Jimmy Gleacher

If you want a dark funny book, this one delivers! An entertaining look at growing up in a dysfunctional situation, interspersed with the kind of people who do what they want and seek pleasure anyway they can get it, no matter how much wreckage they leave behind. The main Character Gates who just finished his junior year in high school, just can't seem to find "normal people" His mom is a crazy bisexual, his god mother started having an affair with him when he was 15, He is a scratch golfer who swindles golfers at the local country club, and his girlfriend's parents are both drunks who hit on him. As if this weren't enough, the book takes place in Boulder, and Aspen Colorado, which are certainly two of the most liberal, crazy hypocritical places on the planet. I loved this book.… (mer)

This review first appeared on my blog: http://www.knittingandsundries.com/2011/09/paradise-rules-by-jimmy-gleacher-book...

First Sentence: I wish I could say I was a victim but I willingly played into the devil's hands.

Gates is a self-described sexual deviant, 17 years old, working as a caddy at a country club. His mother had a nervous breakdown two years ago, and he was molested by his godmother Alicia, a child psychologist and his mom's best friend. Since they still live with Alicia, the molestation continues, and it's causing Gates problems with his girlfriend, who would like to sleep with him.

I know that many readers would find this book hilarious. I'm not one of them. Most of the adults here do nothing but take advantage of and/or ignore the teens, with the clubhouse owner using Gates to win illegal bets, a clubhouse patron who gives Gates the nickname of "Fun Buns" because he can't keep his hands off his bum, and more.

Gates is likeable (he even volunteers to read to seniors at the local retirement home); his bestie named Timmy is a model with OCD who repeats the final word of every sentence three times; and his girlfriend Melanie is a jock and his best friend. Unfortunately, almost every single adult in the novel is eminently unlikeable or at best, definitely not in the realm of "normal".

I've seen this one described as "irreverent", "provocative", and "bold", but for this reader, molestation is not a funny subject. Here is a teen whose life is in the crapper, and there is really no one there to help pull him out. There's a bit of a surprise at the end, but it wasn't enough to redeem the rest. If it were billed as an adult book, I might give some of it a pass, but it's billed as YA. In my opinion, this is an adult novel written about a teen, and is definitely not one I'd encourage for the younger YA set. Again, my disclaimer is that certain readers will LOVE this - it IS different. I never felt a connection to the characters, and much of what happens was not funny or even interesting to me.

QUOTES (from an eGalley; may be different in final copy):

Anyway, I was actually very attracted to Melanie but I couldn't sleep with her until she knew the real me but the only problem was as soon as she knew the real me she wouldn't want to sleep with me anymore.

Mom spoke the words in a way that suggested she knew but I convinced myself this wasn't possible because I didn't want to believe Mom would ignore her best friend molesting me.

Sensitive Reader: This one is not for you. Profanity and sexuality abound.

Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Characters: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Reading Immersion: 2.5 out 5 stars

BOOK RATING: 3 out of 5 stars… (mer)

Gates loves his girlfriend Mel, he earns extra money by hustling golf players at a country club as a caddy, his mother is just about to have a breakdown and he stumbles on something that may just change his "normal" life. Mel knows something is wrong but just can't put her finger on it and when Gates finally decides to open up, he has what can only be described as an "epic fail". Just when he thinks he can no longer deal, he finds a strength that was there all along.

This book has everything to make me happy! I loved the tone and humor that really worked with the very believable characters. Gates' friend Timmy,an OCD afflicted teen that must repeat the last word he says three times and thus becomes Timmy, Timmy, Timmy or 3T, quickly became my favorite. Lu, Gates' boss at the golf club, has more misguided plans that you can imagine and when he wants to make a point, he spouts Confucius like statements and his Amazing Adventure which is really quite far from reality in a bid to save his house. The story reminded me a bit of Christopher Buckley, so if you like off the wall humor, you will love this as much as I did.… (mer)