Here's the deal with this book. I wanted to love it, I really did! But I just couldn't. And if you don't want to be spoiled, turn around for I shall spoil, but if you don't care then do continue on.
The story follows this freshman, going into sophmore year, by the name of Alek and Alek has never really thought about his sexuality until he meets skater boy Ethan. Alek also comes from a very traditional Armenian family who think that Americans are messy and if it's not Armenian then it isn't the right way. With a little bit of curiosity and a whole lot of messiness, Alek and Ethan become this thing and that's where this book hits the fan.
I didn't have a problem with the whole "Armenian's are superior" ordeal the family was doing because trust me, I have traditional Portuguese parents who think that Portuguese food is the only way to go. I actually liked reading about the Armenian lifestyle, even if the parents did piss me off at times. The Armenian characters themselves seemed a bit one dimensional in the beginning until the end when things starting "picking up." It was almost as if their only purpose in the book was to show how much they think Americans basically suck.
Aside from that, the book spoke a lot about the rivalry between the Armenian people and the Turkish and referenced a war between the two that happened many years ago. I thought it was an amazing thing to add, if it hadn't felt childish. The way it was handled and the way the characters were acting towards each other, it was almost done in a kiddish way instead of having them being serious which ruined the experience for me. I felt like it could have been better handled and even done a bit more serious to show the complications and the hatred between the two.
But the one thing that bothered me the most, had to be the "love" story between Ethan and Alek. Ethan could not be any worse of a boyfriend to this poor kid who's discovering himself. This is where my little rant starts. The first sign I saw was Ethan using the f word. By f word, I mean the derogatory word used against gay men. I was never bothered by the word but recently it's really started getting to me hearing it from people. And I know a lot of people have a "gay people can use it" mentality but I just think it's a disgusting word.
So when Ethan uses it I'm like here we go. "Rufus is a homo, so his music is really popular with f****ts" Upon hearing this Alek is quickly uncomfortable, as am I, and his mood goes down as they're on this date. Alek brings this up, and this stupid ass Ethan, AGAIN has the balls to say, "When you're, like, a member of a certain..." "Let me put it this way. Take the N-word.""But you've heard one black guy use that word when talking to another black guy." "That's why it's okay for me to use the word..."
If Ethan were in front of me I would've beat him with my book. The reason he uses it, and the mentality he has about using a derogatory word was so stupid and just UGH! Right there I didn't like this guy and was all like Alek baby, run. Save yourself. But it just got worse. Ethan started saying how in the gay community, it's normal to be in an open relationship or cheat. And it was like every word and sentence he said made me face palm myself until it burned.
But what pissed me off the most, was how he treated Alek. Now Ethan had this guy who he loved and who just left so he's very emotional and I know how that is. I've been there myself. I don't blame him for that. But he treated Alek like shit. In one scene they go thrift shopping to change the way Alek dresses and they see this Green Lantern shirt which Alek starts geeking over. And I thought it was adorable his inner geek was coming out, and Ethan responds with, "Whatever." And then proceeds to do this several times through out the scene, just shutting down Alek and everything he likes.
Now you might be wondering, what if the way Ethan is was on purpose and the book is about a bad relationship. I've thought about that but it honestly didn't feel like that at all. I very much would love for it to be that but it just doesn't feel that way. I feel like Ethan is this jackass who Alek and the readers are made to love. He gets Alek to cut from school, gets him to change himself, and gets him to go against his parents.
But what gets to me the most is that I don't even think they end up together at the end! As Alek leans to kiss Ethan, it mentions two trains moving in opposite directions and it ends right there. If that's not symbolism for Alek learned his shit and left this dude, then I don't know what is.
Like I said, I really wanted to love this book, and I kind of enjoyed it, but Ethan just bothered me so much and is the sole reason for this review. I could've gone into more things but I really just wanted to get my hate for him off my chest!
The story follows this freshman, going into sophmore year, by the name of Alek and Alek has never really thought about his sexuality until he meets skater boy Ethan. Alek also comes from a very traditional Armenian family who think that Americans are messy and if it's not Armenian then it isn't the right way. With a little bit of curiosity and a whole lot of messiness, Alek and Ethan become this thing and that's where this book hits the fan.
I didn't have a problem with the whole "Armenian's are superior" ordeal the family was doing because trust me, I have traditional Portuguese parents who think that Portuguese food is the only way to go. I actually liked reading about the Armenian lifestyle, even if the parents did piss me off at times. The Armenian characters themselves seemed a bit one dimensional in the beginning until the end when things starting "picking up." It was almost as if their only purpose in the book was to show how much they think Americans basically suck.
Aside from that, the book spoke a lot about the rivalry between the Armenian people and the Turkish and referenced a war between the two that happened many years ago. I thought it was an amazing thing to add, if it hadn't felt childish. The way it was handled and the way the characters were acting towards each other, it was almost done in a kiddish way instead of having them being serious which ruined the experience for me. I felt like it could have been better handled and even done a bit more serious to show the complications and the hatred between the two.
But the one thing that bothered me the most, had to be the "love" story between Ethan and Alek. Ethan could not be any worse of a boyfriend to this poor kid who's discovering himself. This is where my little rant starts. The first sign I saw was Ethan using the f word. By f word, I mean the derogatory word used against gay men. I was never bothered by the word but recently it's really started getting to me hearing it from people. And I know a lot of people have a "gay people can use it" mentality but I just think it's a disgusting word.
So when Ethan uses it I'm like here we go. "Rufus is a homo, so his music is really popular with f****ts" Upon hearing this Alek is quickly uncomfortable, as am I, and his mood goes down as they're on this date. Alek brings this up, and this stupid ass Ethan, AGAIN has the balls to say, "When you're, like, a member of a certain..." "Let me put it this way. Take the N-word.""But you've heard one black guy use that word when talking to another black guy." "That's why it's okay for me to use the word..."
If Ethan were in front of me I would've beat him with my book. The reason he uses it, and the mentality he has about using a derogatory word was so stupid and just UGH! Right there I didn't like this guy and was all like Alek baby, run. Save yourself. But it just got worse. Ethan started saying how in the gay community, it's normal to be in an open relationship or cheat. And it was like every word and sentence he said made me face palm myself until it burned.
But what pissed me off the most, was how he treated Alek. Now Ethan had this guy who he loved and who just left so he's very emotional and I know how that is. I've been there myself. I don't blame him for that. But he treated Alek like shit. In one scene they go thrift shopping to change the way Alek dresses and they see this Green Lantern shirt which Alek starts geeking over. And I thought it was adorable his inner geek was coming out, and Ethan responds with, "Whatever." And then proceeds to do this several times through out the scene, just shutting down Alek and everything he likes.
Now you might be wondering, what if the way Ethan is was on purpose and the book is about a bad relationship. I've thought about that but it honestly didn't feel like that at all. I very much would love for it to be that but it just doesn't feel that way. I feel like Ethan is this jackass who Alek and the readers are made to love. He gets Alek to cut from school, gets him to change himself, and gets him to go against his parents.
But what gets to me the most is that I don't even think they end up together at the end! As Alek leans to kiss Ethan, it mentions two trains moving in opposite directions and it ends right there. If that's not symbolism for Alek learned his shit and left this dude, then I don't know what is.
Like I said, I really wanted to love this book, and I kind of enjoyed it, but Ethan just bothered me so much and is the sole reason for this review. I could've gone into more things but I really just wanted to get my hate for him off my chest!
