Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Review: My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff



                                                   Title: My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies
                                                Author: Allen Zadoff
                                                  Release Date: May 11, 2011
                                                 Publisher: Egmont USA
                                                  Pages: 288
Synopsis ( via Goodreads )
High school sophomore Adam Zeigler, who lost his father to a sudden accident two years ago, thinks the best way to live life is behind the spotlight. As a member of the theater crew, he believes he's achieved it all when he wins the coveted job of spotlight operator. But that was before a young actress, Summer, appeared in his view. Instantly smitten, Adam is determined to win her over. But to do so, he'll have to defy his best friend and break the golden rule of his school: techies and actors don't mix.
Set against the backdrop of a high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Zadoff's latest is a bromance, a love story, and theater story in one. The politics of love and high school collide as Adam struggles to find the courage to step out of the shadows and into the light.

Review:
This book was a really fast paced read. I never once wanted to put this book down because it was dragging. Most books start off like that and about 30 pages in you want to put it down because it’s dragging so much! In the beginning, most of it was just Adam, Adam, and more Adam. But it wasn’t boring. But then when Summer was introduced in to the story, things started to pick up EVEN MORE. It doesn’t go so fast that you can’t keep track of it which is also a very nice thing here. Adam is a character that I can sort of relate to. He’s just kind of there and is ignored and shy. Kind of like me. Afraid to step up and take charge sometimes but he makes a very interesting character! Summer is a really interesting character too. She doesn’t think she’s good enough to be an actress so she finds some help form Adam or “Ziggy,” as she calls him. She’s a funny girl and I thought she came across as sometimes sarcastic and REALLY funny! I really hope this isn’t supposed to be a stand – alone novel because it was fantastic and I don’t want it to end where it did! I think if Summer had come into the book earlier then we would have been able to see a little bit more of the relationship between Summer and Adam. Overall, I would definitely recommend reading this novel but be prepared for a bit of a cliff hanger!
Rating:
Cover thoughts:
I have the old cover so I can't judge to well but I do like the new cover alot more. The old one really had nothing to do with the book. The lights on the new cover are a good representation of Adam's love for the light and how he doesn't like the dark.
~ Sarah

4 comments:

  1. Hey Sarah! I told you that there was a different cover for that book (do you recall that conversation???) with "lights and a crooked S." It's this one: http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/10275625-my-life-the-theater-and-other-tragedies
    Anyway, as always, answer your phone (seriously. Pick up your phone.)! lol.

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  2. I enjoyed reading your review. I think it's nice to sometimes have a shy character in a YA book that people can relate to because it's being realistic that not all teens are very strong, courageous protagonists like they are made out to be and that we are overloaded with in YA books nowadays.

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  3. I completely agree! Allen Zadoff really did a good job with that part. Brynne, yes if I have to pick up my phone I will. LOL! :) And Brynne is NOT a stalker... or a creeper... That I know of...

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  4. Haha "Not that I know of..." Nice, Sarah.

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