What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Rating:
Summary: Right up there with A Prayer for Owen Meany
Review: I read this book years ago (well before the movie) attracted by the Tom Sharpe-like cover cartoon (UK edition) and the review which described it as a cross between David Lynch and Grandpa Moses. What an excellent book! Few scenes in a book have affected me as much as Arnie swimming with Becky and the incredibly perfect ending. It's a book filled with hilarious, moving, surprising and true-to-life moments, often simultaneously, which I have often reread. The movie, though admirable (DiCaprio was exactly how I imagined Arnie) was nowhere near the perfection of this wonderful book. Very highly recommended

Rating:
Summary: What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
Review: I read What's Eating Gilbert Grape for a school project and I enjoyed it very much. I heard a lot of my friends talking about the movie but I never got around to renting it so when I was at the book store I found the book version so I decided to read it for my project. The book puts you on an emotional roller coaster, one second you are laughing and the next you feel like you are going to cry. Gilbert is the older brother of a soon to be 18 year old boy who is mentally retarded. The book goes through the every day struggles in the life of the Grape family. There is an obstacle that must be over come every day by the family. It really shows you how hard some people's lives are but it also shows you how there is always good sides to everything. This book really touched my heart and I am really looking forward to watching the movie now. I highly recommend reading this book if you get a chance.

Rating:
Summary: This book was all right
Review: I recently read the book, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," written by Peter Hedges. Unfortunately, I did not find this book as interesting as some other people have. One thing I did like, however, was the fact that it was in first person, and that made it feel like Gilbert was actually talking to you. This book was based around Gilbert Grape, and his family in Endora, Iowa. The Grape family consisted of Bonnie Grape, the wife of the deceased Arnold Grape, and mother of six. Janice Grape, the oldest daughter who left town to become a flight attendant. Larry Grape, the oldest son, who was the one to find his father hanging in the basement, and left town only to return for his youngest brother's birthdays. Amy Grape, the school's secretary, and main figure in the house as to cooking and cleaning. Gilbert Grape, the main character, and main source of income into the family, Arnie Grape, the seventeen year old retard that wasn't supposed to make it past five, and Ellen Grape, the youngest child, and the town beauty queen, until Becky moved into town from Michigan. Throughout the story, Gilbert is trying to keep his younger brother alive 'till his eighteenth birthday, and keep his mother from putting on any more weight, and go crashing throught the floor of the house. His secret affair with the town insurance man's wife is slowly going downhill ever since he started going after the new girl in town. His younger sister is jelous, and his older sister is worried about the family. This whole book pretty much dissapointed me because it was really boring and the whole thing was about Gilbert's problems.

Rating:
Summary: I really loved this book!
Review: I saw the movie before i read the book. Though the movie was good with an excellent cast, the book was much better in my opinion. As I read this book, I almost felt apart of Gilbet's family because its a book with real issues and real family problems which is the essence of the book. Very, very, very, highly recomended. Peter Hedges, your the best baby!!!

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Real
Review: I saw this movie about 5 times before I read the book. The characters actually came to life and I felt like I was friends with Gilbert. It is a wonderful, realistic story that many can relate to. It was funny, moving, and sad all at the same time. I really wish Peter Hedges would write a sequel. All in all, I liked the book better and I strongly recommend this book to everyone.

Rating:
Summary: If you liked the movie, you will love the book
Review: I want go into much detail, because i am sure everyone has seen the movie by now, and the book is pretty much the same, except of course, you know more about what the main characther Gilbert is thinking, and feeling. Gibert and his sister Ellen get's along even worst in the book, than on the movie. Gibert couldn't seem to deal with Arnie as well as he did on the movie, and refered to him alot as retard, which I didn't really like. Read the book to learn more about the Grape family.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Judge This Book by it's Title
Review: I'm not sure what attracted me to this book...certainly not the title. But,I was totally caught up in the Grape family and all the idiosyncrasies that being a "Grape" entailed. Gilbert Grape tells the story about the workings of this peculiar family in a most hilarious way. His thoughts are a scream. The description by the author of the way Gilbert "sees" his mother had me in stitches. The scene when they all leave the house with "Momma" to get Arnie out of jail is priceless. The visual was like watching a movie. My heart ached for Gilbert...from his amazing loyalty to his retarded brother, working to support his chain smoking, morbidly obese mother and other siblings...he was the hero of the story albeit in a quirky sort of way. Read this book! This story is easily relived in Anywhere USA. Unfortunately I could relate to some of it! Peter Hedges has a gift of writing sad, sick, dysfunction, with a humorous slant that is captivating.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Judge This Book by it's Title
Review: I'm not sure what attracted me to this book...certainly not the title. But,I was totally caught up in the Grape family and all the idiosyncrasies that being a "Grape" entailed. Gilbert Grape tells the story about the workings of this peculiar family in a most hilarious way. His thoughts are a scream. The description by the author of the way Gilbert "sees" his mother had me in stitches. The scene when they all leave the house with "Momma" to get Arnie out of jail is priceless. The visual was like watching a movie. My heart ached for Gilbert...from his amazing loyalty to his retarded brother, working to support his chain smoking, morbidly obese mother and other siblings...he was the hero of the story albeit in a quirky sort of way. Read this book! This story is easily relived in Anywhere USA. Unfortunately I could relate to some of it! Peter Hedges has a gift of writing sad, sick, dysfunction, with a humorous slant that is captivating.

Rating:
Summary: it was a awful book
Review: it was awful!was pure hell, so sad

Rating:
Summary: Kirkus dropped the ball (or wielded a knife)
Review: Kirkus's review above has always puzzled me. I have seen them gush over books with far less merit than this one, and this might be the only negative review from them I have ever seen. Certainly it is the cruelest. I mean, "The only thing missing is content and nerve"? "Hardly any serious effect on the reader's emotions or intellect"? That's crazy. It smacks of a biased reviewer having a lousy day. And many points, notably the comment about the book's dependence on pop culture, are never supported or explained. I have always wished they would change it to give it a more fair reading, or at least one that does not qualify as the most hateful I've seen on all of Amazon.com. The treatment they gave this delightful book is deplorable and shameful.