Rating: 
Summary: Previous reviewer reminds me of main character!
Review: A warm and witty look at turn of the century middle America with the central character a self focused teen aged boy and his first summer love, a "ditsy blonde" from down the street. He IS a classic, self absorbed, rediculous teen aged boy, but that is his charm. You feel pity for him but you'll laugh as the author gently makes him the butt of all his jokes. Only problem is the predjudiced view of African Americans (which was probably the norm in Tarkington's time). Other than that, this book is a great, funny read. Don't miss it (and don't take it so seriously, William)!
Rating:
Summary: not quite up to snuff
Review: Funny, worth reading, but not nearly up to the Penrod books.
Rating: 
Summary: A perfect story -- for at least two reasons
Review: I have had the pleasure of being many of the male characters in "Seventeen." My 17th year seems ages ago but while reading this book, I WAS 17. I am currently the father of teenagers--one of them is 17--and enjoyed the story from that point of view as well. Tarkington caught the essence of what "Dion and the Belmonts" would sing about 55 years later. ("Why Must I be a Teen-ager in Love?")
In my opinion that would be enough to make this a classic. But, as the book has stood still and Time has not, it has also now become a sort of time machine to the way we were in the early 1900's. Whether we have lost or gained something in almost 100 years is up to the reader to decide. But, whether the reader would want to stay 1n 1905 or not, I can almost guarantee a wonderful visit to that time and place.
Rating:
Summary: A Rarity in Hilarity
Review: I read "Seventeen" because in a letter to a friend F. Scott Fitzgerald said he thought the book the funniest ever written; having read it, I agree with him--it is the funniest book ever written. Tarkington kept up the entire thing the whole book through and does not take a breather or pull any punches but gives it to you straight. The characters put things inwardly where things are put inwardly and blurt out what is blurted out, and there is not that feeling of being fake that one can often get from an author when he has written a funny book. But what else is there to say? Read this book if you have ever been in love or seventeen. You will not believe how hilarious being those two things are.
Rating:
Summary: Proving the Obvious
Review: I shouldn't do this...but...That review up there by our 17-year-old critic simply
proves that Tarkington is *exactly* on target in his
novel "Seventeen." Aforementioned critic could *be*
William Baxter...William would have reacted almost exactly
like this to Tarkington's portrait of him, is my guess. "Seventeen" is still one of the funniest books ever
written, allowances made for time and place. Tarkington
was always a sly fellow, and he's in top form here.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny, but a little slow
Review: My mother recommended this book to me a few months ago. When I finally got around to reading it, I realized it was a good idea. Seeing as I have a 17-year-old brother, this made me laugh until I fell on the floor. And, seeing as my name is Jane it made the little sister seem all that much more realistic. The only complaint I would make is that it is awfully slow. The plot is drawn out a little too much, but I think the author made it a point to do so. One agonizes over painful situations William gets himself into, and laughs at the way he deals with them. Of course, any reader in their right mind finds Miss Pratt to be an obnoxious dits, and that makes it all the more hysterical. Any teenage boy who reads this will think "No, I'd never do anything like that!" But think about it from your mother, or sister's point of view, and you'll realize how funny it is. I recommend it to those who are suffering from the feelings teenagers get when they think their world is tumbling down. Just remember what William thought, and you'll see how trivial it all is... And try to keep Jane's common sense and good humor. Have fun.
Rating:
Summary: "Book About Adolescence"
Review: Seventeen is a humorous book about a 17 year old boy, reaching the peak of adolescence. Tarkington did an excellent job describing the hormones and the love that was shown in this novel. I constantly had the chance to relate myself to Willie's position of being 17 and in love. Talking about a neighborhood boy falling head over heals for a visiting girl from a far away town. Showing how dating was back in the old days. Tarkington wanted to not only interest you, but to also show you how things were in the past. These are just some of the few things that he has pointed out in the novel. You read how the African Americans talked and the duties they had. Touching subject on that annoying little sibling that everyone has and showing how they think they know every aspect of your life. Describing what the formal wear was in that day and how big of a deal it was is a major point he proved. showing how money was not everything, and how a dollar went a long way back then. Proving that growing up is one of the biggest challenges that one has to face in this world. He was teaching you that respect that adults have for children was a lot more than it is today. Also showing you the disrespect that the white children had for the African
Americans.
In the novel I realized how different things seem to me and how things have changed over the decades. Yet I realized that no matter how the things are that you are surrounded by we all go through the troubles of adolescence. It is very difficult to be a teenager and I think that Tarkington did an excellent job showing this.
Rating:
Summary: "Book About Adolescence"
Review: Seventeen is a humorous book about a 17 year old boy, reaching the peak of adolescence. Tarkington did an excellent job describing the hormones and the love that was shown in this novel. I constantly had the chance to relate myself to Willie's position of being 17 and in love. Talking about a neighborhood boy falling head over heals for a visiting girl from a far away town. Showing how dating was back in the old days. Tarkington wanted to not only interest you, but to also show you how things were in the past. These are just some of the few things that he has pointed out in the novel. You read how the African Americans talked and the duties they had. Touching subject on that annoying little sibling that everyone has and showing how they think they know every aspect of your life. Describing what the formal wear was in that day and how big of a deal it was is a major point he proved. showing how money was not everything, and how a dollar went a long way back then. Proving that growing up is one of the biggest challenges that one has to face in this world. He was teaching you that respect that adults have for children was a lot more than it is today. Also showing you the disrespect that the white children had for the African
Americans.
In the novel I realized how different things seem to me and how things have changed over the decades. Yet I realized that no matter how the things are that you are surrounded by we all go through the troubles of adolescence. It is very difficult to be a teenager and I think that Tarkington did an excellent job showing this.
Rating:
Summary: "Nobody's Business is Safe from that Child!"
Review: Small town romance is an uphill battle (and source of public amusement) for easily-smitten seventeens in the 19 teens, when everyone knew everyone else's business--especially the protagonist's bratty little sister. It isn't enough that a fellow suffers the social torments of hell in order to impress a visiting bubble blond--his Baby Talk Lady, but that his pecocious younger sibling makes it her summer business to spy on, tattle on and harrass her haggard brother in his amorous affairs. There is little familial sympathy shown for the young man struggling to beat out the competition to win favor in the eyes of the Most Noble One. Tarkington's world is blissfully naive compared with the dangers and pitfalls of 21st century life for teenagers, yet William's emotional battles remain poingnant, as young love (actually infatuation) undergoes daily upheavals. Relatively clueless as to his motivations and private agonies, his parents exist on another plane--as do many
adults in this novel of pre war Americana. The most original character created is that of Genesis, the dishevled Black town handyman, whose very presence--with his mongrel canine companion---causes William frightful embarrassment. Keeping up appearances is critical, as William foolishly allows Clothes to Make (and Break) the Man. The humor comes not only in the pathos of William's extreme efforts and psychological sress, but from the drole style of the narrator's commentary. The story unfolds with little plot but much expenditure of physical and emotional energy. How can William rise above his rivals to capture the heart of the enchanting Miss Pratt in one too-short summer? This summer is anything but short to the female sensation's long-suffering host, who is soon on the brink of breakdown. And through all the anguish caused by Lola's invasion of this small town, Jane eats and sneaks and deliberately torments her bother--
alas, she mostly gets away with it, too! How can a decent fellow court a goddess like Lola, with such disreputable creatures as Genesis and Jane lurking about? This is a delightful pre Happy Days read for kids of all ages--reminding us of the pangs of young love and foibles of youth. As fresh as when it was written by the author of PENROD.
Rating:
Summary: A book that keeps your attention......
Review: This book was written from a young man's point of view. It was how he saw the world in a different way, then any one else. He felt that he was not getting the attention or respect from the town's people he hoped to get. He felt they treated him unfairly because of his age. So he tried to change things about him self that would possibly give him more respect from the town's people. So he could be treated more like an adult, and not just another kid from the street. Most of us can relate to some of the changes in the world, from the war in Iraq to the early depression. So we all can relate to some of the changes' that he is going through.
In this book he learns a lot about love and how it perhaps changed him into a man. The girl he wants to be with in this book almost presents her self as being better then him. He doesn't know how to interpret all of his feelings for this girl. He doesn't understand how girls' think, so he doesn't know how to respond to it so he kind of acts dumb about the whole subject. Some of the hints and the flirting that go, on that is being over looked is how some relationship's are today.
This book had a lot of racialist remarks in it, but back when the book was taken place this was how he had viewed it. It basically talked about how the black's where underprivileged because of color, since color back then was a very big issue. Most people didn't want to have any thing to do with blacks, as if they were cursed or something? This book kind of teaches them that color is not that big of a deal at all, but it takes him awhile to understand this fact.
This book was meant to take your mind back in time. It was meant to see how one young boy viewed the world. This book teaches many things love, friendship and race. This is still how this world functions today on many levels.
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