The Spectacular Now in Around the World in 80 Books

Feb 02, 2010 Tony rated it really liked it

Shelves: novels, adapted-for-film, teen

I'm only an occasional reader of YA fiction, and this is another case where it didn't really occur to me that this was book aimed at teen readers until I was halfway through it. The original first-person voice of Oklahoma City teenager Sutter Keely grabbed me from the start, and his alcohol-fueled misadventures during spring term of senior year make for a surprisingly compelling read. Sutter is the classic "life of the party" mixed with classic "nice guy with a heart of gold" (a possibly mythica I'm only an occasional reader of YA fiction, and this is another case where it didn't really occur to me that this was book aimed at teen readers until I was halfway through it. The original first-person voice of Oklahoma City teenager Sutter Keely grabbed me from the start, and his alcohol-fueled misadventures during spring term of senior year make for a surprisingly compelling read. Sutter is the classic "life of the party" mixed with classic "nice guy with a heart of gold" (a possibly mythical combination that I've never encountered in real life). He's the kind of character who is still good friends with his lengthy list of ex-girlfriends, all of whom eventually dump him after realizing that he's only interested in living for the moment.

Unfortunately for him, he's also an alcoholic -- one whose antics tread the line between funny and dangerous. Early in the story, the charming drunk is dumped by his apparently awesome girlfriend, and while he schemes for a way to win her back, he befriends a weedy wallflower of a girl. Fortunately, the book mostly avoids the cliche of the ugly duck turned swan (and even directly references that particular genre of teen movie), even while making their relationship believable and kind of heartbreaking. The raw material is a mix of R-rated teen comedy and "issues" of the ilk that tend to pollute much YA fiction. What makes the book stand out is its total disregard for the traditional character arc that would lead Sutter toward some kind of self-discovery/realization/change.

Indeed, that may prove to be off-putting to many readers, who will be expecting some kind of feel-good ending. The story certainly sets up that expectation, and to a certain extent, it is a feel-good ending -- but an utterly real one, not a made-for-Hollywood one. In the end, it struck me as both a funny and brave book, neither of which qualities I tend to associate with YA books.

Note: Those sensitive to depictions of teen alcohol and drug use, teen sex, and stuff like drunk driving will want to stay far away from this. ...more

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Jul 15, 2014 Sarah rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, page-to-screen, kindle

I see what you did there, Tim Tharp, by writing a first-person POV wherein the protagonist's problems are obvious to everyone - including the reader - but himself. It almost reads as a "what not to do" manual. But the book, the story, and the connection of the characters are just blah. Instead of rooting for the lovers to live happily ever after, I kept wishing Aimee would get some self respect and a personality of her own rather than becoming the female Sutter. ...more

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Apr 16, 2011 mstan rated it really liked it

Shelves: for-young-adults-or-children, addictive-ya, american, src-summer-2012

Meet Sutter. Charming, self-assured, a guy who knows how to have a good time, he doesn't need anyone to tell him that life is 'spanktankculicious'. Sure, his girlfriend Cassidy may expect him to read her mind sometimes, and his family is mum about where his absent father - who disappeared eons ago - is, but some 7UP and Jim Beam (or was it Seagram's?), along with some Dean Martin music, helps him chase the blues away.

Of course he isn't an alcoholic. He's done some self-assessment before, and one ...more

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