Crazy : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Amazingly Real
Review: Crazy, by Benjamin Lebert, was a book that was so real. It is a good novel not only for young adults, but for adults as well. It is becoming very common these days that the adult generation is growing further and further away from our generation, and this book undoubtedly will make aware to adults the conflicts and everyday pressures that are exerted on the younger population. Even if it does take place in Germany, some issues are universal.

Rating:
Summary: CR@ZY!
Review: CRAZY, written by young, 16 year old Benjamen Lebert is an amazing and beautiful attempt at a first novel. Taken away with his writings of comical, and yet at times difficult tales of baording school I was harldly able to put this book down. This book is based on a boy named Benjamen (hmmm...?) who has entered yet another boarding school after being thrown out of a great handful of others due to poor grades (especially in math). Being the new kid for the umteenth is already hard enough, but with the left side of his body being paralyzed, it certianly makes things a little more hard to stomach. But a few days into his stay at his new school Benjamen discovers that he may be in for an emotional ride. What's the ride called? Growing up. With expierences having to do with sex, alchol, divorce, and even leaving his school in the middle of the night, only to end up spending the night at a strip joint. Lebert writes of a strong bond between becoming-of-age boys that Benjamen becomes apart of which is a truely unforgettable one. This crazy little book is a great one-read it!

Rating:
Summary: 3.5 stars is more accurate, the book is more than mediocre
Review: I picked up this book because I have always loved fun stories about young people and their adventures. I am only 23, and still being young myself, they help to remind me of what's great about youth. This story did not disappoint with providing adventures of young guys at boarding school, but there were some problems I had with it.
My main problem, which I think is the same as a lot of people's, is the boys' philosophizing. One or two of these talks about life, God, etc. would have been fine, in a quiet setting between two of the boys. But they appear way too numerously throughout the book, and in unrealistic settings. I mean, let's be real, what group of six 16 year old boys, while attempting to sneak up to the girl's dorm, talks philosophy on the way up the fire escape? More realistic would have been chatting about the night to come. Let's face it, when you're that age, you just don't have that many deep conversations with your peers, especially in a party setting.
On top of there being too many of these talks, the talks themselves got convoluted and confusing. I don't know if it's the translation or what, but I didn't find them rewarding. If i had to hear, "It's just life, let's just live life" one more time, i would scream.
But that's enough about the negatives. I did like this book and enjoy reading it. There were many interesting scenes, such as the boys interacting with the three girls ( I thought there could have been more about Benni's relationship post-sex with Marie, it was never really mentioned), and the boys on the train reading The Old Man & The Sea. The characters were lovable in that madcap sort of way. I couldn't help but think of the fat kid in the Goonies whenever Glob (Fat Felix) was in a scene. I also have to admit it's an impressive accomplishment for one so young.
I think it's a good book, but Lebert should try to concentrate more on what's going on with the characters than randomly throwing in nonsense philosophy.