Scan barcode
jamiehr's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I don't know to explain what happened. I know, but I can't process it. There are just many strange characters, strange motives, and strange coincidences. My morals are confused and so is my logic. Yes, it is possible, but wow. Just to think about it is confusing, because it is so human but so numbing. I am confused but not disappointed. But I don't see the purpose of this book. Who knows???
brookeisbusyreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think 3.5 stars is a good rating from me. First off, I didn’t quite connect with the author’s writing style. There were times it fit but other times where it felt too formal and mature for teenagers. And I kept thinking, “Does Xan have some kind of mental disability?” because of his odd mannerisms. Maybe that was just me though.
The reason I almost gave this 4 stars was because of the message and oddly realistic family dynamic. I like the grit, the family’s struggle, and the very real events that can happen. The back and forth of the family loving each other then annoying or pissing each other off was extremely relatable - even more so considering their situation.
My main complaints were that 1) I felt like I got an entire novel’s worth of a story in less than 200 pages, and 2) the story wasn’t what I thought it’d be based on the back cover’s blurb. Since the book was so short, we as readers weren’t given details that would’ve benefited if the book was at least 300 pages, or even ~250.
On a positive note, I do REALLY love the cover and the scene in the story that the title came from!
The reason I almost gave this 4 stars was because of the message and oddly realistic family dynamic. I like the grit, the family’s struggle, and the very real events that can happen. The back and forth of the family loving each other then annoying or pissing each other off was extremely relatable - even more so considering their situation.
My main complaints were that 1) I felt like I got an entire novel’s worth of a story in less than 200 pages, and 2) the story wasn’t what I thought it’d be based on the back cover’s blurb. Since the book was so short, we as readers weren’t given details that would’ve benefited if the book was at least 300 pages, or even ~250.
On a positive note, I do REALLY love the cover and the scene in the story that the title came from!
summersilentmusic's review against another edition
4.0
Although Xan and Robert are brothers, they’re on the opposite end of the spectrum, and Xan is always in his older brother’s shadow. Robert has a somewhat steady job, goes to the community college and has a girlfriend while Xan is struggling with everything, especially a place to fit into. Robert has always been the one to keep his brother’s temper in check, so what will happen when he has a lapse in judgment?
This book is very hard to summarize because its plot is pretty amorphous, but it’s not amorphous in the sense that it’s random. It’s just a very subtle plot and very slow moving. The author, Chris Lynch, is an amazing writer, and I think that kept me reading more than the actual plot. The characters he fleshes out are so realistic and multi-dimensional. I love the themes he explores in this book. Overall, this book isn’t something you want to pick up if you’re looking for a light read; however, if you’re looking for something that’ll make you think and has uncanny realistic portrayal of lower class life, this is something you’d want to read.
This book is very hard to summarize because its plot is pretty amorphous, but it’s not amorphous in the sense that it’s random. It’s just a very subtle plot and very slow moving. The author, Chris Lynch, is an amazing writer, and I think that kept me reading more than the actual plot. The characters he fleshes out are so realistic and multi-dimensional. I love the themes he explores in this book. Overall, this book isn’t something you want to pick up if you’re looking for a light read; however, if you’re looking for something that’ll make you think and has uncanny realistic portrayal of lower class life, this is something you’d want to read.
zoemig's review against another edition
1.0
I'd actually been meaning to pick up Inexcusable by Chris Lynch for the past few months, but when I had the opportunity to read Angry Young Man I decided to make that my introduction to Lynch instead. Angry Young Man is the story of two brothers, told from the perspective of the older brother Robert, who lives in a small apartment with his little brother Alexander and his mother. The boys have two different fathers and their mother has never married. Robert is taking classes at the local community college, working to help out his mom, and spending a lot of time with his girlfriend, while Alexander mostly just spends time in his room. When Alexander does the unthinkable Robert has to decide how far he'll really go for his little brother.
This book took me awhile to get into, which is kinda significant when you consider it's under 200 pages so taking 100 to catch my interest is over half the novel. The issue I had was that Angry Young Man only develops a plot in the last quarter of the book. I've repeatedly said that I don't mind novels without plots (hello literary fiction) but this is a young adult book with fairly basic characters and writing so it just doesn't work without any plot driving the reader to turn the pages. It was really difficult to even try to give a synopsis of the story without giving away spoilers, since the story doesn't even really start until three quarters into the book. I did find it nice to read a novel written in a masculine voice for a change as I seem to mostly pick up YA with female narrators.
My favourite thing about Angry Young Man is the relationship that Lynch portrays between Robert and Alexander. He shows that even when people love each other, they can still sometimes do heartless things, like ignore their younger brother when he is being bullied. The way the brothers interacted felt very believable. On the other hand, I couldn't care less about all the relationship drama the book contained including Alexander going out with a girl Robert once dated.
The major problem I had with Angry Young Man was not only that there wasn't a plot for most of the book, but that when it did occur I really didn't buy it. Of course, the book is written from Robert's perspective not Alexander's so it is impossible to really get inside his head, but Lynch made him become suddenly "angry" and it just felt odd. I never truly felt Alexander was even actually angry, he seemed more jaded and a bit of a loner, and his sudden transition to extremist felt awkward and unbelievable. Angry Young Man is a book which is definitely attempting to appeal to a specific audience- that of angry young men- but I think from a literary perspective it would mostly be appropriate for younger teens who might not notice the gaping flaws in character development.
This book took me awhile to get into, which is kinda significant when you consider it's under 200 pages so taking 100 to catch my interest is over half the novel. The issue I had was that Angry Young Man only develops a plot in the last quarter of the book. I've repeatedly said that I don't mind novels without plots (hello literary fiction) but this is a young adult book with fairly basic characters and writing so it just doesn't work without any plot driving the reader to turn the pages. It was really difficult to even try to give a synopsis of the story without giving away spoilers, since the story doesn't even really start until three quarters into the book. I did find it nice to read a novel written in a masculine voice for a change as I seem to mostly pick up YA with female narrators.
My favourite thing about Angry Young Man is the relationship that Lynch portrays between Robert and Alexander. He shows that even when people love each other, they can still sometimes do heartless things, like ignore their younger brother when he is being bullied. The way the brothers interacted felt very believable. On the other hand, I couldn't care less about all the relationship drama the book contained including Alexander going out with a girl Robert once dated.
The major problem I had with Angry Young Man was not only that there wasn't a plot for most of the book, but that when it did occur I really didn't buy it. Of course, the book is written from Robert's perspective not Alexander's so it is impossible to really get inside his head, but Lynch made him become suddenly "angry" and it just felt odd. I never truly felt Alexander was even actually angry, he seemed more jaded and a bit of a loner, and his sudden transition to extremist felt awkward and unbelievable. Angry Young Man is a book which is definitely attempting to appeal to a specific audience- that of angry young men- but I think from a literary perspective it would mostly be appropriate for younger teens who might not notice the gaping flaws in character development.
kathykekmrs's review against another edition
2.0
I could not tell from this story what seventeen-year-old Alexander was angry about. Was it being teased in middle school? I think most of us had some awkward years. Especially if we were not jocks. Alexander, though had the potential to be great at sports if he can control the angry energy within himself. While this is not a great book I liked that it was told from his older brother's prospective and the point of view stayed in that prospective. The reader never discovers what truly makes Alexander angry because Robert does not know. At the end he does go out with Alexander and commits some mischief, but this is not pop psychology, but rather the random events of a few months.
martha_schwalbe's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps I really liked this book because I just left off with Orphan which I did not finish. This book is about two brothers, one in college and one who dropped out of high school. For me, the narrator, the older brother, tends to be preachy. It might be difficult for a reluctant reader to get beyond his voice.
I think this would be a good read for the "Critics of Society" class because it deals with some community work that goes too far.
I wrote down an idea from the book, that is to do something to make the world a little better before you go to sleep at night." I'll probably use the idea with the freshmen. I'm not sure the book would work for the freshmen.
I think this would be a good read for the "Critics of Society" class because it deals with some community work that goes too far.
I wrote down an idea from the book, that is to do something to make the world a little better before you go to sleep at night." I'll probably use the idea with the freshmen. I'm not sure the book would work for the freshmen.
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
2.0
When I think of myself in high school, I remember back to being angry with the status quo, angry with politics, etc. I wrote political poetry for our high school poetry slam team, and our coach dubbed me an angry young man, despite my being a woman and all. I think this makes sense, or at least this time in life, because being a teen is a time of rebellion, testing limits, and not liking the status quo if you are being shafted by it. Angry Young Man by Chris Lynch is a very short contemporary young adult novel at 176 pages which explores the dynamic between one such angry young man named Xan who doesn’t seem to fit anywhere and ends up turning to anarchy and his brother, Robert who is Mr. Popular, athletic, and has status.
Click here to read the rest of my review
Click here to read the rest of my review
martha_schwalbe's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps I really liked this book because I just left off with Orphan which I did not finish. This book is about two brothers, one in college and one who dropped out of high school. For me, the narrator, the older brother, tends to be preachy. It might be difficult for a reluctant reader to get beyond his voice.
I think this would be a good read for the "Critics of Society" class because it deals with some community work that goes too far.
I wrote down an idea from the book, that is to do something to make the world a little better before you go to sleep at night." I'll probably use the idea with the freshmen. I'm not sure the book would work for the freshmen.
I think this would be a good read for the "Critics of Society" class because it deals with some community work that goes too far.
I wrote down an idea from the book, that is to do something to make the world a little better before you go to sleep at night." I'll probably use the idea with the freshmen. I'm not sure the book would work for the freshmen.
More...