit it: this is gimmicky. Theater is my life and I got every inside joke Zadoff packed in, but I'm not sure anyone who didn't do theater in high school would care for this book. The characters were pretty thin. For Adam, it was okay that he was just your average socially awkward teenage boy because it made you want to root for him, but his love interest and rival didn't have much to them. There was also this whole backstory about Adam's father dying in a way that lead Adam to be afraid of the dark. The fear of the dark is relevant to his work in lighting, but otherwise, this just irked me. Of course Adam is socially awkward because his dad's dead. It's okay that Adam doesn't go out a lot because his dad's dead. Adam can't do that, his dad's dead! You catch my drift? The story could have worked out exactly the same way without this subplot.
Regardless, I breezed through this book and laughed on almost every page. If you are or were ever a theater kid, it's definitely worth the read.
May 13, 2011
I really, really enjoyed this one. I was so engrossed in this funny little snapshot in the life of Adam Zeigler that I sat down to crack it open and before the end of the day I had turned the last page.
The theater that Zadoff presents to us is like a world and culture of its own. And for the Monclair High Theater kids, it’s the tech crew (or Techies) against the actors. Each side thinks they are better than the other. Each side thinks the other will be the death of the current production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. No fraternizing with the enemy. And definitely no dating the enemy. So, of course, you see the West Side Story-esque romance coming a mile away, but it’s so well written, so charmingly entertaining, that it doesn’t matter at all.
Adam is a great character. He’s just a normal kid, worried about girls, worried about school, completely self-conscious about zits. He is a techie all the way, and lighting is his life. Adam’s actually somewhat afraid of the dark because every time it surrounds him, he has flashbacks of his father before he died. He has to deal with that, with the jerky hot-shot Derek, who thinks he’s running the show no matter who he steps on to do it, with a funny yet sometimes overbearing best friend, and with seeing what happens when he falls for a girl that is supposedly off limits…she’s one of them…an actor.
This one was just a sweet, wildly entertaining read all the way through. It’s a great story about friends, love, loss, fear, self-confidence, and standing up for yourself. Oh, and light. It’s very much about light and every person’s moment in the spotlight.
Favorite quote:
“I don’t know how to talk to women,” I say
“News flash, you’re talking to me,”
“But you’re a techie.”
“I’m a female techie. Remember these babies?”
Grace sticks out her chest.
“Remember them? I almost lost an eye,” I say.
The theater that Zadoff presents to us is like a world and culture of its own. And for the Monclair High Theater kids, it’s the tech crew (or Techies) against the actors. Each side thinks they are better than the other. Each side thinks the other will be the death of the current production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. No fraternizing with the enemy. And definitely no dating the enemy. So, of course, you see the West Side Story-esque romance coming a mile away, but it’s so well written, so charmingly entertaining, that it doesn’t matter at all.
Adam is a great character. He’s just a normal kid, worried about girls, worried about school, completely self-conscious about zits. He is a techie all the way, and lighting is his life. Adam’s actually somewhat afraid of the dark because every time it surrounds him, he has flashbacks of his father before he died. He has to deal with that, with the jerky hot-shot Derek, who thinks he’s running the show no matter who he steps on to do it, with a funny yet sometimes overbearing best friend, and with seeing what happens when he falls for a girl that is supposedly off limits…she’s one of them…an actor.
This one was just a sweet, wildly entertaining read all the way through. It’s a great story about friends, love, loss, fear, self-confidence, and standing up for yourself. Oh, and light. It’s very much about light and every person’s moment in the spotlight.
Favorite quote:
“I don’t know how to talk to women,” I say
“News flash, you’re talking to me,”
“But you’re a techie.”
“I’m a female techie. Remember these babies?”
Grace sticks out her chest.
“Remember them? I almost lost an eye,” I say.
September 19, 2011
I loved the crap out of Zadoff's first book but I really had to force myself through this one. And I am a freaking theatre geek; this was an easy sell to me.
I just never felt truly invested in Z's story. A billion notes struck seemed false - conversations with friends and fellow techies and Derek--none of that seemed like a reality I knew. And I have worked backstage, and I have performed, and yet very little of this took me back to anything I could relate to.
And after the three-dimensional look at a fat protag in his first book, and knowing what was documented in his memoir, I'm grossed out that Zadoff writes every fat stereotype into his portrayal of the drama teacher. Look, I am fat myself, and I promise I have ways of dealing with stress other than eating Hostess products.
(read: 65)
I just never felt truly invested in Z's story. A billion notes struck seemed false - conversations with friends and fellow techies and Derek--none of that seemed like a reality I knew. And I have worked backstage, and I have performed, and yet very little of this took me back to anything I could relate to.
And after the three-dimensional look at a fat protag in his first book, and knowing what was documented in his memoir, I'm grossed out that Zadoff writes every fat stereotype into his portrayal of the drama teacher. Look, I am fat myself, and I promise I have ways of dealing with stress other than eating Hostess products.
(read: 65)
February 8, 2013
Oh, to be a high school thespian again! Dramarama.
This story would have been more successful if the plot lines of the characters more followed the story of A Midsummer Night's Dream, but that is just wishful thinking. Also, there were unnecessary character plot lines, like the unresolved absent brother issue.
Overly dramatized warring between actors and techies? Yep, that was pretty much spot on. But it would have been nicer if it was less self-depricating while stereotyping women (and British people).
Oh well! I'm sure teenagers will enjoy the read, especially since they are the target demographic. #toooldforyoungadult
This story would have been more successful if the plot lines of the characters more followed the story of A Midsummer Night's Dream, but that is just wishful thinking. Also, there were unnecessary character plot lines, like the unresolved absent brother issue.
Overly dramatized warring between actors and techies? Yep, that was pretty much spot on. But it would have been nicer if it was less self-depricating while stereotyping women (and British people).
Oh well! I'm sure teenagers will enjoy the read, especially since they are the target demographic. #toooldforyoungadult
August 10, 2020
Overall very funny and Zadoff can write. Loved the techie side of theatre this story drew on, and in many places the scenes are very cinematic. I like the central character as well, although his fear of the dark being caused by the loss of his father in the dark seems a little too on the nose, too direct: something rings false anyway. Also appreciate that Zadoff incorporates BIPOC characters. However, I subtracted one whole star for the cliche 'teenage boys are obsessed with cleavage' — maybe they are, but every teenage boy in this story, including the protagonist, can't seem to get their eyes off women's boobs. It's sexist and probably does teenage boys and their fantasies a huge disservice!
December 12, 2023
I thought the book my life is either another tragedies is a very good book for something I've never read before by the way the story is told and it really makes me view the parts of a play that isn't really seen or talked about even though it's not a book I would usually read I had a really good time reading it and I enjoyed the funny parts in the sad parts of the book. I believe if you are in theater or you're in the theater you would enjoy this book but I think anyone could enjoy it as well.
June 5, 2012
I'm officially a fan of Allen Zadoff.
This book is actually very, very similar to Zadoff's debut, "Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have", in terms of structure, plot and characters, but I just like these 'triumphant' stories so much! I love seeing how an underdog character rise above the odds and emerge from the shadows kind of thing, you know. It's like flicks such as "Mean Girls", where you root for Lindsay Lohan from the beginning, then watch her descend into a huge pit-hole, and then get all excited and happy when she found her true self that kind of stuff. Zadoff's books are exactly that.
And I'm a sucker for them.
The Story:
Adam Ziegler's father passed away less than 2 years ago, and he's dealing with it by joining the techie crew in theater. Being afraid of darkness ever since his father's death, Adam finds solace in theater lighting.
This spring, Mr. Apple is directing "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and everyone is panicking as opening date draws near. Everything doesn't seem to go well during rehearsals, and a lead female, Miranda, has broken her leg.
Adam, being the skinny kid with acne, tries to stay out of sight most of the time, but when he notices Summer, who acts as one of the fairies in the play, he realises that he's in love.
Thing is, techies and actors don't mix. That's one of the major rules that Reach, Adam's best friend, has set in stone.
All that and Summer seems to come under the spell of Derek, a rich-kid student designer with a faux British accent. What chance does Adam have?
When Mr. Apple descends into a major meltdown and the play is in danger of being cancelled, can Adam do what it takes to save it? Can he emerge from his shell that he's been hiding in? Can he get over his fear of darkness, and ultimately, his father's death? And can he win over Summer?
That's for you to find out!
What I Liked About the Book:
1. It's theater!! Really interesting and I got a sneak peek at how a play works.
2. Though not as hilarious as Zadoff's debut, there's still quite a bit of humour which I deeply appreciated!
3. As usual, there's a progressive development of Adam's character. It's nice to see how he has changed over the course of the book from who he initially was.
Honestly, I was quite surprised to see that Zadoff has invested some effort in detailing Mr. Apple's character, but I thought it was a nice touch, seeming he was the one adult that was prominently featured in the book.
It's true that the characters were your average YA characters in contemporary fiction, but I liked that. And I enjoyed them. At least they had awesome personalities!
4. Short chapters made this book a pretty quick read, and I was done in a few hours.
What I Didn't:
1. Johanna's character was a little confusing for me. The ways she was portrayed were conflicting, I felt.
Verdict:
I guess I would thoroughly enjoy any book of Zadoff's. I just like the way he writes his stories!
I've heard some readers complaining that authors shouldn't write the same old, same old, and I remembered looking up a John Green book on goodreads and a reviewer was complaining angrily about how Green's characters and plots are almost the same in every book he wrote. But to me, I think it's kind of a 'trademark' or 'signature' of authors like Green and Zadoff here. It's like a special, distinct touch they have when they write their books. And I think that's important. There are plenty of readers who like their writing style or their characters even if they seem to be similar across their works. And I'm proud to be one of them.
This book is actually very, very similar to Zadoff's debut, "Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have", in terms of structure, plot and characters, but I just like these 'triumphant' stories so much! I love seeing how an underdog character rise above the odds and emerge from the shadows kind of thing, you know. It's like flicks such as "Mean Girls", where you root for Lindsay Lohan from the beginning, then watch her descend into a huge pit-hole, and then get all excited and happy when she found her true self that kind of stuff. Zadoff's books are exactly that.
And I'm a sucker for them.
The Story:
Adam Ziegler's father passed away less than 2 years ago, and he's dealing with it by joining the techie crew in theater. Being afraid of darkness ever since his father's death, Adam finds solace in theater lighting.
This spring, Mr. Apple is directing "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and everyone is panicking as opening date draws near. Everything doesn't seem to go well during rehearsals, and a lead female, Miranda, has broken her leg.
Adam, being the skinny kid with acne, tries to stay out of sight most of the time, but when he notices Summer, who acts as one of the fairies in the play, he realises that he's in love.
Thing is, techies and actors don't mix. That's one of the major rules that Reach, Adam's best friend, has set in stone.
All that and Summer seems to come under the spell of Derek, a rich-kid student designer with a faux British accent. What chance does Adam have?
When Mr. Apple descends into a major meltdown and the play is in danger of being cancelled, can Adam do what it takes to save it? Can he emerge from his shell that he's been hiding in? Can he get over his fear of darkness, and ultimately, his father's death? And can he win over Summer?
That's for you to find out!
What I Liked About the Book:
1. It's theater!! Really interesting and I got a sneak peek at how a play works.
2. Though not as hilarious as Zadoff's debut, there's still quite a bit of humour which I deeply appreciated!
3. As usual, there's a progressive development of Adam's character. It's nice to see how he has changed over the course of the book from who he initially was.
Honestly, I was quite surprised to see that Zadoff has invested some effort in detailing Mr. Apple's character, but I thought it was a nice touch, seeming he was the one adult that was prominently featured in the book.
It's true that the characters were your average YA characters in contemporary fiction, but I liked that. And I enjoyed them. At least they had awesome personalities!
4. Short chapters made this book a pretty quick read, and I was done in a few hours.
What I Didn't:
1. Johanna's character was a little confusing for me. The ways she was portrayed were conflicting, I felt.
Verdict:
I guess I would thoroughly enjoy any book of Zadoff's. I just like the way he writes his stories!
I've heard some readers complaining that authors shouldn't write the same old, same old, and I remembered looking up a John Green book on goodreads and a reviewer was complaining angrily about how Green's characters and plots are almost the same in every book he wrote. But to me, I think it's kind of a 'trademark' or 'signature' of authors like Green and Zadoff here. It's like a special, distinct touch they have when they write their books. And I think that's important. There are plenty of readers who like their writing style or their characters even if they seem to be similar across their works. And I'm proud to be one of them.
May 28, 2011
It's two years after his dad's unexpected death and Adam Ziegler's life is all tech all the time. Terrified of the dark after losing his dad, he spends his time creating lights for the shows in his high school theater. Though he's still mourning his father and is somewhat distanced from his friends and former life, Adam finds a place he belongs in Tech, running the lights. But when a beautiful actress named Summer catches his attention, he's suddenly in danger of breaking the most important techie rule (and getting black-listed by the other techs): thou shalt not get involved with the actors.
The great thing about going into a book without any preconceptions -- as I did with this one -- is that the book has a way of pleasantly surprising you. Though I know almost nothing about theater, I was quickly wrapped up in the life of a tech as Adam's genuine and intense love for lighting is infectious. For him, it's an art form and this is instantly clear. There seems to be an age-old battle between the techies and actors in this story and though it made for some nice dramatic moments and added to Adam's conflict between The Girl (Adam) and his friends (especially his best friend, a guy called Reach) and tech life, it felt a bit too unrealistic to me. I understand high school cliques, but the punishment for even talking to or hanging out with an actor seemed incredibly harsh to me and I just didn't totally buy it. However, like I said, I really don't know about theater and maybe in some theaters there really is a hatred between the actors and crew.
As for Summer, I had a couple of different reactions to her. As a new student, she kind of has the same reaction as I do to the feud between the crew and actors and she was very likable as a girl who truly loves acting and is sometimes a bit perplexed at the actions of the people around her. However, she was also a little too much MPDG (Manic Pixie Dream Girl) for me. In the end this wasn't enough to sustain one of the most important characters in the book. But Adam is so likable, so honest in his quest for her heart, his confusion over what to do, his sometimes-cowardly personality, and his sadness over losing his father, that the Manic-Pixie-Dream-Girl qualities in Summer became okay. Because it was clear that Adam had real feelings for her and so I trusted in the fact that he saw something good and worthwhile and non-typical in her. (Now, having said all of that, I also feel the need to mention Adam's tech-girl friend, Grace. Because she was awesome, no question about it.)
One of the main things that I liked about this book was how light-hearted it managed to be even while tackling some heavy issues. Though the story handles Adam's grief over losing his father, the book never turns into a "grief book" and as much as I love grief books, I liked that it didn't go that way. Instead, the story was funny and focused and had a wonderful, feel-good-read feeling to it. For me, it was incredibly refreshing. This is a fast read that feels much shorter than it actually is and will put a smile on your face. It seems a bit targeted to theater-types and Glee-fans (the back of the ARC mentions Glee), but honestly if you like a good story and want something sweet, light-hearted, and funny, pick this one up.
The great thing about going into a book without any preconceptions -- as I did with this one -- is that the book has a way of pleasantly surprising you. Though I know almost nothing about theater, I was quickly wrapped up in the life of a tech as Adam's genuine and intense love for lighting is infectious. For him, it's an art form and this is instantly clear. There seems to be an age-old battle between the techies and actors in this story and though it made for some nice dramatic moments and added to Adam's conflict between The Girl (Adam) and his friends (especially his best friend, a guy called Reach) and tech life, it felt a bit too unrealistic to me. I understand high school cliques, but the punishment for even talking to or hanging out with an actor seemed incredibly harsh to me and I just didn't totally buy it. However, like I said, I really don't know about theater and maybe in some theaters there really is a hatred between the actors and crew.
As for Summer, I had a couple of different reactions to her. As a new student, she kind of has the same reaction as I do to the feud between the crew and actors and she was very likable as a girl who truly loves acting and is sometimes a bit perplexed at the actions of the people around her. However, she was also a little too much MPDG (Manic Pixie Dream Girl) for me. In the end this wasn't enough to sustain one of the most important characters in the book. But Adam is so likable, so honest in his quest for her heart, his confusion over what to do, his sometimes-cowardly personality, and his sadness over losing his father, that the Manic-Pixie-Dream-Girl qualities in Summer became okay. Because it was clear that Adam had real feelings for her and so I trusted in the fact that he saw something good and worthwhile and non-typical in her. (Now, having said all of that, I also feel the need to mention Adam's tech-girl friend, Grace. Because she was awesome, no question about it.)
One of the main things that I liked about this book was how light-hearted it managed to be even while tackling some heavy issues. Though the story handles Adam's grief over losing his father, the book never turns into a "grief book" and as much as I love grief books, I liked that it didn't go that way. Instead, the story was funny and focused and had a wonderful, feel-good-read feeling to it. For me, it was incredibly refreshing. This is a fast read that feels much shorter than it actually is and will put a smile on your face. It seems a bit targeted to theater-types and Glee-fans (the back of the ARC mentions Glee), but honestly if you like a good story and want something sweet, light-hearted, and funny, pick this one up.
May 22, 2011
Sweet, funny, and heartfelt, Allen Zandoff’s My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies truly captures the voice of teen in nearly every way possible.
Ever since the death of his beloved dad, Adam Ziegler has made it a point to fall into the background. From his friendships, to his after school actives, to school in general, Adam never lets himself truly get involved or attached. However, everything changes with his high school’s production of A Midsummer’s Dream, because after meeting a cheerful and mysterious new actress, one who may just be interested with him, he suddenly wants to be in the spotlight- for better or for worse. Though what happens when you throw in a crabby student, a tainted production, one teeny tiny rule, and one huge director? Will everything come out okay, or will Adam once again retreat out of his life? Only time and more pages can tell in Allen Zandoff’s memorable sophomore novel.
I always love when a YA book is not only told from a boy’s perspective, but also in a realistic tone. Thankfully, Allen was able to give readers both with Adam’s character. Awkward yet likable and sweet, Adam stole my heart from the first page to the very last. His feelings over his dad’s death were very realistic, and they constantly made me want to reach out and give him a big hug. Furthermore, I also enjoyed seeing him build up relationships with new friends as well as one certain girl, because it allowed him to grow as a character in many fantastic ways. Other characters that always managed to steal the spotlight were Adam’s fellow techies and actors/actresses. Sure, some of them were shallow and narrow-minded, but they still brought lots of drama and laughs to the table.
Another memorable aspect of this book was the premise. Books dealing with play productions always interest me, and this one was no different. I especially enjoyed being able to go behind the scenes so to say and see all the work and dedication that goes into making a show spectacular. Moreover, with the quick chapters in which this was told, it was easy to get lost in the world of costumes, lighting, and fairies for a few short hours.
The only aspect of this novel I was not particularly pleased with was the lack of development in certain characters, because I felt it would have been even better if more details were included.
However, Allen Zandoff still provides a great retreat within the pages of My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies— one that will be sure to leave readers craving for more memorable boy protagonists.
Grade: B
Ever since the death of his beloved dad, Adam Ziegler has made it a point to fall into the background. From his friendships, to his after school actives, to school in general, Adam never lets himself truly get involved or attached. However, everything changes with his high school’s production of A Midsummer’s Dream, because after meeting a cheerful and mysterious new actress, one who may just be interested with him, he suddenly wants to be in the spotlight- for better or for worse. Though what happens when you throw in a crabby student, a tainted production, one teeny tiny rule, and one huge director? Will everything come out okay, or will Adam once again retreat out of his life? Only time and more pages can tell in Allen Zandoff’s memorable sophomore novel.
I always love when a YA book is not only told from a boy’s perspective, but also in a realistic tone. Thankfully, Allen was able to give readers both with Adam’s character. Awkward yet likable and sweet, Adam stole my heart from the first page to the very last. His feelings over his dad’s death were very realistic, and they constantly made me want to reach out and give him a big hug. Furthermore, I also enjoyed seeing him build up relationships with new friends as well as one certain girl, because it allowed him to grow as a character in many fantastic ways. Other characters that always managed to steal the spotlight were Adam’s fellow techies and actors/actresses. Sure, some of them were shallow and narrow-minded, but they still brought lots of drama and laughs to the table.
Another memorable aspect of this book was the premise. Books dealing with play productions always interest me, and this one was no different. I especially enjoyed being able to go behind the scenes so to say and see all the work and dedication that goes into making a show spectacular. Moreover, with the quick chapters in which this was told, it was easy to get lost in the world of costumes, lighting, and fairies for a few short hours.
The only aspect of this novel I was not particularly pleased with was the lack of development in certain characters, because I felt it would have been even better if more details were included.
However, Allen Zandoff still provides a great retreat within the pages of My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies— one that will be sure to leave readers craving for more memorable boy protagonists.
Grade: B
September 17, 2016
Since his father's death two years ago, Adam Ziegler has enjoyed living life behind the scenes. As a techie in the school drama department, he prefers to watch things from the safe distance of the catwalk, dealing with lighting equipment and other social misfits, rather than stepping into the spotlight or hanging out with actors. His best friend, Reach, shares this affinity for backstage, and has created a widely accepted set of rules to keep techies and actors from being friends.
This year, though, during rehearsals for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Adam finds himself drawn to one of the actresses, a girl named Summer, who makes him start questioning the separation between techies and actors, even if it might cost him his only friendship, and his chance at operating the spotlight. Other issues in Adam's life include his acne, which makes him feel self-conscious, his older brother's absence and tendency to ignore his phone calls, and the battle of wills between drama teacher, Mr. Apple, and the pompous student in charge of the production, Derek, whose differences of opinion threaten to close the show before the curtain even goes up.
Adam is a really likable character, and very sympathetic, especially to anyone who wasn't popular in high school. His voice is authentic, with just the right mix of humor and pathos, and his awkward experiences with girls made me cringe in sympathy and recognition. Reach, too, with his hard and fast rules, and his efforts to bring Adam back out into the light, was a likable character, and the bromance between the two boys is one of the few friendships of its kind that I've seen in teen fiction. (The only other one that comes readily to mind is Will Grayson and Tiny Cooper in Will Grayson, Will Grayson.) The story is fast-paced, and easy to eat up in just a couple of hours. The atmosphere of the drama department includes some cliches - the teacher is gay and very flamboyant, and the techies are all socially awkward and marginalized - but much of the writing is also quite creative. The idea of techies fighting over who gets to man the spotlight was a unique conflict that gave the story much of its life, and though villain Derek was basically a caricature, the way he was used in the story felt new and fresh to me.
This book also made me remember how much I enjoy male narrators. It reminded me a little bit of some other YA books about boys that I have enjoyed - particularly Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto by Peter Luper and Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge.
This year, though, during rehearsals for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Adam finds himself drawn to one of the actresses, a girl named Summer, who makes him start questioning the separation between techies and actors, even if it might cost him his only friendship, and his chance at operating the spotlight. Other issues in Adam's life include his acne, which makes him feel self-conscious, his older brother's absence and tendency to ignore his phone calls, and the battle of wills between drama teacher, Mr. Apple, and the pompous student in charge of the production, Derek, whose differences of opinion threaten to close the show before the curtain even goes up.
Adam is a really likable character, and very sympathetic, especially to anyone who wasn't popular in high school. His voice is authentic, with just the right mix of humor and pathos, and his awkward experiences with girls made me cringe in sympathy and recognition. Reach, too, with his hard and fast rules, and his efforts to bring Adam back out into the light, was a likable character, and the bromance between the two boys is one of the few friendships of its kind that I've seen in teen fiction. (The only other one that comes readily to mind is Will Grayson and Tiny Cooper in Will Grayson, Will Grayson.) The story is fast-paced, and easy to eat up in just a couple of hours. The atmosphere of the drama department includes some cliches - the teacher is gay and very flamboyant, and the techies are all socially awkward and marginalized - but much of the writing is also quite creative. The idea of techies fighting over who gets to man the spotlight was a unique conflict that gave the story much of its life, and though villain Derek was basically a caricature, the way he was used in the story felt new and fresh to me.
This book also made me remember how much I enjoy male narrators. It reminded me a little bit of some other YA books about boys that I have enjoyed - particularly Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto by Peter Luper and Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge.
March 28, 2011
The voice in the blurb for the book caught my attention for this one as well. This story is about Adam Ziegler who is still dealing with his father's death. He does so by becoming a "techie" for the school's drama department. But this year's production is going to be a lot harder. Derek, the villain of the story, updated A Midsummer Night's Dream script, is in charge of the actors, the set, and is basically running the show. This is a classic case of someone who has more cash than ability.
Adam knows what he's doing, and wants more than anything to run the spotlight. He prefers to keep his head down, even though several of Derek's lighting designs have flaws. That is, until he catches sight of a new student named Summer and loses his heart to her. And his mind, because the one unspoken rule of the drama department is that actors and techies don't mix. Ever. In this way, it reminded me a little of a modern day Romeo and Juliet only without all the poison and death.
MY LIFE is also a coming of age story. I really loved how, after his father's death, Adam put a crucial part of himself that he'd shared with his dad into a box and sealed it with tape. But even though he'd locked that part of him in the closet, his artistic abilities still came out. But rather than using paints, he used light. This was especially beautiful in one of the scenes near the end when Derek's need for more special effects and lights ended up blowing the power in the entire building, but Adam managed to keep the show going anyway.
And that's where the story really hit me. The Adam that creates art from light and saves the show is a very different Adam from the beginning. Or maybe it's just that now he's come to himself. He's able to set his fears and insecurities aside and find himself again. I think his fear of the dark was very well woven in throughout the story and had a very real part in the whole tragedy surrounding his father's death. The death was also done well. Enough clues were dropped that even though Adam didn't come out and say how it had all happened until near the end of the book, I, as a reader, had enough faith in the author that not knowing upfront didn't bother me.
The thing that gave me a pause was the classic teenage boy humor. Nothing happens, but some of the references and jokes made me a little uncomfortable because I'm an easy blusher. There was also some mild swearing. Out of five stars, I give this a solid 3.87. O:)
*I received an arc from the publisher
Adam knows what he's doing, and wants more than anything to run the spotlight. He prefers to keep his head down, even though several of Derek's lighting designs have flaws. That is, until he catches sight of a new student named Summer and loses his heart to her. And his mind, because the one unspoken rule of the drama department is that actors and techies don't mix. Ever. In this way, it reminded me a little of a modern day Romeo and Juliet only without all the poison and death.
MY LIFE is also a coming of age story. I really loved how, after his father's death, Adam put a crucial part of himself that he'd shared with his dad into a box and sealed it with tape. But even though he'd locked that part of him in the closet, his artistic abilities still came out. But rather than using paints, he used light. This was especially beautiful in one of the scenes near the end when Derek's need for more special effects and lights ended up blowing the power in the entire building, but Adam managed to keep the show going anyway.
And that's where the story really hit me. The Adam that creates art from light and saves the show is a very different Adam from the beginning. Or maybe it's just that now he's come to himself. He's able to set his fears and insecurities aside and find himself again. I think his fear of the dark was very well woven in throughout the story and had a very real part in the whole tragedy surrounding his father's death. The death was also done well. Enough clues were dropped that even though Adam didn't come out and say how it had all happened until near the end of the book, I, as a reader, had enough faith in the author that not knowing upfront didn't bother me.
The thing that gave me a pause was the classic teenage boy humor. Nothing happens, but some of the references and jokes made me a little uncomfortable because I'm an easy blusher. There was also some mild swearing. Out of five stars, I give this a solid 3.87. O:)
*I received an arc from the publisher
June 28, 2015
You can find more reviews @BloodyBookaholic
I'm trying to remember the last book I read which was a stand alone... Nope can't remember. Well, besides this one of course. I think it was Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block. Why is it a hard time for me to remember this? Because I don't generally pick up stand alone books. I like series. I like revisiting characters and watching them grow. I don't like saying good bye. But that doesn't mean stand alone books are bad, on the contrary come of them are fantastic. Like this one. Very entertaining and real. A book for every teenage boy out there. Boy lead, not many out there!
In this book we meet Adam Zeigler who goes by Z and he is a techie. You know how you always read about the actors in the play and never about the person behind the stage? In this book you get to hear about the people who create everything from lights to sound to everything! Z is in charge of lights. He loves lights, they comfort him. Throught the novel we see Z deal with the death of his father, and other normal teenage stuff like the new actress with the faerie costume...
This book was like a breath of fresh air for me. Every single page I was like when are the vampires going to eat the faeries? I think my brain was just waiting for the kid to grow fur. But no, this novel is a coming of age novel. Its cute, and fun to read about Z. He really reminded me of a friend I used to have in my old high school. The whole novel reminded me of high school. Not the best days of my life, but it just comes to show that the author got the real high school vibe. We are not all attached daily by flushies, but cliques certainly exist and kids have to help each other out. The relationship between Z and the girl he liked though some people may say its not real I believed it! It can happen, in fact it has happened! Just because it hasn't happen to you it doesn't mean it's not possible. Oh and the bromance between Z and his beat friend? Not to be missed!! I really liked the best friend character.
Anyways, all I'm really trying to say is, it's so worth a read or two. It will not change your life, it might, but at least it will give you a whole new perspective on certain things. It's a nice high school book. So not my usual cup of tea but I really enjoyed it.
I'm trying to remember the last book I read which was a stand alone... Nope can't remember. Well, besides this one of course. I think it was Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block. Why is it a hard time for me to remember this? Because I don't generally pick up stand alone books. I like series. I like revisiting characters and watching them grow. I don't like saying good bye. But that doesn't mean stand alone books are bad, on the contrary come of them are fantastic. Like this one. Very entertaining and real. A book for every teenage boy out there. Boy lead, not many out there!
In this book we meet Adam Zeigler who goes by Z and he is a techie. You know how you always read about the actors in the play and never about the person behind the stage? In this book you get to hear about the people who create everything from lights to sound to everything! Z is in charge of lights. He loves lights, they comfort him. Throught the novel we see Z deal with the death of his father, and other normal teenage stuff like the new actress with the faerie costume...
This book was like a breath of fresh air for me. Every single page I was like when are the vampires going to eat the faeries? I think my brain was just waiting for the kid to grow fur. But no, this novel is a coming of age novel. Its cute, and fun to read about Z. He really reminded me of a friend I used to have in my old high school. The whole novel reminded me of high school. Not the best days of my life, but it just comes to show that the author got the real high school vibe. We are not all attached daily by flushies, but cliques certainly exist and kids have to help each other out. The relationship between Z and the girl he liked though some people may say its not real I believed it! It can happen, in fact it has happened! Just because it hasn't happen to you it doesn't mean it's not possible. Oh and the bromance between Z and his beat friend? Not to be missed!! I really liked the best friend character.
Anyways, all I'm really trying to say is, it's so worth a read or two. It will not change your life, it might, but at least it will give you a whole new perspective on certain things. It's a nice high school book. So not my usual cup of tea but I really enjoyed it.
August 3, 2011
My Thoughts: Okay, I'll admit it. I was a drama nerd in high school. Fortunately, my theater experiences were not as embarrassing or painful as Adam's! The theater connection is what drew me to the book in the first place, and I definitely think that readers with theater experience will appreciate the details and the story more than non-theater types.
I wish that the play Adam's school put on was something other than Shakespeare, though. I glossed over every quote, chapter title, and Shakespeare reference that crossed my path! Yes, I was a drama nerd who did not like Shakespeare. At all. If you like the Bard, the references will be an added bonus for you.
Characters: I've decided that I'm a fan of YA books with male narrators (other recent reads with male narrators: Hannah Moskowitz's "Invincible Summer" and Jordan Sonnenblick's "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie"). Their stories seem to be funnier and more engaging than their female-narrated counterparts. This was definitely the case with Adam. He cracked me up while still being a sympathetic character. I enjoyed seeing the drama of high school relationships from his point of view.
I didn't feel like I got to know the rest of the characters very well. At one point, I actually checked to see if this was a sequel to another book that I hadn't read, but it wasn't.
My favorite "grown up" character was the director, Mr. Apple. So funny!
Ending (Spoiler-Free!): The ending was good. There was nice closure for Adam, and it didn't feel fake or forced. I doubt there will be a sequel, so this was a nice stand-alone book.
Writing Style: It kind of felt like the more "mature" aspects of the book were thrown in for shock value. I'm sure they weren't, but it kind of came across like one of those movies that gets a PG rating, and the creators say, "Oh, we need to add in some sex and swearing to get it up to PG13!" It wasn't a deal-breaker for me, just something I noticed. 95% young YA with 5% older YA.
Besides that, the writing was funny in many places and touching in others. The symbolism and use of light was beautiful. I'd like to read Zadoff's other book, "Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have" sometime.
Stars: 3 out of 5. It was okay. You might like it.
I wish that the play Adam's school put on was something other than Shakespeare, though. I glossed over every quote, chapter title, and Shakespeare reference that crossed my path! Yes, I was a drama nerd who did not like Shakespeare. At all. If you like the Bard, the references will be an added bonus for you.
Characters: I've decided that I'm a fan of YA books with male narrators (other recent reads with male narrators: Hannah Moskowitz's "Invincible Summer" and Jordan Sonnenblick's "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie"). Their stories seem to be funnier and more engaging than their female-narrated counterparts. This was definitely the case with Adam. He cracked me up while still being a sympathetic character. I enjoyed seeing the drama of high school relationships from his point of view.
I didn't feel like I got to know the rest of the characters very well. At one point, I actually checked to see if this was a sequel to another book that I hadn't read, but it wasn't.
My favorite "grown up" character was the director, Mr. Apple. So funny!
Ending (Spoiler-Free!): The ending was good. There was nice closure for Adam, and it didn't feel fake or forced. I doubt there will be a sequel, so this was a nice stand-alone book.
Writing Style: It kind of felt like the more "mature" aspects of the book were thrown in for shock value. I'm sure they weren't, but it kind of came across like one of those movies that gets a PG rating, and the creators say, "Oh, we need to add in some sex and swearing to get it up to PG13!" It wasn't a deal-breaker for me, just something I noticed. 95% young YA with 5% older YA.
Besides that, the writing was funny in many places and touching in others. The symbolism and use of light was beautiful. I'd like to read Zadoff's other book, "Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have" sometime.
Stars: 3 out of 5. It was okay. You might like it.
June 4, 2011
My Life, The Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff
Egmont, 2011
288 pages
YA; Contemporary
4/5 stars
Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
After enjoying Zadoff's Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have, I kept this on my radar once I heard about it. I love high school theater stories and Zadoff's writing so I knew this would be a win.
There were two main threads to the story that eventually intersected. The sadder, more emotional thread was Adam missing his father who had died the previous year. His father painted and proved an inspiration to him and he felt lost. Furthermore because his father died alone in the dark, Adam seeks the light and struggles with sleep. Obviously this section is not as fun but I thought it was well-done with enough punch, especially for younger readers.
The other segment is the war between actors and techies (think Romeo and Juliet) that is threatening in many ways. The student director is an arrogant control-freak who might jeopardize Adam's future prospects in the high school theater. The actors think the techies (especially Adam) want to jeopardize the show and their director is suffering from a mid-life crisis. Lastly Adam has a crush on an actress which could send the two sides spiraling completely out of control. In general these were the humorous sections; although Adam does not see the humor, they were fantastic to read.
Overall: Another great read from Zadoff!
Cover: I knew it was a theater story so the lights make sense but since Adam is also the light guy, it actually makes even more sense.
Egmont, 2011
288 pages
YA; Contemporary
4/5 stars
Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
After enjoying Zadoff's Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have, I kept this on my radar once I heard about it. I love high school theater stories and Zadoff's writing so I knew this would be a win.
There were two main threads to the story that eventually intersected. The sadder, more emotional thread was Adam missing his father who had died the previous year. His father painted and proved an inspiration to him and he felt lost. Furthermore because his father died alone in the dark, Adam seeks the light and struggles with sleep. Obviously this section is not as fun but I thought it was well-done with enough punch, especially for younger readers.
The other segment is the war between actors and techies (think Romeo and Juliet) that is threatening in many ways. The student director is an arrogant control-freak who might jeopardize Adam's future prospects in the high school theater. The actors think the techies (especially Adam) want to jeopardize the show and their director is suffering from a mid-life crisis. Lastly Adam has a crush on an actress which could send the two sides spiraling completely out of control. In general these were the humorous sections; although Adam does not see the humor, they were fantastic to read.
Overall: Another great read from Zadoff!
Cover: I knew it was a theater story so the lights make sense but since Adam is also the light guy, it actually makes even more sense.
May 21, 2011
4.5 stars! Excerpt from my review below. You can read my full, in-depth review here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2011...
"Have you ever had a book that just calls out to you and you aren't exactly sure why? Well that's what My, Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies did the entire time it was sitting in my review pile. I felt inexplicably excited to read it and, some how, just knew that I was going to really like it....................................................................
My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies starts off with what I thought was a very strong first chapter, a chapter that boldly states, "While I may be a fun book, I am by no means fluff." Though a generally light read, Zadoff added a meaningful under-layer that provided a subtle depth to the plot. While coping with the behind-the-scenes drama of his school's theater, discovering feelings for the new girl, and trying to hold things together with his best friend, Adam is also having to deal with the pain and fear that still lingers ever since the death of his father. All of these elements pulled together beautifully to form a humorous and heartfelt story, something made even better by the lovely theater setting................................................................
All in all, My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies is a great coming-of-age story that I know I'll be reading again in the future. This is a definite must read for fans of contemporary teen fiction, both guys and girls, and I strongly suggest finding a way to read it, whether you buy it or borrow it. I look forward to reading more from Zadoff in the future."
"Have you ever had a book that just calls out to you and you aren't exactly sure why? Well that's what My, Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies did the entire time it was sitting in my review pile. I felt inexplicably excited to read it and, some how, just knew that I was going to really like it....................................................................
My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies starts off with what I thought was a very strong first chapter, a chapter that boldly states, "While I may be a fun book, I am by no means fluff." Though a generally light read, Zadoff added a meaningful under-layer that provided a subtle depth to the plot. While coping with the behind-the-scenes drama of his school's theater, discovering feelings for the new girl, and trying to hold things together with his best friend, Adam is also having to deal with the pain and fear that still lingers ever since the death of his father. All of these elements pulled together beautifully to form a humorous and heartfelt story, something made even better by the lovely theater setting................................................................
All in all, My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies is a great coming-of-age story that I know I'll be reading again in the future. This is a definite must read for fans of contemporary teen fiction, both guys and girls, and I strongly suggest finding a way to read it, whether you buy it or borrow it. I look forward to reading more from Zadoff in the future."
August 7, 2013
After seeing Allen Zadoff at the Teen Author Carnival earlier this year, I decided I'd like to read something that Mr. Zadoff wrote. When I found our My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies was available in audiobook format, 5.5 hours long, and narrated by one of my favorite voice actors Macleod Andrews - paired with the fact that I had a 5.5 hour drive - I knew this was the one to read. Did I like it? Yes, I did.
It's a bit different from what I normally read - don't get me wrong, I definitely read my fair share of contemporary but this one is set in a place that I'm not familiar with - the theater world. I *did* take Theater Arts I in 9th grade but I absolutely hated it, mainly because I don't like to be on stage - that's probably what made me like Adam and the other techies so much. Adam was a likable guy, though a little socially awkward. And I loved seeing him take the reigns and shine when it was his time. He was humble and willing to do what it took to make the high school production a success, and I admired him for that.
I also love seeing Young Adult books with boys as the main characters, especially coming from a male author. It's interesting to see what teenage boys are thinking about and getting in their brains, if only for 300 or so pages.
Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read and will definitely be reading Allen's latest book, Boy Nobody.
PS - note to the publishers out there, seriously, if Macleod Andrews is the voice actor I will 100% listen to the audiobook. This is the 4th audiobook I've listened to with him as the voice actor. He's amazing.
It's a bit different from what I normally read - don't get me wrong, I definitely read my fair share of contemporary but this one is set in a place that I'm not familiar with - the theater world. I *did* take Theater Arts I in 9th grade but I absolutely hated it, mainly because I don't like to be on stage - that's probably what made me like Adam and the other techies so much. Adam was a likable guy, though a little socially awkward. And I loved seeing him take the reigns and shine when it was his time. He was humble and willing to do what it took to make the high school production a success, and I admired him for that.
I also love seeing Young Adult books with boys as the main characters, especially coming from a male author. It's interesting to see what teenage boys are thinking about and getting in their brains, if only for 300 or so pages.
Overall, I really enjoyed this quick read and will definitely be reading Allen's latest book, Boy Nobody.
PS - note to the publishers out there, seriously, if Macleod Andrews is the voice actor I will 100% listen to the audiobook. This is the 4th audiobook I've listened to with him as the voice actor. He's amazing.
July 27, 2011
My Thoughts: We are introduced to Adam who is in high school. He also lost his father a few years ago and that has taken a big toll on him. He thinks about him constantly. He even has to sleep with a flashlight because his thoughts get the best of him at night.
Adam was an interesting character. He is a stagehand and in the theater this is a whole group of its own. Stagehands or the theater crew do not mash with the actors, under any situation. They like to keep their distance.
Of course Adam meets a girl named Summer who happens to be a fairy (at first) in the play and he instantly likes her. He thinks shes pretty and once he starts talking to her he begins to really like her.
The play is A Midsummer Nights Dream. I liked seeing how Adam is a techie and how he fits into the whole theater group. I liked seeing him making mistakes and actually learn something from those mistakes.
I liked this one but didn't love it. It was just ok in my opinion. I couldn't really relate to the characters and I'll be honest, I tend not to like books in the male prospective. I'm not sure why, I just seem to like books from the female's prospective more.
Overall: It was an interesting book enough to read once. Also, if you like books based on theaters or from a guy's view you will probably enjoy this more than me. It did have some funny moments though.
Cover: Like the colors on this cover, almost like flashing lights.
What I'd Give It: 3/5 Cupcakes
_________________________________
Review Based On Hardcover Edition
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
Adam was an interesting character. He is a stagehand and in the theater this is a whole group of its own. Stagehands or the theater crew do not mash with the actors, under any situation. They like to keep their distance.
Of course Adam meets a girl named Summer who happens to be a fairy (at first) in the play and he instantly likes her. He thinks shes pretty and once he starts talking to her he begins to really like her.
The play is A Midsummer Nights Dream. I liked seeing how Adam is a techie and how he fits into the whole theater group. I liked seeing him making mistakes and actually learn something from those mistakes.
I liked this one but didn't love it. It was just ok in my opinion. I couldn't really relate to the characters and I'll be honest, I tend not to like books in the male prospective. I'm not sure why, I just seem to like books from the female's prospective more.
Overall: It was an interesting book enough to read once. Also, if you like books based on theaters or from a guy's view you will probably enjoy this more than me. It did have some funny moments though.
Cover: Like the colors on this cover, almost like flashing lights.
What I'd Give It: 3/5 Cupcakes
_________________________________
Review Based On Hardcover Edition
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
March 21, 2011
I have already read Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have, and I really enjoyed it. It's a feel good kind of book, with friendships and relationships and life - so I was expecting that from My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies... and I got it! Hooray.
I really like Allen Zadoff's writing style. I started this book late one night, looking for a book where I could read a few chapters before bed - and I actually ended up having to force myself to stop reading halfway through a chapter because I kept getting sucked in. And it wasn't because there are huge action scenes with swords and werewolf creatures - I just really like the way Zadoff writes.
It was fun to read from Adam Ziegler's point of view as a "techie" for a show rather than an actor - instead of instantly fitting in, we got to watch Adam walk the line between techie and actor, which is quite an interesting dynamic.
The last third of the book is really what hit home for me. I really really loved one of the last scenes of the book especially.
I would have liked for some of the characters to go a little deeper - Zadoff started to go there, but we mostly just get to skim the surface of most of them. Which ultimately ends up being okay; it just meant that I didn't care quite as much for some of them as I could have by the end.
A charming, lovable read, Allen Zadoff has enchanted me again with My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies!
I really like Allen Zadoff's writing style. I started this book late one night, looking for a book where I could read a few chapters before bed - and I actually ended up having to force myself to stop reading halfway through a chapter because I kept getting sucked in. And it wasn't because there are huge action scenes with swords and werewolf creatures - I just really like the way Zadoff writes.
It was fun to read from Adam Ziegler's point of view as a "techie" for a show rather than an actor - instead of instantly fitting in, we got to watch Adam walk the line between techie and actor, which is quite an interesting dynamic.
The last third of the book is really what hit home for me. I really really loved one of the last scenes of the book especially.
I would have liked for some of the characters to go a little deeper - Zadoff started to go there, but we mostly just get to skim the surface of most of them. Which ultimately ends up being okay; it just meant that I didn't care quite as much for some of them as I could have by the end.
A charming, lovable read, Allen Zadoff has enchanted me again with My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies!
April 13, 2011
This book was a really fast paced read. I never once wanted to put this book down because it was dragging. Most books start off like that and about 30 pages in you want to put it down because it’s dragging so much! In the beginning, most of it was just Adam, Adam, and more Adam. But it wasn’t boring. But then when Summer was introduced in to the story, things started to pick up EVEN MORE. It doesn’t go so fast that you can’t keep track of it which is also a very nice thing here. Adam is a character that I can sort of relate to. He’s just kind of there and is ignored and shy. Kind of like me. Afraid to step up and take charge sometimes but he makes a very interesting character! Summer is a really interesting character too. She doesn’t think she’s good enough to be an actress so she finds some help form Adam or “Ziggy,” as she calls him. She’s a funny girl and I thought she came across as sometimes sarcastic and REALLY funny! I really hope this isn’t supposed to be a stand – alone novel because it was fantastic and I don’t want it to end where it did! I think if Summer had come into the book earlier then we would have been able to see a little bit more of the relationship between Summer and Adam. Overall, I would definitely recommend reading this novel but be prepared for a bit of a cliff hanger!
June 14, 2011
I thought this was a cute book. Quiet, interesting, and a good coming of age story. Nothing really new here, though. And it wasn’t funny like Zadoff's first novel, which was a bit disappointing. I think I had really high expectations regarding the humor, though, so I felt the lack of it much more than if I’d read this book first. Newcomers to Zadoff’s work may not feel the same way.
I got frustrated with Adam for letting everyone walk all over him, even though it was clear why he was withdrawing into himself. I think that, since this is a concept often used, and the way it’s used here isn’t really unique, I lost patience with it a little too soon. That’s not to say Adam isn’t an interesting character. He is. The reasoning in his head as he tries to figure out Derek was fantastic. I think that's exactly how a teenager thinks, and his reactions to the complexities of high school are wonderfully realistic.
The ending was a little over-the-top-tear-jerker for my taste, and the bow wrapping everything up was a bit too perfect. The story was still solid and enjoyable, but it didn't have that polished feel, where everything is connected from beginning to end. Again, I think I had such high expectations from his previous book that I didn't enjoy this as much as I could have. But I can see teens galore loving this story, boys and girls alike.
I got frustrated with Adam for letting everyone walk all over him, even though it was clear why he was withdrawing into himself. I think that, since this is a concept often used, and the way it’s used here isn’t really unique, I lost patience with it a little too soon. That’s not to say Adam isn’t an interesting character. He is. The reasoning in his head as he tries to figure out Derek was fantastic. I think that's exactly how a teenager thinks, and his reactions to the complexities of high school are wonderfully realistic.
The ending was a little over-the-top-tear-jerker for my taste, and the bow wrapping everything up was a bit too perfect. The story was still solid and enjoyable, but it didn't have that polished feel, where everything is connected from beginning to end. Again, I think I had such high expectations from his previous book that I didn't enjoy this as much as I could have. But I can see teens galore loving this story, boys and girls alike.
February 16, 2013
Ever since his father died two years ago, Z has been hiding from life. His only passion is theater lighting, and he lives for his time on the catwalk far above the stage. Problem is, the arrogant student Derek, who has a rich and powerful father, is designing the whole production of Midsummer Night's Dream--including the lighting--and it's a disaster. When inevitable accidents happen because of Derek's incompetence, like the lead actress breaking her leg, Z gets blamed. Then there's the director, who is having a nervous breakdown because the show is so bad. And the actress who takes over the lead is a girl Z finds irresistible--even though he's hopeless with girls, and worse than that, there's an inviolable code that techies and actors do not combine--ever. Just thinking about it is enough to get you exiled. The stage is set for action--but will Z take the right action to move his life forward?
I really enjoyed this, particularly the backstage information because I love theater but don't know much about tech (I do know that being up on the catwalk is pretty amazing, because I got to go up once, but it's also really hot). Zadoff created a lot of quirky and interesting characters, and it's a tribute to his writing skill that I didn't get them all confused. The book is well-structured and the characters believable, and I just thoroughly enjoyed the book.
I really enjoyed this, particularly the backstage information because I love theater but don't know much about tech (I do know that being up on the catwalk is pretty amazing, because I got to go up once, but it's also really hot). Zadoff created a lot of quirky and interesting characters, and it's a tribute to his writing skill that I didn't get them all confused. The book is well-structured and the characters believable, and I just thoroughly enjoyed the book.
August 5, 2011
review If you haven't read Allen's debut Food, Girls and Other Thing I Can't Have... do it. It's hilarious... heartfelt, and just a feel good novel about life in general, friendships, relationships, growing up and finding a voice. I was hoping that I would get some of that again when reading My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies, and I did. And more.
Somehow, Allen can take these books with serious topics and make them humorous, but not in that cheesy or forced way. (You know what I'm talking about, right?) One of the most memorable aspects of this novel is watching Adam struggle and then finally come to terms with the death of his father. One thing that I would have liked to have seen resolved was Adam's relationship with his older brother Josh. We got that resolution with the Techies and the Actors... even a little bit with Derek, but it felt like we got cheated out of that conversation with Josh.
The actor/techie romance aspect, was at the least very entertaining! It was a very cute love story... awkward at times, but I think that's what made it so convincing.
Everything I was expecting and a little more!to come.
Somehow, Allen can take these books with serious topics and make them humorous, but not in that cheesy or forced way. (You know what I'm talking about, right?) One of the most memorable aspects of this novel is watching Adam struggle and then finally come to terms with the death of his father. One thing that I would have liked to have seen resolved was Adam's relationship with his older brother Josh. We got that resolution with the Techies and the Actors... even a little bit with Derek, but it felt like we got cheated out of that conversation with Josh.
The actor/techie romance aspect, was at the least very entertaining! It was a very cute love story... awkward at times, but I think that's what made it so convincing.
Everything I was expecting and a little more!to come.
September 16, 2011
Allen Zadoff remains a contemporary charmer with his second novel for young adults, MY LIFE, THE THEATER, AND OTHER TRAGEDIES.
As he did in Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have, Zadoff breathes life into subjectively overdone themes like high school isolation and grief with his winningly empathic characters and humorous dialogue. Adam is endearingly geeky and shy. Sometimes his inability to stick up for himself made me want to give him a good hard (well-intentioned) slap, but then watching him grow throughout the book was extremely rewarding. Supporting characters, from Derek the Evil Student Dictator to Reach, Adam’s best friend, are entertaining. And the girls are no Manic Pixie Dream Girls, which can happen sometimes in books with geeky males as main characters: these girls are legit, and they’re nice, but they’re also pretty. Furthermore, MY LIFE, THE THEATER, AND OTHER TRAGEDIES has a dead father, but the grieving process happily does not dominate the plot.
MY LIFE, THE THEATER, AND OTHER TRAGEDIES will appeal to both the seasoned and amateur reader. For a quick and funny yet heartfelt look into the awkward teenage boy’s life, you can’t go wrong with Allen Zadoff.
As he did in Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have, Zadoff breathes life into subjectively overdone themes like high school isolation and grief with his winningly empathic characters and humorous dialogue. Adam is endearingly geeky and shy. Sometimes his inability to stick up for himself made me want to give him a good hard (well-intentioned) slap, but then watching him grow throughout the book was extremely rewarding. Supporting characters, from Derek the Evil Student Dictator to Reach, Adam’s best friend, are entertaining. And the girls are no Manic Pixie Dream Girls, which can happen sometimes in books with geeky males as main characters: these girls are legit, and they’re nice, but they’re also pretty. Furthermore, MY LIFE, THE THEATER, AND OTHER TRAGEDIES has a dead father, but the grieving process happily does not dominate the plot.
MY LIFE, THE THEATER, AND OTHER TRAGEDIES will appeal to both the seasoned and amateur reader. For a quick and funny yet heartfelt look into the awkward teenage boy’s life, you can’t go wrong with Allen Zadoff.
June 25, 2016
A good, quick read. I'm afraid this book would be a little to "theater-y" for many of my young adult readers (especially the males), but I really felt like the main character, Adam, was a realistically portrayed teenage boy. He's awkward, NOT good with expressing his feelings or emotions, and just overall pretty clueless. For students who are interested in drama, it is clear that Mr. Zadoff knows what he's talking about when it comes to theater, tech, and the whole drama world. Students will find that aspect of the book also very authentic. Finally, I, personally, LOVED all of the Shakespeare/"Midsummer Night's Dream" references, but students might not.
The one aspect of the book that fell flat for me what Adam's struggle with his father's death. I can't quite put my finger on what made his grief hard for me to believe, but it was. Maybe because we didn't see Adam BEFORE the accident, so it was hard to really see how much he had changed? Maybe just because he's a guy and I'm a girl and so since he didn't grieve like I would it's hard for me to believe? I don't know. But that part did feel a little forced and contrived to me.
The one aspect of the book that fell flat for me what Adam's struggle with his father's death. I can't quite put my finger on what made his grief hard for me to believe, but it was. Maybe because we didn't see Adam BEFORE the accident, so it was hard to really see how much he had changed? Maybe just because he's a guy and I'm a girl and so since he didn't grieve like I would it's hard for me to believe? I don't know. But that part did feel a little forced and contrived to me.
March 4, 2015
It's good to know that the cover of this book has already been changed from the Uncorrected Bound Proof I received at Midwinter last month. The old cover had a couple kissing on a movie marquee and it didn't fit the plot very well at all. I'm hoping there were lots of editorial changes, too.
The plus: I loved the details about being a techie in a large school production--lots of info about lights, gels, etc.
The negative: The friendships and relationships between the characters didn't seem real. I know Adam wasn't really working with relationships with the death of his dad two years earlier, but the realest relationship was the odd one between him and his has-been, never-was drama director. Adam's would-be girlfriends didn't seem realistic and I didn't really care what happened to them or his family.
Overall, I thought the plot was a good idea, but I just wasn't a fan of the execution. HOWEVER, I will buy this for my school because drama is BIG at PCHS. I'm hoping some of roughness will be smoothed over in the final hardback book.
The plus: I loved the details about being a techie in a large school production--lots of info about lights, gels, etc.
The negative: The friendships and relationships between the characters didn't seem real. I know Adam wasn't really working with relationships with the death of his dad two years earlier, but the realest relationship was the odd one between him and his has-been, never-was drama director. Adam's would-be girlfriends didn't seem realistic and I didn't really care what happened to them or his family.
Overall, I thought the plot was a good idea, but I just wasn't a fan of the execution. HOWEVER, I will buy this for my school because drama is BIG at PCHS. I'm hoping some of roughness will be smoothed over in the final hardback book.
July 25, 2011
Many Glee fans will likely see this book in the spotlight at various Gleerific sites and wonder if they'll like the book? My life, the Theater and Other Tragedies is a sweet teen book with some angst moments, but for the most part is aimed at the younger teen audience. Heavy topics are lightened and although various deeper thematic plays, schemes and issues are present, none are weighty. The book is episodic in nature, perhaps a little predictable, but otherwise entertaining. Verses some other young adult/teen reads, this is definitely playing in the kiddy pool. The shallow end is fine if that is what you're looking for and if you're choosing a read for a pre or young teen, this is a safe PG bet. Simply put, I liked it. It's a quick read and holds attention, but did not leave a lasting impression or tug terribly at my heartstrings. However, I think the opportunity was there to delve a bit deeper, but was a touch restrained. However, given the target audience, this is probably an appropriate choice but as I mentioned earlier, older readers might wish to ditch the water wings.
September 11, 2016
4.5 stars
I loved “Since You Left Me” and this book appealed too. I love the way Mr Zadoff writes, touching and funny at the same time and again dealing with a teenager’s real and deep issues in an insightful way. The words drew me in and the characters felt real and as diverse as you’d find in any high school. I liked Reach, Adam’s best friend and dastardly Derek was the one you love to hate.
Adam is likeable, sweet and insecure, my heart went out to him. I felt total sympathy for a boy, full of pain, who has withdrawn into himself, missing his father dreadfully and hiding away from life. He became a techie in the drama department of his High School, lighting being the only thing he can feel a connection to because his father was an artist and loved the effect of light. And so Adam loves being on the catwalk high above the stage, working the lights for different effects, where he can see everything that’s going on without being seen himself.
Full review at http://wp.me/p47cK4-E4
I loved “Since You Left Me” and this book appealed too. I love the way Mr Zadoff writes, touching and funny at the same time and again dealing with a teenager’s real and deep issues in an insightful way. The words drew me in and the characters felt real and as diverse as you’d find in any high school. I liked Reach, Adam’s best friend and dastardly Derek was the one you love to hate.
Adam is likeable, sweet and insecure, my heart went out to him. I felt total sympathy for a boy, full of pain, who has withdrawn into himself, missing his father dreadfully and hiding away from life. He became a techie in the drama department of his High School, lighting being the only thing he can feel a connection to because his father was an artist and loved the effect of light. And so Adam loves being on the catwalk high above the stage, working the lights for different effects, where he can see everything that’s going on without being seen himself.
Full review at http://wp.me/p47cK4-E4
August 30, 2011
YA. Standard high school theatre dead father social clique standing up for yourself young adult novel. Adam Ziegler, whose name suspiciously mirrors that of the author, is struggling after his father's death. Socializing is difficult for him and though he loves being a techie, increasingly his favorite place in the theatre is up in the lighting grid, alone.
I liked the emphasis on light; it felt really natural, in the story, and for the character. Some of the dialogue's quite funny and there are two, count them two, girls who have distinct personalities and minds of their own, plus a best friend who's Indian, but the plot didn't deliver any surprises and the writing's not charming enough to let this coast by on its setting alone.
It's not bad, but it's not great, either.
Three stars, but really it's more like two and a half.
eBook: It has a cover, and only four or five tiny errors.
I liked the emphasis on light; it felt really natural, in the story, and for the character. Some of the dialogue's quite funny and there are two, count them two, girls who have distinct personalities and minds of their own, plus a best friend who's Indian, but the plot didn't deliver any surprises and the writing's not charming enough to let this coast by on its setting alone.
It's not bad, but it's not great, either.
Three stars, but really it's more like two and a half.
eBook: It has a cover, and only four or five tiny errors.
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