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a_c_vincent's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
mellyjj's review
4.0
First book of 2020 and it was really great! Unsurprisingly, of course, because Shaun David Hutchinson is one of my favorite authors and he hasn’t disappointed me. This was hilarious and thought-provoking and classic Hutchinson—even if it was a little different than the others. It’s so incredible to see that he was so talented even from his first book, and knowing that he just gets better and better. Also, I loved the 247 euphemisms for masturbation—each one more ridiculous and entertaining than the one before it.
bev_reads_mysteries's review
4.0
Okay, I'm just going to start right off and say that Young Adult fiction isn't my usual cup of tea. I read this one because I needed a book by a debut author for my Fall Into Reading Challenge and when I did a search for that sort of thing The Deathday Letter by Shaun David Hutchinson came up several times. And my library actually had it. And the premise sounded interesting. But, just to be absolutely honest, if I'd known before I brought it home that it was YA....I don't know that I'd have ordered it up. Don't hate me, all you dear YA lovers who follow me...it's just who I am.
So what was the premise that reeled me in?
"The clock is ticking...Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls, until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.
Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never...."
Hutchinson has written a brilliant first novel. He's bang on target in his characterization of a 15-year old boy dealing with death and hormones all at the same time. The story goes from down-right hilarious ("Because a teenage guy with a penis is like a twitchy marine with a live grenade. Got it?") to heart-rendingly poignant ("There's so much to say, too much to say. I want to tell her that she's the most important thing that ever happened to me. I want to tell her that every night before I went to sleep, it was her that I thought about...").
Following Ollie...and his friend Shane and his love Ronnie...through his last twenty-four hours is a trip I'll never forget. It's the chance to watch a 15-year old "jerk" realize what's important in life--and death. The chance to learn lessons that some of us never learn in a life-time, let alone a single day. Ollie and his friends will make you laugh and cry...and wonder just what you would do if you were certain that you only had twenty-four hours left.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
So what was the premise that reeled me in?
"The clock is ticking...Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls, until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.
Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never...."
Hutchinson has written a brilliant first novel. He's bang on target in his characterization of a 15-year old boy dealing with death and hormones all at the same time. The story goes from down-right hilarious ("Because a teenage guy with a penis is like a twitchy marine with a live grenade. Got it?") to heart-rendingly poignant ("There's so much to say, too much to say. I want to tell her that she's the most important thing that ever happened to me. I want to tell her that every night before I went to sleep, it was her that I thought about...").
Following Ollie...and his friend Shane and his love Ronnie...through his last twenty-four hours is a trip I'll never forget. It's the chance to watch a 15-year old "jerk" realize what's important in life--and death. The chance to learn lessons that some of us never learn in a life-time, let alone a single day. Ollie and his friends will make you laugh and cry...and wonder just what you would do if you were certain that you only had twenty-four hours left.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
sparkle_klc's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
katieurb's review
1.0
Um. Just not good. Oliver lives in a world where people get Deathday Letters 24 hours before they are going to die. Oliver's family members are the only ones who seem truly sad when he gets his; his best friend's first reaction is to punch him in the face. Which is confusing. But not as confusing as the lack of back story and explanation of why the Deathday Letters exist. Not even the characters know. The only ones who care to find out are a group of stoners that Oliver, his best friend Shane, and his ex-girlfriend Ronnie meet when they are looking to get high as a way for Oliver to seize the (death)day. It's an interesting concept but was poorly written and was really just about a couple of teens trying to do crazy things and get laid before kicking the bucket. I will say there were a few times where I chuckled out loud. However there are only so many witty metaphors for masturbating I can handle in one book.
ecofriendly_bookworm's review
4.0
Almost 3.5.
Summary:
The book is a bout a teenage boy Ollie, who has just received his death day letter which you get when you are about to die in 24 hours. The story is of how Ollie spends his death day.
Review:
I don't know how the teenage boys think but I think if we want to do it in a funny way this book came pretty close to that. It had its funny moments.
Ollie like all other teenage boys doesn't know what to do with this day and as usual it goes with many good and bad choices which he makes. And like all other teenagers, he is a self centered person, only thinking about himself and his grief about not being able to live the next day and not about his friends and family whom he will be leaving behind.
Through this one day , this book takes us from various thought points like :
how does it feels to have a day knowing you would die,
how would you spend it,
with whom,
doing what,
is it a blessing to have that day or a curse,
are you missing out on life or would the future have sucked anyway so it is lucky to die early.
I liked some of the character development of Ollie and Shane in this book. I liked Ronnie's character and what she stood for in the book
It was a fast read and the journey was quite beautiful. Loved It!!!
Summary:
The book is a bout a teenage boy Ollie, who has just received his death day letter which you get when you are about to die in 24 hours. The story is of how Ollie spends his death day.
Review:
I don't know how the teenage boys think but I think if we want to do it in a funny way this book came pretty close to that. It had its funny moments.
Ollie like all other teenage boys doesn't know what to do with this day and as usual it goes with many good and bad choices which he makes. And like all other teenagers, he is a self centered person, only thinking about himself and his grief about not being able to live the next day and not about his friends and family whom he will be leaving behind.
Through this one day , this book takes us from various thought points like :
how does it feels to have a day knowing you would die,
how would you spend it,
with whom,
doing what,
is it a blessing to have that day or a curse,
are you missing out on life or would the future have sucked anyway so it is lucky to die early.
I liked some of the character development of Ollie and Shane in this book. I liked Ronnie's character and what she stood for in the book
It was a fast read and the journey was quite beautiful. Loved It!!!
dukesangel002's review
5.0
As the readers note on the very first page will tell you. There will be no miracle, no deus ex machina, that will come in and save our lovable main character. He will die at the end of the book, but the point is not his death, it's his life.
That statement is very true for this book. I fell so totally in love with Ollie that I kept wishing for that miracle, even though I knew it wasn't coming. Ollie was a fantastic person to be able to get inside the head of. He's funny and interesting, smart and just incredibly lovable. Being inside of a teenage boys head was a trip, the constant thought of sex and food had me rolling around laughing.
This was a great new take on death. Would you really want to know you're going to die 24 hours before it happens? I thought I would, but now I'm not so sure. It's not enough time to change anything, not enough time to make a mark on the world, not enough time to travel. There is just enough time to see all of your love ones grieve. But Ollie sure did his best to make the most of his Deathday!
The relationships between the characters was a great thing to be a part of. Ollie and his best friend were fantastic, they are close-knit friends who took each other as they really are and don't judge. Ollie and Ronnie (the girl he is in love with) had an interesting relationship, and you really get to dig deep into it as the book progresses. Ollie and his grandmother had such a wonderful, loving relationship that it really made me miss my grandmothers!
While the tone of this book was really light-hearted and funny, there was such a deeper and darker meaning to each event. You can really start to contemplate the meaning of life and death and what your life has meant, or you could just take it at the lighthearted surface and laugh your butt off. Either way, there is something amazing in this book for everyone and I suggest you all go out and get your copy now!
That statement is very true for this book. I fell so totally in love with Ollie that I kept wishing for that miracle, even though I knew it wasn't coming. Ollie was a fantastic person to be able to get inside the head of. He's funny and interesting, smart and just incredibly lovable. Being inside of a teenage boys head was a trip, the constant thought of sex and food had me rolling around laughing.
This was a great new take on death. Would you really want to know you're going to die 24 hours before it happens? I thought I would, but now I'm not so sure. It's not enough time to change anything, not enough time to make a mark on the world, not enough time to travel. There is just enough time to see all of your love ones grieve. But Ollie sure did his best to make the most of his Deathday!
The relationships between the characters was a great thing to be a part of. Ollie and his best friend were fantastic, they are close-knit friends who took each other as they really are and don't judge. Ollie and Ronnie (the girl he is in love with) had an interesting relationship, and you really get to dig deep into it as the book progresses. Ollie and his grandmother had such a wonderful, loving relationship that it really made me miss my grandmothers!
While the tone of this book was really light-hearted and funny, there was such a deeper and darker meaning to each event. You can really start to contemplate the meaning of life and death and what your life has meant, or you could just take it at the lighthearted surface and laugh your butt off. Either way, there is something amazing in this book for everyone and I suggest you all go out and get your copy now!
prairiedances's review
5.0
There is something very real about Ollie in The Deathday Letter. He walks off the page and it is as if he's sitting right next to you. What happens in the book is typical coming of age stuff and the plot itself isn't anything new. But in Hutchinson's hands it's brilliant. I can't even fully explain how he does it but all I know is that I started the book this morning and I couldn't put it down until i finished it. A must read.
http://www.amazon.com/review/RQO3REK59YZ6/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
^She or he says it all.
http://www.amazon.com/review/RQO3REK59YZ6/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
^She or he says it all.