Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.***********The Outsiders is a book about sensitive teenage boys who alternately get into gang fights, hug one another, and burst into tears. They also spend more time than you might expect ruminating on how the tightness of a t-shirt might enhance the rippling musculature of a steely-eyed fellow gang member (this is where Stephanie Meyer got the idea for how to characterize Edward). Even though they're always complimenting each other's hair and doing gymnastics, it's not gay at all because it takes place in 1965, shortly after James Dean had made crying and homoerotic tension cool.This is the kind of book that teachers like to assign to 7th graders (or dumb high schoolers) because it offers up a lot of THEMES about how EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT BUT STILL THE SAME, and teachers feel pretty safe giving a quiz on that because even the stupidest kid can figure it out, as every few paragraphs the narrator will just go ahead and state it outright, like this: "Even though we're Greasers and they're Socs, I guess in the end, we all look at the same sunset." (Sample essay question: What did Ponyboy mean when he said that everyone looked at the same sunset? And all you have to do to get it right is repeat the first half of the sentence.)As a narrator, Ponyboy kept reminding me of Holden Caulfied, if Holden was poor and actually managed to do anything interesting with his evenings. But maybe that just has to do with the time period and the fact that they both say stuff like "I was just about bawling my eyes out, to tell you the truth" every few pages, except Ponyboy is doing it because his best friend knifed someone and then died of a broken back and being on fire, and Holden is just sad because his roommate smells bad (oh and I guess his brother got cancer and died pffffft). I do think they would get along if they ever met, and maybe make out a little bit.I love the last few sentences of every chapter, where SE Hinton trots out her corniest stuff. Chapter 7: "Socs were just guys after all. Things were rough all over, but it was better that way. That way you could tell the other guy was human too." Chapter 8: "'Thanks, Ponyboy.' She smiled through her tears. 'You dig okay.' She had green eyes. I went on, walking home slowly." Oh and it doesn't come at the end of a chapter but: "Not even the rattling of the train could keep me awake, and I went to sleep in a hoodlum's jacket, with a gun lying next to my hand." There's also the best deathbed speech in all of teen literature (probably), which goes like this: "INTERPRETS THEMATICALLY RELEVANT POEM" (DIES).So somehow I never read this in middle school, and when I read it now, I just end up giggling at half of the overwrought emotion (which happened with Catcher in the Rye too, but there I'm going to assume Salinger was writing on multiple levels, because he was a competent adult, whereas The Outsiders was written by someone Holden's age). But it's still a pretty awesome book.EDITED to add that this Penguin edition makes the book seem really classy, which is nice, but Jodi Picoult's introduction is kind of a joke. She basically asked her 14-year-old son to write a book report and quoted excerpts.Facebook 30 Day Book Challenge Day 6: Favorite young adult book.
Set in a small town in Oklahoma in the 1960's, this novel is narrated by a vulnerable fourteen year old orphan, Ponyboy Curtis, who is a member of the "Greasers". The "Greasers" are a gang of boys from a poor neighbourhood and they've all have had to grow up much too fast in order to survive. They come from broken homes, either have no parents or they're parents are drunks and just don't care about their children. The "Greasers" constantly have to be on their guard against vicious attacks from their rival gang, the "Socs". The "Socs", are a group of higher middle to upper-class boys, who all have designer clothes, cars and are college bound. They are rich kids that have things the "Greasers" can only dream about. The two groups literally live on opposite sides of the tracks and are locked in a long standing battle with each other until one night things go too far and a member of the "Socs" is murdered. This was my first time reading The Outsiders. I never managed to get around to reading it as a teenager but I've heard so many people say it is one of their favourite books so I thought it was about time that I read it finally. And now that I've finished the book I can't believe I waited so long!The Outsiders is a gripping and compelling read which is full of suspense. It was also extremely heart-breaking and touching at times. The novel is very well-written, considering S.E. Hinton was just seventeen years old when she wrote it. I was amazed with the amount of depth and layers in this book. There are some corny scenes and the novel is slightly dated in parts but you have to bear in mind that it was written in the 1960's and most of the popular books, TV shows and movies from back then are considered quite corny now. But the book's message is still the same regardless of how cynical we've all become in the 45 years since this book was written. It shows that whether they are poor or rich, all teenagers are essentially the same. They all have the same concerns, fears, struggles, worries and hopes for the future. The characters are all vivid, realistic and well-developed. I really felt for the characters of Ponyboy, Johnny and Dallas and wanted them to succeed. I found it easy to sympathise with the all main characters, after all, we've all been in at least one situation at some point in our lives where we've been misunderstood, and put down simply because of who we are or aren't. The book really shows the flaws in society's pre-conceptions and prejudices of the various social classes. It teaches you thinks are not always what they seem and it reminds us all not to judge a book by its cover. Five stars! If you liked The Outsiders, you'll like the Kevin and Sadie series by Joan Lingard. The two are quite similar and deal with the same conflicts.
What do You think about The Outsiders (1988)?
The Outsiders is on my list of 100 Best Films Ever Made. And I hate Tom Cruise. I hate everything about the man. His religion, his face, his hair, the way he plays the same character in every movie (Tropic Thunder excluded, but that character was just as annoying as regular Tom Cruise, so fuck that guy too), but I can stand him as Steve in the film because he's just kinda... there. I think Matt Dillon and Ralph Macchio steal the show, but that's just me. Anyfloop, that's how I feel about the movie. (For a minute there, I forgot I was reviewing the book...)I suppose the reason I started a review of this book with a comment on the film is because they are not much different from each other. If you're pressed for time, the film will do just fine. Of course, if you want more inner thought and motivation, read the book. Continuing the comparison of film and book (why the fuck not, right?), I believe that the movie handles (view spoiler)[Dally's death (hide spoiler)]
—Edward Lorn
This book, which was written in the 1960's, may have well been written today. It describes the many conflicts between gangs, social groups, family violence, and friends. Many emotions and thoughts surround the patrogonist, Ponyboy, who describes ganglife in the city. The book goes into many depths to develop the personality and emotions of every single character, and even from the view of the main character, you know the intellects of every little character. Every emotion is very sicere and well portrayed and not a detail is left out. You get a good view of human nature, feelings, and life. The story has a very moving plot that deals with family conflicts, murder, robbery, gang fights, friendship, social status, and loss. It does well at alerting the reader of the seriousness of gang warfare. Even though it expresses the many sad parts of life in the city, it gives a message that there can be hope and there is hope for those who have not lost the fight yet. This is an incredible book and definately worth getting. A must read!
—Julie
"Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.."I was grinning so hard when I finished that last chapter, I was freaking myself out. 21 two-layered tissues were used during the process of reading this book (partly because I have a cold to be honest ;P but still.. this book got me really sentimental).I absolutely loved the idea of the novel after I had finished it but then after I read more about the context in which it was written, I was comletely awe-struck. I mean, a novel written by a sixteen-year-old girl based on a true story about teenage gangsters?! How much cooler could you get?I am almost positively sure this novel will develop into a classic sometime in the future. Its themes are just so universal. The same can be said about the characters. Ponyboy is a character any young adult can easily sympathize with. The plot and language as well were so strinkingly realistic, it was kind of creepy. But hey.. what would you expect from an author who actually lived through it all? I am now off to watch the movie and, hopefully, it will be as good as the book.So five 'tuff' stars it is! ;) Stay gold.
—Ashrakat Deyab
