Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not worth legendary status
Review: "Vision Quest" is a book that I waited three months to read. While the book was better than the movie, I felt that the wrestling aspect often got lost in the story of Louden growing up. Plus, at times, the constant refrences to the river seemed to drag down the flow of the story. I liked the novel very much, and will undoubtably give it to me children to read, if I ever have any. "Vision Quest" is a book that is less about wrestling, and more about life. For that reason, I would reccomend this novel to any reader. Note:If given the choice between the order in which to experience both the movie and the book, I think it would be more benefitial to read the book first. However, that is just an opinion. Enjoy!!!
Rating:
Summary: Compelling story of sport and teenage life
Review: A pat on the back to the publishers for keeping this classic novel of teenage angst in print, which rivals A Catcher in the Rye in its realism and insight.
The hero needs to cut weight to make the division for his wrestling match. Along the way he learns about love, nature and ambition and you end up yearning for him to succeed.
The novel is more famous nowadays for being the basis of a film with an early cameo from Madonna as a nightclub singer but the book is arguably a greater achievement
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointing Quest
Review: Although mainly reading the book as an obligation, I expected that the topic of wrestling would be enough to keep me interested. To my disappointment the book was mainly about a teenage boys and his "experiences" that distract him from the sport. The content was out of place and, at times, disturbing. The author builds up a mediocre amount of suspension when Louden decides to go one-weight class lower, yet manages to disappoint the reader again with an incomplete ending which fails to leave the reader with a sense of curiosity or satisfaction.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, but disappointing
Review: Back in the 80's, I saw the excellent movie based on this novel and loved it. Since then, I had always searched for the book on the theory that the book would be even better than the movie. Unfortunately, the theory doesn't hold here.I am a wrestler, high school, college, and post collegiate in free style. Also, I have coached the sport at the club level. (Somehow, we all have to articulate our perspective when addressing this unique book and story.) Given my wrestling background, I enjoyed the gritty detail of wrestling practice, sacrifice, and the separateness of the amateur wrestling athlete that is well captured in both the book and the movie. But the book is supposed to be something more than that. It is supposed about coming of age and the great struggles of the transition between the teenage experience and young adulthood. This aspect is much better captured in the movie than in the book. The Louden Swain of the novel is a randy, super intelligent, state championship calibre wrestler who has a live in female sex partner. Sorry, I can't relate to that. Most of us don't have family situations wherein a new girl shows up in town, is invited to move in with us, and winds up sleeping with us. And most wrestlers struggle to win every match, have respect for opponents and team mates, and don't think we're about to become doctors up in outer space. Moreover, there is no catharsis in this brief story. The Louden at the beginning of the book is pretty much the Louden at the end. The only difference is that he seems to be ready for his big match with Shute. This leads to my biggest objection to the novel. The action builds toward this big match with the well known rival from a nearby school. We learn that Louden has to cut weight in order to wrestle Shute and that both Shute and Louden have been to the state tournament in previous years. But the novel ends with the climatic match about to start. This is pretty poor technique. In my view, Terry Davis get stuck in the third period. John Irving's "The World According to Garp", "The 158 pound marriage", and "The Imaginary Girl Friend" are much better wrestling stories, written by a true master. Terry Davis has not been much heard from since the original publication of "Vision Quest". Now, I know why.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the movie....a must read for any wrestling fan.
Review: I grew up without a knowledge of amateur wrestling, but after getting into the realm of takedowns, granby rolls and near-fall points, I read where Vision Quest, the book, was re-released. We've all seen the movie, questioning the takedown at the beginning of the big match with Shute, but this book is so much more detailed than the Matthew Modine hollywood production. While the movie was scaled down and PG, the book is a bit more "adult" but still any wrestler will appreciate the detail of travelling to matches, unfortunate weight cutting, and dealing with girls during the season. I got the book from Amazon.com on a Friday afternoon, and started reading it immediately. I finished the 194 page book in no time. As soon as I'd finished it, I've already got a line of wrestlers here at Old Dominion waiting to read it. I HIGHLY recommend reading this fictional story of Louden Swain... Jason Bryant
Editor,
Mat Talk On-Line
Media Director,
Virginia USA Wrestling Virginia AAU Wrestling
Virginia Challenge
Rating:
Summary: Shame on Santa Monica teacher
Review: I personally loved VISION QUEST. It is an outstanding book about self discovery and coming-of-age and pushing boundaries. Thousands of people feel just as I do. Thousands don't. And that is the beauty of literature -- diversity to match all readerships. But SHAME on the Santa Monica teacher who encouraged his or her class to post a group of unkind, personal comments in a public forum. No wonder our kids are growing up without a moral compass, with educators so unfeeling as these.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie, Bad Book Ending
Review: In the book Vision Quest, there is a story of growing up, preparing to graduate high school and to become self-reliant. The author Terry Davis used a great metaphor for life as the sport of wrestling. He kept referring to the intensity of losing weight and practicing to the struggles of life and how we must all overcome them. If you have seen the movie, by the same name, then the book might disappoint you as it did me. The book ends at the beginning of the big match between Louden and Shute, whereas the movie keeps going and finishes the match. This is where the plot seems to just drop off in the book, there was so much rising action and then it just STOPS and then the book ends. This was very frustrating, especially when the book was going great and Louden was getting everything he worked for, his life could not have been better. On the other hand having the book just STOP, it allows the reader to finish the story however it feels necessary. The theme of maturity and coming-of-age is definitely apparent when Louden talks about his Senior Project and how finishing that he will have completed every challenge High School has offered and he will be ready for whatever comes next, which is college in his case. The theme is only of Louden but also includes his friends and girl friend, Carla. Carla was a hitchhiker making her way across the country when she tries to buy a car and ends up being a houseguest at Louden's home. She grows and becomes a fully responsible woman by the end of the book, which a lot of the credit is given to Louden. I believe this is a great book with a bad ending, but judge for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Vision Quest : Louden seeks his place in the circle of life
Review: Louden Swain is a wrestler's wrestler
but he has a problem in form of a up and coming
match with the state champ ,Shoot, a real teratoid!
Oh and by the way... he has to diet down to 147 lb.
to wrestle shoot. Unlike the movie of the same
,name the book has a reality to it.
I 've known guys like this at
my high school. They were doing homework in one
hand and squeezing a handgripper in the other!
Louden is totally dedicated to preparing for his
meeting with shoot.
Able to do mountains of push ups 100 at
at a time and sit-ups to infinity! Carla
adds to the mix ,first as house guest then
as .....well read the book and find out.
The only dark spot in the book is
that it ends with the start of the swain - shoot
matchup. You never see who won the match!!
But you know that win or loss swain would
treat these two imposters the same.
A good book for adolescent sports nut, or
any aged sports nut!
Rating:
Summary: Vision Quest : Louden seeks his place in the circle of life
Review: Louden Swain is a wrestler's wrestler
but he has a problem in form of a up and coming
match with the state champ ,Shoot, a real teratoid!
Oh and by the way... he has to diet down to 147 lb.
to wrestle shoot. Unlike the movie of the same
,name the book has a reality to it.
I 've known guys like this at
my high school. They were doing homework in one
hand and squeezing a handgripper in the other!
Louden is totally dedicated to preparing for his
meeting with shoot.
Able to do mountains of push ups 100 at
at a time and sit-ups to infinity! Carla
adds to the mix ,first as house guest then
as .....well read the book and find out.
The only dark spot in the book is
that it ends with the start of the swain - shoot
matchup. You never see who won the match!!
But you know that win or loss swain would
treat these two imposters the same.
A good book for adolescent sports nut, or
any aged sports nut!
Rating:
Summary: Shame on Santa Monica teacher
Review: The book itself can be looked at as kind of corny but the real message it sends out is amazing. The kid Loudan really wanted something and wasn't going to let anyone or anything step in his way. He put so much time and effort into it and that's what it really takes to succeed at your future goals in life. You have to make big sacrifices and take great risks to accomplish something like that. It sets a great example for anyone who wants to succeed but is hesitant about it. I recommend this book to a more mature audience like 16 and above because of it's content.
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