Love. Stars. Action. Sarcasm. Social commentary. Yes, this is a true science fiction novel. One that can actually be of literary merit. It must be a Robert Heinlein.
Did I mention I'm slightly biased when it comes to Robert Heinlein? No? Well I find him to be an amiable author of moderate skill. In other words, I absolutely love his work. Introducing Variable Star, that is not quite all Heinlein. Spider Robinson took the extremely detailed outline of Heinlein's (written before his death and set aside to work on other projects). A story of a young man, who has loved, and lost, and decided to leave his life behind to pioneer with 200 others on a distant uninhabited planet.
Tragedy. What is the big boom that crumbles you Joel (our vivacious musician who narrates our story) and others' lives? I won't tell you. Read the book to know what happens. After all, it is quite good.
This book was not written for adolescents, you will not find it in the young adult's section at a book store. Yet, I was reading Stranger in a Strange Land and Time Enough for Love when I was sixteen or seventeen and in those tomes, Heinlein truly shows his dirty-old-man colors. Hence I name this adolescent lit. So there Barnes and Noble.
Ultimately since I'm quite fond of Robert Heinlein, I now proclaim this wonderful book that adolescents would truly enjoy (hello, read the first sentence), to be a 5 out of 5 stars. Wow! Surprising!
Until next book dear readers.
Heinlein, Robert A., and Spider Robinson. Variable Star. New York: Tor, 2006. Print.
Oh yet another story about a depressed teen, wanting love, sex, and to get out of high school. What's new? Why would this story by Ned Vizzini be any different from the countless books out there? That's what I thought when I looked at this book. Great, another story asking who am I? Why am I alone?
Well color me wrong, this story is different. The good kind, not weird and creepy that makes you want to curl into a ball until the mental images leave. For one, it takes place in an adult psychiatric ward (of which Vizzini has experience). And yes, there is love, there is a happy ending, there is a central lesson to be who you are. But that's not what this book is about. It's about the journey. Do I sound cheesy? Probably, but although I seem to have passed the age to where I can relate to high school woes, the story touched me. In a non-creepy way.
Craig, our lost, confused, horny, and clinically depressed character seemed to be a male, young version of myself in some ways. Dealing with my own issues of the past and present relates to this story despite the obvious differences between Craig and myself. What hit me the most was the side affects of his depression and anxiety. For years I struggled with my own "tentacles," "anchors" and insomnia. Not to mention our shared medication. This book is for all ages and should be exposed to a wider audience. Had I read this back in the day when high school issues were all the rage for me, I might have come out of there a little less cynical and surly...(most likely not).
Due to its nature of relatability (don't care, I'm making that a word), I believe this book is a 4.8 out of 5 stars. Well look at that, I'm a literary critic.
Lastly, a bit of advice because I cannot resist. DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE. It does NOT do this fantastic book justice.
Vizzini, Ned. It's Kind of a Funny Story. New York: Miramax /Hyperion For Children, 2006. Print.
