From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

The Outsiders

S.E. Hinton

Start date: March 1, 2020

Finish date: March 31, 2020

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What Members Thought

Oct 08, 2016 Yair Ben-Zvi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I actually ended up surprising myself when I gave this novel a perfect score. If one were to take it apart and rate it based on its constituent aspects, then yes, this novel probably would've been a high 2.5 or maybe a 3 star from me. However, I'm not a New Critic (thank God) and my consideration of novels extends to more than just sections of text on the page; I try to take in as much about the work as I can. Author, author history, the time in which the work was published (temporally, cultural ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2019 Janet rated it really liked it

S.E. Hinton wrote this book at age 16. That the book has been very popular since then, is impressive indeed. Written to give readers a view of life as a teen from the less prosperous, unglamorous side of town, it is fast paced, graphic, and insightful. The anger against those who have more money and opportunity is present everywhere. Currently, Donald Trump has ginned up that anger to create a cult of frightening followers. Only at the end of the book do we see encouragement from the older broth ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2016 Sarah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, classics

Holy Crap. I loved this book!

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 03, 2012 Katherine Sas rated it it was amazing

Shelves: realism, favorites

Back when I joined Goodreads I went through and logged a bunch of books I read growing up. Every so often I come across some kind of goofy rating, like "4 stars for The Outsiders." I was probably trying to seem cool. Let's get this straight: I am definitely not too cool for The Outsiders.

I don't think I've read this in 20 years but back in 8th or 9th grade I probably read it 10 times. This revisit was inspired by the excellent Broadway production, which woke up that dormant obsession. It touches Back when I joined Goodreads I went through and logged a bunch of books I read growing up. Every so often I come across some kind of goofy rating, like "4 stars for The Outsiders." I was probably trying to seem cool. Let's get this straight: I am definitely not too cool for The Outsiders.

I don't think I've read this in 20 years but back in 8th or 9th grade I probably read it 10 times. This revisit was inspired by the excellent Broadway production, which woke up that dormant obsession. It touches on some emotions deep inside me tied to friendship and family, the need to belong at war with the sneaking fear that you don't. It's the same part of me that loves Stand by Me or the Marauders stuff in Harry Potter. You know, "the friends you had when you were twelve," that kind of thing.

Any flaws present in the writing of the 16 (!!!) year old author are more than justified by the narrative voice of the 14-year-old protagonist. I wouldn't say the stage musical improved on the source material exactly, but it did unlock it for me in certain ways. In particular, the Curtis brothers are fleshed out in a lovely way. The book is so much in Ponyboy's head. By the end he tries to understand Darrel but it's the superficial understanding of a kid trying to understand what is effectively a clumsy, underaged parent. And Sodapop (is there a more disgustingly lovable character in literature?) is so high up on a pedestal in Pony's eyes that at times he's barely human. By giving them scenes and songs without Ponyboy, the musical humanizes Darry and Soda in a way that only adds depth to the original novel. Having seen the show (and having grown up a lot) they are the most interesting part to me now.

But that's not a criticism of the book. These seem to me intentional choices by a writer who's in control of her story: She never breaks Pony's character, even at the cost of remaining distant from the others. This is probably why Dallas and Johnny are the more obvious standouts, and why the movie focuses largely on them to the detriment of the rest of the gang. The distance (however slight) he has allows him to see them just a bit more clearly in a way that he simply cannot with his brothers.

Anyway, loved it, 5 stars. I highly recommend the musical. I've never been the biggest fan of the Coppola movie but I want to track down the director's cut and give it another chance. I devoured Rumble Fish earlier this year and also loved it (now there's a great movie, too) so I think it's past time to track down S.E. Hinton's other books. ...more

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Feb 08, 2016 Brandy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020tbl

I find it so hard to believe that a 16 year old wrote this infamous story. It has been a very long time since I read it last, but still love it just the same. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

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