Sorta Like a Rock Star

So, I was struggling with my feelings of this book and the rating for this book. It was between what I felt like is SHOULD be versus how I REALLY felt about the book. I finally went with my real feelings. It's not going to be popular, but so be it.

Yes, this book has so many important themes: homelessness, death, alcoholism, autism, diseases, poverty, bullying, outcasts, veterans, senior citizen, religion... So I felt like I should have liked it. But I just couldn't get over the writing. Every other line had "word" after it or "sucka" or "true? true." Kinda gangster-like. Which the character wasn't at all. And it just bugged me so much.

Yes, the book was about hope. And parts of it were heartbreaking towards the end. But it was all just too much, too over the top.

This is a great book... so I'm told that it's awesome...This book is on it's third reader and I've not gotten to read. Husband and Teenage Granddaughter Loved It. When my daughter get's through I intend to read.

I have very much enjoyed several of his other books and certainly enjoyed the opening of this one up to the Korean Catholic Church portion--just got overbearingly sweet. 'Tis a shame since I looked forward to better things for this young girl.

Superb read. Brilliant characterizations. And it takes your heart to a young girl's heart and the challenges she faces. Matthew Quick is a remarkably insightful writer. I loved 'Silver linings Playbook" and I think I love 'Sorta Like a Rock Star' even better. Both of us have read and reread this book ( actually both books). Looking forward to many more books by Matthew Quick.

From the title, you might not guess the topic of Sorta Like a Rock Star. I thought it would be about a band, but music is a relatively small part of Amber's life. She uses it to teach English to some Korean immigrants. Later, a senior whom Amber knows uses it to put some life into some depressed older folks. Otherwise, Amber's story revolves around a stray dog she nursed back to health, her mom with whom Amber has a close relationship even though drugs have become a release for her mom from life's woes, and being homeless. You'd think this would be enough trauma for a seventeen-year-old to handle, except then a far worse tragedy happens. I commend Quick that although the health of Amber's dog does become a pivotal part of the plot, he avoids the dying-dog cliché and instead creates a remarkably different story.

The first thing I need to do is caution you about the style. It's different than the norm, as you can see from Amber's initial narration: "Lying down, shivering on the last seat of school bus 161, pinned by his teensy doggie gaze, which is completely 100% cute (I'm such a girl, I know), I say, `You won't believe the bull I had to put up with today.'" In other places, Amber uses her own phrases to describe people and places in her life such as referring to the school bus parking lot (or perhaps the bus itself) where she sleeps as "Hello Yellow". Amber also interrupts her narration with questions and catch phrases. For example she often injects: "True? True." Sometimes there are less repeated refrains such as: "My future bed's going to be an ocean of mattress, maybe even a queen-size, sucka! Word." At times, I felt lost trying to keep up with Amber. What finally helped was immersing myself into her world without interruption. Consequently, I read Sorta Like a Rock Star in two sittings.

I came to love Amber. In a way, she reminds me of Pollyanna, a creation of Eleanor Porter. This might feel like an insult to people to whom Pollyanna is sickly-sweet syrup, but it is actually a compliment. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Pollyanna, she always found the bright side to every situation. She also believed in God. Amber certainly doesn't mind labeling parts of her life as dull or some people whom she meets as mean, but at the same time she tends to bring sunshine into the world of everyone she encounters. Consider that when she passes sour people on the street, she shouts out some fun welcome and therefore makes most of them not only smile but to respond in a kind way. In that way, she avoids getting beaten up by some of the less vile low lives. She also prays daily to God, but doesn't have much use for the version of religion which preaches only about the sinfulness of mankind. Rather, she is in awe of a powerful God who loves His creation. When tragedy hit Pollyanna, she needed the help of her community to rebound. Likewise when evil strikes closest to home, Amber lacks the strength to face the world and begins to daily question God.

As with Boy 21 by the same author, I am not sure how I feel about the conclusion. There are parts that feel outlandish and certainly far more hopeful that most of us could expect when God allows bad things to happen. I won't tell you about them because that would give away too much, but I expected less of a fireworks spectacle from an author who writes about grippingly real tragedies and responses. There are also parts of the conclusion that I love. Quick has created so many rich and diverse characters, all of whom offer their own personalized answers to Amber's soul-searching in the wake of tragedy. One writes her haiku. Another simply sits with her, day after day after day. A third offers her this advice, "Life goes on. Whether we choose to enjoy it or not. So you might as well find a way to enjoy the parts you can." The way they offer her hope isn't as simple as I have explained it, but does show you the variety of responses and that's what I wanted you to see. Quick doesn't expect Amber to accept pat answers. Or even one amazing piece of amazing advice. Instead Quick allows Amber to retreat, fight, adjust, mope.... And this is how most of us would, if truthful, react to the worst that life can shovel at us. For that reason, I mostly buy into Quick's conclusion.

Author Matthew Quick has three published books to his credit, all of which I have now read. Each has dealt with death on some level, which is situation all of us have to face at some point. Quick's fourth book is due later this year, and it is already on my wish list. In a few short months, since I first watched the movie Silver Linings Playbook which is based on his only adult book, I have become a loyal fan.

I loved this book. Matthew Quick is a wonderful writer. He was able to blend comedy and tragedy beautifully. If you enjoyed reading "Silver Linings Playbook," you should fall in love with our protagonist just as much as you did with Pat Peoples. I would laugh out loud seconds after crying because I was so moved. His style of writing is so uniquely refreshing, and I greatly enjoyed reading through the point of view of Amber Appleton - a kid who speaks her mind and clings to hope and optimism as she struggles through devastating challenges. It's nice to read a YA novel that doesn't fall under the "Teen Paranormal Romance" category, and a nice break from popular dystopian YA novels (I enjoy those as well). Can't wait to read more of Q's work!

I was afraid of giving this book an immediate 5 star rating because I tend to do that with books I love, and then later have to drop them down to 4.5 stars. This book was well written, great characters, real emotions, engaging, impossible to put down, is a stand-out in the crowded genre of contemporary YA, and is a book that I still think about and will probably return to read it again in the future.

Shortly after I started this book I briefly participated in a discussion about how a lot of voices in contemporary fiction tend to sound the same, and it seems like the author is more focused on making the voice of the narrator sound like the right gender instead of trying to make them stand out and linger with us. Well, Matthew Quick clearly has a gift, because Amber Appleton has probably the most unique voice I've ever read in contemporary YA.

Not only does he almost effortlessly create a realistic voice of a teenage girl, he also gives her a distinct voice and personality, that if you randomly read a paragraph in her voice, I'd be able to know who is narrating the piece. I am simply far too inadequate to properly describe it to you, so I will simply say: you have to read it to understand. Trust me, after one page you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

One of the strongest elements in the novel is Amber's depression. Now, before I jump into that I'll need to explain the format of the book.

So, if a chapter ends on an odd-numbered page (1, 3, 5, 7, 177, 277, etc.) then the next page is blank and the page after that is when the next chapter begins.

Amber's depression is actually only about 20% of the novel. It doesn't really surface until you're about halfway in, although that's not to say it takes forever to get interesting. In about 70 pages and many one-paged chapters, Quick was able to do what Melina Marchetta couldn't quite do for me in 243 pages. And since a lot of these one-paged chapters ended on the right/odd-numbered page, about half of those pages were blank. So, 35 pages.

That's talent if I ever saw it.

I adored the side characters! Franks, Robbie, Tyler, Bobby Big Boy (Amber's dog), Private Jackson, the KDFC, Joan of Old, DONNA (who is possibly the coolest fictional mom character ever)!

Amber herself is one of the most loveable characters in the world, and I just wanted to give her a big ol' hug by the end. She is a very religious person, however I wouldn't say she's so religious that the whole book is one big preaching session.

SPOILER ALERT
There isn't really anything surprising about this book though. I knew that Amber's mom would get killed, and I knew that the rapist-murderer would be the one to do it, I knew that BBB wouldn't die of his cancer, etc. However this isn't meant to be a surprising book.
END SPOILER ALERT

It just is what it is, and what it is is awesome. Awesome that you must read.

This is an underappreciated, underhyped book if there ever was one.

So, what I'm basically trying to say is:

READ IT!

I was curious as to whether a male writer could successfully write from the point of view of a teenage girl, but I didn't have to worry. This novel is compelling--laugh out loud funny and brings you to tears sad at the same time. I couldn't put this book down and read it in two days. While it's a YA book, it definitely transcends that boundary. Amber Appleton is a character you love to route for. She is sorta like a rock star. I can't wait until I get out of work so I can start reading the silver linings playbook--also by Matthew Quick, next.