As I said, based on the summaries at Amazon. I did go to Amazon to check out all the books you suggested.
Here are the summaries:
Bianca Piper, 17, is smart, outspoken, and loyal to her two beautiful friends. She is also convinced that she is unattractive, an opinion confirmed when school hottie and “man-whore” Wesley Rush calls her a “Duff” (designated ugly fat friend). Bianca responds by throwing her Cherry Coke in his face, but when her mother decides to divorce her father, who then lapses into drinking again, she becomes involved in a secretive sexual relationship with Wesley to take her mind off her problems. Bianca finds that as their love/hate relationship continues, she is falling in love with him. Not surprisingly, Wesley, who has family problems of his own, reciprocates and announces that, although he doesn't chase girls, he is chasing her. Eventually, everything comes to a satisfying but predictable conclusion. This debut novel is a fun read and surprisingly feminist in a number of ways. Keplinger makes good points about female body image and female friendship, and discusses how both men and women use offensive terms about women as a means of social control. Bianca and the other female characters are more believable and realistic than Wesley, who is straight out of female romantic fantasyland. It is a little difficult to understand why Bianca would get involved with him after he insults her, but in their romantic scenes, there is some seriously hot chemistry. These teens are realistically and openly sexual, and there are frequent discussions of such matters as birth control and STDs, as well as a few F-bombs. Older girls, including reluctant readers, will love this one.
***
Duff stands for “designated ugly fat friend.” And while 17-year-old Bianca isn’t that fat or ugly, that’s what Wesley calls her as he tries to hook up with her more desirable gal pals. But Bianca has a surprise for him when she kisses him in response. Then, as her life gets more complicated (parents divorcing, father back on the bottle), she finds it easy to drown her own sorrows in their hot, no-strings-attached sex. There are subtle strings, however, especially as Bianca and Wesley find they are not quite what the other supposed. Lots of language, plenty of sex (well, instances, if not images), and contemporary references make this feel of the moment. But the underlying worry about one’s place in the sun is eternal. Teens will relate, even though the problems, especially at home, seem a retread and the characterizations are on the thin side. What’s best here is Bianca’s brazen voice. Even when confused, she is truer to herself than most.
Based on the summaries--which is just like picking up a book and reading its blurb to see if it's something I'd be interested in--I don't think I'd like The Duff. I would not want to read a book about a girl who gets involved with a guy who insults her.
You don't have to agree. You can like the book. I'm not telling you that YOU can't like it, or that other people can't like it.
I would not want to read a book about a girl who gets involved with a guy who insults her.
I would not want to read about it, either, unless it was a novel showcasing a bad relationship as a bad relationship. Even then, I don't think I'd feel the desire because I saw it happen in front of me. I had a friend in high school who dated two of the rudest, most controlling boys (not at the same time; one broke up with her, she ran to the second, the second broke up with her, she went back to the first, and so on). She even said herself she didn't like them except when they gave her presents (which is a problem in itself) and it crossed her mind more than once that maybe she should find someone better. These boys made her hate herself, made her think it didn't matter what others said about her, she was absolutely worthless. The sad thing is, she bought into it. I'd tell her reasons I liked her (she wasn't perfect but after all that putting down I wanted to boost her confidence) and she'd never quite believe it. Unless the point of a novel like this is to say, "Ladies, you are worth so much more", what is the appeal?
Here are the summaries:
Bianca Piper, 17, is smart, outspoken, and loyal to her two beautiful friends. She is also convinced that she is unattractive, an opinion confirmed when school hottie and “man-whore” Wesley Rush calls her a “Duff” (designated ugly fat friend). Bianca responds by throwing her Cherry Coke in his face, but when her mother decides to divorce her father, who then lapses into drinking again, she becomes involved in a secretive sexual relationship with Wesley to take her mind off her problems. Bianca finds that as their love/hate relationship continues, she is falling in love with him. Not surprisingly, Wesley, who has family problems of his own, reciprocates and announces that, although he doesn't chase girls, he is chasing her. Eventually, everything comes to a satisfying but predictable conclusion. This debut novel is a fun read and surprisingly feminist in a number of ways. Keplinger makes good points about female body image and female friendship, and discusses how both men and women use offensive terms about women as a means of social control. Bianca and the other female characters are more believable and realistic than Wesley, who is straight out of female romantic fantasyland. It is a little difficult to understand why Bianca would get involved with him after he insults her, but in their romantic scenes, there is some seriously hot chemistry. These teens are realistically and openly sexual, and there are frequent discussions of such matters as birth control and STDs, as well as a few F-bombs. Older girls, including reluctant readers, will love this one.
***
Duff stands for “designated ugly fat friend.” And while 17-year-old Bianca isn’t that fat or ugly, that’s what Wesley calls her as he tries to hook up with her more desirable gal pals. But Bianca has a surprise for him when she kisses him in response. Then, as her life gets more complicated (parents divorcing, father back on the bottle), she finds it easy to drown her own sorrows in their hot, no-strings-attached sex. There are subtle strings, however, especially as Bianca and Wesley find they are not quite what the other supposed. Lots of language, plenty of sex (well, instances, if not images), and contemporary references make this feel of the moment. But the underlying worry about one’s place in the sun is eternal. Teens will relate, even though the problems, especially at home, seem a retread and the characterizations are on the thin side. What’s best here is Bianca’s brazen voice. Even when confused, she is truer to herself than most.
Based on the summaries--which is just like picking up a book and reading its blurb to see if it's something I'd be interested in--I don't think I'd like The Duff. I would not want to read a book about a girl who gets involved with a guy who insults her.
You don't have to agree. You can like the book. I'm not telling you that YOU can't like it, or that other people can't like it.
Reply
I would not want to read about it, either, unless it was a novel showcasing a bad relationship as a bad relationship. Even then, I don't think I'd feel the desire because I saw it happen in front of me. I had a friend in high school who dated two of the rudest, most controlling boys (not at the same time; one broke up with her, she ran to the second, the second broke up with her, she went back to the first, and so on). She even said herself she didn't like them except when they gave her presents (which is a problem in itself) and it crossed her mind more than once that maybe she should find someone better. These boys made her hate herself, made her think it didn't matter what others said about her, she was absolutely worthless. The sad thing is, she bought into it. I'd tell her reasons I liked her (she wasn't perfect but after all that putting down I wanted to boost her confidence) and she'd never quite believe it. Unless the point of a novel like this is to say, "Ladies, you are worth so much more", what is the appeal?
Reply
Leave a comment