Jake, Reinvented

Rating:
Summary: Definitely the most serious Gordan Korman book
Review: Although this one had a lot of comic relief, I was surprised at the degree of seriousness at some points in this book. The plot has Jake, a high-school nerd, literally "re-invent" himself into a social success. He changes both schools and personality for the girl of his dreams. He almost pulls it of perfectly, but finds he can't cope with such a new lifestyle. Eventually his social prosperity shatters. What I found most intriging was Korman's ability to fullfill every unhappy teen's dream with the character of Jake and his ability to recreate himself. This is the only Gordan Korman book I've read that deals with some darker themes, such as assault, peer-pressure and teen drinking. The combination of humour and seriousness blend well into an interesting story. I'm quite used to Korman's comic writing so I found this a nice surprise. The only thing I found a little unbelievable was Jake's continual devotion to Didi. How could a guy who is obviously intelligent be so stupid?

Rating:
Summary: Definitely the most serious Gordan Korman book
Review: Although this one had a lot of comic relief, I was surprised at the degree of seriousness at some points in this book. The plot has Jake, a high-school nerd, literally "re-invent" himself into a social success. He changes both schools and personality for the girl of his dreams. He almost pulls it of perfectly, but finds he can't cope with such a new lifestyle. Eventually his social prosperity shatters. What I found most intriging was Korman's ability to fullfill every unhappy teen's dream with the character of Jake and his ability to recreate himself. This is the only Gordan Korman book I've read that deals with some darker themes, such as assault, peer-pressure and teen drinking. The combination of humour and seriousness blend well into an interesting story. I'm quite used to Korman's comic writing so I found this a nice surprise. The only thing I found a little unbelievable was Jake's continual devotion to Didi. How could a guy who is obviously intelligent be so stupid?

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Novel
Review: As someone who has read The Great Gatsby several times under different circumstances, I was intrigued by the idea of a teen version of the story. While the book is easily read and not very long, it took me some time to finish simply because it held no allure to draw me back. From the opening party, I was bored. The only interesting aspect was Korman's parallels to Fitzgerald. To Korman's credit, he does shadow Fitzgerald's characters and plot. But that's all he does. There was nothing new or noteworthy about this version of obsessed love.

The few parts where Korman shined (briefly) were the final courtroom scene and Rick's interaction with Jake afterward, and the fact that the Myrtle character (Nelson) does not end up dead.

Also sorely lacking is Fitzgerald's rich use of language through symbolism and figurative language. Korman does not use parallels to the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg or the Valley of Ashes, he does not use the green light off the Buchanan's dock, even his wild parties do not come across the way Fitzgerald's did since there is the undertone of underaged drinking and the mild vandalism in a home not "owned" by Jake, but by his unobservant father.

At least Jay Gatsby had an air of dignity about him. Jake's dignity is shattered early in the story and he never acquires the same level of nobility again. Jake comes across as a sham, where Gatsby retains a bit of mystery and respect.

Rating:
Summary: Richie's Picks: JAKE REINVENTED
Review: I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited--they went there. They got into automobiles which bore them out to Long Island, and somehow they ended up at Gatsby's door. Once there they were introduced by somebody who knew Gatsby, and after that they conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with amusement parks. Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission."
--F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925

"Everybody was there--most of the football team, their girlfriends, the cheerleaders, and a bunch of their boyfriends and friends, the cooler people from student council, and a collection of athletes from basketball and track. I noticed some sophomore girls whose names I didn't know--they'd really filled out over the summer; and a few guys who played in their own rock band. It was the guest list that really made this bash what it was. If I could put together the party of my dreams--not that my parents ever left me alone in the house for more than five minutes--this was exactly the kind of crowd I'd want. I marveled at how a newcomer like Jake Garrett could waltz into town and instantly know all the right people to invite.
"I turned to Todd. 'Do you see him?'
"Todd shook his head. 'Must be upstairs.'
" 'Don't his parents notice there are fifty kids going nuts in their house?' I asked.
"Jake's dad's out of town five days a week,' Todd explained. 'His mother lives in Texas somewhere. He picked up a slice of pizza from the table that was loaded with the stuff, folded it expertly, and took a bite."
--Gordon Korman, 2003

In the same way that Will Shakespeare's immortal work has long benefited from West Side Story, Francis Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, THE GREAT GATSBY, will undoubtedly profit from the publication of JAKE, REINVENTED, an extremely well-crafted contemporary retelling by Gordon Korman. Korman, a master of smart-mouthed characters whose own twist on the Bard's star-crossed lovers--last year's SON OF THE MOB--was one of 2002's funniest YA books, has taken a slightly more serious turn with his latest story.

"Jake gave a nervous laugh, 'I guess you've figured out my little side job.' "

Frankly, it takes a little imagination to visualize swarms of teens of my grandfather's generation (no less this generation) taking GATSBY to heart as a cautionary tale. But transformed into a contemporary YA, it is quite easy to see how Rick's (think Nick's) narration of this story of obsession, acceptance, and popularity will have many teens thinking hard about the consequences of these characters' actions. It is said that teenagers reinvent themselves on a daily basis. This believable tale of metamorphosis will surely serve them well.

"I began to push my way through the clammy bodies.
"Marty Rapaport grabbed me and held back my progress. 'Hey, cross-bite, what's going on? What is this, the O.K. Corral?'
"I heard Jake's greeting to Todd. 'Glad you could make it, baby. What's up?'
"For a second there, I toyed with the possibility that he could brazen it through, that his sheer faith in who he'd become might do the job for him. This wasn't the old Jacob Garrett. This was Jake, reinvented. But as soon as Todd started talking, I knew the battle was lost."

In Korman's version, you still have the Gatsby figure creating everything for that girl from his past. You have the corresponding infidelities at the center of things. And while the ultimate outcome is toned down from car crashes and gunshots to cracked skulls and exiles, it feels no less tragic. Think about West Side Story. If anything, Maria's being left alive and alone at the end of the story, with her rage at the prejudice that caused Tony's death, is MORE powerful than Juliette's self-absorbed suicide.

"They began to close the distance between them, moving in that trancelike state that is so dramatic and all phony. It would have been a real romantic moment except for the three guys standing on their heads against the wall trying to chug upside down while a cheering section bellowed encouragement. I think they were betting on the outcome."

Hey, this is Gordon Korman after all. I didn't claim there was NO humor in the book!

Just as viewers of West Side Story or readers of SON OF THE MOB lose little of the entertainment value by not being familiar with the inspiration for those stories, readers of JAKE may lose many interesting contrasts, but don't lose the relevance of the story by never having heard of GATSBY. (Having myself read GATSBY during my first semester comp class, I can just hear some college freshman in a few years, complaining that GATSBY is a rip-off of that Korman story about the kid who made all that money in order to win the beautiful girl.) Sophisticated readers will move from JAKE to the original and benefit from getting the whole enchilada. (Less ambitious readers will at least rent the video, like I did last night, and still get a taste.)

" 'You were right the first time,' I told her. 'It's all about you.'
"I walked out, slamming the bathroom door behind me."

Rating:
Summary: A pitiful retelling of Gatsby
Review: If I could, I would give this book negative stars. The characters are flat stereotypes, the plot a simplistic reduction of the original, the language mundane. I was insulted by the brute characterization of the football players and the vicious hatred of the nerds.
I spend my days in an American high school and the kids there are much more tolerant and sensible than any of these characters. This retelling of Gatsby eliminates any of the romance of the orginal in favor of trite descriptions of drunken high school frenzies. At least Gatsby's parties included some beauty.
Finally, the premise that Jake finances all of this by writing college essays and that his father doesn't notice the destruction of his house just doesn't work.
Shakespeare took plots from many sources and enriched them. Korman has taken the Gatsby plot and simplified it into a crass portrayal of fools. No beauty, no romance, even Jake's idealism of Didi comes across as ridiculous.
Don't bother reading it.

Rating:
Summary: GRIPPING with a capital G!!!
Review: Jake Reinvented is about a mysterious new boy at school known as Jake. The whole story is through his friend, Ricky's eyes. At first, everyone loves Jake, mostly for his Friday parties. But soon, secrets from his past start to slowly destroy the new identity he created for himself. Everyone starts to wonder why he is so different and why he really has all the crazy Friday night parties. All this leads to the end in which a huge disaster takes place, which also reveals his crazy obsession.

Jake Reinvented has quite a unique story which shows exactly how much some people do to become popular. Everything is described in an excellent way as well so you can visualize everything easily. Jake Reinvented is written very well and has a lot of amusing bits as well as some high action bits and some sad bits. It is gripping through out. Right in the beginning though, the story is a bit confusing. But all in all, this book is 213 pages of great, gripping writing!

Rating:
Summary: Who is he really?
Review: Jake seemed to come out of nowhere thats what Rick thought... So starts this novel. The story is told by Rick, who is friends with the quarterback and this new individual called Jake. Right away you sense something is not right. Jake begins to have a party every friday night at his house, before you know it he is the man to know. As others have said in their reviews this novel is very similar to The Great Gatsby. The school is even named Fitzgerald. In this version nobody gets killed but they are some serious issues that arise. To me the book comes alive with the way the author describes the emotions of the characters. It makes me begin to imagine how they look. To me this is a not just another typical teenager book about high school life but it actually has some morals and values to learn.