What do you think?
Rate this book
The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To
When Darren Bennett meets Eric Lederer, there's an instant connection. They share a love of drawing and the bottom rung on the high-school social ladder. These things (combined with absentee parents, Darren's evil older brother, and a pathological fear of girls) drive them toward an ambitious a comic book that evolves into a series of graphic novels that become a movie trilogy, all before they even put pen to paper.
Then Eric reveals a He doesn't sleep. Ever. Instead, at night, he masters video games, geeks out on obscure Brazilian music, and suffers, occasionally, from violent hallucinations. When word leaks out, he and Darren suddenly find themselves on the run from mysterious forces. Is it the government trying to tap into Eric's mind? Or is there something else Eric hasn't told Darren, like the possibly that he has willed one of their creations to life, and now it is hunting them down?
Then Eric reveals a He doesn't sleep. Ever. Instead, at night, he masters video games, geeks out on obscure Brazilian music, and suffers, occasionally, from violent hallucinations. When word leaks out, he and Darren suddenly find themselves on the run from mysterious forces. Is it the government trying to tap into Eric's mind? Or is there something else Eric hasn't told Darren, like the possibly that he has willed one of their creations to life, and now it is hunting them down?
Audible Audio
First published January 20, 2010
61 people are currently reading
3079 people want to read
About the author
D.C. Pierson
5 books58 followersD.C. Pierson (born December 27, 1984) is an American comedian, author, and actor. He is best known for his involvement in the sketch and improvisational comedy group Derrick Comedy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 400 reviews
July 11, 2010
First off, I challenge anyone to actually remember that title with complete accuracy in two hours. The Boy Who Never Slept and Couldn't Want...No, The Boy Who Didn't Want to Sleep and Had to...Shit! But to be honest, I think the title works because it does tell you just a little something about the book. Plus, it beats the shit out of the other book I have checked out: Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty: Poems. What the fuck does that even mean? I like poems as much, actually more than the next man, but it makes it an awfully hard pursuit to defend when you do something insane like that.
This was also an early review copy, like the Rob Sheffield book. Unfortunately I got it about, hmmm, eight months after the book was released. So the bloom was off the rose as they say, and the rose was crushed into a million shards that were used to compare smells with old lady perfumes they were selling at Walgreens. They don't usually say that last part, but it's implied.
This book follows two kids. Nerd kids. And something this book does well is write nerds who are nerds. They aren't hot nerds who take their glasses off and turn into hot babes like Zach Ephron, Taylor Lautner, or...some chick with brown hair. The main character has the self-described "worst torso for miles." At the same time, in realistic nerd fashion, these nerds are not happy that they aren't popular, but they don't pursue popularity with a vengeance either. The book isn't about that aspect of nerdidity, which is fantastic because we've all read/watched nerds turn into not nerds, get a hot girl, find out that being nerdy is actually really great, or learn some other life lesson that is easily won and wholly untrue. Because, and I speak with experience here, no matter how many Tommy Hilfiger shirts you buy, the back they are draped over is still concave, pale, and covered in acne.
The book also narrowly avoids the classic plotline wherein Nerd A starts getting popular, leaves Nerd B, and then we have conflict. At one point it looks like that's where it's headed, but don't worry. It goes somewhere else quickly.
Ultimately, the book is written from the perspective of a nerd, but what makes him an interesting an readable character is that he in an unapologetic nerd. He doesn't waste a lot of time explaining the broad strokes of Star Wars and Tolkein and the design of mechs. He gives you enough to hold onto if need be, but the book really feels like it's written for people who have been there, and it's this appeal that really pull the book together.
If you like teen comedy, maybe especially ones that are just a little different and throw in a little sci-fi, this one beats the shit out of the next Judd Apatow movie, whatever the hell that ends up being.
This was also an early review copy, like the Rob Sheffield book. Unfortunately I got it about, hmmm, eight months after the book was released. So the bloom was off the rose as they say, and the rose was crushed into a million shards that were used to compare smells with old lady perfumes they were selling at Walgreens. They don't usually say that last part, but it's implied.
This book follows two kids. Nerd kids. And something this book does well is write nerds who are nerds. They aren't hot nerds who take their glasses off and turn into hot babes like Zach Ephron, Taylor Lautner, or...some chick with brown hair. The main character has the self-described "worst torso for miles." At the same time, in realistic nerd fashion, these nerds are not happy that they aren't popular, but they don't pursue popularity with a vengeance either. The book isn't about that aspect of nerdidity, which is fantastic because we've all read/watched nerds turn into not nerds, get a hot girl, find out that being nerdy is actually really great, or learn some other life lesson that is easily won and wholly untrue. Because, and I speak with experience here, no matter how many Tommy Hilfiger shirts you buy, the back they are draped over is still concave, pale, and covered in acne.
The book also narrowly avoids the classic plotline wherein Nerd A starts getting popular, leaves Nerd B, and then we have conflict. At one point it looks like that's where it's headed, but don't worry. It goes somewhere else quickly.
Ultimately, the book is written from the perspective of a nerd, but what makes him an interesting an readable character is that he in an unapologetic nerd. He doesn't waste a lot of time explaining the broad strokes of Star Wars and Tolkein and the design of mechs. He gives you enough to hold onto if need be, but the book really feels like it's written for people who have been there, and it's this appeal that really pull the book together.
If you like teen comedy, maybe especially ones that are just a little different and throw in a little sci-fi, this one beats the shit out of the next Judd Apatow movie, whatever the hell that ends up being.
June 23, 2011
Well, it was light years better than the last book I read featuring a high school guy protagonist (Carter Finally Gets It). In fact, in the ranks of books seeking to capture the high school experience it's a solid entry that honestly portrays teenage friendship, betrayal, and first love. The narrator's consistent tone, reflections on his mistakes, and insights into the world make the book a really good, fast read--so good in fact, that I didn't want to put it down.
The problem? I thought it was going to be a novel about a boy who couldn't sleep and never had to. Great premise, right? I confess, I wouldn't have the slightest idea where to go with it. Here's where Pierson goes: a love triangle leading to government agents seeking to kidnap the boy who couldn't sleep. Anyone else see that coming? Not only is it predictable, but the government goons don't come in until 2/3 of the way through. For the first 2/3 nothing really happens outside of high school life...which is fine, it's just not what I was hoping for. And, compared to what it could have been, it's honestly a little dull. Kind of like my memory of the film Unbreakable--in the final 1/3, when you find out the twist, the movie gets exciting. Before that, however, it's tedious, promising the hopes of something that it doesn't deliver on in the end. For better books/films, check out Rule of the Bone, I Am the Messenger (both have more forward momentum for their protagonists--what this book lacks), or, of course, what it's a riff on: Donnie Darko.
The problem? I thought it was going to be a novel about a boy who couldn't sleep and never had to. Great premise, right? I confess, I wouldn't have the slightest idea where to go with it. Here's where Pierson goes: a love triangle leading to government agents seeking to kidnap the boy who couldn't sleep. Anyone else see that coming? Not only is it predictable, but the government goons don't come in until 2/3 of the way through. For the first 2/3 nothing really happens outside of high school life...which is fine, it's just not what I was hoping for. And, compared to what it could have been, it's honestly a little dull. Kind of like my memory of the film Unbreakable--in the final 1/3, when you find out the twist, the movie gets exciting. Before that, however, it's tedious, promising the hopes of something that it doesn't deliver on in the end. For better books/films, check out Rule of the Bone, I Am the Messenger (both have more forward momentum for their protagonists--what this book lacks), or, of course, what it's a riff on: Donnie Darko.
December 23, 2011
I guess I am too old and not cool enough to truly appreciate D.C. Pierson's debut novel, The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep. To me it read like a story written from Dawson's Creek Meets Pretty Little Liars - except in this case it is - Nerdy Little Losers. The science fiction elements don't become significant to the story until the last third, and by then they seem like an after thought. That is too bad because there was so much potential for a great science fiction adventure. Most of the story is taken up with protagonist, Darren, conflicted by his new friendship with Eric, the boy who doesn't sleep. Eric is considered weird by most of the high school, so Darren worries he will be labeled weird as well. Darren would like to have a girl friend, or at least a conversation with a girl, and he fears Eric is ruining his already miniscule chances of attracting the attention of any females. Pierson also threw in several stereotypical YA relationships - the bully big brother, clueless parents, the anti-cool high school intellectuals who turn out to be the only truly cool characters, and the stupid buddies of the bully. There are some very humorous lines and descriptions, but not enough to make The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep even a little bit memorable.
July 18, 2018
I did not enjoy this book one bit. It was hyped as hilarious, and unless you're a 13-year boy (maybe - I wouldn't know for sure) there was nothing even amusing about it. Pierson spends no time at all building Darren's character so you aren't sure whether you like him or not and then he throws in Eric with no background either, so I was left wondering how and why the two would even be friends. Darren's brother is a psycho - no one acts that weird, and Eric just dropping the bomb about his condition is so completely unbelievable that I cannot understand why this book made the top of ANY list. Who tells a virtual stranger that they are that freaky?
As a teacher, I tried to approach the book from a pubescent mindset and still, I came away with nothing. Kids who draw aren't going to read this garbage; kids who read aren't going to read this garbage; and people who value their time aren't going to trudge through this garbage.
A truly awful book from an author that I'll never touch again.
As a teacher, I tried to approach the book from a pubescent mindset and still, I came away with nothing. Kids who draw aren't going to read this garbage; kids who read aren't going to read this garbage; and people who value their time aren't going to trudge through this garbage.
A truly awful book from an author that I'll never touch again.
December 16, 2009
Darren is a straight-up geek in hiding -- the kind of quiet, nondescript, high-school sophomore with social anxiety who does his best to blend into the background and avoid speaking to anyone. His mom split, his dad is barely around to parent, his older brother is kind of a bullying idiot (think Chet in Weird Science), and all Darren wants to do is be left alone so he can enjoy his video games, comics, and sci-fi movies in peace. One day a new classmate named Eric makes friends with him, and soon enough the duo are knee-deep in geek camaraderie, staying up all night to co-create elaborate characters, storylines, and designs for their multi-platform sci-fi epic. All is well until two things happen: first, Eric reveals the titular secret, that he literally does not require sleep, and second, Darren manages to acquire a girlfriend. It's pretty clear from the start of the relationship that the girl will come between the two friends, and when that happens, Eric's special trait comes back into play in a way that puts both boys in danger.
To enjoy this debut novel, you have to enjoy spending time in the company of these nice nerdy boys, and it probably helps to have some sense of what they're into. As someone who spent a decent amount of time in high school and beyond engaged in role-playing games, wargames, and the like, I was totally tuned into Darren and Eric, and thus all the more heartbroken when the girl gets between them. It's a stark and utterly realistic reminder of how pretty much any heterosexual teenage boy will willingly jettison all prior interests and friendships if there's the prospect of sex. And in some ways the book is depressing in its portrayal of how Darren and Eric start to engage in the typical teen culture they had previously positioned themselves outside of, and shed some of their own personality in the process. This is redeemed somewhat near the end when they encounter some pretty cool, uncynical college students who offer a more sincere and positive model of youth culture. But that's all background to the central dramas of whether of not Darren and Eric's friendship will survive, and whether either will survive the danger that emerges in the final portion of the book.
Definitely worth reading if you enjoy intelligent writing about high-schoolers, with a good dose of humor, geekery, and satire. Might make a decent indie film.
To enjoy this debut novel, you have to enjoy spending time in the company of these nice nerdy boys, and it probably helps to have some sense of what they're into. As someone who spent a decent amount of time in high school and beyond engaged in role-playing games, wargames, and the like, I was totally tuned into Darren and Eric, and thus all the more heartbroken when the girl gets between them. It's a stark and utterly realistic reminder of how pretty much any heterosexual teenage boy will willingly jettison all prior interests and friendships if there's the prospect of sex. And in some ways the book is depressing in its portrayal of how Darren and Eric start to engage in the typical teen culture they had previously positioned themselves outside of, and shed some of their own personality in the process. This is redeemed somewhat near the end when they encounter some pretty cool, uncynical college students who offer a more sincere and positive model of youth culture. But that's all background to the central dramas of whether of not Darren and Eric's friendship will survive, and whether either will survive the danger that emerges in the final portion of the book.
Definitely worth reading if you enjoy intelligent writing about high-schoolers, with a good dose of humor, geekery, and satire. Might make a decent indie film.
April 21, 2010
Its About Friendship.....
"Thats him, Officer, he's the one who laughed when those kids who thought they were going to school went to Heaven instead"!
"The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To" offers alot of different things - coming of age, teen rebellion, sci-fi fantasy, young love, but most importantly it offers the value of friendship.
Two high school loners (Darren & Eric) become friends. Friends who both happen to enjoy drawing, video games & sci-fi fantasy! They decide to embark on a mission to create / draw the characters for a movie trilogy & a series of novels called "Timeblaze". Along the way they have to deal with Darren's older brother & his hooligan friends, high school girls and The Man! By the way, Eric has a secret, he doesn't sleep, EVER!
This book is very, very funny. It captures teen life through the eyes of the not so popular guys. It not only has comedy, drama, sex & drugs, it has sci-fi fantasy characters like Agtranian Berserkers, Altra Troops, the Temporal Ranger and the Yerum Battlebeast.
Full of amazing characters, both human and non, Pierson's very unique and very original story makes for a great read! Alot of laughs & smiles in this book.
Not everyone will enjoy this book, but if your looking for a very light hearted, well written, funny tragi-comedy, this is it!
If you like this book, you might enjoy - The Girl Who Ate Kalamazoo, Mine All Mine.
Enjoy!
"Thats him, Officer, he's the one who laughed when those kids who thought they were going to school went to Heaven instead"!
"The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To" offers alot of different things - coming of age, teen rebellion, sci-fi fantasy, young love, but most importantly it offers the value of friendship.
Two high school loners (Darren & Eric) become friends. Friends who both happen to enjoy drawing, video games & sci-fi fantasy! They decide to embark on a mission to create / draw the characters for a movie trilogy & a series of novels called "Timeblaze". Along the way they have to deal with Darren's older brother & his hooligan friends, high school girls and The Man! By the way, Eric has a secret, he doesn't sleep, EVER!
This book is very, very funny. It captures teen life through the eyes of the not so popular guys. It not only has comedy, drama, sex & drugs, it has sci-fi fantasy characters like Agtranian Berserkers, Altra Troops, the Temporal Ranger and the Yerum Battlebeast.
Full of amazing characters, both human and non, Pierson's very unique and very original story makes for a great read! Alot of laughs & smiles in this book.
Not everyone will enjoy this book, but if your looking for a very light hearted, well written, funny tragi-comedy, this is it!
If you like this book, you might enjoy - The Girl Who Ate Kalamazoo, Mine All Mine.
Enjoy!
October 26, 2011
Shit. Did I really read this all the way back in May? Um. Well I think I liked it a lot, I think it was snappy and really inventive and fun. But I can't promise that; I frankly don't remember hardly a thing about it. Fuck man, I have a head like a sieve.
January 30, 2015
Wow. I really liked this novel. A lot. It's about a nerdy high schooler that likes to doodle, or draw, to you lay people out there.
He makes friends with kind of the uber-nerd, the kid that the normal nerds mostly avoid, and finds out that this kid, he's totally not like other nerds, he's... well, different.
And they begin work on their epic, multi-novel/movie trilogy/episodic televsion series with additional comics/graphic novels and other transmedia materials and develop a friendship like you only can have when you're that age.
Then, shit starts getting weird. A girl shows up, as do men in suits...
Sometimes, I get swept up in a story because of its epic scope, or it's amazing cleverness in plotting. Here though, it's all about the characters. I was, quite briefly, convinced that this was ME and I was back in high school and I was experiencing all these things, not Darren, the protaganist.
I can see where this might not be the Platonic ideal of the perfect book, but damn. It really worked on me. Even when things got really weird at the end, I was all in for this, and turned pages faster and faster as things wrapped up.
It makes me sad that this book is over. What else has this guy written? I'm a huge fan.
He makes friends with kind of the uber-nerd, the kid that the normal nerds mostly avoid, and finds out that this kid, he's totally not like other nerds, he's... well, different.
And they begin work on their epic, multi-novel/movie trilogy/episodic televsion series with additional comics/graphic novels and other transmedia materials and develop a friendship like you only can have when you're that age.
Then, shit starts getting weird. A girl shows up, as do men in suits...
Sometimes, I get swept up in a story because of its epic scope, or it's amazing cleverness in plotting. Here though, it's all about the characters. I was, quite briefly, convinced that this was ME and I was back in high school and I was experiencing all these things, not Darren, the protaganist.
I can see where this might not be the Platonic ideal of the perfect book, but damn. It really worked on me. Even when things got really weird at the end, I was all in for this, and turned pages faster and faster as things wrapped up.
It makes me sad that this book is over. What else has this guy written? I'm a huge fan.
September 3, 2012
This book subverted all my expectations. It is not pretentious or wanna-be witty. It's not really science fiction or fantasy, but it's also not really contemporary. This is a story that doesn't sit comfortably in any one category.
I liked the main character a lot. He did stupid things, but they were really believable stupid things. Even as the story got more fantastical, it was still very grounded. I also liked how the ending was not what you might expect. It actually reminded me of Chuck (the TV show) but with a lot less of things just easily working themselves out.
I also really liked how this story took its Phoenix, AZ setting and made it a real element and feel shaping the story. The author captured the pace and style of Phoenix so well. I grew up in Arizona and share a lot of the moments and feelings the characters have toward the place, so it was authentic, but I could also be biased.
If you like odd books, can stand a little cynical nerdiness (but really well done), and a little spin of fantasy in the middle, this one is for you.
I liked the main character a lot. He did stupid things, but they were really believable stupid things. Even as the story got more fantastical, it was still very grounded. I also liked how the ending was not what you might expect. It actually reminded me of Chuck (the TV show) but with a lot less of things just easily working themselves out.
I also really liked how this story took its Phoenix, AZ setting and made it a real element and feel shaping the story. The author captured the pace and style of Phoenix so well. I grew up in Arizona and share a lot of the moments and feelings the characters have toward the place, so it was authentic, but I could also be biased.
If you like odd books, can stand a little cynical nerdiness (but really well done), and a little spin of fantasy in the middle, this one is for you.
March 27, 2013
This is a fantastic book. While everything I’d read about it made it out as if the majority of the book detailed Darren and Eric on the run after Eric’s power is made known, that aspect of the story is actually only about a third of the book. The real story is the friendship between Darren and Eric, which is incredibly realistic and painfully accurate in its depiction of what it felt like to be a teenager. More than anything else, the territory tread by this book is the feeling of not belonging, of not trusting that the people around you really understand and care for you the way they seem to, of wondering what it is that people say about you when you’re not around. Of course, Eric’s power and the fantasy world the boys create are both used metaphorically to illustrate these themes, but they’re delicate and subtle allegories that also work literally in the plot. There wasn’t a boring moment or false note in the entire book, a combination of factors I’ve rarely found in one story. I highly recommend this novel.
February 25, 2022
so disappointing. First 2/3 was cute slice of life. Last 1/3 random superpower running from gov agency, but not well executed or thought out. Never felt like they were in danger. The final standoff was them fighting some random police officers in school??? not thought out at all. eric is a little bitch, he stole mc's girl and then harassed him by sending constant pictures and bullying. Then we supposed to feel bad that darren ratted him out?? No?? and then eric broke up with her as soon as he needed darren again, what a slimy rat. Not well written at all. Ending too abrupt, this book would be better if the gov conflict was never there. Dissapointing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2011
Absolutely detested this book - I got to page 128 and there was still no plot to be had. Could not stand it. And it's classified/marketed entirely wrong - this book does not belong on shelves beside novels aimed at adult readers - it's directed squarely at young teenage boys interested in video games and sci-fi...and those are probably the only readers who would enjoy this novel.
April 11, 2018
When reading this book I felt a connection with the main character. Darren. As we both like to draw and past time imagining a completely differently fantasy world around us. I like how this book had lots of Sci-fi characteristics such as mechs,aliens, robots and the typical movie villain;the man in black. I like how the second main character has a super power, but is not the typical power you see in a book. This power is the power to never sleep. The end was one of the best as it becomes a huge and exciting battle ground between Darren and Eric vs the man in black and his evil forces> I really recommend this book for people who enjoy mystery, suspense and sci-fi. This was a really good book, and I really enjoyed it.
abandoned
April 24, 2018I may or may not have rage quit this book after 25 pages simply because the main character, an affirmed loner type, called homeschoolers creepy. Excuse you.
November 20, 2024
The story doesnt quite live up to the amazing title.
December 1, 2024
This is a story set in high school, with some fantasy elements and teen boy drama. Honestly, I can’t remember much of the plot now that it’s been a few months since I finished it. All I remember is that the book wasn’t exactly a page-turner, although it wasn’t all that bad either.
April 21, 2011
The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To is DC Pierson's wildly, original debut novel that combines common coming-of-age experiences with an eccentric, though exciting plot that involves running from the government.
Narrator and teenager Darren Bennett is an artist (not a draw-er, as some lame, prissy high-school girls call it) who keeps to himself for the most part. Dwelling in his own brilliant and creative imagination, all he wants to do is draw and work on a screenplay without bringing unnecessary attention to himself. When the odd and somewhat nerdy Eric Lederer approaches Darren one day to compliment him on his artwork and offer original ideas and plots for the screenplay, the two forge an incredible friendship. Having established trust, Eric lets Darren in on a big secret; Eric has never been able to sleep! Eric makes Darren swear to never tell anyone about his sleepless condition for fear that people like doctors and government officials will use Eric as a guinea pig for dangerous experiments. With a science-fiction premise that includes all the glory and humor of high-school awkwardness, The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To is a reading experience you won't soon forget!
This novel is particularly brilliant because it's up for interpretation whether or not the government chase is a product of the boys' imagination or real. The first portion of the book really builds up how intelligent and creative both Darren and Eric are as they bounce ideas off each other for the screenplay, revealing to readers just how limitless their world has become. I love how author Pierson allows readers to decide on their own what they want to believe.
In addition to having an amazingly fresh plot, this novel is also incredibly humorous. Numerous pop-culture references are made that are geared toward everyone; not just high-schoolers from recent years. The high-school cliques and personae mentioned are timeless, so readers of all ages will be able to relate. The Scholastic catalogs Eric refers to are indeed classic, especially when he rags on the "how-to-draw-comics" books -- which I do remember and that I did actually buy, haha!
As for the coming-of-age aspect, it's so much more entertaining to read these accounts told from a boy's point of view for a change and not from a young girl's point of view, books of which have become tiring in all their abundance. This book's target audience is not geared solely toward teenagers, so don't judge this one by its cover! The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To is definitely one of the more original and intelligent novels I have read in recent years.
I am highly anticipating future work by DC Pierson! Readers who enjoy this book will also like Dogface by Jeff Garigliano.
Visit http://dreamworldbooks.com for more book reviews.
Narrator and teenager Darren Bennett is an artist (not a draw-er, as some lame, prissy high-school girls call it) who keeps to himself for the most part. Dwelling in his own brilliant and creative imagination, all he wants to do is draw and work on a screenplay without bringing unnecessary attention to himself. When the odd and somewhat nerdy Eric Lederer approaches Darren one day to compliment him on his artwork and offer original ideas and plots for the screenplay, the two forge an incredible friendship. Having established trust, Eric lets Darren in on a big secret; Eric has never been able to sleep! Eric makes Darren swear to never tell anyone about his sleepless condition for fear that people like doctors and government officials will use Eric as a guinea pig for dangerous experiments. With a science-fiction premise that includes all the glory and humor of high-school awkwardness, The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To is a reading experience you won't soon forget!
This novel is particularly brilliant because it's up for interpretation whether or not the government chase is a product of the boys' imagination or real. The first portion of the book really builds up how intelligent and creative both Darren and Eric are as they bounce ideas off each other for the screenplay, revealing to readers just how limitless their world has become. I love how author Pierson allows readers to decide on their own what they want to believe.
In addition to having an amazingly fresh plot, this novel is also incredibly humorous. Numerous pop-culture references are made that are geared toward everyone; not just high-schoolers from recent years. The high-school cliques and personae mentioned are timeless, so readers of all ages will be able to relate. The Scholastic catalogs Eric refers to are indeed classic, especially when he rags on the "how-to-draw-comics" books -- which I do remember and that I did actually buy, haha!
As for the coming-of-age aspect, it's so much more entertaining to read these accounts told from a boy's point of view for a change and not from a young girl's point of view, books of which have become tiring in all their abundance. This book's target audience is not geared solely toward teenagers, so don't judge this one by its cover! The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To is definitely one of the more original and intelligent novels I have read in recent years.
I am highly anticipating future work by DC Pierson! Readers who enjoy this book will also like Dogface by Jeff Garigliano.
Visit http://dreamworldbooks.com for more book reviews.
April 9, 2024
This took me so long to read because I didn’t really fw it and I was just forcing myself to finish it. Tell me why it took 190 pages before something actually happened (There’s only 224 pages).
So, I actually did like the ending. I’m glad it wasn’t like, “Eric and I rode off into the sunset together and lived happily ever after 🥺🥺” I appreciated the fact that Eric got captured by the government and now Darren feels guilty because sometimes, happy, perfect endings make me wonder what the point of reading the book was.
Was it really necessary to have Christine cheat on Darren with Eric? Just wondering like, did we need to have that?
The random n-word drop toward the end surprised me so much. I turned the book over and stared at the very much white author.
So, I actually did like the ending. I’m glad it wasn’t like, “Eric and I rode off into the sunset together and lived happily ever after 🥺🥺” I appreciated the fact that Eric got captured by the government and now Darren feels guilty because sometimes, happy, perfect endings make me wonder what the point of reading the book was.
Was it really necessary to have Christine cheat on Darren with Eric? Just wondering like, did we need to have that?
The random n-word drop toward the end surprised me so much. I turned the book over and stared at the very much white author.
May 7, 2010
This book is like uh-mazing.
It looked interesting, other people I know have liked it . . . so I had high hopes. And I started it and I thought, "Oh no! I built this up too much." It starts off a little rocky, and to be fair Pierson isn't the most gifted writer. His sentences are sometimes clunky. Sometimes. However, this isn't a book that requires gracefulness, or even a steady hand. It sometimes leaps out-of-control, yet it always feels in control and, here's the key to its awesomeness, authentic.
The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To is about two boys, Darren and Eric, who bond over a gigantic sci-fi epic (10 movies, graphic novels, a book series, etc.) The draw, as the title may suggest, is that Eric can't sleep. He's never been able to. So he just doesn't. He spends his extra time learning about stuff. He also has pretty bad episodes of vivid hallucinations. So the boys share this secret and this bond and their love of geeking out super big time.
And Pierson handles the characters so well that it's easy to just go with the "surreal" leaps this book makes. Both Eric and Darren feel like legit teenagers. Their friendship isn't easy, but it makes sense. They are outsiders, like we've seen in thousands of books about teenagers, but they don't whine about being losers or pretend they are better than everyone. They just exist and do what makes them happy. Those thoughts come up from time to time, but they don't permeate their every minute. And they aren't too masculine. Girls and boys will be able to connect with them, because we hang out with people like them every day (OK, Eric can't sleep and he is sometimes awkward, but we know those people too.)
The only downside is the one major female character, Christine. She is fleshed out to some extent later in the book. Although, for the most part she feels like a plot device, part of that is intentional; part of it is Pierson not spending enough time to develop her better.
Uh, I ran out of steam . . . and thoughts. Really it's awesome. Read it
It looked interesting, other people I know have liked it . . . so I had high hopes. And I started it and I thought, "Oh no! I built this up too much." It starts off a little rocky, and to be fair Pierson isn't the most gifted writer. His sentences are sometimes clunky. Sometimes. However, this isn't a book that requires gracefulness, or even a steady hand. It sometimes leaps out-of-control, yet it always feels in control and, here's the key to its awesomeness, authentic.
The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To is about two boys, Darren and Eric, who bond over a gigantic sci-fi epic (10 movies, graphic novels, a book series, etc.) The draw, as the title may suggest, is that Eric can't sleep. He's never been able to. So he just doesn't. He spends his extra time learning about stuff. He also has pretty bad episodes of vivid hallucinations. So the boys share this secret and this bond and their love of geeking out super big time.
And Pierson handles the characters so well that it's easy to just go with the "surreal" leaps this book makes. Both Eric and Darren feel like legit teenagers. Their friendship isn't easy, but it makes sense. They are outsiders, like we've seen in thousands of books about teenagers, but they don't whine about being losers or pretend they are better than everyone. They just exist and do what makes them happy. Those thoughts come up from time to time, but they don't permeate their every minute. And they aren't too masculine. Girls and boys will be able to connect with them, because we hang out with people like them every day (OK, Eric can't sleep and he is sometimes awkward, but we know those people too.)
The only downside is the one major female character, Christine. She is fleshed out to some extent later in the book. Although, for the most part she feels like a plot device, part of that is intentional; part of it is Pierson not spending enough time to develop her better.
Uh, I ran out of steam . . . and thoughts. Really it's awesome. Read it
October 21, 2013
Darren Benner and Eric Lederer are two underdogs teenage boy, who spends their times writing and drawing sci-fi movies\books made up by their own imaginations. At some point Eric decides to tell Darren his secret: He Can't Sleep, EVER.
After proving to Darren that he's not lying to him, things starts to get really interesting
The book goes in a very fast, and funny base ( I finished it in about 5 days, but it's only because I've been busy) and it's filled with adventures and unaccepted events between the main two characters.
A low point for me (which is basically why I'm giving the book 3 starts instead of 4) is the 3 to 4 chapters when Darren gets a girlfriend and things starts to get kinds of dirty from there, plus I think the romance and other stuff was pretty enough in the book already. but then again Darren and his GF and, and what they do, and Darren's thoughts, that was a very unpleasant part of the novel for me.
The amount of friendship in the book is so powerful, especially in the last third of the book, were the adventure TRULY begins. Soon as they were on the run the book was moving faster than it already is, and their way of handling the problem is so good and believable, and actually how i think a two teenage boys with the same problem would handle it. And the fact that Eric is having more abilities than just not sleeping; that's when I take it more religiously, because the only one who could create living things is the All mighty God.
But the reason why would i like this book, even though with everything that i pointed out earlier; is the friendship relationship that was so good. Being a friend is knowing everything about the other person, and still likes them and loves to spend time with them, and being in their side.
Would I recommend this book to other people?
Not to Every One
P.S. Sad Ending
After proving to Darren that he's not lying to him, things starts to get really interesting
The book goes in a very fast, and funny base ( I finished it in about 5 days, but it's only because I've been busy) and it's filled with adventures and unaccepted events between the main two characters.
A low point for me (which is basically why I'm giving the book 3 starts instead of 4) is the 3 to 4 chapters when Darren gets a girlfriend and things starts to get kinds of dirty from there, plus I think the romance and other stuff was pretty enough in the book already. but then again Darren and his GF and, and what they do, and Darren's thoughts, that was a very unpleasant part of the novel for me.
The amount of friendship in the book is so powerful, especially in the last third of the book, were the adventure TRULY begins. Soon as they were on the run the book was moving faster than it already is, and their way of handling the problem is so good and believable, and actually how i think a two teenage boys with the same problem would handle it. And the fact that Eric is having more abilities than just not sleeping; that's when I take it more religiously, because the only one who could create living things is the All mighty God.
But the reason why would i like this book, even though with everything that i pointed out earlier; is the friendship relationship that was so good. Being a friend is knowing everything about the other person, and still likes them and loves to spend time with them, and being in their side.
Would I recommend this book to other people?
Not to Every One
P.S. Sad Ending
April 9, 2010
I must say that I really liked this book, but the reason I only gave it three stars was because of the language and pure "boyness" of the book. Anyone who knows me, knows that language doesn't really offend me. I don't swear myself, but I grew up with it so that it really doesn't much phase me. But I found the "f-Bomb" to be quite distracting in this book for some reason. I think that it was realistic and not meant to be gratuitous because the narrator is a teenage boy, but for some reason, for me, it did not ring true. About the "boyness..." I am not a teenage boy. I have never been a teenage boy. I guess I have seen enough movies about teenage boys to know what goes on in their heads to know that I am so glad that I was never a teenage boy. I do not look forward to the day when my little boy becomes a teenage boy. This book just really confirmed that for me. Boys are gross. This point of view kind of grossed me out, but not enough to make me stop reading. But I think I got some great insight that may help me as a mom later on. I will tell you what I loved. I loved the Sci-fi twist that was brought into the story. That really kept my attention and made me want to keep reading. I wished for a little more of that feel throughout the book. But the book kept me interested, entertained, and I wanted to finish it. Something that has not been achieved by several of my books of late.
May 17, 2012
Grade: C-
L/C Ratio: 30/70
(This means I estimate the author devoted 30% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 70% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.)
Thematic Breakdown:
40% - Surviving high school
25% - Sci-fi
25% - Friendship
10% - Adolescent romance
Employing first-person narrators is a risky endeavor. If the reader fails to connect with that one character, all of the book's merits can be spoiled. And that's part of the problem with Pierson's novel. Darren, a high school outcast and the voice of the book, displays some spunk and wit in the early chapters – but his narration grows tiresome rather quickly.
Style issues aside, The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To simply struggles to find its hook. The book's primary conceit is given away by its title, ruining the mystique of its most interesting character. Pierson also waits too long to elevate the novel from the young adult mode to which it clings. The conspiracy and sci-fi elements tossed in at the end feel less like plot twists and more like random tangents of the author's imagination.
It's a shame that Pierson never gets the tone and plot to click cohesively, because with the heartfelt friendship he develops between his two main characters, the novel represents a missed opportunity for literary success.
Noteworthy Quote:
I almost always wake up pissed, from sleeping late, or not sleeping enough, and if you don’t always wake up pissed I think you’re living wrong.
L/C Ratio: 30/70
(This means I estimate the author devoted 30% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 70% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.)
Thematic Breakdown:
40% - Surviving high school
25% - Sci-fi
25% - Friendship
10% - Adolescent romance
Employing first-person narrators is a risky endeavor. If the reader fails to connect with that one character, all of the book's merits can be spoiled. And that's part of the problem with Pierson's novel. Darren, a high school outcast and the voice of the book, displays some spunk and wit in the early chapters – but his narration grows tiresome rather quickly.
Style issues aside, The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To simply struggles to find its hook. The book's primary conceit is given away by its title, ruining the mystique of its most interesting character. Pierson also waits too long to elevate the novel from the young adult mode to which it clings. The conspiracy and sci-fi elements tossed in at the end feel less like plot twists and more like random tangents of the author's imagination.
It's a shame that Pierson never gets the tone and plot to click cohesively, because with the heartfelt friendship he develops between his two main characters, the novel represents a missed opportunity for literary success.
Noteworthy Quote:
I almost always wake up pissed, from sleeping late, or not sleeping enough, and if you don’t always wake up pissed I think you’re living wrong.
February 11, 2016
I didn't realize this was a teen book when I first read the review, but it didn't stop me from enjoying it one bit. (That reminds me I have to start the Hunger Games series soon.) In the SE Hinton tradition, there's almost no mention of adult characters in the book--parents and teachers exist, but don't really exert any influence on the teen leads: Darren, the narrator; his friend Eric, who can't sleep and doesn't have to; and Christine, the girl the both end up dating. Eric and Darren are two high school misfits who bond over an epic film series/graphic novel/video game universe they create called Time Blaze. Darren is eventually let in on Eric's secret (he's 16 and has never been asleep) and they both meet Christine, a drama club chick. Darren's uninterested father and absent mother, coupled with Eric's extra 8 hours a day, give them plenty of time to storyboard the Time Blaze projects and develop intricate backstories for each character. But that's not enough to keep the friendship going once they both fall in love with Christine. A teen love triangle turns out to be the least of their problems when it becomes evident that Eric has some other "differences" besides just not sleeping and attracts the attention of a mysterious man, posing as a college recruiter. Pierson keeps the story moving, doesn't sugar coat anything, and captures the paradoxical tone of teen drama perfectly.
October 25, 2009
Desultorily ambitious, written in an oh-so-Generation-Y tone of voice, THE BOY WHO COULDN'T SLEEP AND NEVER HAD TO is a quirky, humorous, genre-bending outing by debut author DC Pierson. The protagonist, Darren, is just your average fantasy comic-loving nerd hiding from the world's usual teen-aged terrorists (like his older brother and his friends, for one, two, three, and four), when he meets Eric, a kid who doesn't sleep.
This is where our contemporary realistic novel begins to play mind games with us. Is the book taking the same science fiction bent as Darren's drawings? You'll have to wait quite a ways to find out, as this book doesn't much trouble itself with plot. It's all about character and voice. Meaning? If you're not comfortable with Darren you won't get very far.
Despite the comics and the science fiction (which hold little interest for me), I found Darren's voice engaging enough to carry me through to the end. Speaking of, the end plays Cracker Jacks with us (remember the "surprise inside"?). That's right, Poe fans, get your unreliable narrator notes out and take it from there.
3 1/2 stars and, because it's his first effort, I'll round up! NOTE: Review based on an ARC. Book will not be released until Feb. 2, 2010.
This is where our contemporary realistic novel begins to play mind games with us. Is the book taking the same science fiction bent as Darren's drawings? You'll have to wait quite a ways to find out, as this book doesn't much trouble itself with plot. It's all about character and voice. Meaning? If you're not comfortable with Darren you won't get very far.
Despite the comics and the science fiction (which hold little interest for me), I found Darren's voice engaging enough to carry me through to the end. Speaking of, the end plays Cracker Jacks with us (remember the "surprise inside"?). That's right, Poe fans, get your unreliable narrator notes out and take it from there.
3 1/2 stars and, because it's his first effort, I'll round up! NOTE: Review based on an ARC. Book will not be released until Feb. 2, 2010.
August 23, 2012
So basically I picked up this book after seeing a post where a kid had to read it for school and was asking someone to tell him what it was about so he didn't have to. The author himself commented and rather intelligently (and not at all rudely) shamed the kid into avoding a rather short and very interesting book he'd probably enjoy, while making actually dropping tantalizing hints about it. So I picked it up and read it through and I found I enjoyed it.
I didn't love it but basically I feel like this book could (and should) replace Catcher in the Rys for summer/school reading. It has a lot of the same elements that would draw a reader to Catcher in the Rye: boy in school, personal problems in the light of other things going on, sex, cursing, drugs and alcohol, oh and did I mention a best friend who can't sleep, science fiction monsters, hiding from The Man, and trust vs betrayal?
Okay maybe it's not like Catcher in the Rye because I actually did enjoy this book. The sci-fi elements are what did it for me. Not my favorite read, but definitely not disappointed I read it.
I didn't love it but basically I feel like this book could (and should) replace Catcher in the Rys for summer/school reading. It has a lot of the same elements that would draw a reader to Catcher in the Rye: boy in school, personal problems in the light of other things going on, sex, cursing, drugs and alcohol, oh and did I mention a best friend who can't sleep, science fiction monsters, hiding from The Man, and trust vs betrayal?
Okay maybe it's not like Catcher in the Rye because I actually did enjoy this book. The sci-fi elements are what did it for me. Not my favorite read, but definitely not disappointed I read it.
March 18, 2010
Eric doesn't sleep. He physically cannot and does not seem to require it. It's like a super power, or possibly a super curse. No one knows, until he becomes friends with Darren, who spends his days and nights in a fairly isolated fantasy world. Darren's entire world and beliefs are changed when he finally comes to believe Eric; if one person with a super power exists, then anything really is possible. The world really is full of infinite potential. But when Darren and Eric fall for the same girl, Darren anger at the betrayal leads him to tell someone Eric's secret. And nothing he can do can change what will happen next to him, to Eric, and to everyone they know.
I enjoyed reading TBWCSaNHT. It was funny and original. Some of the plot developments towards the end could have used more time to grow, I think. And the ending was too abrupt for my taste, though perhaps not for everyone. It was a nice weaving of coming of age story with science fiction.
I enjoyed reading TBWCSaNHT. It was funny and original. Some of the plot developments towards the end could have used more time to grow, I think. And the ending was too abrupt for my taste, though perhaps not for everyone. It was a nice weaving of coming of age story with science fiction.
March 23, 2010
Right up my fucking alley.
Sci-fi with a candy coating (that candy being the high school coming-of-age-ish story) and lots of hilarious observation. Life as a sixteen-year-old who girls didn't want to sleep with. Reading books and playing video games about stuff of scifi and fantasy that you just wish - not seriously, but maybekindasortaforhalfasecond semi-seriously - was true and possible but, again, we live in the real world and the real world doesn't just pick you, the protagonist of your world and story, sure, to be exactly that for the whole world. It is OK to wish you had superpowers when you're a little kid, but the metaphor is far more apt and the wishing should be tenfold for awkward teenagers.
Just, a great book.
I also love the dedication. Everyone had a first best friend, and Pierson captures exactly how much fun that it can be to form an "us-vs-the-world" outlook at that age. Pierson, of course, literalizes this.
Sci-fi with a candy coating (that candy being the high school coming-of-age-ish story) and lots of hilarious observation. Life as a sixteen-year-old who girls didn't want to sleep with. Reading books and playing video games about stuff of scifi and fantasy that you just wish - not seriously, but maybekindasortaforhalfasecond semi-seriously - was true and possible but, again, we live in the real world and the real world doesn't just pick you, the protagonist of your world and story, sure, to be exactly that for the whole world. It is OK to wish you had superpowers when you're a little kid, but the metaphor is far more apt and the wishing should be tenfold for awkward teenagers.
Just, a great book.
I also love the dedication. Everyone had a first best friend, and Pierson captures exactly how much fun that it can be to form an "us-vs-the-world" outlook at that age. Pierson, of course, literalizes this.
February 4, 2015
I picked up this book because I mad crush on DC Pierson so I don't know, maybe I’m biased, but I don’t think I am. This was a really fun book. It starts out following the developing friendship of Darren and Eric, two teenage boys who spend all of their time creating an entire sci-fi fantasy universe, with the very sweetly naïve idea that it will turn into a best-selling comic/movie/television series. DC is so funny and the characters are so likable that I would have enjoyed just reading about this for 200 pages. Things, of course, are complicated when Eric reveals that he is physically incapable of sleeping – and suddenly, an adventure-filled fantasy world is no longer just in Darren’s mind, but right in front of him.
I also feel obligated to add: if you decide to read the reviews for this on the Goodreads page, you’ll find a lot of people saying you’ll only like this if you are a teenager/boy/were geeky in high school/like video games etc etc whatever. No.
I also feel obligated to add: if you decide to read the reviews for this on the Goodreads page, you’ll find a lot of people saying you’ll only like this if you are a teenager/boy/were geeky in high school/like video games etc etc whatever. No.
December 8, 2011
This is a coming-of-age story tartgeting teen and young adult readers. It reviews the universal problems of growing up but explores them in the current cultural context of what that means for those attending suburban schools in the second decade of the 21st century. The narrator, a quiet artistic guy named Darren who is socially awkward, is befriended by another kid also having trouble finding his niche, a guy named Eric whose special gift is revealed in the title. It is fairly impressive for a debut novel; Pierson does a good job of creating a believable voice in the narrator. Think Holden Caulfield for 2010, but with a very dark side that reminds readers of the harsh realities such kids must cope with these days. Tensions rise in a controlled fashion and I'm guessing the ending will satisfy the target audience in ways their elders probably can't fully appreciate.
October 3, 2015
Der Junge, der im Titel erwähnt wird? Der kommt vor, aber bis auf ein paar Ausnahmen geht es hier um das Erwachsenwerden eines Teenagers namens Darren. Videospiele, selbst erdachte Comicwelten, Freundschaft (mit dem Titeljungen), Mädchen und ein ätzender großer Bruder (jedes Mal, wenn der mit seinen vulgären Äußerungen aufgetaucht ist, wollte ich mir Seife in die Augen reiben). Der selbsterfundene Science Fiction Epos und Darrens unausstehliche Phase im Mittelteil konnten mich nicht für sich gewinnen. Obwohl der Schreibstil clever, teilweise lustig ist und das Ende in Kombination mit dem Prolog noch mal ein paar interessante Fragen aufwirft, allen voran ob ich da gerade Science Fiction oder eher Magischen Realismus gelesen habe.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 400 reviews