Nothing they put on this book's jacket is true. It is not "sweet" or "soulful" or "funny as hell." It is definitely not true that "readers of Nick Hornby, Dave Eggers, and Jonathan Tropper should enjoy this 'compelling' novel." The author does not do "some amazing things" in this "wonderfully funny novel." It is not "wholly original and hilarious, and utterly believable." It is none of these things!Should I have run screaming from it when I saw the lead quote was from Dave Barry? Was Carl Hiaasen busy? Because that's who might like it. People who like Hiaasen but wish there was less crime and worse dialogue. Because this guy seems to have not learned the main thing you learn in writing class: Do not have an action and then have the main character tell the other characters about that action. It's incredibly boring. And it happens again and again. Along with characters constantly asking each other if they are ok. Are you okay? I think so. Are you?Maybe. I'm not sure. Are you? You just asked me that.Well, I'm asking you again.I can't tell. I think so.Oh my god, shoot me! Such bad dialogue, absolutely no resolution to the plot, which isn't that interesting to begin with. Worst book I've read in ages. If you want a book that is about a dysfunctional family, this one is for you. It started slow for me and I would've given it a 3, but it became unputdownable. I had to know what would happen next to these crazy people. In the beginning, there literally was not one character that I liked. I felt that they did nothing but make bad decisions. Towards the end, some of them redeemed themselves. A good story, just crazy!
What do You think about Kids These Days: A Novel (2014)?
Another mid-life crisis book. Pretty funny in parts, and definitely wacky. Decent vacation read
—jordy
Total entertainment! Funny, quirky, yet at the same time touching.
—jade
