Number 6 Fumbles

by Rachel Solar-Tuttle

In this powerful novel, an accomplished young woman, suddenly seized by self-doubt, falls headfirst into a fervent exploration of the merits and pitfalls of being good.
Rebecca Lowe is an upbeat coed, the one who gets straight A's, the one friends and teachers count on. But when she sees No. 6 fumble the football at the Penn-Cornell game, Beck begins to question what would happen if she "fumbled the ball" in her own life. Suddenly filled with uncertainty, she begins to devolve, indulging in a personal odyssey of hard drinking and casual hookups, staying out all night as she tries to find the real Rebecca. But somehow the truth keeps evading her.
Gritty and passionate, Number 6 Fumbles is an irresistible story for anyone who has ever feared failure only slightly more than success.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Chick Lit

242 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at a time in my life when I really identified with the main character. A college girl who begins a downward spiral into bad decisions, and self loathing and wonders if doing thing right is a good path. I cried, I highlighted, I stopped feeling alone.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure people were listening to all the music in this even in the early 90s

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this when I was in law school, and loved it (previously gave it 5 stars, in fact). At the time, I identified with the main character and felt understood.

Here we are, almost 20 years later, and I've re read it. The book feels like it's channeling Jay McInerney and early Bret Easton Ellis (in fact, the protagonist gives someone a copy of Story of My Life). I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it anymore, either. Also, it lost credibility with me as soon as I read a passage about someone moving to "Manneunk." Neither the author not the editor caught that it's "Manayunk," which annoys me. (Side note: when I first read this book, I was living in Tallahassee, Florida, and had no clue about the Philadelphia area. Now, though, I've lived in the area - including a 6-year-stint in the properly-spelled Manayunk - for almost a decade. Funny.).

Anyway, I'm not sure what my point is here, so I'll stop rambling and dock the book a star or two.

[Joanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has no plot and is really hard to get through. The characters are boring and unlikeable and I couldn't have cared less about what happens to them. The author spends too much time describing what drinks were ordered, outfits that were worn and not enough time building a story or even being continuous.

If you went to UPenn or Drexel University, there are occasional mentions of University City hang-outs that can be of interest for a line or two. But it's not enough. Instead of reading this book about a girl and her problems, go and hang out with your friends, people whose problems you actually care about.

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Underage drinking, random hook-ups, not really the kind of book I pick up. But lately I've been on a MTV book kick--also they are all on sale for a buck at the bookstore, so I'm exploring my reading horizons. But I felt that it was a realistic picture of college life. A nice light (sort of) read.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really liked it, but would only recommend for a limited audience--perhaps females who attended college in the 1980s or 90s. I would like to think that a younger generation of readers could learn something from the protagonist's agonizing experiences, but I think they might be turned off by the dated pop culture references.

[Barry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I keep this book on my shelf as an example of how poor a book can be and still get published. It's essentially a rewrite of 'Catcher in the Rye' but from a female college student's perspective. And it's very badly written.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a horrible, horrible chick-lit type book I read more or less by accident in college. The plot is thin and the growth of the character felt completely unearned. Not recommended for anyone.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read of MTV's foray in publishing. Although a quick, easy read, it felt like the literary version of "The Real World"-- doesn't demand much or deliver much.

[Ellen MY · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like it. It's about Penn, I went there, blah, blah, blah... But I was so disappointed. No hook.

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of a girl at Penn. Funny how somethings are very much the same.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great college read, or if you want to reminisce about college times.