Just finished reading this book and thought I'd share my thoughts.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl deals with a very painful issue in a very creative way. The creative rhetorical juices of the author are insane. However, for me the book was at times funny and mostly annoying. I was mainly annoyed at the needless, constant swearing and cussing throughout. I've always been annoyed at that type of language when used so prolifically for no apparent good reason, just because. It seems to be the default language of teenagers, sadly. I'm glad that I stuck with the book in spite of that.

It's still an insightful read as far as teenagers dealing with real issues are concern. And when it comes to death it doesn't get any more real than that. It's a good peak into the teenage world and mindset. What is it that makes them tick and what makes them click. What is true friendship all about? Maybe the movie is just as good or better. I certainly hope it's funnier. We'll see, no pun intended.

What I liked the most about the book was the capacity for introspection the protagonist, Greg Gaines, has. While he can definitely be boring at times, he has an unusual way of putting his thoughts and observations together which sound entertainingly unique. The result is not as funny as one might have hoped, but it keeps you interested for the most part.

I think the last few chapters of the book bring home the fact that life will dish out some seriously nasty stuff at you and there's little you can do about it. This becomes a serious problem in the teenage years when there is so much turmoil in a kids life. Still the book ends in a hopeful note which was good. It's as if saying "death doesn't have the last word." We, the living, always do.


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