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YA Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

10/28/2012

14 Comments

 
Me and Earl and the Dying GIrl cover
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Author: Jesse Andrews
Publication Date: 3/1/12
Publisher: Abrams
[Goodreads | Amazon]

Blurb (GR): 
Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

Review:

Okay, if I would've known that this book was set in Pittsburgh, I would've read it on release day. As it turns out, while this author was in high school, presumably being hilarious, I was just down the street, playing badminton in my Catholic school uniform during free period. I had to investigate a bit further, so I checked my facebook and found that my friend Jake (who now has a luscious ponytail and who I once learned to waltz with) is facebook friends with Jesse Andrews. (like that even means anything in this day and age. I think I'm facebook friends with some people I'd be more than happy never to see again in my lifetime) Here's what went down:

Picture
It's too bad you can't see the ponytail in question but if there really was a section of the bar exam on ponytail maintenance, I'm sure Jake would ace it. I digress. This book was recommended to me by Maggie from Young Adult Anonymous as part of our She Made Me Do It feature, and I am so grateful it was because it made me ridiculously happy. There's been a lot of talk in recent weeks/months about why adults read YA literature and I've always been a detractor to the "going back to high school and high school problems" argument, but I will readily admit that my favorite part of this book was that Andrews just put Pittsburgh on the page and I felt like I was in MY high school again. The people, the neighborhoods, even the slang was spot on, though I think if anyone actually tried to legitimately incorporate Pittsburghese into a book readers would wonder if there mightn't be a colony of aliens living among us. ("Yinz all gawn dahntawn ta watch the Stillers n'at?") 

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is about Greg Gaines, a self-depracting, chubby teenage "surprise Jew" (because his name doesn't give it away) who is fringe friends with everybody but true friends with nobody, except for maybe Earl, with whom he makes movies that only the two of them watch. Told in first person, Greg's story begins when his mother informs him that Rachel, a girl he's known for years and once "dated" has been diagnosed with leukemia and he must go over to hang out with her. What follows is awkwardness, funny jokes, and eventually actual friendship.  The characters of Greg and Earl kept me entertained the entire time, and if the sense of humor in the book clicks with yours, you'll plow through it in two hours and love the experience. I'd love to see this book adapted as a film but the one thing holding it back a bit for me is Greg's self-deprecation. In the latter portion of the book, I started to get sick of Greg's constant whining about how lame and unfunny he is and his tryhard overcompensating drama got old as well, but I was ecstatic to see Earl and Rachel there to temper him out. In movie form, it might be too much for me to watch Greg try to saturate everything with humor.

The ending made my heart break a bit, especially just the realistic nature of friendships and growing up. It is so easy to form friendships in high school when most of us don't have a lot to worry about and we are forced to spend a large amount of time together. Especially when you go to high school in a city, surrounded by tons of other schools but also all sorts of things to do. When I saw Sherman Alexie at a book event the other day, he spoke about the sequel he is writing to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The "sequel" is actually going to be roughly the same time period, as told from the perspective of Junior's friend Rowdy, whom Alexie gets asked about all the time. The point of bringing this up is that Alexie said that the first line of the book is something like, "Everyone always talks about the ones who leave. No one ever talks about the ones who get left behind." I basically read Me and Earl right after I went to the event and I couldn't/can't stop thinking about how much I'd love to hear from Earl's point of view.  Greg mentions Earl's intelligence and there are several points during the novel where I saw glimpses of just how astute and clever Earl truly is, and it was a bit soul crushing to me to see how he was living his life, however realistic it is. (I think this is especially so considering I know of people like him and and could absolutely visualize all the settings, houses, personalities that Andrews describes so well) So Jesse Andrews, start working on Me and Someone and the Something Else from Earl's POV, mmmkay? 

Random notes: This cover kicks ass; I want to go to Pittsburgh right now.
Pittsburgh
That circle at the point is a huge water fountain during the summer months. (my sister took this when it was cold outside)
4.5/5 stars (It's a 4. I added the .5 because it's Pittsburgh.)
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14 Comments
Jo [Wear the Old Coat] link
10/28/2012 05:45:22 am

Oh Flannery, I'm so glad you loved this one. It's brilliant, isn't it?

I was a bit nervous about reading it but it's so refreshing to read a book by someone who is.... well, actually funny.

I'm also glad that Mr Andrews was funny in high school.

I'm also glad that your friend has an awesome ponytail.

Reply
Jo [Wear the Old Coat] link
10/28/2012 05:48:30 am

Also ps. Can we waltz together one day?

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/28/2012 05:53:39 am

Of course we can! Gosh, I know what you mean about the author being ACTUALLY funny. He came off as someone I wish I would've been friends with in high school. (and probably still now!)

I'd let Jake know that you like his ponytail but he has no idea I have a blog:)

Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous link
10/28/2012 07:39:57 am

I thought Jake opened a bar, in which case a ponytail makes sense. I bet you guys had a lot of pho in high school. ;) Let's go to Pittsburgh, watch the Steelers, and pull Jake's ponytail.

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/28/2012 11:31:04 am

Oh man, there's some awesome noodle joints near my high school. Also, I feel obliged to mention that 1) Nah, Jake is a lawyer and 2) the ponytail is like one of those short ones like Smith had in Sex and the City and not like a long, D & D playing or metalhead-type one.

Go Stillers!

Reply
Keertana link
10/28/2012 12:02:14 pm

I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Flannery! I've seen it prop up a lot but somehow, the cover and synopsis never drew me in. It seems as if this is too goo to miss though. I also LOVE that you included that whole facebook conversation! ;) Fantastic review, dear - I'll have to check this one out soon! :D

Reply
Rhia link
10/28/2012 04:12:29 pm

Hello there! Just two days ago, I finally mustered enough courage to make my very first book blog. So, yeah, though I know I sometimes write crappy reviews about a certain book that I have read, I still couldn’t help but blog about them :) So I’m looking for a fellow Filipino book blogger wherein I can share some of my book rants with. :)

If you have the time, please do visit my blog:

http://thesupersinigang.blogspot.com

Thanks in Advance!

Much Love,
Rhia

Reply
VeganYANerds link
10/28/2012 04:56:22 pm

Love this review! I can feel your excitement and enthusiasm for the setting and the book so hard, Flann! I love that you went to school in the same area and that your mate knows the author - awesome!

Magz sent me a copy of this and it is still sitting on my shelf, un-read. Bad me, I will read it asap! I can't wait for my heart to break a bit (I'm a sucker for sad but real endings).

Reply
Maja
10/29/2012 12:36:44 am

I had a feeling you might like this, but like you, I felt that the self-deprecating humor was taken just a bit too far in the second half. There came a point where it became very, very annoying. Other than that, this book was incredibly refreshing.
I didn't make the Pittsburgh connection because I'm an idiot. I rarely ever remember where books are set. I have a mind that just refuses to absorb these details. Gah.

I actually went to Facebook to check out this famous ponytail. :D

Reply
Jade link
10/29/2012 07:17:14 am

This sound like such a fun book despite the heavy subject. Although I tire of characters who always puts themselves down, I'm glad to know that Greg has friends to remind him of his greatness! Nice review.

Reply
Noelle link
10/30/2012 10:44:42 pm

Amazing review Flann! My sis moved to Pittsburgh 6 months ago. I should totally send her this book!

Reply
Christina (A Reader of Fictions) link
10/31/2012 05:18:44 am

Whoa, you're like one degree away from the author! That's pretty awesome. I also wish I could see the ponytail.

I'll definitely have to keep an eye on this one since I spent a year in Pittsburgh myself. It's so awesome reading about places you've been; I remember being excited about a Jane Austen spinoff that was pretty terrible because the beginning was set in Vietnam, where I once went on vacation. lol. How much more exciting if it gets your hometown just right!

Pittsburgh is such a beautiful and stubborn city.

Oh, I just remembered another book set in Pittsburgh: Amped by Daniel H. Wilson. There's this dramatic scene where someone gets thrown off the Cathedral of Learning and I pretty much died laughing.

Reply
Belle link
11/1/2012 03:04:52 pm

That is such a cool story! I can't believe you have mutual friends on FB, what a small world! I really want to read this after this review and Jo's.

Reply
Rachel link
11/10/2012 02:04:36 pm

Would love to see this famous/infamous ponytail. Your review had me cracking up as usual Flann. I should pick this up someday. :)

Reply



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