S. E. Hinton

One of my first loves in books, The Outsiders fueled my obsession for the greaser subculture during my adolescent years, and it was one of those books of escapism where I wished I could jump inside and live a different life. I had the whole James Dean/Marlon Brando look, the sticky pomaded hair, the black leather jacket and the slim white T-shirt, but always found myself out of time. This book is really homely and feel-good for me, and it spurred me on in confidence to accept who I was and how I dressed, spurning what others thought of me. When things were rough all over, I always stayed gold.… (mer)

Mistakes were made, OK. I had never read the book, saw the movie yes, but never read (or listened to it) before now. Why now? My son had to read it for school and I thought, damn, I remember that movie (kinda) and if he has to read this modern classic, I should too. Give us something to talk about.
Well I forgot most of what happened and am thoroughly disappointed in myself for having waited so long to get through S.E. Hinton's work of art.
Friends and family, what are they? who are they? Adolescence. School. Loss. Life...such big questions, so much to get through. Who can you turn to? Who can you trust? What does it all mean? All of these were on the table for Hinton's 1967 work "The Outsiders". This title made me think, reflect, and remember. Well written, heck more than well written, S.E. Hinton is a woman who wrote a coming-of-age book about boys and young men and never missed a beat. What a feat! The stresses of youth, the life on the wrong side of the tracks, life on the run, but from who or what. And the story of family who they are, finding them, losing them and finally discovering something unlooked for.
What a book, and I might add, extremely well read by Spike McClure. I cannot recommend this more highly than I do. Everyone should read this and experience it. I am absolutely kicking myself for making the mistake of putting off for this long.… (mer)