The Car Thief

by Theodore Weesner

Alex Housman, who lives in Detroit with his alcoholic father, turns to car theft as an expression of his feelings of rage and helplessness

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Novels, Young Adult, Coming Of Age, The United States Of America, Literary Fiction

370 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

American author and Professor at Emerson College.

Reviews

[Tony Viardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Car Thief is about a teen with so much angst, it brought me straight back to high school. Alex Housman is a kid from Flint, Michigan who steals cars but wouldn't be able to tell you why. I can imagine James Dean at his best trying to play this guy's pain, but not quite capturing it. He loves his father, but can't express it. His alcoholic, blue-collar father loves him, but is just as inept. They've both been abandoned by mother/wife and it pains them in ways they can't talk about, but obviously comes out in their daily movements. And then there's the girl that Alex is addicted to seeing, but can't bring himself to really show affection. (Again, right back in high school for me)

I thought I was going to sit down with a deep, literary tome that I'd have to struggle through. But no, Car Thief reads like a thriller... really, because Weesner has a way of getting you engrossed in the characters, that you care about everything they do.

It's very rare that you find a book that rises to the level of enduring literature, yet is written in such plain, simple, honest language, that it stays true to the blue collar world that it describes so well. This book is gripping in that way. So much humanity you derive from the relationships in this story, without even consciously knowing your absorbing it. That's great literature. The very best kind in my opinion, the kind that can touch anyone, whether they're English majors or factory workers; whether they're high shool students or baby boomers. A beautiful read, whether you're in the mood for deep literary thought, or a simple family story. I couldn't recommend this book more.

[Tara Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an inspiring book! THE CAR THEIF is a beautifully crafted coming of age story. We see the story through Alex Housman’s eyes. A young boy living in a very broken world in the late 1950’s. He lives alone with his alcoholic father. His mother has left and started a new life with a new husband, taking his younger brother with her. He steals cars, not even really understanding himself why he does it. We see his journey through school, into the youth detention center after he’s arrested, and back into his father’s custody again. All the while watching him grow. This story was wonderfully deep and heartbreaking. The author’s descriptive writing paints every scene so perfectly that you feel like you are watching it unfold right in front of your eyes. I know this book was told from a teen’s POV, but I would recommend it to any age reader that enjoys a good coming of age story.

[Mia Searles (The Muses Circle) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and more can be read on my blog here: The Muses Circle

The whole process of reading and reviewing this book came about in a completely different way. I am used to getting author requests, but this is the first time I've been approached by a publicist. Serena Ainesly, head publicist for Blue Dot Literary, asked me a couple months back if I would be interested in reading and reviewing The Car Thief by Theodore Weesner. The book has been described as a modern classic and "one of the best coming of age novels of the 20th century." The book was originally published in 1972 and is making a comeback. Why? How? Well, thanks to the ever growing popularity of e-books and modern technology, classic literature now can get a fresh new look. One company that takes pride in reintroducing modern classic novels to the masses is Astor + Blue Editions. As stated on their website, their mission is to, "help bridge the divide between Traditional Publishing and the Digital Electronic Book (ebook) Revolution." And so they have begun by giving us The Car Thief in a digital format and an eye catching new cover.

Before delving into this review, I just want to state that after doing a little research, some of the events in the story may be based on the author's life. Also, I couldn't help but notice that some of the more negative reviews were given because reviewers felt that Alex, the main character, was unrelatable and one dimensional due to his lack of showing emotion. What I don't think they understand is that is exactly what the author was trying to portray in the beginning of the story. Alex is a deeply troubled teenage boy that is basically NUMB. His father is an alcoholic who goes on frequent binges that has caused his son throughout the years to fend for himself. Add the fact that his mother not only abandoned him at an early age, but later comes back to take his younger brother but not him. Does he have any other family? No. Does he have friends? No. Does he have anyone in his life that he can vent to? Absolutely not. So what does this create? A boy that keeps everything locked inside and feels completely invisible to the world around him.

That being said, there are 3 parts to this story and each are equally crucial in showing Alex's mental and emotional development over the course of this novel: before his incarceration, during his stay at the Lincoln Hotel (detention center), and after his release. Before he gets caught, Alex is quite detached from the reality going on around him. He's been skipping school, has just stolen his 14th car, and has had a falling out with a girl named Eugenia. He doesn't skip school because he thinks it is cool. He doesn't steal cars because he wants to brag about it to his friends (not that he has any to brag to). He does it because he feels numb. He does it because he is tired of being invisible. Theodore Weesner has a way with words that pulls on the heartstrings. One such example is when Alex finally does get arrested and he wonders, "if there was any talk of him at the football game over in the city, any talk of the detectives taking him from school. Probably not, for not many would know where he had been taken, and if they had, if did not much matter." This quote proves that all Alex really wants is attention. He wants people, especially his father, to notice him, to care. Stealing cars was his unconscious cry for attention, to make him FEEL something. When he realizes the cops are on their way to get him, he doesn't panic like most people do. He doesn't try to run and hide, he doesn't cry. While he is scared, he handles the arrest in a very detached way.

The second part of the book is during Alex's incarceration and his stay at the Lincoln Hotel which served as a detention center. I like to call this section his reflective period. It's during this time that Alex starts to think about his past and we get to see glimpses of his childhood. We get a sense of what his life was like before his father entered the picture, how his mother just walked out the door, his love and responsibility to his younger brother, and the little odds and ends in between. For example, Alex remembers Mrs. Komarek, an older woman who used to take care of him and his brother Howard when they used to live with their mother. When she would go to work, Mrs. Komarek would bathe them, play the radio for them, rock Howard to sleep and, "would say too many times for it to be forgotten, 'I've got a crush on you little shitasses,' after which she always laughed happily."

This reflective period also helps give Alex a sense of purpose and family. He is shocked at how kind Mr. Kelly, the man who runs the Lincoln Hotel, is to all the boys. Basically, he is fair and sympathetic, despite what they are all in for. Alex is given a routine which teaches him responsibility but also gives him a sense of purpose which is very important to children and teenagers.

This reflective time in Alex's life is not always easy for him to handle. It's during this time that he really begins to understand that there is something not quite right with his relationship with his father. As he observes the children around him, he realizes something is missing in their eyes, which makes him wonder if something is missing inside him to: "They looked less then children this close. The girls in their sack dresses, their rough and unbrushed, unshining hair, the boys in their flannel shirts, some with eyes opened, as vacant as fish, some with eyes closed. They might have been missing an eighth or a quarter or a third of something hard to name or measure. And so he had to wonder if he was missing anything himself, and knew that he could not know."

The biggest eye opener is how is father responds to him being incarcerated. Instead of being angry or concerned about what drove his son to steal cars, he almost seems proud of Alex for doing it. He says, "I'll tell you something...just between the two of us. It takes some guts to do what you did. Don't you ever do anything like that again-- but don't you ever worry about it either." There is also more evidence that his father blames the system rather then realizing his alcohol problem, mood swings, and lack of stability were the catalyst. He is more worried about Alex keeping quiet and not mentioning his drinking then actually wanting to change for his son. Alex wants to be seen by his father. As crazy as this may sound, he wanted his father to get mad, to show some sort of emotion to prove he cares.

The third and final part of the book is Alex's release from the Lincoln Hotel and how he copes on the outside and how he deals with his new perceptions of his father. It's not an easy transition. Within minutes of his release, his father is already drinking on the car ride home. His classmates shun him. He owes money to Cricket Alan, who doesn't plan to forgive or let Alex forget. As he starts back to school, I couldn't help but be proud of him for trying to pick up his grades, even when he had teachers telling him there was not much he could do so late in the school year.

Alex was really starting to find his self worth by not allowing others to bring him down as he thinks here: "He cautioned himself again against failing, against letting Cricket Alan or Mr. Gerhinger or anything, make him stumble and fall and quit." I was cheering him on, but it was quite frustrating that there was no one to show him support and to tell him he was doing a great job. He even joins the basketball team which really does help build his morale. But the quote that breaks my heart every time I read it is his reason for joining the basketball team. He thinks: "He had the desire not necessarily or entirely for any glory, nor for anything like teamwork or character building, which Mr. Gerhinger liked to define. His reason was more simple: he wanted to hear his name on the loud speaker. He wanted to hear his name enough times, neither he nor the rest of them would forget it completely." Wow. I know I keep coming back to Alex's abandonment issues, but this clearly shows how invisible he feels, as if no one in the world sees him and he wants to change that so badly.

Alex's new self confidence falters after a series of events that leads up to a somewhat predictable, yet still profound, thought provoking ending. I don't want to divulge these details because I think what I've already stated in my review will help guide those of you who decide to give The Car Thief a try. What I mean by "guide" is that once Alex starts to go off course, his car stealing addiction sort of shifts to something else. And please take note of something the author does in the the beginning and towards the end-- a sort of comparison and contrast that can be made to show how far Alex's character has come. That is as far as I am going to go with that.

So some of you may want to know why I am giving The Car Thief 4 stars instead of a perfect 5 star rating when it is quite apparent how much I enjoyed this novel. I only have a few small issues but sadly I can't get too detailed because they are connected somewhat to the ending. My one issue has to do with Alex's obsession with Irene Sheaffer. At first I wasn't sure if it was genuine interest after seeing how Alex treated Eugenia and a girl from the detention center. Sometimes we create illusions and make people bigger in our imaginations in order to cope in extreme circumstances. Irene appeared in his dreams and fantasies during his stay at the Lincoln Hotel but I was a bit puzzled by their dynamic later in the story. Again, that is all I can say in regards to that. And while this novel was filled with absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking lines that I am sure to add to my favorite quotes on goodreads, I did feel that the author used details that could have been shortened to make the novel flow quicker. There were some parts that seemed bogged down. While this didn't bother me too much, I can see why others may have felt impatient to get to the crux of the story.

I truly believe that The Car Thief lives up to being called a modern classic. While it may take a small adjustment to get used to the language and setting of the 1950's, Weesner's style of writing has charm, and his simplistic way of explaining the thoughts and feelings of his main character is heartfelt and real. Astor + Blue Editions is really creating something special for the masses. I think it is a huge contribution to the literary world to be able to take classic literature that may have been forgotten and revive it with a fresh new look and new way for it to be enjoyed in the years to come. It's been a pleasure reading and reviewing The Car Thief and I want to thank Serena Ainsely and Astor + Blue Editions for honoring me with this task and being patient for this long overdue review.

Reviewed by: Mia @ The Muses Circle

[Jessica Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the entire review at Tales Between the Pages

The Car Thief by Theodore Weesner was first published in 1972 by Random House and has had a sporadic republishing history. It was republished in 1987 by Vintage and again in 2001 by Grove Press. It’s newest incarnation in eBook format by Astor + Blue will ensure this literary gem reaches the wide audience it deserves.

I’ve been reading early American literature for my PhD program and “fluff” for the first few weeks of summer so I wasn’t at all prepared for how literary this book was. That’s not to say that literary is a bad thing. It’s not. In fact, it’s quite refreshing to read a story so well-crafted and that gives such wonderful attention to language and detail. I’ll say that the first chapter came as a shock to my system. However, once the initial shock wore off, I was engrossed with the story. I was buckled in with Alex ready for him to take me on a joyride. What a ride it was.

Like any bildungsroman, The Car Thief is a coming of age story. However, unlike other notable bildungsromans like The Catcher in the Rye (which I hated) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (which I loved), The Car Thief is poignant and beautiful and saddening all at the same time. There’s something to be said for simplicity, of simple words strung together in an honest way telling an honest story. There is something about The Catcher in the Rye and Perks of Being a Wallflower that seem a bit to contrived and even phony at points. Never once did I have that impression with The Car Thief. I think it reaffirmed my faith in the bildungsroman genre.

....

Overall, The Car Thief‘s poignancy and honesty make it a book for all to read. Though technically YA, The Car Thief is timeless and ageless, meant to reach a wide range of people. I think we all suffer from the pain and shame of life and can easily identify with Alex’s need to reconcile and move on.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a “come to Jesus” moment for anyone who reads it. It tells us of Alex, the son and of Curly, the father. They are together on different planes - the same house, sleeping, eating, living together barely speaking, barely existing most of the time. Mom left with the young brother, Howard, several years ago and Curly’s world changed dramatically. His drinking before more, his life much less and his ability to care for a son alone isn’t even worth discussing.
Alex has, at 16, done something most adults haven’t done, much less kids his age: he is driving a Buick and it is the 14th car he has stolen. However, the Buick is different in that this time he is caught. Dad is working nights building cars and has no idea what Alex is up to. Curly is too depressed to notice. He knows he should do SOMETHING but doesn’t know what.

Alex goes to the 1960’s version of Juvie and there his world enlarges by leaps and bounds. It is a hard place, cleaning coal chutes, toilets with no seats and a blanket. White and black teens together doing “chores” meant to teach them behavior and respect. As soon as he can, Alex leaves and goes home to – nothing. He wants to enlist but by now is only 17 and can’t.

He goes to see his brother Howard and his errant mother but can’t stay. Home isn’t for him, at least home with a semblance of family. He is verbally cruel to Howard who only wants an older brother, someone to hang with and possibly look up to. Nothing to look up to in Alex. Alex goes back to school, gets a job as a caddy and looks forward to freedom. And he gets it – just not the way he planned.

Billed as “one of the best coming of age novels of the twentieth century”, The Car Thief was actually written in 1967. It is about juvenile delinquents, alcoholic fathers, cars, high school, crushes on girls and LIFE as most of us don’t have to live it. (Thank God!) A hard story to read but possibly an essential one.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows Alex Houseman, a 16-year-old boy who has been stealing cars. He's a lonely child, abandoned by his mother and raised by his well-meaning but inadequate father, and he begins stealing as little more than a thrill. When he's finally caught he spends time in borstal; something which he has trouble bouncing back from once he is released and tries to fit back into school and his community.

The book reminded me a lot of The Catcher in the Rye, with its young, troubled protagonist struggling through a difficult puberty. Personally, I really don't understand the classic status of Salinger's novel and found this much more engaging. Alex is far more sympathetic than Holden Caulfield was and we follow him for a longer period of time, so we get to see the outcome of the choices he makes. He's had a difficult start in life, he's made a mistake, but he's not a bad kid and all the knockbacks he gets when he's trying to sort himself out really started to affect me. This is a book that really brings it home to you how important those early years are and how they can affect the rest of your life. Get a label as a troublemaker and people won't change their mind about you easily, until soon it becomes easier to live up to their expectations than to try and change them. Alex struggles to make friends, find a girl, do well at school and cope with his alcoholic father. He's a trier though, and his awkward but endearing attempts in social situations really make you root for him.

The writing is simple and on the sparse side, but it gets the job done, and the author certainly gets his point across. There's a bio at the back which makes it clear that the novel is semi-autobiographical and I imagine that writing it was a cathartic experience. It's a slow and thoughtful read but quite engrossing.

[Allizabeth Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:

When I fist picked up The Car Thief, I did not suspect the history behind it. I did not realize that is was originally published in 1967, or that it was more autobiographical than it was fictional. Upon reading the Introduction by Theodore Weesner (2012), as well as the Author's Bio, my interest spiked. The author had been though a lot in his life and I hoped to see that conveyed throughout all 391 pages of his novel; it was. The book takes place in Michigan in 1959, but the characters, events, and emotions are transcendent, easy to relate to for any generation of readers. I immediately empathized with Alex and Curly, their relationship painful, raw, and heartbreaking; Alex's need for car-thieving thrills and Curly's alcoholic tendencies pulling the pair further apart. Honestly, I did not expect to be so affected by their plights, but the sad reality of Alex's situation struck a chord with me. Before and after his incarceration, I could feel how the community looked down on him and thought he was good-for-nothing. That level of judgment would pressure anyone, especially someone so young and damaged. Every time Alex was down-in-the-dumps, I had to refrain from becoming his personal cheerleader; he definitely needed a friend – or better yet – a family that was willing to stand behind him. The writing style was succinct, but each page firmly and emotionally got the author's points across. I cannot say that I was surprised by the ending, however, it is one that I will not likely forget. I enjoyed Weesner's The Car Thief more than Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, and I believe that it would be a welcome change to some high literature curriculums. Recommended to all readers, especially teens.

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Blue Dot Literary / Astor + Blue Editions) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Sapphyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as read the synopsis of The Car Thief I just knew that I had to read it. You see, I grew up in a small town just outside of Flint and until 5 years ago lived in Genesee County or nearby Shiawasee County. I was born in Flint but never actually lived there. I did work for GM within the Great Lakes Technology Centre downtown Flint. Enough about me, however.

Alex is a teen living with his blue collar father. His mother left and took his brother with her. He gets into fights, steals automobiles, and basically just drifts along, forgotten, broken, and swept under the rug. Alex also battles depression, which in itself is a struggle. His father is an alcoholic and the two of them just keep drifting apart. Then, after stealing his 14th vehicle, Alex gets caught, arrested, and send to the 1959 version of juvenile hall (juvie).

Mr. Weesner does an excellent job with this coming of age tale. The book was first published in 1973 and is so well written that it unites the boundaries of many generations. He uses plain language that is only hard to read in the sense that the plight of Alex and his father is all too realistic. Although this story is based around 1959, there are many aspects to it that are very much the same now in 2012. I recommend this story to anyone; male or female. It may be primarily about a male protagonist, but there aren't any women/girls I know that don't deal with men/boys at some point in their lives.

[Sean Kottke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some years ago, City Pulse listed The Car Thief as the all-time number one Michigan book. It's a stunning, timeless coming of age story, as relevant and relatable today as when it was written over 40 years ago. I was really surprised how well it holds up. The odyssey of Alex Housman is a rust-belt, working class Catcher in the Rye, and my heart ached for this young man. The novel depicts one of the most tender father-son relationships I've ever read, and it brought a lump to my throat multiple times (once is a rare enough and special occasion for a book; this one got to me at least three times). And what do you know - in the middle of a tough story about growing up on the margins of the social order (the kind of material Bonnie Jo Campbell has mastered) come some evocative descriptions of what it's like to be a deeply engaged reader. Alex isn't just a car thief; he's a borderline bookworm. And he may be sitting in your classroom right now, struggling to find his place.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this in the possibility it was a YA Noir in the tradition of S.E. Hinton, but no dice. The biggest problem with "The Car Thief" is that the protagonist has no personality or humor, so when he gets stomped in the locker room at school we don't care. He's no Rusty James, he's not even Antoine Doinel, just a faceless cipher with no soul, and that's why this book blows. But what do I know? Just read these delirious reviews...
"A work of consummate art...one lives with the young hero heartbeat by heartbeat...when one reaches the bittersweet climax, one wants to start reading the whole novel over again!" - The New York Times
"An almost perfect achievement...powerful!!!" - Time Magazine
"Simply marvelous...not to be missed for anything...few novels are to be admired more!" - Kansas City Star
"Brilliant...this book is truly great!!!" - Richmond Times-Dispatch

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful coming-of-age tale that is well-written and compelling.

I got involved in Alex's story right from page one and it was fascinating to journey with him through his car-stealing beginning to the gripping conclusion. The prose in this book is deceptively simple and yet it is also very descriptive and centres the story in the present moment with great clarity.

That said, this is a fairly introspective piece and offers some thought-provoking observations on family relationships and the value of education. The portrayal of the relationship between Alex and his father is particularly telling.

I can certainly recommend this book to readers who like slightly deeper 'teen' tales.

I received this book as a free e-book ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Car Thief, republished as an eBook in 2012 by Astor & Blue and now available in paperback also, was Theodore Weesner’s first novel, originally published by Random House in 1972. Weesner, a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, went on to publish several more novels and a collection of short stories and is said to be, though nearing 80, working on a memoir and a new novel.

Read my full review: Review of The Car Thief

[~JenRen~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: The Car Thief, Theodore Weesner


Described as “one of the best coming of age novels of the Twentieth Century,” Theodore Weesner’s modern American classic is now re-launched for a new generation of readers to discover. It’s 1959. Sixteen year-old Alex Housman has just stolen his fourteenth car and frankly doesn’t know why. His divorced, working class father grinds out the night shift at the local Chevy Plant in Detroit, looking forward to the flask in his glove compartment, and the open bottles of booze in his Flint, Michigan home. Abandoned and alone, father and son struggle to express a deep love for each other, even as Alex fills his day juggling cheap thrills and a crushing depression. He cruises and steals, running from—and then forcing run-ins with—the police, compelled by reasons he frustratingly can’t put into words. And then there’s Irene Shaeffer, the pretty girl in school whose admiration Alex needs like a drug in order to get by. Broke and fighting to survive, Alex and his father face the realities of estrangement, incarceration, and even violence as their lives unfold toward the climactic episode that a New York Times reviewer called “one of the most profoundly powerful in American fiction.” In this rich, beautifully crafted story, Weesner accomplishes a rare feat: He’s written a transcendent piece of literature in deceptively simple language, painting a powerful portrait of a father and a son, otherwise invisible among the mundane, everyday details of life in blue collar America. A true and enduring American classic.


Alex Housman is a sixteen year old young man, cruising around the city in his 14th stolen car; a Buick Rivera. He really doesn’t know why he steals cars, but is at the point where he is hoping to get caught.
The fact that he wants to get caught, leads me to believe he is just looking for someone – ANY one – to notice him.
His father works 2nd shift at a local Chevrolet plant, and is a hard core alcoholic. Other than work, the only thing he has time and attention for is the bottle.
Alex and his father have a decent relationship, but his father is deeply depressed and suicidal.

…Alex’s day starts like any other, except today it had snowed…actually is still snowing hard.
He left his house at the same time he usually does and walked to his current stolen car – a ’59 Buick Rivera. He didn’t have any destination in mind or any particular thing he wanted to do; so he just aimlessly drove. At first he kept to local streets, but found himself heading to Shiawassee. He really didn’t want to go, but found himself heading there anyway. He parked near the school that his kind-of girlfriend Eugenia Rogers attends, wondering if she would come out and see him or not. Alex hadn’t been very nice to her the last time they were together. He grew impatient waiting to see if she would reject him, so he left…the school and Shiawassee.

Alex ended up on the road to Lake Nepinsing; the town that his mother, step-father, and younger brother Howard live in.
They own a Tavern there, and Alex has not been inside. Letting curiosity have its way, he pulls into the Lakeview Tavern’s parking lot. The lot has not been plowed, so Alex knows no one is there. He thinks it would be good to see his mom, just to see her, not to speak with her.
Alex gets out of the car to look in the windows of the Tavern. It looks shabby in the light of day. After walking around the building and seeing all there is, he leaves.
Arriving home much later, Alex gets a phone call from Eugenia, her parents found the coat that Alex gave her. The coat was in the back seat of the Buick when he stole it. She confesses to Alex that she spilled everything to her parents; they called the Police and relayed everything she told them. Eugenia apologized to Alex, but by this point Alex is not listening.
He’s thinking of all the things he’s done with no real reason to have committed the crimes. He’s thinking of what it will be like to be taken by the police and what will happen to him from there.

Alex also thinks about his father and the fact that they have a decent relationship. They get along and love one another.
When his father comes home shortly after his shift ends, Alex knows that he hasn’t been out drinking. He contemplates telling his dad what he has done, but doesn’t know how to approach him when he’s sober. Usually Alex talks to his dad when he’s drunk; knowing that anything he says will be received under a cloud of alcohol.

The following day, Alex attends school. He hasn’t been attending – but decided to this day.
Right at the end of the day, Alex is summoned to the Principal’s office. There are two detectives waiting for him when he walks in the office. They ask a few questions and take him into custody.
Alex is taken to the police station where his is interviewed and processed. After several hours he is taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.
The man in charge takes him to his cell – it’s already lights out, so Alex is left without a clue of how things run or what is expected of him.

Alex does his time, and upon release tries to change his ways…but finds himself falling into old patterns. Once again, he is caught and taken in.
Through his second stint in the justice system (which didn’t show any of the juvenile’s justice) …
Alex meets a man who will help him enact changes in his life. He helps Alex to try and change, and tries to show him the right path. He encourages Alex to join the Service, to learn life lessons and to figure out WHO Alex wants to be.


The Car Thief is written well and a very compelling story. I can see why it’s been said to be “One of the great coming of age novels…”
It was definitely a struggle for me to read though. As a mother of two boys, one girl (who started out in life as my niece but became my daughter through adoption), and ‘Mom’ to several of my children’s friends – I wanted so much to be able to reach in and take Alex by the hand. I am appalled by women who turn their backs and walk away from their children…it makes absolutely NO sense to me.
Alex’s father tried his best, but too often was lost in his own pain and couldn’t see much beyond his depression.
Throughout the story, I kept seeing Alex crying out for attention. He was so lost and virtually alone.
He felt like he was not wanted, didn’t fit in, and has self-esteem issues because of his appearance.
I believe that all of these feelings stem from being abandoned by his mother.

I am very happy that Alex found the motivation to turn things around. All it took was for one person to care, take an interest in his well being, and let him know that he is valued.

[Mirkian Indiancorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a terrible spoiler of the WHOLE BOOK in its Introduction by the author, something I cannot understand... The publisher should have put that as an Epilogue!
The story is compelling, but at times slow. I like and dislike Alex time and again. I think he is to self-focused and takes no one under cosideration. So smart for some things and so clueless for others.

[Murat Celik · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has too much emotion in it because of the boy's age, family status and everything but the most dominant one is the feeling about being lost. He tried to find his way of living and his journey touched a lot...

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOOK SYNOPSIS

It’s 1959. Sixteen year-old Alex Housman has just stolen his fourteenth car and frankly doesn’t know why. His divorced, working class father grinds out the night shift at the local Chevy Plant in Detroit, kept afloat by the flask in his glove compartment and the open bottles in his Flint, Michigan home.

Abandoned and alone, father and son struggle to express a deep love for each other, even as Alex fills his day juggling cheap thrills and a crushing depression. He cruises and steals, running from, and to, the police, compelled by reasons he frustratingly can’t put into words. And then there’s Irene Shaeffer, the pretty girl in school whose admiration Alex needs like a drug in order to get by. Broke and fighting to survive, Alex and his father face the realities of estrangement, incarceration, and even violence as their lives hurtle toward the climactic episode that a New York Times reviewer called “one of the most profoundly powerful in American fiction.”

In this rich, beautifully crafted story, Weesner accomplishes a rare feat: He’s written a transcendent piece of literature in deceptively plain language, painting a gripping portrait of a father and a son, otherwise invisible among the mundane, everyday details of life in blue collar America. A true and enduring American classic.

MY THOUGHTS

I am going to start out by saying that this is not a story for those of us who prefer our reading material to be fantasy rather than reality based. It was hard for me to relate to the character of Alex, having myself grown up in a loving household with caring parents, the plight of this young man was one I just had no personal reference for.

Alex Houseman is not a young man who is endearing, he is not a young man who you want your daughter to date or even know for that matter but Alex is a young man representative of his circumstances. A Mother who abandoned her family when her sons Alex and Howard were very young, later on the same woman takes Howard with her but leaves Alex behind. A Father who is so caught up in his problems that he does not begin to acknowledge or address the problems his son is facing instead he drinks and basically leaves Alex on his own to fend for himself most of the time.
It is no wonder that Alex gets into joyriding in stolen cars as a way to escape his stifling existence.

Alex Houseman's character is not unique, there are many children who have come from broken homes who turn to a lifetime of crime as the easiest way to get by. However his character is unique in the fact that Alex breaks the cycle, he finally finds the inner courage to stand by what he knows is right for him and in doing so also finds his path in life.

This book is very intense reading as the story progresses we are drawn further and further into Alex's thoughts, his feelings and actions. There is no way to fully describe this tale without actually re-telling it, this is an introspective look at the life of a troubled young man, a young man whose life journey is both fraught with heartache and despair but in the end proves that one can triumph over one's past mistakes.

Upon further investigation into this tale it came to my attention that this is somewhat of an autobiography of the author's own life growing up. It proved to me that a person can be more than they ever thought if only they worked at it hard enough, taking the opportunities that came their way to make a life they can be proud of and a life that they enjoyed living.

Once again I reiterate this is not an easy story to read as it is harshly realistic in it's honest portrayal of a very dysfunctional family that is made up of Alex and his alcoholic father, his younger brother who lives with their easily led astray mother and all the baggage that each one of them bring to the mix.

[An ecopy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Thoughts: This book is a coming-of-age story, but one that's darker than most stories of that vein that I've read before. Despite initial misgivings, I think it's pretty gripping.

(Originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)

It is very rare for me to be able to sit down with a book that deals with a pretty heavy subject matter, and come out of it having actually felt like it was worth reading. The Car Thief was definitely a lot more serious, and more densely written, than most of the books I’ve been reading lately. But I think, for me, it was worth the time and effort that I invested in reading it.

Honestly, it was very difficult for me in the beginning. It took a bit of time for me to be truly interested in the story, especially because I was definitely not used to the way the story was written. However, about a third of the way into the book, I found myself quite intrigued by the book. I actually wanted to continue reading the book and find out what happened to Alex, the main character.

The book is broken up into three separate sections. In the first part of the book, when we meet Alex, we have no idea what his motives are for stealing cars. In fact, it really appears, based on his train of thought, that he does it just for the heck of doing it. As a reader, I found myself annoyed because I knew it was wrong. But instinct told me that there was definitely more going on beneath the surface. There were hints of it, and I guessed at things that may have been driving him to do these things...

The second part is where the book takes on a whole new tone when we accompany Alex on his stint in juvie. I think it’s an interesting change in pace for the novel, and I was quite curious about the picture the author painted. While it certainly was not pleasant at points, it was quite... eye-opening. I don’t know exactly how accurately it was portrayed, but it definitely was something else.

And the third, final part was what happened after Alex gets out of juvie. It was very well-done, at least to me, because Alex wasn’t perfectly rehabilitated. He still made mistakes and messed up a couple of times. What had changed was his attitude towards his life and future. The tenacity and the drive with which he attacked the things he needed to get done in order to change was totally inspiring. And I definitely wanted him to succeed! The situations he had to deal with at home and even among his peers were challenging, but he handled them as best he could.

While I certainly had my reservations when I started this novel, I’m happy to say that I really did end up liking it in the end. It’s an incredible journey that Alex goes on. Because I felt like I really got to know him, I liked reading about him and I went from feeling apathetic about him to really rooting for him to succeed. I certainly don’t think this novel is for everyone; but it’s definitely for those who like heavier, darker and denser reads.

[Michele Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: The Car Thief
Author: Theodore Weesner
Publisher: Astor + Blue Editions
IBSN: 9781938231001
Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Coach Tater Review

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
― Leo Tolstoy

Alex Housman is a broken boy from a broken family. Nothing really shocking or unusual that he gets in trouble with the law for stealing cars, which he has no reasoning for doing other than he can. His home life consists of living in a small apartment with a father who is larger than life especially when he is hitting the bottle, although he doesn’t physically hurt his son, is he hurting him in other ways? Alex’s mom is not in the picture at all for she has started another life with another man and has taken his brother Howard with her. To say this young man’s life has its ups and downs would be an understatement, but aren’t most teenagers lives this way. It is all on how they handle these situations that will decide what kind of adults they become. This is story on how one such teenager makes his choices that will change his life either for the better or for the worst...you will just have to read the book and find out which.

I am not one to compare books with other books like some feel they need to. I prefer to let the book speak for itself on how the author wished it is to be translated. I also would not say this book is a “coming of age” read; labels like this don’t give the book justice.

Although it is set in year where I wasn’t even born yet, the childhood problems presented are the same as today. The overwhelming pressure for a young person to do something extraordinary with their lives when life has dealt them a not so great home life is a common theme in any year. Even though I am a female, I still felt that I could relate to the main character, even if it was partially from a mother’s point-of-view. I felt pity and sympathy for him, wanting to grab him sometimes and ask him, “what the hell are you thinking?” as if he was one of my own sons. Maybe it could be a good book to show parents how their actions really do effect their children and what not to do. How being an alcoholic, even a non-violent one, can push a child to grow-up before they are ready and cause them to make wrong, sometimes, very wrong choices. Also how being an absentee parent may really make the child confused and feel unloved. {Coming off the soap box}. Okay back to how I feel about the book; I highly recommend it as a book that should be read as it is and not to be compared to any other book. I can see it being a great read for required reading in high school, especially as a teaching tool. Young and old alike, in my opinion, will find it a good read. Just let the book take on the life it was meant to.

Here is a link to the book for your convenience: http:/astorandblue.com/the-car-thief/

[Hira · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is rare, quite rare, to come across a novel that grabs you from the very first page. For me, "The Car Thief" by Theodore Weesner was one such book. As a matter of fact, technically, I was already hooked before the first page. I was hooked from the "Author's Note" onwards.

"The Car Thief" is essentially about the outcry of a teenage son, in reaction to the behavior of his alcoholic and ever working father. But, by no means, is it simply just a novel about that. It is a supremely written "coming of age" narrative, that beautifully explores human frailty, the fragility of the human psyche, and the tender undoing of a young heart. Teetering and tottering back and forth between being a depressed teenager and an adrenaline junkie, Alex Housman is a car thief. He steals cars without knowing why. Alone and abandoned, he passes his days being a delinquent and looking for constant approval from pretty Irene Shaeffer, all the while craving love and attention from his father, yet, not being able to adequately express this sentiment.

Alex is a young boy, on the verge of manhood, who has to learn how to live and act like an adult in the world of adults due to the negligence of his father. A father who also loves him, and like Alex, is unable to express it. But instead of pearls of wisdom from his father, Alex is faced with a parent who has all but drowned himself in a bottle of liquor. Rebellious, and angered, he finds an outlet for his emotions via stealing cars.

The literary beauty of this book lies in the stark plainness of its language, but the strength of this book lies in the complexity of it's characters. It may seem like Alex is a character to either be despised (for he is a car thief), or to be pitied (for he is a young boy abandoned by his father) - but I was surprised to realize that I found myself actually admiring Alex. A novel that chronicles the life of one father and son in a blue-collar community, this book is sure to mesmerize you and be remembered for years to come!

[Heather C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very hard book for me to categorize. In trade descriptions it is touted as an undiscovered American classic. It is also definitively a coming of age novel. It also has elements of historical fiction – although it isn’t quite old enough to be firmly seated there.

While reading this novel I had flashbacks to my experience in high school reading A Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger; that in and of itself was a point of contention for me. Like Catcher it took me a long time to read this book because there were not many events to carry you along the plot. It was more of a soul searching, inner turmoil experience that made for not quite compelling reading. I kept thinking that it would get more exciting, but it didn’t until the small climactic blip before it slowed back down again.

This novel cannot be described as anything without being described as a coming of age novel. The main character, Alex Housman, is a teenager who, throughout the pages, grows from a young man who steals cars for no real reason to a man who is more sure about his direction in life and begins to make sound decisions. I often found myself very frustrated with the decisions of both Alex and his father.

The reading experience for me was a little split. If hard pressed, I would say that I didn’t really enjoy the first half of the novel. This was more of his troubled period and his stay at the detention home just did not make for compelling reading. As I reached the second half of the novel my experience improved because Alex became a less static character and he stopped being so hung up on himself and began to grow. I enjoyed the setting of this novel. You could feel Detroit and Flint, Michigan ooze from the pores of the pages. Alex’s father works at the Chevrolet car manufacturing plant and you can feel how the car culture embeds itself into the community.

A solid read but I wouldn’t describe it as vastly interesting.

This review was previously posted @ The Maiden's Court. Was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Evangeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a coming-of-age novel like none other. We read coming-of-age novels dealing with mischief and the ups-and-downs of adolescence. The Car Thief has nothing of that sort. With a tone filled with hopelessness and despair, we read about a teenage boy who becomes a juvenile delinquent after stealing 14 cars for "joyrides". He comes from a broken family with an absentee mother and a father who comes back late a night or sometimes past midnight. If anything, The Car Thief sends us a resonating reminder that we live in a broken world.

The story is so well-written, I find myself feeling plenty of sympathy for Alex. He seems so lost and it is obvious that he doesn't feel at peace with himself. He is searching and life is mundanely meaningless. In fact, the entire tone of the novel is mainly depressing. The Car Thief portrays life as it is, without whitewashing any details. After all, it is a fact many adolescents nowadays do not come from complete homes (especially with the staggering number of divorces). Life gets complicated and the response towards problems is the thing that matters.

The Car Thief's story is sad, honestly brutal, but I liked it. This story is different, one that isn't easily forgotten. Reading it, it is easy to find the story disturbing, to get caught up in the dreary outlook. Looking through the lenses of Alex, the world seems grey. However, in the midst of the emptiness, we read about the characters who are kind, who care. These characters are the glimpses of hope and light that appear periodically despite the darkness.

The style of language used in telling the story makes the story even more impactful. The Car Thief is a book that will blow your mind and causes you to examine more deeply the meaning of life. For me, it is a book that caused me to think about the teenagers in delinquent homes and how the system can cause them to reexamine their life or spiral even further downward. A refreshingly different perspective is given - triumphs and defeats, heartaches and joys, this is life.

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Housman is sixteen and when he's not at home with his divorced alcoholic Dad, he's at the 24 hour movie theatre or out driving a stolen car around the city following girls.

This is a coming of age story about Alex as he tries to navigate his way through school with the shame of living where he does and having a father who drinks way too much and too often. Separated from his brother and then sent to a boy's home for stealing cars, Alex is wrenched from the only home he has ever known.

Whilst I found the story rolled along quite well, I don't believe it quite lives up to the following quote from one enthusiastic critic: "one of the great coming of age novels in the twentieth century."

What I enjoyed most from Theodore Weesner's The Car Thief was the relationship between Alex and his father. It was complex and painful, layered and superbly written. Alex is torn between loving his father, being proud of the way he dresses and presents himself, ashamed of his drinking, and feeling pity for the way in which his wife (Alex's mother) left him. Their interactions are mostly sparse but seem to communicate so much, and for me these were the richest sections of the novel.

Second to that was the relationship Alex has with his younger brother. Again this relationship is precious to Alex and deeply layered and Weesner is able to paint the tension and hurt onto the page in a scene as benign as a boat ride and a game of pool.

These two relationships were rich and moving and I enjoyed being in them more than I enjoyed reading the scenes where Alex was on his own. Reading the author's note at the end, it seems most of this novel was autobiographical which makes this reader wonder if this was a restriction when writing The Car Thief.

What I'll take away from reading The Car Thief is one of the best father son relationships in fiction I've read in quite a while, however this is secondary to the coming of age story of Alex Housman.

[Shoshanah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Within the first few pages of the book we know 16-year-old Alex has just stolen his 14 car. We don't really know why he's stolen it, and even as the story continues we as the reader, or even Alex himself, never really seems to understand.

While this book was originally published in the 1970s, it does take place in the 1950s, which is funny in a way because this book could not only have been published today (and technically it is being republished now), but it could also take place now. Yes, there as aspects of the novel that give it a place in time like the soda shops, but its overall theme of a teen-aged boy falling through the cracks of society is still relevant today.

I wound up really getting into this, and at times couldn't put it down. I felt for Alex throughout, worrying for him in particular situations. It just seemed to unfair to think he was almost trapped in his life without a way to escape. At least it seemed unfair until I thought about the fact that he did just steal 14 cars. No, it wasn't malicious and he didn't really hurt anyone, but still. I realize there's the argument that it isn't really Alex's fault. After all, his parents aren't together, his father's an alcoholic, he's younger brother is no longer present in his life... But I think people can rise above their circumstances.

To be honest, (as silly as it makes me sound) I don't always enjoy novels that make me think. I would rather escape into a light and fluffy word, but with this one I had to put a lot of thought into not only the real meaning behind the words, but just understanding what was going on. I do think there are a lot of redeeming qualities on this book, and there are parts that I'll look back on fondly, but I can't picture myself wanting to pick this one up again.

Disclosure: I was provided this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Sinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, I received this book as an ARC from the publisher for a fair an honest review. Reading the synopsis and all of the favorable reviews, I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed. I found myself struggling through this book and bribing myself into reading "just one more page."

I found that I could not make a connection with this book. Not being from the era where the story takes place, I felt a huge gap and separation from the story. Further, I continually felt bogged down in pointless details. He uses up too much space with seemingly meaningless details. Whatever the author was trying to do, he failed.

According to many reviews, this book is heralded as being the coming of age novel of the 20th century. And, I'm sorry, but I really doubt that. This book lacks a timelessness that makes other novels classics. It may be powerful and change the world in its time, but it will not be a classic if it cannot appeal to future generations.

Alex was extremely one dimensional. I felt no emotion from the character. While I grant that this could have been an intentional literary device, it made the character unreachable and very unsympathetic. His apathetic attitude towards stealing and being in juvenile detention made it impossible to understand the character. For me, I felt closer to him when he was frantic over the police possibly coming to his house. Before and after, nothing. Normally, the reaction he received once he returned from school would have made my blood boil; however, I was unable to muster feelings or regard for Alex. His poor characterization made it impossible to really care what happened to him.

To me, it feels as though the author is trying to read a new generation of readers with this novel; however, it lacks something to make it accessible. It is definitely a product of its time, and I don't see it as being anything else.

[ILoveBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen year-old Alex Housman steals cars and skips school, almost hoping to get caught. His younger brother was taken away to live with his re-married mother who never bothers to see her oldest son, Alex. His alcoholic, divorced father works in a Michigan auto factory. Alex fantasizes about a girl in his high school, but ends up being stalker-like, despite her initial friendly attitude. Once he’s caught for stealing cars, Alex ends up in juvenile detention where he meets an assortment of lost, misfit boys like himself.
Weesner sets his story in 1959, and he mentions in the introduction that it is somewhat autobiographical. This is a re-release, originally published in 1972. The story reminds me of Catcher in the Rye, the novel we all had to read in high school. These two stories fall into the “read them because you have to” category for me. As a teen, I sometimes felt the undirected energy, purposeless confusion, lack of care that Weesner describes so poignantly. As a boy, Alex seems to also feel the need to punch or be punched…needing some recklessness and danger to feel alive. However, his perpetual boredom with his life also comes through. When an adviser suggests various jobs, Alex takes on a paper route and then later caddies at a country club. Having work seems to improve his outlook. The novel’s ending is not unexpected, but is uneventfully, quietly sad.
As a teen, this story would have made me uncomfortable. Some of the feelings are too close to home then. As an adult, I feel so sorry for Alex’s father – who shyly, genuinely seems to love his son. With such a broken home and so many problems, the story draws you into their world, but you don’t want to be there. If this was a neighbor, I would want to help, but I would feel the situation to be nearly hopeless. This is a novel that should be read for its insights and its great writing. Those of us who read for inspiration, excitement, and optimistic thoughts may only feel disturbed and anxious.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been a fan of male coming of age stories; I just can't relate to them at all. However, Weesner's book and the character he created had me hooked. I enjoyed the way the plot moved because Alex Housman is constantly getting into difficult situations, whether it is from his actions or another's, and you can't help but root for him to succeed. The mix of flashbacks to his childhood only add to the reader's attachment to the character because you know he wasn't raised with a cookie-cutter childhood. I find most main characters in coming of age stories to be extremely irritating with their practically bipolar mood swings and negativity, and while Alex Housman has plenty of those, his story was far more interesting than any part of say, The Catcher in the Rye, to me.

The one thing that did make this story difficult was the beginning. I couldn't immediately get into the story because it starts out smack dab in the middle of one of his car thefts. At this point the character seems cold and unfeeling in his urgency to  swipe whatever vehicle he can get his hands on. It's after you start learning more about his childhood and his current family life that you begin to feel for the character. However, that doesn't flesh out until the middle of the story, so for a while I just felt like I was along for the ride while I tried to understand this complex character and his motivations for acting out the way he does.

Once you're into the novel, you can't help but be consumed by its story. It's never clear whether the main character is actually ever going to reform which keeps you guessing to the very end and even after the book is closed. Weesner did something that I was fairly certain would never happen for me; he wrote a male coming of age story that I actually enjoyed. Alex Housman is the Holden Caulfield for our generation.

*I received a free copy of this book for this review from the author.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very astonishingly well written novel about a troublemaking young adolescent's struggle to stay out of trouble in a town and a family that only sees him as a bad kid.

If this book has not been made into a movie yet, it's long overdue to be turned into one, because the suspense of the car stealing, the intensity of the struggle of the protagonist to turn over a new leaf when odds are against him, the indifference of authority (school, parents, teachers) in reaching out to him, all of it makes for a riveting story.

For most of the novel I thought I was reading a book from the late 1950s, but was surprised that it was written in the early 1970s, for there is very little political turmoil or reference to sex, drugs, rock and roll, that defined that time. The lean prose is concentrated on the boy and that is what makes the book so special, for it is completely about how an individual can be overcome and possibly triumph over trying circumstances.

[Ruby Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the blurb my ears perked up a bit. I mean, really. A young boy, Alex, abandoned by his mother, his father was either working night shifts or drinking. So Alex starts skipping school, stealing cars, smoking. I thought it was really interesting.

And it was, don't get me wrong. It was an interesting story. The reader gets to see Alex grow up from a troubled teenager to a young man enlisted in the Army. And you get to see the struggles he overcomes. Stealing cars, getting arrested, being released from detention and going back to school where he's just as alone as before. You get to see all that.

I felt the pacing was a little too slow for me. The inner monologue at times dragged a little too much for my comfort.

Also, there where moments where I didn't connect at all with Alex. I mean, I understood his reasons for doing what he did. He wanted attention, he needed to fit in and he did whatever it took. But there were too many moments of "he didn't want to do this, but he kept doing it", "he didn't want to be here, but he didn't leave", "he didn't want to eat, but he kept eating" and other similar moments. It was in those moments that I couldn't help but think "well, if you don't want to..., don't". Those moments pulled me out of the story a few times.

It is possible that I had high expectations to begin with. My experience with coming-of-age stories isn't that big, so maybe that's a factor.

If you like coming-of-age stories, this could be the book for you.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Car Thief by Theodore Weesner is a unique book in this day and age. Taking place in the late 1960s, Alex is a troubled young man set on survival and nothing will hold him back. Through Alex's character readers are introduced to a very real way of life that some kids actually have to live. A broken home, addiction, crime, punishment, and the chance at redemption are just parts of the multifaceted gem that is The Car Thief. Alex is the "bad boy" who is much deeper and more complex than a lot of people give him credit for. He is the type of character that although clearly in the wrong readers will root for him in hopes of becoming the person they see inside. Alex isn't the only character who will resonate with readers. The inadequacies of a father and yearnings of a younger brother help explore the complex system that is the male relationship. This is the type of character and the type of book that are ageless in the literary world. One that in despite of taking place almost 50 years ago is still relevant today and will continue to be so.
There isn't much to critique in The Car Thief. The beginning of the book might be a little confusing and hard to get into at first. Secondly the inner musings and descriptions also tend to drag at points and slow down the pace of the book. Overall, these few things do not detract too much from the story. The Car Thief by Theodore Weesner is a book that shouldn't be missed if you are at all interested in the human condition or the ability to overcome adversity. This book gets a 4 STAR rating.

[Naberius · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always interesting to read a "coming of age" novel from a different time period than my own childhood, so I was intrigued by this story. I think a good story, however, can transcend any time period -- that it doesn't matter when the person is going through their experiences, but what those experiences are, and how they are changed by them. Admittedly, other than having some familiarity with the cars from the late 1950's/early 1960s, I didn't have much to relate to in this book; I'm not a young man, I've never stolen a car, I've never been incarcerated ---- but it was easy for me to become drawn into this story. I will say that at times, it felt a bit uncomfortable -- reading this story is like being a voyeur to your neighbors across the way; you don't always want to know all the details of what is happening.

Truthfully, I didn't always like Alex. I didn't always feel like I understood him. Sometimes, it felt like he was just slogging mindlessly through his days, which I found frustrating. Sometimes, it felt like he was a bit one-dimensional, and a bit boring. I never did quite relate to him. However, I found myself continuing to turn the pages, just to see what was going to happen to him -- and I felt that if he could just get on the right path, and stay there, with some help and guidance, that he was going to be okay. I think that's the most timeless element of this story: the hope that is there, throughout the book, even if sometimes, it's a pretty slim shard.

For my full review, please visit my blog: http://fluidityoftime.blogspot.com