Not as Crazy as I Seem

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Summary: "Not As Crazy As I Seem" - Book Review
Review: "What would my personality be if I didn't have my "tendencies," as Mom puts it? If I weren't Devon the Anxious, Devon the Obsessive, Devon the Clean, what kind of Devon would I be?" Devon was not any ordinary teen. He was a tenth grader with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Devon never thought he was sick or had any disorder, he just always thought he was a little different than everyone else. Devon had just moved to Boston and was learning to cope with his grandfather's death and adjust to his new private school. A terrific part in the book is when he meets Tanya, an African American girl who becomes Devon's first friend. This is a great part in the book because Tanya later on becomes a big influence in Devon's life. Devon is slowly learning to overcome his OCD although it is not easy. The genre of this book is realistic fiction.

"Not As Crazy As I Seem" was a real page turner. As you read, new problems keep occurring and keep you wondering what is next to come. It is a very unpredictable book which makes you want to uncover the outcome even more. By the end of the book, you will be glad you reached the resolution but you will be upset at the fact that the book is now ever.

While reading this book, it was very easy to concentrate. It was not an especially complicated book and did not discuss many complex ideas. Everything seemed to flow and fit together nicely making it simple to understand. Also, the ideas were all very clear so that readers of age could comprehend it all.

Personally, as a reader I take pleasure in this realistic fiction. This book increased my fondness of this genre. This is because it was realistic and nothing was too unimaginable. Everything that happened in this book could certainly happen in real life. Also, people with OCD like Devon in the book, might be able to relate to the book because of how real it is. I definitely would recommend this book to others.

While at the library, I saw the book "Not As Crazy As I Seem" on the shelf with the new arrivals. I picked it up and read the short summary. It seemed like an interesting book and I had never read anything with a similar concept so I checked it out. Although I really enjoyed this book, I did not really connect with any of the characters or themes in the story. I did realize though that I do have certain things that bother me if out of place or out of order like Devon, the main character. All in all, I took delight in this book and will probably read more of George Harrar's books in the future.

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Summary: Not asCrazy as i seem review
Review: Devon Brown has always viewed himself as being ordinary. But from an outsider's opinion, Devon is an obsessive geek who is struggling hard to fit into his new high school. Not as Crazy as I Seem is a book that demonstrates all the problems Devon is going through as he strives for normality in this world that won't accept him.

Devon has been diagnosed with the dreaded disorder that effects many teens and adults. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is its name and it's not just his shrink that is worried about him. Devon's whole family has been worried about his condition and has decided to give him a clean slate in a new town.

Not as Crazy as I Seem surpassed any other novel I read this school year. Not only was it funny and catchy, but it made me view my own life with a whole new perspective. Devon's obsessive ways get him into a lot of trouble, including breaking into the school to straighten a crooked poster, overcoming his phobia of sitting on a dirty chair, and always doing everything in fours. It's hard not to judge your own lifestyle after reading this novel and then thinking, "Am I this obsessive sometimes?"

This Realistic novel by George Harrrar is so realistic it's hard to believe it is actually fiction. Harrar's novel started out as a creative idea that blossomed into a novel so real and close to home. Devon's character has a place in all our hearts even though he can be a bit obsessive sometimes. He won the friendship of two new friends, Tanya and Ben, who teach him that every moment is worth living and that there are worse things than sitting in a germ filled cafeteria.

I really enjoyed reading Harrar's novel and felt that I could really relate to Devon. Everyone, even from different generations, could relate to some character in some way, therefore I would recommend it to everyone. I was very impressed by George Harrar's writing skills and would read further works by him.


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Summary: Crazy? Or just different?
Review: Growing up is hard, especially for Devon. Devon Brown is a teen who deals with the pressures of changing school, the death of his grandfather and worst of all, OCD. His obsessions with doing things in fours, not touching doorknobs with his bare hands, his fear of germs and pulling away from those who try to get close to him are all prime examples of Devon's problems. Throughout the course of the book, Devon learns how to cope with and handle his problems. After changing psychiatrists Devon learns that his OCD can be overcome with a little help and encouragement from his friend, Tanya and his parents. One day at school a boy named Ben writes graffiti on the walls at school and Devon takes the blame for it even though he and Ben don't get along. Thinking he would be in trouble, Devon was scared but it turned out for the best and having taken the blame for Ben changed his life- in a good way. With the help of his new friend, Tanya,his new psychiatrist and his parents, Devon learns that his compulsions can be overcome.
Personally, I thought this was a great book. I can relate to much of it because I also have OCD and I can relate to the things Devon was going through. Parts of it are almost like a self-help book because the book explains a bit about OCD and how it can affect a person's life. Also, it related to teens today and how we handle situations with our friends and family and some of the things we go through.

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Summary: "Not as Crazy as I seem" will captivate you!
Review: I loved this book!! I saw it on a site, I can't remember where, and was instantly compelled to read it. So I recommended it for the library, and fortunately, they bought it and I got to read it. Well, I wish I could have read it sooner!
"Not as Crazy as I seem" is about a boy named Devon, who has OCD. He obsesses about things and has a constant urge for everything to be perfect. Wow, I could totally relate to Devon! Sometimes, I, too, obsess about things (I think we all do). And being a perfectionist, I really knew how Devon felt.
I read this book in about a few hours, because it was just so interesting. It was like entering the mind of a real teenager. The book is written humorously - fortunately, the author did not make the whole story mundane and foreboding about Devon's disorder. I appreciated that, and there was a perfect balance in contrast with the humor and the seriousness of OCD.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone! It is not just for young adults - I think just the general public would enjoy it because it's so riveting and it's a real page-turner. Once I started reading the book, I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. Also, this is one of the extremely rare books that deal with OCD but is still fiction. I haven't encountered many - just one other - "Kissing Doorknobs." However, I prefer this one to "Kissing Doorknobs" because it is written in the first person, in the perspective of Devon, the protagonist himself! This makes it more personal, and somewhat more real.
I think George Harrar is a very talented author. He really captivates the soul and imagination of a teenaged boy dealing wtih OCD.
I really hope that you will take the time to read this book. I urge you - this is something you won't regret reading. These kinds of books are what makes books worth reading! Read it! It is worth 100% of your time and money!

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Summary: Compelling story of a teen with OCD
Review: Obsessive compulsive habits have started to take over Devon's life in this book by George Harrar. His parents are less than understanding when it comes to his "tendency" to eat things in groups of four and keep his room in pristine condition. New habits arise as they make sense to Devon and dealing with a new school does not help the situation.

I really enjoyed reading about OCD in this format. I felt like I could understand why Devon would need to avoid touching doorknobs and do things in fours. Devon decides to fight back against the disorder when it begins to really interfere with his life. This book is an interesting read for teens on up.

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Summary: A story about a boy who has OCD
Review: This book review has very brief language. Not as crazy as I seem by George Harrar was a very entertaining book about a boy, Devon who has tendencies, as his mom calls, it as known as OCD (obsessessive compulsive disorder.) Devon wont eat in the school caf (a germ swamp as he calls it). He has to go to a shrink and he wont sit on the chair there "I cant bring myself to sit on it (the chair) just think of all the kids squirmy asses that have touched it!"
This story is a real page-turner, it also was an eye popper - I know realize how lucky I am to just be ordinary.
I would recommend this book to people age 12 and up because it has brief language and it has things that younger kids might not understand. This book has 202 pages.

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Summary: Fourth in the door, sandwich squares and more!
Review: When you're a teenager, it seems like anything that makes you different from everyone else can get you in serious trouble. Like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. In George Harrar's new book, Not As Crazy As I Seem, Devon eats his lunch in proportions of four, rations precious hand sanitizer, and figures out how to survive his fancy new school. At his therapist's, Devon can't bring himself to sit in the chair, but who would WANT to sit where a whole bunch of other people had been sweating and talking about THEIR anxieties? All of this seems harmless, but Devon's OCD finally lands him in real trouble when he goes to school one evening with Ben. While Devon straightens that annoying, crooked poster in his classroom, Ben paints "nazi" and swastikas everywhere, and Devon gets blamed for Ben's vandalism. Being labeled a hateful racist turns out to be one of the best things that ever happened to Devon-but you'll have to read the book to find out why.