Title: I Hate You, Kelly DonahueAuthor: Mark Svartz
Publisher: Adams Media Corporation
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Adult
Grade: 84% or B-
Buy It: Amazon
My Thoughts::As a little kid, a boy would pinch the girl he liked. As a grown-up, Mark Svartz plans her ultimate demise through a number of twisted murder plots that involve lead pipes, escape routes, and David Hasselhoff. Some guys never grow up.This book chronicles the eight months, sixteen days, and some-odd hours since Mark first laid eyes on the despicable, wretched wench he's destined to fight to the death. Every note, thought, IM, email, Post-It, and craigslist ad looking for a crime-scene clean-up is meticulously catalogued in Mark's journal.Is it a diary of a mad man? Or a man madly in love? Who cares? It's seriously messed up. And seriously funny.
I was a bit wary to accept this book for review because it was pretty different from the things that I usually read. But because it sounded pretty funny I thought I'd give it a fair shot. I started reading this in my war through film class and couldn't stop!
The book is pretty short, as in it took me less than an hour to read, but it was really good. We jump right into the story that isn't much of a story at all. The book is actually the diary/journal/notebook of the narrator. There is no dialogue shown except for sticky notes or email messages. I really like authors that think outside the box when it comes t writing. This story gave me a whole different experience than I would have gotten if it were written differently.
It was cool to slowly watch the story transform and for Mark's hate to change and develop. Did I mention that this book is completely hilarious? My friends kept asking for the book to show each other especially fantastic pages. His thoughts were so blatantly laid out and graphic that I found myself giggling which did not please my teacher. The ending was kind of sad which is weird because I couldn't even sense myself getting attached to Mark or his feeling. Even though there was some sadness, the ending was also funny.
Overall I think the book was super creative and hilarious. Though I wish there would have been more of a story and that it wasn't so darn short.
2 comments:
I love books written in this kind of format! I just finished CHOPSTICKS by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral, and it was told completely through pictures, drawings, postcards, etc. Adding this to my TBR list. :) Thanks for the great review!
I love it when authors do that to you! You don't know you love the character until you might lose him...that author needs some serious props for doing that. Another book like this that I know of is called House of Leaves. Not sure who the author is, though...
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