The Vast Fields of Ordinary
-
-
4.5 • 8 Ratings
-
-
- $9.99
-
- $9.99
Publisher Description
It's Dade's last summer at home, and things are pretty hopeless. He has a crappy job, a "boyfriend" who treats him like dirt, and his parents' marriage is falling apart. So when he meets and falls in love with the mysterious Alex Kincaid, Dade feels like he's finally experiencing true happiness. But when a tragedy shatters the final days of summer, he realizes he must face his future and learn how to move forward from his past.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This debut novel is deceptively quiet the story of a recent high school graduate, Dade, struggling to come out and yearning to get to college and away from his parents' marital troubles and stifling suburban peers. Yet in the same way that Sarah Dessen allows readers to lose themselves in the ordinary, Burd takes a familiar plot boy struggles with his sexuality, then meets a love interest who changes everything and makes it fresh. Dade's inner monologues and interactions with others feel real, and bear a poignant honesty (after shopping for college: "It occurred to me that these things made of plastic, glass, and metal would become the foundation for my new life"). With the arrival of Alex, Dade's first real boyfriend and one catalyst behind Dade's coming out, the story moves into sweet, romantic territory, which balances some of the deeper, more painful issues brewing in Dade's life (including his father's affair and his friend/ex-hookup Pablo's inner turmoil). The novel's one flaw is its unsatisfying ending, which feels both melodramatic and abrupt. Aside from this, Burd is an author to watch. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Cool
This book feels real. It felt as though I was in the main characters shows. Nick Burd describes every aspect of suburban life with immaculate accuracy.
The concepts expressed in this book are accurate to what is expected of the average teenager. What I liked was that even though the main character was gay, the author stayed far away from all "gay" stereotypes.
All of the gay characters were very average people. None of them were stereotypical by any means. This aspect of the novel really appealed to me.
As much as the plot was nice, I found the novel to be depressing at times. It is lacking a bit of "color". As much as the descriptions are vivid, I feel that if the author had used more uplifting words, it would make the novel happier.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the ups and the downs.