Comments on: The Disenchantments http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/ by Karyn Silverman and Sarah Couri Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:03:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Hannahlily http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8246 Hannahlily Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:09:58 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8246 I really liked reading this book, and I happened to enjoy (but not love) the characters and the writing, but the plot was definitely problematic. Thin (as others have mentioned) and so many coincidences! I still would be happy to see it honored, but it doesn't pass the "distinguished" test for me. Other than all those great themes, nothing in it seemed that special compared to many other realistic road trip books I've read. (Also, I would love to talk about authors that could write award or honor-worthy books but haven't yet! What fun to discuss in the off-season!) I really liked reading this book, and I happened to enjoy (but not love) the characters and the writing, but the plot was definitely problematic. Thin (as others have mentioned) and so many coincidences! I still would be happy to see it honored, but it doesn’t pass the “distinguished” test for me. Other than all those great themes, nothing in it seemed that special compared to many other realistic road trip books I’ve read.

(Also, I would love to talk about authors that could write award or honor-worthy books but haven’t yet! What fun to discuss in the off-season!)

]]> By: Sarah http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8247 Sarah Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:09:58 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8247 Mark - I completely agree with you. I was so disappointed and underwhelmed by this book. I felt like it was trying to hard to make a point that, for me, never really got where it needed to be. I didn't care about any of the characters and, as a result, never really cared about where the book was going. Mark – I completely agree with you. I was so disappointed and underwhelmed by this book. I felt like it was trying to hard to make a point that, for me, never really got where it needed to be. I didn’t care about any of the characters and, as a result, never really cared about where the book was going.

]]> By: Allison http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8244 Allison Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:16:30 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8244 Overall I really liked this book. I also appreciated the many relevant, meaty themes. But my issue with the book is the ending. While I did believe that Colby didn't see what was going on with Bev, I did not believe that someone so attached and invested (and deluded?) would be able to recover from a betrayal like that so easily/quickly. I've seen this happen--where a person's love or infatuation for a person blinds them to that person. Bev is both Colby's best friend and his fantasy. I agree with @Sophie that Colby was projecting his feelings and ideals onto her. So the idea that he would miss signs of her personal struggles are believable in the context of these projections and how badly he wanted his fantasies. And maybe it's as simple as him believing her when she says something. Then, when all is revealed, Bev gets off so easy!! Colby's reaction was mature and made for a nice ending, but I don't think Colby was THAT mature. I think that kind of a betrayal, no matter the explanation, would have taken a very long time to heal--especially for a teenager whose hopes and dreams are all caught up in her--but Colby seemed to reach a point of acceptance in just a few days. And did it seem like all the characters in this book were variations on a theme? I mean, how many hipsters can you meet in one road trip? Overall I really liked this book. I also appreciated the many relevant, meaty themes. But my issue with the book is the ending. While I did believe that Colby didn’t see what was going on with Bev, I did not believe that someone so attached and invested (and deluded?) would be able to recover from a betrayal like that so easily/quickly. I’ve seen this happen–where a person’s love or infatuation for a person blinds them to that person. Bev is both Colby’s best friend and his fantasy. I agree with @Sophie that Colby was projecting his feelings and ideals onto her. So the idea that he would miss signs of her personal struggles are believable in the context of these projections and how badly he wanted his fantasies. And maybe it’s as simple as him believing her when she says something. Then, when all is revealed, Bev gets off so easy!! Colby’s reaction was mature and made for a nice ending, but I don’t think Colby was THAT mature. I think that kind of a betrayal, no matter the explanation, would have taken a very long time to heal–especially for a teenager whose hopes and dreams are all caught up in her–but Colby seemed to reach a point of acceptance in just a few days.

And did it seem like all the characters in this book were variations on a theme? I mean, how many hipsters can you meet in one road trip?

]]> By: Sophie Brookover http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8242 Sophie Brookover Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:36:53 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8242 @Beth, I totally agree w/you. I think we'll see her with a seal on the cover one day -- for Edwards and/or Printz -- for sure. And (unsurprisingly) I agree -- that's a great off-season post topic! @Beth, I totally agree w/you. I think we’ll see her with a seal on the cover one day — for Edwards and/or Printz — for sure.

And (unsurprisingly) I agree — that’s a great off-season post topic!

]]> By: Beth http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8240 Beth Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:54:58 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8240 @Nancy Sarah Dessen is one of those authors who I think is absolutely capable of writing at least an honor-worthy book and just hasn't yet. Slightly Off Topic: Wouldn't that be an interesting post for the "off-season". @Nancy Sarah Dessen is one of those authors who I think is absolutely capable of writing at least an honor-worthy book and just hasn’t yet.

Slightly Off Topic: Wouldn’t that be an interesting post for the “off-season”.

]]> By: Nancy Werlin http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8166 Nancy Werlin Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:55:30 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8166 ...Sarah Dessen-esque formula book..." I must comment -- and this is off-topic -- that because Sarah Dessen is relatively prolific, you may have lost sight of just how good she really is. It's hard for me to think of any of her books that wouldn't meet my own Printz bar. Just saying. …Sarah Dessen-esque formula book…”

I must comment — and this is off-topic — that because Sarah Dessen is relatively prolific, you may have lost sight of just how good she really is. It’s hard for me to think of any of her books that wouldn’t meet my own Printz bar. Just saying.

]]> By: Jess http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8161 Jess Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:17:53 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8161 I agree with Laura that Colby's voice felt a little too gender neutral. I knew a bit about the book before picking it up, but didn't remember that the narrator was male, and it took me at least a few pages to realize he was. Sophie, I agree that all the good, meaty questions were the highlight of the book. For me, the characters took a backseat to those themes in a way that weakened the book. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't vote for it as a Printz contender. I agree with Laura that Colby’s voice felt a little too gender neutral. I knew a bit about the book before picking it up, but didn’t remember that the narrator was male, and it took me at least a few pages to realize he was.

Sophie, I agree that all the good, meaty questions were the highlight of the book. For me, the characters took a backseat to those themes in a way that weakened the book. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t vote for it as a Printz contender.

]]> By: Sophie Brookover http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8156 Sophie Brookover Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:01:06 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8156 @TeenReader, I bet this book will get recognition. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it in Best Of 2012 round-ups, and <a href="http://www.ala.org/yalsa/bfya-nominations" rel="nofollow">has been nominated for the Best Fiction for Young Adults</a> list. I just don't see it going the distance at the table w/the RealCommittee. @Mark & Beth: I agree that all three characters are problematically flat (and as Beth said, largely interchangeable), but I would not call them Manic Pixie Dream Girls. I think that's unfair & inaccurate. None of them fit the original description, by Nathan Rabin: "The Manic Pixie Dream Girl exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures." (Quote pulled from <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/07/week-manic-pixie-dream-girl-broke/55121/" rel="nofollow">this excellent piece</a> from The Atlantic Wire.) And even though *I* had a hard time telling Alexa & Meg apart (I kept having to remind myself: Meg is going to college & has anxiety, Alexa is a senior in HS, is very emotionally grounded & is a playwright), I know Colby doesn't, and he doesn't look to them to teach him how to Embrace Life. The big problem w/Bev is not that she's an MPDG, but that she is a blank slate for Colby to project all his feeeeelings onto. I got the sense that Bev really had been trying, in her ineffectual way, to TRY to tell him that she wasn't planning to go to Europe. Colby's clearly been the enthusiastic planner. Bev is quiet, withdrawn, noncommittal, all of which should have been red flags for him. In the immortal words of Wayne Campbell, GET THE NET, Colby! @TeenReader, I bet this book will get recognition. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see it in Best Of 2012 round-ups, and has been nominated for the Best Fiction for Young Adults list. I just don’t see it going the distance at the table w/the RealCommittee.

@Mark & Beth: I agree that all three characters are problematically flat (and as Beth said, largely interchangeable), but I would not call them Manic Pixie Dream Girls. I think that’s unfair & inaccurate.

None of them fit the original description, by Nathan Rabin: “The Manic Pixie Dream Girl exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.” (Quote pulled from this excellent piece from The Atlantic Wire.)

And even though *I* had a hard time telling Alexa & Meg apart (I kept having to remind myself: Meg is going to college & has anxiety, Alexa is a senior in HS, is very emotionally grounded & is a playwright), I know Colby doesn’t, and he doesn’t look to them to teach him how to Embrace Life.

The big problem w/Bev is not that she’s an MPDG, but that she is a blank slate for Colby to project all his feeeeelings onto. I got the sense that Bev really had been trying, in her ineffectual way, to TRY to tell him that she wasn’t planning to go to Europe. Colby’s clearly been the enthusiastic planner. Bev is quiet, withdrawn, noncommittal, all of which should have been red flags for him. In the immortal words of Wayne Campbell, GET THE NET, Colby!

]]> By: Laura Pearle http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8154 Laura Pearle Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:53:25 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8154 My problem was with Colby: I didn't feel that this was a male voice (it felt a little gender neutral) and I definitely didn't sense what should have been anger and confusion over Bev's decision. It just felt like a Sarah Dessen-esque formula book, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's not a Printz. My problem was with Colby: I didn’t feel that this was a male voice (it felt a little gender neutral) and I definitely didn’t sense what should have been anger and confusion over Bev’s decision. It just felt like a Sarah Dessen-esque formula book, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not a Printz.

]]> By: Beth http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2012/09/30/the-disenchantments/#comment-8119 Beth Sun, 30 Sep 2012 21:17:45 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/?p=1396#comment-8119 Mark said : "not one but three Manic Pixie Dream Girls" Yeah, this is where it fell apart for me. I could never figure out why he was so enthralled with the way I could with Miles and Alaska, or even the attraction between say the characters in books like The Big Crunch or Wintertown. The other two girls were pretty interchangeable and not memorable at all. Mark said : “not one but three Manic Pixie Dream Girls” Yeah, this is where it fell apart for me. I could never figure out why he was so enthralled with the way I could with Miles and Alaska, or even the attraction between say the characters in books like The Big Crunch or Wintertown. The other two girls were pretty interchangeable and not memorable at all.

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