Ask for Love and They Give You Rice Pudding

by Bradford Angier

Seventeen-year-old Robbie Benson finds life very difficult despite his new Fiat and wealthy background until he uncovers some interesting facts about the father who deserted him when he was five

Genres: Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is super short and an easy read, almost a New Yorker article length deal, and it was somewhat corny. On the other hand, I really became fond of the narrator and I gotta say he reminded me a lot of Holden Caulfield.
Maybe that was intentional and maybe that was an easy route for the authors, who wrote this some time ago.
It doesn't age that poorly for something set in private school, north shore of Massachusetts in the 1970s and the dialogue is real.
The longing for Vicki's mom is so intense and never really resolved; nor are things with the narrator's dad much clearer at the end that they were at the beginning.

[kc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book randomly in my schools library and thought the title was interesting. I read the only review of the book and seeing as I enjoyed the catcher in the rye I might feel similarly for this book.
Let me tell you, if you enjoyed the Catcher in the Rye just as I did, and let's be real you either love it or hate it, I heavily recommend this book. In fact, this book is a book I am quite upset that more people do not know about it. (I mean I am the second person to write a review of this book on goodreads. ever. )


It was an easy read and I did enjoy Robbie's character.
He is a complex character, but not so much as Holden Caulfield, therefore he is less "insufferable." (for the record, I don't believe that he is) He is an interesting perspective to read from, and his storyline kept me interested in the book the entirety of my reading it.