I Am the Cheese

Rating:
Summary: Spine-tingling, overwhelming and brutal
Review: This book kills me. It overwhelms and destroys me and rips apart my world. Does this sound like a positive review? Well, "positive" is a watery understatement. I will never forget the moment I, as a high-school freshman, hiding my reading from my teachers, desperate to get to the end, finished this book. I feel a hint of that enormous, shattering emotion swirling up into my gut even as I read a few words of the excerpt displayed here. If you are an alienated young man, one-click this book now.

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Summary: like a Sick and Twisted "Wizard of Oz."
Review: Most of the one-star reviews are due to this book being a recipe for hopelessness, and that is an accurate picture of this book. What I find most interesting is the Biblical metaphors. The main character, Adam, greatly parallels the Adam of Genesis, including the curse of Adam that he would have to be a Farmer. His girlfriend, Amy, is like Eve in being created for Adam. And the antagonists in this book have an eerily hidden quality. I use the plural "antagonists" due to both the sides of the struggle Adam finds himself in being essentially antagonistic, and deeply intermixed.

How much you'll enjoy this book depends on how much you like David Lynch movies, Memento, and [neo-noir] genre in general.

Rating:
Summary: I Am the Cheese
Review: I Am the Cheese is a psychotic thriller placed in the late 1900's in New England. The story is about a teenager named Adam Farmer who leads the reader on a journey to uncover his own hidden past. Cormier transitions well between the views of the story. In one view, Adam is riding his old bike from Monument, Massachusetts to Ruttenburg, Vermont to visit his father in the hospital and give him a secret gift he had brought with him. The other view is that of Adam doing interviews with a psychiatrist who is trying to help him remember what happened in his shady past. Another unusual part of the story is that Cormier often leaves the reader unsure of the events transpiring because the story is told from a backwards point of view. This means that the readers must use their intelligence to try to sort the events out. This can also be a negative because it isn't a book that should be taken up for pleasure reading because the confusion may be too much to handle along with the story's often depressing plot. Another downside is the story's setting. Cormier has Adam riding his bike on his way to Vermont for almost the entire book. In conclusion, despite the negatives, I Am the Cheese still may appeal to the kind of reader who likes to figure things out for themselves.

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Summary: I Am the Cheese Review
Review: To me, I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier was an extremely confusing novel. I liked and disliked certain things in this book, and those things allowed me to come to the conclusion that this novel is not to be recommended for readers who like straight-forward novels.
Some of the negative aspects of this book were the confusing "two-plot" technique, where Adam is on his bicycle, and then the book will transition suddenly into a psychiatric hospital where Adam is being questioned about his life. The change is too sudden and there are a lot of cliffhangers. Also, a negative that I saw in this novel was the order in which the facts were presented. The most important ideas and themes of the story came at the end, making the previous writing very confusing. Because of those two negative aspects of I Am the Cheese, when I first started reading the book I knew I wasn't going to like it.
On the other hand, though, there were a few positives that came about which sort of made up for the weirdness of the novel. First, I liked how Adam's whole bike ride was made up in his mind. Some might think that it makes I Am the Cheese even
more confusing, but I believe that it added some interesting stories to boost the excitement. Finally, the whole idea of Adam's family being "on the run" always left me in suspense about what would happen to them, and I liked that.
In conclusion, based on the positives and negatives that I thought were present in this novel, I would definitely give this novel one out of five stars. So, I would, for mystery lovers, recommend this book, but not for other readers!

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Summary: Exciting Psychological Thriller
Review: I am the cheese is a psychological thriller that keeps the reader guessing what is going to happen next. It may be confusing at times, which some readers may consider a bad quality. Another part of the book I didn't like was the reader is virtually clueless about the intentions of the characters. There were many aspects of the book which I felt added to the enjoyment of the reading. First, to understand the entire story it is imperative to read until the last page. I also liked how it was confusing at times which kept me glued to the book. In conclusion I am the Cheese is a intense novel that kept me wanting to read.

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat Overstated as a Great Work
Review: I think the end of this book makes the entire story come crashing down around you. You, as a reader, are among a story that needs some sort of ending to tie it all together. As I read, I thought I could see where it was going in a general sense. But not specifically. When the end finally came, you saw it coming. You knew it had to be something like this.

But then there was a new end. It was the end that really tied the first end together with another aspect of it. Because as I read, I asked myself how the bike ride was going to tie in with the Q&A sessions. We knew "they" were going to win and we knew that Adam was going to end up where he was because of who he was doing the Q&A with. But we could not see the bike ride coming.

And to that end, I thought it was an interesting and enlightening plot twist where Adam ends his ride and encounters all the people we saw on the ride. Nice touch. Similarly, nice touch on the name of the book as well.

However, there is a real downside to this book. Part of me is disturbed because there is no Amy in the "now". I realize that this is my Hollywood need for a better string of tie-ins that make me need to have it all fit together. But there was something just a bit more than sad about her lack of presence in this narrative's reality.

As a side note, how did he really know that the hotel had been abandoned? The thought just struck me. I think that's a flaw.

But too this strikes me as a bad book for a Young Adult audience. What are we supposed to see here? I don't think I ever identified (I'm not a young adult anymore) with the paranoia Adam felt at various points of the book. I mean, the Mr. Grey situation overstates some of the feelings we have as teenages growing up. It's overdramatic if you see this as an effort to parallel the crazy stuff that goes on in a kid's head.

Also, I did not like the real conclusion of the book. That he is just a number and the great big conspiracy engine trudges on. We suddenly go from an introspective young adult book trying to cope with the fears of a teenager to the omniscient governement agencies and why they cannot be trusted and that we're among a society where bad is inherent.

Really, what makes me question this book most is that of, What is the point? What are we supposed to learn from this book? What actions do we take as a result of gaining insight after having read it? If this is supposed to be nothing more than a relational narrative for young adults, why the overly sinister ending?

Also, I tend to disagree that Adam has this smashing discovery at the end because we merely find out that he is wrapped in a discovery cycle that never ends and merely makes Adam's fears and situations ever more unreal and less believeable than I originally thought when I encountered them.

In researching some analysis on this book (I had to see if I was way off the mark with my thoughts), someone says there is, "No glimmer of hope for him." I agree. It's a sad narrative. I've also come across the notion that the book is a narrative on the individual against the system. But where? Where does this become evident? In fact, nothing that happens in the action suggest that there is anything individual happening and that the system has them all wrapped up and they accept it with little question. With the exception of his mother, there is no struggle of the individual against the system and that's not against the system, that's a struggle against Fear.

I think, in all, the book did rope me in to wanting to know how it was all going to tie together and ultimately the author's conclusion was weak. There are elements in it that are good and the writing is fine. But I think you need to look at the greater impact of the book and ask what it's trying to do.

Rating:
Summary: The favourite book of the day
Review: The favourite book of the day

I am the Cheese By Robert Cormier

I am the cheese is a heart beating thriller 'EDon't be fooled by its name. The main character of this book is a lost, confused soul trying to find his past and his future. He is on a journey to find his father but the difficulties he has to go through! To find out about his past and future of his life, with long and short discussions with a therapist trying to help him. What has he forgotten and why has he forgotten? This is not your typical hero save the day story. This story has mostly everything, adventure, exploration, romance, excitement.

Adam is the character's name 'Eor is it? One day, when Adam decides to take his fathers old bike along with a package for his father, he sets out to a town but on the way there finds it is not as easy as it seems. In the mean time, he is sitting in a doctor's room!

This book is mainly a serious hard-to-put-down book. The theme of the book is about real life and how you can trust no one except yourself and only them know who you are in life!

I would have to say this book is the hard to put down, if you are the thriller type. Age 15 and up ward would enjoy this book because it can be hard to understand at times. It is good to think over the book at places before trying to read on. It comes together well at the end but don't expert a romance even though it does have a bit of romantic friendship to it - Susan Trompeter

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Summary: A Cheesy Story
Review: A Cheesy Story

The book I am the Cheese written by Robert Cormer is a very good book. It is interesting and keeps you thinking. The main situation is built around a young boy by the name of Adam Farmer is about 14/15yrs;the father is involved in the government which puts the family in danger

It is set in two towns, which is where the boy leaves from and where he arrives. The settings are a bit confusing at first but you get the hang of it as you go along through the book.

The book is a psychological thriller where the writer does keep written clues back which after leads you in the wrong direction, until the end. There is a very unusual twist to this book but you have to read it to find out.

It is a very serious book as it gets you thinking about life and what's it giving you. It also shows that you must not take things for granted

My opinion of the book is that if you like thrillers and books that play with your mind, then thins is a book for you. I really enjoyed the book. It really got me thinking. The book would be for a boy or a girl over the age of 15 and older. This book is one of my favourite of all that I have read so far. So read it and see what you think

Andria Venter Grade 9 Kingsmead College

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Summary: Cheers for la Cheese
Review: Very much llike the title, "I am the cheese" (a book by Robert Comier)is rich in mystery, suspence and lip-biting climaxes.

The "Farmers" ;the main family in this story, undergo changes due to a past event... .Changes made include scenery jobs,house...and even identity.All changes for the better? The story centres around "Adam Farmer",the only child of Mr and Mrs"Farmer".He has a normal life ,unil he finds "his" birth certificates. More clues come up and he becomes a spy;watching and listening around the house. There are secrets,there's evidence. What aren't his parents telling him?

That was in the past, his on a journey now.cycling round the memories,around the psylumn. He's now traumatized by the past.The past he "can't remember".

But what happened?What forced him to "forget"? He's in an Asylumn ,but why is there? He says he's cycling to his father in Ruttenburg ,but why are they apart and where is his mother?

This book's a psychological thriller.A good read yet a little stinjy with the clues as to solving the mystery.The book constructs blocks of suspence with levels of clues. Climaxes come through out and right at the end is a unbelievably twisted surprize.

The story's set in Rutternberg,Vermont and in Monument Massachusetts.The setting's effectiveness lies in the thought of such a big thing happening in a well developed place ,yet it wasn't noticed or stopped... It makes me kind of think that something like this could be happening here in South Africa, JHB and I wouldn't even know about it.

The auther gives a heavy message lightly.A warning to us to open our eyes ,take notice and do something about things. He brings it through in a confusing, mind working yet entertaining way.

I'm stunned and applaud it's brilliance.For those who are hungry for a super thriller,"I am the cheese" dishes u a small dose of confusion and juicey chunks of mystery.It's more for those above the age of 11.

-A definate must-read,never-put-me-down novel. Nonyam ,South Africa

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Summary: Who is the cheese?
Review: I am the cheese, by Robert Cormier. The title is taken from the nusery rhyme "the farmer in the dell. Does the nusery rhyme have anything to do with the story, maybe it has a connection & if so who is the unlucky one that becomes the cheese?

This is a story about a young boy named Adam Farmer or is that really his name. He lives happily at one stage of his life untill some incidents occur that change everything in his life and he becomes so comfused that he isn't even sure of his identity and whom to trust, not even his parents whom he loves very much. Then to add up onto all of this he went through a very traumatic experience that changed his life completely. This traumatic incident caused his memory to lapse, or was it this insedent or did he just not want to remember? Because of his memmory loss he went to a mental instetution where they would help him to remember, or were they helping him?

When are you where, or are you just in two places at the same time? The setting is in vermont.

It is a psychological thriller an it is misteriouse an very jumbled up with a few clever cluse that help you link things together and help you understand and it is very unpradictable and ceeps you in suspense.

There is a large twist in the plot and it is very unpradictable, comfusing and mysteriouse and makes you think.

It is a serious book and involves death, lies, deceipt, fear, traumer and mystery.

If you like mysteries and traumatic, comfusing stories with plenty drama, that really makes you think, then you will enjoy this book.

I thought it was enjoyable to read, but was a bit too comfusing at times. I got very caught up in this and it cept me in suspense, it made me think but could get frustrating at times when I couldn't figure anything out. Otherwise I thought it was a good book but should be read by people over 15 because it is very it is very comfusing.

Elena