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All the Dirty Parts
From bestselling, award-winning author Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket), an eagerly anticipated, gutsy, exciting novel that looks honestly at the erotic lives and impulses of an all-too-typical young man.
Cole is a boy in high school. He runs cross country, he sketches in a sketchbook, he jokes around with friends. But none of this quite matters, next to the allure of sex. Let me put it this way, he says, Draw a number line, with zero is, you never think about sex, and ten is, it's all you think about, and while you are drawing the line, I am thinking about sex. Cole fantasizes about whomever he's looking at. He consumes and shares pornography. And he sleeps with a lot of girls--girls who seem to enjoy it at the time and seem to feel bad about it afterwards. Cole is getting a reputation around school--a not quite savory one--which leaves him adrift and hanging out with his best friend. Which is when something startling begins to happen between them--another kind of adventure, unexpected and hot, that might be what he's been after all this time. And then he meets Grisaille.
A companion piece to Handler's Why We Broke Up, the bestselling Michael J. Printz Honor novel, All The Dirty Parts is an unblinking take on the varied and ribald world of teenage desire in a culture of unrelenting explicitness and shunted communication, where sex feels like love, but no one knows what love feels like. Structured in short chapters recalling Jenny Offill's Dept. of Speculation or Mary Robison's Why Did I Ever, the novel gives us a tender, brutal, funny, and always intoxicating portrait of an age in which the whole world is tilted through the lens of sex. "There are love stories galore," Cole tells us, "and we all know them. This isn't that. The story I'm typing is all the dirty parts."
Cole is a boy in high school. He runs cross country, he sketches in a sketchbook, he jokes around with friends. But none of this quite matters, next to the allure of sex. Let me put it this way, he says, Draw a number line, with zero is, you never think about sex, and ten is, it's all you think about, and while you are drawing the line, I am thinking about sex. Cole fantasizes about whomever he's looking at. He consumes and shares pornography. And he sleeps with a lot of girls--girls who seem to enjoy it at the time and seem to feel bad about it afterwards. Cole is getting a reputation around school--a not quite savory one--which leaves him adrift and hanging out with his best friend. Which is when something startling begins to happen between them--another kind of adventure, unexpected and hot, that might be what he's been after all this time. And then he meets Grisaille.
A companion piece to Handler's Why We Broke Up, the bestselling Michael J. Printz Honor novel, All The Dirty Parts is an unblinking take on the varied and ribald world of teenage desire in a culture of unrelenting explicitness and shunted communication, where sex feels like love, but no one knows what love feels like. Structured in short chapters recalling Jenny Offill's Dept. of Speculation or Mary Robison's Why Did I Ever, the novel gives us a tender, brutal, funny, and always intoxicating portrait of an age in which the whole world is tilted through the lens of sex. "There are love stories galore," Cole tells us, "and we all know them. This isn't that. The story I'm typing is all the dirty parts."
134 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2017
78 people are currently reading
3074 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Handler
56 books3,089 followersDaniel Handler is the author of seven novels, including Why We Broke Up, We Are Pirates, All The Dirty Parts and, most recently, Bottle Grove.
As Lemony Snicket, he is responsible for numerous books for children, including the thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events, the four-volume All the Wrong Questions, and The Dark, which won the Charlotte Zolotow Award.
Mr. Snicket’s first book for readers of all ages, Poison for Breakfast, will be published by Liveright/W.W. Norton on August 31, 2021.
Handler has received commissions from the San Francisco Symphony, Berkeley Repertory Theater and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has collaborated with artist Maira Kalman on a series of books for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and with musicians Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields), Benjamin Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie), Colin Meloy (of the Decemberists) and Torquil Campbell (of Stars).
His books have sold more than 70 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages, and have been adapted for film, stage and television, including the recent adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events for which he was awarded both the Peabody and the Writers Guild of America awards.
He lives in San Francisco with the illustrator Lisa Brown, to whom he is married and with whom he has collaborated on several books and one son.
As Lemony Snicket, he is responsible for numerous books for children, including the thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events, the four-volume All the Wrong Questions, and The Dark, which won the Charlotte Zolotow Award.
Mr. Snicket’s first book for readers of all ages, Poison for Breakfast, will be published by Liveright/W.W. Norton on August 31, 2021.
Handler has received commissions from the San Francisco Symphony, Berkeley Repertory Theater and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has collaborated with artist Maira Kalman on a series of books for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and with musicians Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields), Benjamin Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie), Colin Meloy (of the Decemberists) and Torquil Campbell (of Stars).
His books have sold more than 70 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages, and have been adapted for film, stage and television, including the recent adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events for which he was awarded both the Peabody and the Writers Guild of America awards.
He lives in San Francisco with the illustrator Lisa Brown, to whom he is married and with whom he has collaborated on several books and one son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 533 reviews
January 18, 2018
What the fuck is this supposed to be?
(I know I usually lightly censor myself, but if you can't handle the word "fuck" without the asterisk instead of the u then you definitely can't handle this book.)
The main character of this book manipulates girls into having sex with him. When discussing the fact that women have varied sexual preferences, he dismisses the concept of an entire gender not being identical sexually: "[L]adies, have a conference and decide." He fantasizes about coercing women into nudity with promises of painting them. He judges and rates women whose exes have posted their private photos online out of rage at their rejection (revenge porn). He mocks and scourges women who are as sexually active as himself, including by calling his partner a slut when their relationship goes awry.
This book explores sexual situations that lack outright or enthusiastic consent, the gender double standard of promiscuity, and the unrealistic, objectifying, even inhuman expectations porn creates in men without outright condemning any of it.
This book needs to be longer, or fuller, or...better.
Maybe I'm the asshat for thinking that this book needed to be outright with its themes (how unliterary! Can't make the author do all the work!), but when the themes are this relevant and damaging and rarely denounced...well, fucking sue me for wanting an author to do some goddamn denouncing.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for the signed ARC. My favorite publisher.
(I know I usually lightly censor myself, but if you can't handle the word "fuck" without the asterisk instead of the u then you definitely can't handle this book.)
The main character of this book manipulates girls into having sex with him. When discussing the fact that women have varied sexual preferences, he dismisses the concept of an entire gender not being identical sexually: "[L]adies, have a conference and decide." He fantasizes about coercing women into nudity with promises of painting them. He judges and rates women whose exes have posted their private photos online out of rage at their rejection (revenge porn). He mocks and scourges women who are as sexually active as himself, including by calling his partner a slut when their relationship goes awry.
This book explores sexual situations that lack outright or enthusiastic consent, the gender double standard of promiscuity, and the unrealistic, objectifying, even inhuman expectations porn creates in men without outright condemning any of it.
This book needs to be longer, or fuller, or...better.
Maybe I'm the asshat for thinking that this book needed to be outright with its themes (how unliterary! Can't make the author do all the work!), but when the themes are this relevant and damaging and rarely denounced...well, fucking sue me for wanting an author to do some goddamn denouncing.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for the signed ARC. My favorite publisher.
November 9, 2017
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
2.5 Stars
I appreciate the effort, but really if you are looking for a book about youngsters’ dysfunctional relationships, it pales in comparison to The Master.
(Bonus half star for Lemony Snicket being ever so edgy at times.)
2.5 Stars
I appreciate the effort, but really if you are looking for a book about youngsters’ dysfunctional relationships, it pales in comparison to The Master.
(Bonus half star for Lemony Snicket being ever so edgy at times.)
August 2, 2017
[ARC REVIEW] [Spanish review at the bottom]
I don't even know how to review this book because it's... weird. Good weird, but weird nonetheless. Have you ever wondered how a horny teenage boy thinks all the time? Read All The Dirty Parts! Now, have you ever been curious about how confused can a horny teenage boy get when it comes to discovering what he likes, who he likes and why he likes either a girl or a boy? Then again, All The Dirty Parts is the book for you!
There's nothing in this book that isn't driven by sex. And Daniel Handler, through his spectacular sarcasm, irreverence and peculiar writing style, really gets what it's like to be inside this boy's mind. And even though sex is the main issue here, there are also a lot of thoughts on feelings, discovering your sexual identity, insecurities, porn and surviving through the hell that high school can be.
I've never read anything by Daniel Handler before, but with All The Dirty Parts he's created a page-turner, a book that you can read in one sitting. The flow of consciousness style makes it really fast paced and, even though you feel like you're prying into this boy's life and most private thoughts, you would not be able to stop reading.
♦♦♦♦
Ni siquiera sé cómo reseñar este libro porque es... raro. Raro bueno, pero aún así raro. ¿Alguna vez te has preguntado cómo piensa un adolescente cachondo todo el tiempo? ¡Lee All The Dirty Parts! Ahora, ¿alguna vez te ha entrado curiosidad por saber qué tan confundido puede estar un adolescente cachondo cuando debe descubrir lo que le gusta, quién le gusta y por qué le gusta una chica o chico? De nuevo, ¡All The Dirty Parts es el libro para ti!
No hay nada en este libro que no esté inspirado por el sexo. Y Daniel Handler, a través de su espectacular sarcasmo, irreverencia y peculiar estilo al escribir, entiende realmente lo que es estar dentro de la mente de este chico.Y, aunque el sexo es el tema principal aquí, también hay un montón de reflexiones sobre los sentimientos, el descubrir tu identidad sexual, las inseguridades, el porno y el sobrevivir al infierno que puede ser la secundaria.
Nunca había leído nada de Daniel Handler antes, pero con All The Dirty Parts siento que ha creado un libro que se lee rapidísimo, de una sentada. El estilo de flujo de consciencia hace que tenga un ritmo que atrapa y, aunque sientes que estás espiando la vida y los pensamientos más privados de este chico, no vas a ser capaz de dejar de leer.
I don't even know how to review this book because it's... weird. Good weird, but weird nonetheless. Have you ever wondered how a horny teenage boy thinks all the time? Read All The Dirty Parts! Now, have you ever been curious about how confused can a horny teenage boy get when it comes to discovering what he likes, who he likes and why he likes either a girl or a boy? Then again, All The Dirty Parts is the book for you!
There's nothing in this book that isn't driven by sex. And Daniel Handler, through his spectacular sarcasm, irreverence and peculiar writing style, really gets what it's like to be inside this boy's mind. And even though sex is the main issue here, there are also a lot of thoughts on feelings, discovering your sexual identity, insecurities, porn and surviving through the hell that high school can be.
I've never read anything by Daniel Handler before, but with All The Dirty Parts he's created a page-turner, a book that you can read in one sitting. The flow of consciousness style makes it really fast paced and, even though you feel like you're prying into this boy's life and most private thoughts, you would not be able to stop reading.
♦♦♦♦
Ni siquiera sé cómo reseñar este libro porque es... raro. Raro bueno, pero aún así raro. ¿Alguna vez te has preguntado cómo piensa un adolescente cachondo todo el tiempo? ¡Lee All The Dirty Parts! Ahora, ¿alguna vez te ha entrado curiosidad por saber qué tan confundido puede estar un adolescente cachondo cuando debe descubrir lo que le gusta, quién le gusta y por qué le gusta una chica o chico? De nuevo, ¡All The Dirty Parts es el libro para ti!
No hay nada en este libro que no esté inspirado por el sexo. Y Daniel Handler, a través de su espectacular sarcasmo, irreverencia y peculiar estilo al escribir, entiende realmente lo que es estar dentro de la mente de este chico.Y, aunque el sexo es el tema principal aquí, también hay un montón de reflexiones sobre los sentimientos, el descubrir tu identidad sexual, las inseguridades, el porno y el sobrevivir al infierno que puede ser la secundaria.
Nunca había leído nada de Daniel Handler antes, pero con All The Dirty Parts siento que ha creado un libro que se lee rapidísimo, de una sentada. El estilo de flujo de consciencia hace que tenga un ritmo que atrapa y, aunque sientes que estás espiando la vida y los pensamientos más privados de este chico, no vas a ser capaz de dejar de leer.
June 28, 2017
This is a brief snapshot of a school year, told in snippets, dialogue, and vignettes, about a teenage boy named Cole who really, really likes sex.
I knew going into this to expect "all the dirty parts," and don't take issue with the (very, very abundant) explicit content. To me, the book just seems pointless. There is a vague sense of some lesson to be learned for Cole, but the idea could have been much better executed.
The largest issue I have is with the publisher description of a "novel that looks honestly at the erotic lives and impulses of an all-too-typical young man." Cole is not a "typical young man." Cole is a sex addict. He is not labeled as such in the book, and many of his thoughts and actions are typical, but the quantity of the behaviors and the impact they have on his personal relationships, school, and his life are clearly not healthy or normal.
I will not buy this book for my library, and would not recommend it to others. To be honest, I'm not even sure who the audience would be. I think many teens would be embarrassed to read it, and many adults would be uncomfortable reading such an explicit book about 16-year-olds. While some parts are realistic, it's missing the things that are relatable and interesting. I think Daniel Handler needs to go back to being Lemony Snicket for awhile.
I knew going into this to expect "all the dirty parts," and don't take issue with the (very, very abundant) explicit content. To me, the book just seems pointless. There is a vague sense of some lesson to be learned for Cole, but the idea could have been much better executed.
The largest issue I have is with the publisher description of a "novel that looks honestly at the erotic lives and impulses of an all-too-typical young man." Cole is not a "typical young man." Cole is a sex addict. He is not labeled as such in the book, and many of his thoughts and actions are typical, but the quantity of the behaviors and the impact they have on his personal relationships, school, and his life are clearly not healthy or normal.
I will not buy this book for my library, and would not recommend it to others. To be honest, I'm not even sure who the audience would be. I think many teens would be embarrassed to read it, and many adults would be uncomfortable reading such an explicit book about 16-year-olds. While some parts are realistic, it's missing the things that are relatable and interesting. I think Daniel Handler needs to go back to being Lemony Snicket for awhile.
October 27, 2017
HOLY CRAP WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST READ?!
I read this in an hour, half of which was in the salon chair getting my hair cut. My stylist kept leaning over my shoulder, "My God, what are you reading?" And I was like, "I. DON'T. KNOW."
Holy crap, I don't think I know a more aptly-titled book. This is a book about sex. No ifs ands or buts. This is a horny young man in all his young horny glory and yes, it's all the dirty parts. Literally parts - it moves along in these bite-sized chunks. But...wow. I don't know if I can describe this. It was raw, but it wasn't lewd or lascivious or raunchy or gratuitous. It was real. And honest. And tender. And deep. And.... Could someone else I know read this please? It'll take an hour. I swear.
Wow. Lemony Snicket has some serious game.
I read this in an hour, half of which was in the salon chair getting my hair cut. My stylist kept leaning over my shoulder, "My God, what are you reading?" And I was like, "I. DON'T. KNOW."
Holy crap, I don't think I know a more aptly-titled book. This is a book about sex. No ifs ands or buts. This is a horny young man in all his young horny glory and yes, it's all the dirty parts. Literally parts - it moves along in these bite-sized chunks. But...wow. I don't know if I can describe this. It was raw, but it wasn't lewd or lascivious or raunchy or gratuitous. It was real. And honest. And tender. And deep. And.... Could someone else I know read this please? It'll take an hour. I swear.
Wow. Lemony Snicket has some serious game.
November 6, 2017
This one is hard difficult to rate and review.
The writing was competent and it had a good flow with its teenagerish, choppy, first-person narration. I read it in one sitting.
but ...
EEWWWW
It's all sex - thinking about it, watching porn, doing it, masturbating ad nauseam. The plot is somewhere in there but you miss it, drowning in the bodily fluids.
Yes, we know, teenagers are obsessed with sex ... But do I need to read an entire book about the mechanics of it? Do I need to read about it in so much detail? Not really. I'm not sure what the actual definition of pornography is, in my view, this book was pornographic.
I'm surprised it is available on the library overdrive. I'm patting myself on the back for not paying money for it.
The writing was competent and it had a good flow with its teenagerish, choppy, first-person narration. I read it in one sitting.
but ...
EEWWWW
It's all sex - thinking about it, watching porn, doing it, masturbating ad nauseam. The plot is somewhere in there but you miss it, drowning in the bodily fluids.
Yes, we know, teenagers are obsessed with sex ... But do I need to read an entire book about the mechanics of it? Do I need to read about it in so much detail? Not really. I'm not sure what the actual definition of pornography is, in my view, this book was pornographic.
I'm surprised it is available on the library overdrive. I'm patting myself on the back for not paying money for it.
August 2, 2017
I want to make my bias really clear here: I love Daniel Handler. I've read everything he's ever written, and I feel like I just get what he's going for when he approaches a subject, whether it's love, golems, pirates, or sexuality. So, like everything else of his, I enjoyed this, too.
However, I feel like Handler's works fall into a sort of complicated Venn diagram or flow chart (which I won't draw literally, but will sort of outline below).
If you loved A Series of Unfortunate Events, you'll probably like The Basic Eight, Why We Broke Up, and maybe even We Are Pirates (although I don't get why We Are Pirates doesn't get a little more love!). The theme here is strong, interesting female heroines, as well as "crazy and terrible things that happen to young people," to be a little ineloquent about it.
If you loved Why We Broke Up, you'll probably like Adverbs (my personal favorite) and vice versa, for their focus on themes of love, relationships, and breakups. If you like things a little wild and aren't shy, you might even like Watch Your Mouth.
If you loved How to Dress for Every Occasion by the Pope or even know about it, then you're a Handler superfan, and you'll probably read All the Dirty Parts with or without a recommendation.
And if you loved Watch Your Mouth and Why We Broke Up, you will love the uncomfortable offspring of these titles, which is All the Dirty Parts.
All that said, here's a breakdown:
All the Good Parts
The writing
As always, Handler's writing sparks with life and originality. When he writes on a subject or touches on a theme, nothing ever seems stale, even if it's been talked about a million times by a million other writers. His turns of phrase are creative and funny and always manage to catch you off-guard. The length of this book (only ~140 pages, divided into very short sections) actually serves to enhance the wit and perceptiveness of the writing because nothing feels overstated or overdone.
The narrator
Love him or hate him--and, if I could guess, many readers will probably hate him-- Cole is a perfectly written narrator. Consistent in terms of his drives and desires throughout, unreliable where he needs to be but usually direct, and a bit of an anti-hero, Cole feels like a real person. He's (almost) all id, as so many teenagers are, and his insecurities play out (but are not overplayed) over the course of the book. And while he would have been the worst type of guy to date back in high school, he's the best type of character to read. Because you want him to get what's coming to him. Because you don't. Because you want to root for him, and because you don't.
The other main characters
Cole's best friend Alec, who is like Cole in so many ways, throws an interesting turn into the story that causes Cole to have to reflect on his actions. This is not handled melodramatically or inauthentically, which I love. Then there's Grisaille, Cole's primary love interest, who is more than he could ever want (and perhaps more than he can handle). These two really coerce out various aspects of Cole's psyche in a way that allows the reader to explore him further (as he explores himself).
The subject matter
Maybe I'll be in the minority in this, but I liked the handling of the subject matter. And even what the subject matter was. I'm an adult woman, and when I once talked to my fiancé about what goes through an average teenage boy's head, I was frankly kind of shocked. Teenage girls, from my own experience, spend so much time thinking about getting boyfriends. But boys spend all that time thinking about getting laid.
As a teenager, porn was just not a thing for me, nor was it for a lot of girls I knew. For boys, though? My fiancé's anecdotal evidence puts the porn-watching figure for young men around "100%." I think he's right that hypersexuality is probably a more or less universal thing for teenage boys, and I think Handler feels this way, too.
Cole might be the extreme end of this spectrum (perhaps he is even a sex addict), but the reality is that teenage boys do watch porn, they do want sex, and this book discusses it. I wouldn't say, however, that it advocates for it or applauds it; it accepts it as fact, that some young men are obsessed with porn and sex, and then tells it like it is. It does not glorify porn. Cole laments, at times, the girls on his "screens." Porn is not reality, even if he thinks he wants it to be. And sometimes, he realizes, he doesn't want it to be. That's an important discussion.
All the Bad Parts
The subject matter
Yes, I did just say this was a good part for me, but this is the part that I think sensitive readers may dislike. Cole isn't a model citizen. His behavior is questionable at best. Some of his actions are bordering on (or even tipping into) the realm of predatory, even if everything seems consensual. This is bound to upset some readers, but that's the risk of an authentic-sounding unlikeable narrator. It's just important to remember that Cole is not an exemplary teenage boy. His friends clearly distinguish him from other guys at the school (he's the one with a "rep"). Even if sexual thoughts run through every teenage boy's head, Cole's the one who acts on them. And his stories are bound to make some readers uncomfortable.
The nebulous target audience
I think, honestly, that this will be the book's biggest drawback. Handler has stated in interviews that this novel is meant to appeal to teenage boys. And he's probably right. But you can't market a book like this as YA, so adults are the ones who are going to find it. And adult men are probably not going to have any interest in it, nor will they need to read its message. Adult women will probably read it and wonder "why is this grown man writing about a horny teenage boy?" And teenagers who read it might find it just a bit too mature for, say, writing a book report on. Plus, if parents and teachers are watching, they may take issue with their child/student reading a book called All the Dirty Parts. So this book occupies a really weird space. That's not to say it won't reach its intended audience, but it's rather difficult to market.
All the Dirty Parts
Yes, those dirty parts
Okay, there's a lot of sex in this novel. But because of the sheer quantity of it and the conciseness of the scenes, it's easy to be numb to it. (Perhaps the same could be said of porn oversaturation in general? Perhaps form is hinting at meaning here?) While the sex is plentiful, it's all very matter-of-fact, and because of that, this doesn't read like erotica. I think that's a good thing, although other readers may perceive the "dirty parts" differently.
Overall, I really enjoyed Handler's approach to this very difficult subject matter. I liked the story, but the beauty, as always, is in his pitch-perfect tone and diction. I sincerely hope that this book reaches the right audiences and that readers can appreciate the character development even if they might not appreciate the character.
Note: I work for a big 5 publisher, but all my opinions are my own, and I am not affiliated with Bloomsbury or Daniel Handler.
However, I feel like Handler's works fall into a sort of complicated Venn diagram or flow chart (which I won't draw literally, but will sort of outline below).
If you loved A Series of Unfortunate Events, you'll probably like The Basic Eight, Why We Broke Up, and maybe even We Are Pirates (although I don't get why We Are Pirates doesn't get a little more love!). The theme here is strong, interesting female heroines, as well as "crazy and terrible things that happen to young people," to be a little ineloquent about it.
If you loved Why We Broke Up, you'll probably like Adverbs (my personal favorite) and vice versa, for their focus on themes of love, relationships, and breakups. If you like things a little wild and aren't shy, you might even like Watch Your Mouth.
If you loved How to Dress for Every Occasion by the Pope or even know about it, then you're a Handler superfan, and you'll probably read All the Dirty Parts with or without a recommendation.
And if you loved Watch Your Mouth and Why We Broke Up, you will love the uncomfortable offspring of these titles, which is All the Dirty Parts.
All that said, here's a breakdown:
All the Good Parts
The writing
As always, Handler's writing sparks with life and originality. When he writes on a subject or touches on a theme, nothing ever seems stale, even if it's been talked about a million times by a million other writers. His turns of phrase are creative and funny and always manage to catch you off-guard. The length of this book (only ~140 pages, divided into very short sections) actually serves to enhance the wit and perceptiveness of the writing because nothing feels overstated or overdone.
The narrator
Love him or hate him--and, if I could guess, many readers will probably hate him-- Cole is a perfectly written narrator. Consistent in terms of his drives and desires throughout, unreliable where he needs to be but usually direct, and a bit of an anti-hero, Cole feels like a real person. He's (almost) all id, as so many teenagers are, and his insecurities play out (but are not overplayed) over the course of the book. And while he would have been the worst type of guy to date back in high school, he's the best type of character to read. Because you want him to get what's coming to him. Because you don't. Because you want to root for him, and because you don't.
The other main characters
Cole's best friend Alec, who is like Cole in so many ways, throws an interesting turn into the story that causes Cole to have to reflect on his actions. This is not handled melodramatically or inauthentically, which I love. Then there's Grisaille, Cole's primary love interest, who is more than he could ever want (and perhaps more than he can handle). These two really coerce out various aspects of Cole's psyche in a way that allows the reader to explore him further (as he explores himself).
The subject matter
Maybe I'll be in the minority in this, but I liked the handling of the subject matter. And even what the subject matter was. I'm an adult woman, and when I once talked to my fiancé about what goes through an average teenage boy's head, I was frankly kind of shocked. Teenage girls, from my own experience, spend so much time thinking about getting boyfriends. But boys spend all that time thinking about getting laid.
As a teenager, porn was just not a thing for me, nor was it for a lot of girls I knew. For boys, though? My fiancé's anecdotal evidence puts the porn-watching figure for young men around "100%." I think he's right that hypersexuality is probably a more or less universal thing for teenage boys, and I think Handler feels this way, too.
Cole might be the extreme end of this spectrum (perhaps he is even a sex addict), but the reality is that teenage boys do watch porn, they do want sex, and this book discusses it. I wouldn't say, however, that it advocates for it or applauds it; it accepts it as fact, that some young men are obsessed with porn and sex, and then tells it like it is. It does not glorify porn. Cole laments, at times, the girls on his "screens." Porn is not reality, even if he thinks he wants it to be. And sometimes, he realizes, he doesn't want it to be. That's an important discussion.
All the Bad Parts
The subject matter
Yes, I did just say this was a good part for me, but this is the part that I think sensitive readers may dislike. Cole isn't a model citizen. His behavior is questionable at best. Some of his actions are bordering on (or even tipping into) the realm of predatory, even if everything seems consensual. This is bound to upset some readers, but that's the risk of an authentic-sounding unlikeable narrator. It's just important to remember that Cole is not an exemplary teenage boy. His friends clearly distinguish him from other guys at the school (he's the one with a "rep"). Even if sexual thoughts run through every teenage boy's head, Cole's the one who acts on them. And his stories are bound to make some readers uncomfortable.
The nebulous target audience
I think, honestly, that this will be the book's biggest drawback. Handler has stated in interviews that this novel is meant to appeal to teenage boys. And he's probably right. But you can't market a book like this as YA, so adults are the ones who are going to find it. And adult men are probably not going to have any interest in it, nor will they need to read its message. Adult women will probably read it and wonder "why is this grown man writing about a horny teenage boy?" And teenagers who read it might find it just a bit too mature for, say, writing a book report on. Plus, if parents and teachers are watching, they may take issue with their child/student reading a book called All the Dirty Parts. So this book occupies a really weird space. That's not to say it won't reach its intended audience, but it's rather difficult to market.
All the Dirty Parts
Yes, those dirty parts
Okay, there's a lot of sex in this novel. But because of the sheer quantity of it and the conciseness of the scenes, it's easy to be numb to it. (Perhaps the same could be said of porn oversaturation in general? Perhaps form is hinting at meaning here?) While the sex is plentiful, it's all very matter-of-fact, and because of that, this doesn't read like erotica. I think that's a good thing, although other readers may perceive the "dirty parts" differently.
Overall, I really enjoyed Handler's approach to this very difficult subject matter. I liked the story, but the beauty, as always, is in his pitch-perfect tone and diction. I sincerely hope that this book reaches the right audiences and that readers can appreciate the character development even if they might not appreciate the character.
Note: I work for a big 5 publisher, but all my opinions are my own, and I am not affiliated with Bloomsbury or Daniel Handler.
August 22, 2017
Last month, Handler ran an ad — I mean, an essay — in the New York Times claiming that the way to encourage teenage boys to read is to give them books with lots of sex. Among the titles he devoured as a teen was Milan Kundera’s “The Unbearable Lightness of Being,” which may tell us all we need to know about the usefulness of Handler’s advice for teachers and parents of reluctant readers.
But, as promised, he has now supplied us with “All the Dirty Parts,” a novel engineered to send young men into orgiastic fits of literary arousal. As a former English teacher, I hope he succeeds, but I doubt he will. Filth simply isn’t the precious commodity it used. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
To watch the Totally Hip Video Book Review of this book, go to:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/...
But, as promised, he has now supplied us with “All the Dirty Parts,” a novel engineered to send young men into orgiastic fits of literary arousal. As a former English teacher, I hope he succeeds, but I doubt he will. Filth simply isn’t the precious commodity it used. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
To watch the Totally Hip Video Book Review of this book, go to:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/...
September 3, 2017
“All the Dirty Parts” is one of those books that you will either love or hate. I’m in the LOVE camp. Warning: Don’t buy this for a kid thinking “Lemony Snicket.” This is not a good present from Grandma, though I can promise you it would get read.
Most of us know what it’s like to wait for the dirty part in a movie, book, story your friend is telling, or even our own lives if we’re honest about it. It seems like that’s the good part. The genius of “All the Dirty Parts” is that is exactly what the name implies: all of the dirty parts of Cole’s life. The problem is, when you only look at that, your perception of him as a person is not very good. He seems like a jerk, and probably is, but you can only he has some redeeming qualities about him since he has friends and good grades. We just don’t know what they are. He doesn’t even know what they are. There are a lot of things he doesn’t know about himself, but I’ll leave it to you to learn them.
This book is listed as an adult novel, and that is definitely the correct classification. That being said, there are a lot of lessons in literature that can be taught using it for the older young adult and new adult crowd. It’s also certain to make some banned book lists and become a coveted book for teenagers to acquire. I’m ok with that. Maybe they’ll accidentally learn something.
Highly recommended!
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
I don’t normally do content warnings on adult books, but be aware that this one is filthy. The words aren’t minced and the sex is graphic. Proceed at your own risk.
Most of us know what it’s like to wait for the dirty part in a movie, book, story your friend is telling, or even our own lives if we’re honest about it. It seems like that’s the good part. The genius of “All the Dirty Parts” is that is exactly what the name implies: all of the dirty parts of Cole’s life. The problem is, when you only look at that, your perception of him as a person is not very good. He seems like a jerk, and probably is, but you can only he has some redeeming qualities about him since he has friends and good grades. We just don’t know what they are. He doesn’t even know what they are. There are a lot of things he doesn’t know about himself, but I’ll leave it to you to learn them.
This book is listed as an adult novel, and that is definitely the correct classification. That being said, there are a lot of lessons in literature that can be taught using it for the older young adult and new adult crowd. It’s also certain to make some banned book lists and become a coveted book for teenagers to acquire. I’m ok with that. Maybe they’ll accidentally learn something.
Highly recommended!
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
I don’t normally do content warnings on adult books, but be aware that this one is filthy. The words aren’t minced and the sex is graphic. Proceed at your own risk.
March 6, 2017
Still thinking...
Update:
Lemony Snicket author, eh? This could be interesting since it's billed as an adult book.
This is an intriguing book in that there are many questions in my mind: Because I'm old and don't really know, are today's teens that much more aware of their own sexuality and experiences? Is this a book a librarian could recommend to a mature teen? And what will younger teens think if they read it because they are Lemony Snicket fans? Since is billed as a book for adults, will it appeal to them?
This could easily appeal to older teens, especially if they read the Snicket books when younger; however, it's most definitely a book with explicit adult content, even if the main character is a teen. I'll be very curious to see if youth services librarians would consider giving this to any of their teen readers.
With all of *that* being said, it reminds me a little of when I read Judy Blume's "Forever" although "All the Dirty Parts" is much more graphic.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance reading copy.
Update:
Lemony Snicket author, eh? This could be interesting since it's billed as an adult book.
This is an intriguing book in that there are many questions in my mind: Because I'm old and don't really know, are today's teens that much more aware of their own sexuality and experiences? Is this a book a librarian could recommend to a mature teen? And what will younger teens think if they read it because they are Lemony Snicket fans? Since is billed as a book for adults, will it appeal to them?
This could easily appeal to older teens, especially if they read the Snicket books when younger; however, it's most definitely a book with explicit adult content, even if the main character is a teen. I'll be very curious to see if youth services librarians would consider giving this to any of their teen readers.
With all of *that* being said, it reminds me a little of when I read Judy Blume's "Forever" although "All the Dirty Parts" is much more graphic.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance reading copy.
May 4, 2018
“Who can I complain to, if I don’t like the shape of the globe?”
That is a beautiful line.
And as I read this book, at first I was like, this is kinda cringe-y.
And then I was like, oh this is going a little deeper than I thought.
And then, as it went on, I was like, okay, okay, I get it now.
Because I’m pretty sure, sad as it is, at one point or another in my life, this book was me.
That is a beautiful line.
And as I read this book, at first I was like, this is kinda cringe-y.
And then I was like, oh this is going a little deeper than I thought.
And then, as it went on, I was like, okay, okay, I get it now.
Because I’m pretty sure, sad as it is, at one point or another in my life, this book was me.
August 20, 2017
This is a book about learning. Learning about yourself, learning about people, and learning about the difference between want-need-and have.
Our protagonist is a high school student named Cole, and Cole is consumed with sex. Talking about it, watching it, experiencing it. He's accumulated a whopping 11 partners in his youth, and quite the reputation around school for "sleeping around". But then he meets a girl. the 12th girl. The girl who will show him how those other 12 may have felt, and open his eyes to what sex can do to you.
The only reason I gave this a 4 instead of 5 out of 5 stars was the way the beginning of this book made me feel. It could just be a personal thing, and perhaps it makes me a prude, but I felt like I was spying on some kid masturbating in his room and it gave me the willies. It could also be because I have a sexually active sixteen year old step son, and it makes these kinds of things different for me personally. But it is very graphic in its description of the late night porn watching, the technique, the *details* that I just...personally...didn't want to know.
If you can get past that, and don't mind the explicit details of young boys sex crazed minds, there IS a deeper meaning and point to this book.
One of those things being sexual exploration, and how you cope with those things you may have done. How you feel when the lights come back on and you have to either live in denial, or come to terms with those darker sexual corners of yourself.
Another thing is gender stereotypes, and how if a guy sleeps with a lot of people he has a "rep", but if a girl does it, she's a "slut", and therefor someone to be avoided or mocked.
A third thing it deals with, is human emotion and how we treat others. When you think of the people you've slept with, or dated, and the things you may have said or done to obtain them or keep them around...would you want that done to you? How would you feel if that whispered "i love you" turned out to just be the doorway into your pants and not genuine at all?
This is a book about discovery. Sexual, emotional, and social. And I do think it's a book many people should read, if only to get some insight and the chance to think about what THEY'VE done in these same situations.
It's also beautifully written, and can we expect anything less from Daniel Handler? Not every detail is sex, some are about love and obsession.
"We snap out of it together, a warm drooly doze in her room. She reaches up and slides the window shut, very beautiful. Right there, on her arm, the sort of beautiful spot like what made pioneers think , let's put a town here."
But buckle the fuck up, because this is not for the faint of heart, or anyone who is afraid of the word "cock" or "fucking". You have been warned.
Our protagonist is a high school student named Cole, and Cole is consumed with sex. Talking about it, watching it, experiencing it. He's accumulated a whopping 11 partners in his youth, and quite the reputation around school for "sleeping around". But then he meets a girl. the 12th girl. The girl who will show him how those other 12 may have felt, and open his eyes to what sex can do to you.
The only reason I gave this a 4 instead of 5 out of 5 stars was the way the beginning of this book made me feel. It could just be a personal thing, and perhaps it makes me a prude, but I felt like I was spying on some kid masturbating in his room and it gave me the willies. It could also be because I have a sexually active sixteen year old step son, and it makes these kinds of things different for me personally. But it is very graphic in its description of the late night porn watching, the technique, the *details* that I just...personally...didn't want to know.
If you can get past that, and don't mind the explicit details of young boys sex crazed minds, there IS a deeper meaning and point to this book.
One of those things being sexual exploration, and how you cope with those things you may have done. How you feel when the lights come back on and you have to either live in denial, or come to terms with those darker sexual corners of yourself.
Another thing is gender stereotypes, and how if a guy sleeps with a lot of people he has a "rep", but if a girl does it, she's a "slut", and therefor someone to be avoided or mocked.
A third thing it deals with, is human emotion and how we treat others. When you think of the people you've slept with, or dated, and the things you may have said or done to obtain them or keep them around...would you want that done to you? How would you feel if that whispered "i love you" turned out to just be the doorway into your pants and not genuine at all?
This is a book about discovery. Sexual, emotional, and social. And I do think it's a book many people should read, if only to get some insight and the chance to think about what THEY'VE done in these same situations.
It's also beautifully written, and can we expect anything less from Daniel Handler? Not every detail is sex, some are about love and obsession.
"We snap out of it together, a warm drooly doze in her room. She reaches up and slides the window shut, very beautiful. Right there, on her arm, the sort of beautiful spot like what made pioneers think , let's put a town here."
But buckle the fuck up, because this is not for the faint of heart, or anyone who is afraid of the word "cock" or "fucking". You have been warned.
September 18, 2017
Update of review: Okay, no true dirty parts circa 2017. But the thing that bothers me most about this book is that the book jacket tells us this is not a love story. But that's exactly what this book is. In fact, Handler tells us two love stories (Cole/Grisaille and Cole/Alex) from meeting, to dating, to the ending of both relationships with a number of sexless scenes. And it seems that Cole is most crushed when he loses touch with Alex then Alex tells him he (Alex) is now seeing another guy. Thus Cole loses Alex in two ways: his best friend as well as his lover while his loss of Grasaille is only the loss of a sex partner, nothing more. I actually liked the juxtaposition of the two relationships and Handler is absolutely right on the money with both relationships (and guys watching porn together is not unusual at all. Why, back in the day we guys camped out a lot or went to winter cabins, etc., and looked at Playboy magazines and well...the same stuff happened. I suppose before nude magazines there was just talk that went exactly to the same place where Cole and Alex goes. Yea, Cole is going to bury himself in porn for a while, then be right on the streets and will probably marry at 30ish and have his guys on the side, which happens way more than many people think. So, after thinking about it, Handler writes an okay book. But from the title to the inner book jacket to the back jacket blurbs, the marketing of the book is oh so terribly wrong. So, 1 star because of the absolutely inane marketing by the publisher, Bloomsbury. And, yes, I was expecting a dirty book, I do like to read a bit of everything. But this is certainly no "dirtier" than last years "The Girls" or the "50 Shades" books.
Original review:
Where were all the dirty parts?
Original review:
Where were all the dirty parts?
October 1, 2017
2.5-3 STARS
I received an ARC of this novel from Bloomsbury Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
This book was very strange, from the format it was written in (to me it was paragraphs of Cole’s thoughts), to the way the words flowed across the page. While I knew the novel would be quite sexual in detail, I was not prepared for the level of explicitness it had. I think going into it knowing Daniel Handler is Lemony Snicket set me up a bit to be quite taken aback by the content. ALL THE DIRTY PARTS was most definitely dirty – it got very dirty and I'm still confused as to how I feel about it.
ALL THE DIRTY PARTS explores sexual desire, sexual addiction, and sexuality. I admit I was quite surprised at the inclusion of a same sex “relationship” – from the synopsis I thought it would be all about girls – and I was glad to see the exploration of sexuality included in the novel.
However, the book was too vulgar at times and weirdly overly descriptive, I felt uncomfortable reading about a teen boy masturbating and obsessing over sex. I do understand it was deliberately overboard in order to carry across the thoughts of a sexually addicted teen; however, I felt at multiple times that it was just too much (aka the hummus part: this book has ruined hummus for me).
I did like that it came full circle for Cole – he got to know what it felt like to be no longer desired by the person he was in love with. He did it to multiple (MULTIPLE) girls throughout the novel - It was satisfying to see a little karma. It was disappointing that it didn’t really feel like he had learnt his lesson, though.
One positive note about the story: I didn’t think that the woman/girls in this book were portrayed in a poor light, despite his ‘use’ of them. It did touch on the whole ‘if a guy sleeps with a bunch of girls he’s a legend, if a girl does it she is a whore’, but it didn’t go anywhere with it – it was simply the view point of a teen boy who couldn’t wait to have sex.
The novel comprised to me a series of Cole’s thoughts over a short time period, and there wasn’t much of a story; it was probably more of a vignette. I expected a bit more from the "plot", but I felt that it fell short. Despite this, I did finish the book, and didn’t really enjoy the ending.
I received an ARC of this novel from Bloomsbury Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
This book was very strange, from the format it was written in (to me it was paragraphs of Cole’s thoughts), to the way the words flowed across the page. While I knew the novel would be quite sexual in detail, I was not prepared for the level of explicitness it had. I think going into it knowing Daniel Handler is Lemony Snicket set me up a bit to be quite taken aback by the content. ALL THE DIRTY PARTS was most definitely dirty – it got very dirty and I'm still confused as to how I feel about it.
ALL THE DIRTY PARTS explores sexual desire, sexual addiction, and sexuality. I admit I was quite surprised at the inclusion of a same sex “relationship” – from the synopsis I thought it would be all about girls – and I was glad to see the exploration of sexuality included in the novel.
However, the book was too vulgar at times and weirdly overly descriptive, I felt uncomfortable reading about a teen boy masturbating and obsessing over sex. I do understand it was deliberately overboard in order to carry across the thoughts of a sexually addicted teen; however, I felt at multiple times that it was just too much (aka the hummus part: this book has ruined hummus for me).
I did like that it came full circle for Cole – he got to know what it felt like to be no longer desired by the person he was in love with. He did it to multiple (MULTIPLE) girls throughout the novel - It was satisfying to see a little karma. It was disappointing that it didn’t really feel like he had learnt his lesson, though.
One positive note about the story: I didn’t think that the woman/girls in this book were portrayed in a poor light, despite his ‘use’ of them. It did touch on the whole ‘if a guy sleeps with a bunch of girls he’s a legend, if a girl does it she is a whore’, but it didn’t go anywhere with it – it was simply the view point of a teen boy who couldn’t wait to have sex.
The novel comprised to me a series of Cole’s thoughts over a short time period, and there wasn’t much of a story; it was probably more of a vignette. I expected a bit more from the "plot", but I felt that it fell short. Despite this, I did finish the book, and didn’t really enjoy the ending.
May 10, 2019
As a whole this really fell short for me, I feel like I just didn't click with the style of writing. If you enjoy short books with quirky writing I think you might enjoy this book, but I just really didn't like it.
The characters were not well developed at all in my opinion, I realise that was the idea and that the book is literally 'all the dirty parts' but you still need to be able to connect with the characters or at least have a plot that you are enjoying. But I found it boring and not much actually happened.
The writing was almost like notes, it just felt unfinished. Cole was an interesting protagonist and I definitely haven't read from a character like him before, but you really don't get to know him as a character at all due to the way this is written.
The descriptions were crazy, once you've read that you can't unread it. Truly I was extremely surprised by how descriptive some parts were. My opinion is that it went too far. I would like to mention though that I was however pleasantly surprised by the diversity in terms of the exploration of sexuality, as there was a same sex relationship. From reading the description prior to reading the actual book, it wasn't something I was expecting but I was happy about that and definitely praise the author for including it.
“For every girl I thought I was uncomplicated sex, it wasn't. Put it this way: if you can't see the complication, you're probably it.”
I was expecting more and was rather let down. I did get to the end but I actually considered putting it down and giving up a couple of times, and I never dnf books, I mean sometimes I put them down to go back to them later but with this I really wasn't enjoying it at all. But it is so short so I pushed through but I kind of wish I hadn't because the ending just made it even worse. So I guess that shows my feelings on this pretty clearly. I would say give it a try but no actually I really don't recommend it at all.
This book was just so frustrating to read. Considering that it was interesting perspective to read from and a very original concept in all, is the main reason why I have decided to give it two stars instead of one.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were not well developed at all in my opinion, I realise that was the idea and that the book is literally 'all the dirty parts' but you still need to be able to connect with the characters or at least have a plot that you are enjoying. But I found it boring and not much actually happened.
The writing was almost like notes, it just felt unfinished. Cole was an interesting protagonist and I definitely haven't read from a character like him before, but you really don't get to know him as a character at all due to the way this is written.
The descriptions were crazy, once you've read that you can't unread it. Truly I was extremely surprised by how descriptive some parts were. My opinion is that it went too far. I would like to mention though that I was however pleasantly surprised by the diversity in terms of the exploration of sexuality, as there was a same sex relationship. From reading the description prior to reading the actual book, it wasn't something I was expecting but I was happy about that and definitely praise the author for including it.
“For every girl I thought I was uncomplicated sex, it wasn't. Put it this way: if you can't see the complication, you're probably it.”
I was expecting more and was rather let down. I did get to the end but I actually considered putting it down and giving up a couple of times, and I never dnf books, I mean sometimes I put them down to go back to them later but with this I really wasn't enjoying it at all. But it is so short so I pushed through but I kind of wish I hadn't because the ending just made it even worse. So I guess that shows my feelings on this pretty clearly. I would say give it a try but no actually I really don't recommend it at all.
This book was just so frustrating to read. Considering that it was interesting perspective to read from and a very original concept in all, is the main reason why I have decided to give it two stars instead of one.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2017
Yikes. Could not even finish it. It normalizes sex and everything but like...every single page?! And he’s cheating on girls & sleeping with one like every single page and of course he doesn’t get called out for it, just told in a side conversation that people think he’s being sleazy. If a girl did this, she’d be slutshamed to hell and back???
And that’s why this book isn’t important. It’s not necessary. Sex is already seen as natural and a thing guys seek and that’s considered normal but never for girls. If this was written in the POV of a girl, I think I would’ve kept going. Even if she was describing sucking a dick every single day, I would be right there with her going “Yes baby!!! Defy those gender expectations!!! You do what you want!” But frankly, I do not care about this dude. He genuinely acts like all girls are good for is sex. I mean, really, I don’t even mean that as a joke. He literally says that? Every time he mentions a girl, it’s in relation to the pleasure he feels. So, bye.
P.S. I wrote this at 2am thoroughly disgusted so ignore the grammar issues
And that’s why this book isn’t important. It’s not necessary. Sex is already seen as natural and a thing guys seek and that’s considered normal but never for girls. If this was written in the POV of a girl, I think I would’ve kept going. Even if she was describing sucking a dick every single day, I would be right there with her going “Yes baby!!! Defy those gender expectations!!! You do what you want!” But frankly, I do not care about this dude. He genuinely acts like all girls are good for is sex. I mean, really, I don’t even mean that as a joke. He literally says that? Every time he mentions a girl, it’s in relation to the pleasure he feels. So, bye.
P.S. I wrote this at 2am thoroughly disgusted so ignore the grammar issues
April 24, 2017
I don't review adult books generally and that's not really going to change right now, but I would just like to point out that the publisher is marketing this as "Adult" fare. That said, there are going to be a lot of teen readers reading this. A. Lot. Highly recommend you read it too before your opinions coalesce.
October 3, 2017
I'm not sure I needed to spend 135 pages inside the mind of a sex-crazed teenage boy. Handler does it well but it will take a while for my blush to fade. There is the most beautiful and unexpected tenderness in this book towards the end so if you're uncertain early on, keep going!
August 9, 2017
Well, this is going to be controversial! Public libraries rush out and get this as soon as it is available, school libraries, I bet this one gets you some interesting comments! I can see the lights flashing and the censors racing to ban this from every library in the land.
Someone here on Goodreads has placed a comment that it should be reviewed by males, and I can see that, after all, we are firmly placed inside the head of a teenage boy who is thinking about sex, having sex, exploring all manner of sex and being generally a sex crazed teenage boy. This isn't a relationship book and yet it is, this isn't a helpful guide and yet it is.
I liked almost all of this novel.
I liked that it was short. There was no need to draw this out. Nice job Daniel Handler.
I liked that this teen guy seemed real, no stupid conversations, no helpful parents, just him and his penis and his constant thinking about using it.
I liked the honesty, the judgments that he was putting it about too much, the attitudinal change of his friends and classmates as he embarked on a relationship which excluded all of them.
I loved the way his relationship with his best friend changed as they tried out sex and then tried to figure out where they fitted in the hetro/homo state of the world.
What I didn't like:
I didn't love the girl in here, she seemed so one dimensional compared to him. But I get it, it is really all about her - ahem ... attributes.
Many people will cringe at this book, but I'm going to buy a copy and hand it to our school counselor because I really liked it and I see it as having a voice that young people might really like, but there will be a bunch of haters and they are gonna hate real strong.
Yep, this is a novel about sex. All of the everythings about sex, from the point of view of a teenage boy and so it is really aptly named.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this. It was very enlightening and I won't be looking a teenage boy in the eye for a couple of days now that I know what is going on behind those eyes.
Someone here on Goodreads has placed a comment that it should be reviewed by males, and I can see that, after all, we are firmly placed inside the head of a teenage boy who is thinking about sex, having sex, exploring all manner of sex and being generally a sex crazed teenage boy. This isn't a relationship book and yet it is, this isn't a helpful guide and yet it is.
I liked almost all of this novel.
I liked that it was short. There was no need to draw this out. Nice job Daniel Handler.
I liked that this teen guy seemed real, no stupid conversations, no helpful parents, just him and his penis and his constant thinking about using it.
I liked the honesty, the judgments that he was putting it about too much, the attitudinal change of his friends and classmates as he embarked on a relationship which excluded all of them.
I loved the way his relationship with his best friend changed as they tried out sex and then tried to figure out where they fitted in the hetro/homo state of the world.
What I didn't like:
I didn't love the girl in here, she seemed so one dimensional compared to him. But I get it, it is really all about her - ahem ... attributes.
Many people will cringe at this book, but I'm going to buy a copy and hand it to our school counselor because I really liked it and I see it as having a voice that young people might really like, but there will be a bunch of haters and they are gonna hate real strong.
Yep, this is a novel about sex. All of the everythings about sex, from the point of view of a teenage boy and so it is really aptly named.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this. It was very enlightening and I won't be looking a teenage boy in the eye for a couple of days now that I know what is going on behind those eyes.
August 29, 2017
3.5 moody broody confusing coming of age.
New adult? Hmm. I guess I could see that. Maybe MATURE new adult with an artsy style.
I think I have a love hate relationship with All The Dirty Parts by Daniel Handler. How to explain that. Well, the moral of this story wasn't awful. It's actually what redeemed it for me. I'm giving this book a 3 SOLELY because I liked how it ended.
Prepare to dislike the main character. You just will. If you don't. I'm not judging you. He just isn't very likable in my honest opinion. Does that mean I don't want to read about him? Not necessarily. I finished and enjoyed the book even though the character and the style of writing were at times difficult.
The entire story felt very choppy to me. Maybe that's the authors writing style. Maybe it just isn't for me. It's told in one characters POV. Quick bits just thrown in there. Conversations with friends through text. Moments when they are having sex. That's about it. I don't think there was a moment that was longer than a page. The way it was written just didn't work for me. It came off very artsy. I never picked up on a flow to the story at all. I just felt like I was reading bad texts from last night. That didn't make you laugh or think, "yeah me too." The thing is, despite all of that... I enjoyed the story and the eventual MORAL of the story.
Spoiler alert: The most interesting character in the story gets screwed over. I guess I actually like how things went for him though. Now if we could get a book about him, that has a bit better flow. I think it'd be a great addition to the genre.
New adult? Hmm. I guess I could see that. Maybe MATURE new adult with an artsy style.
I think I have a love hate relationship with All The Dirty Parts by Daniel Handler. How to explain that. Well, the moral of this story wasn't awful. It's actually what redeemed it for me. I'm giving this book a 3 SOLELY because I liked how it ended.
Prepare to dislike the main character. You just will. If you don't. I'm not judging you. He just isn't very likable in my honest opinion. Does that mean I don't want to read about him? Not necessarily. I finished and enjoyed the book even though the character and the style of writing were at times difficult.
The entire story felt very choppy to me. Maybe that's the authors writing style. Maybe it just isn't for me. It's told in one characters POV. Quick bits just thrown in there. Conversations with friends through text. Moments when they are having sex. That's about it. I don't think there was a moment that was longer than a page. The way it was written just didn't work for me. It came off very artsy. I never picked up on a flow to the story at all. I just felt like I was reading bad texts from last night. That didn't make you laugh or think, "yeah me too." The thing is, despite all of that... I enjoyed the story and the eventual MORAL of the story.
Spoiler alert: The most interesting character in the story gets screwed over. I guess I actually like how things went for him though. Now if we could get a book about him, that has a bit better flow. I think it'd be a great addition to the genre.
October 11, 2017
And just like that, a new queer classic is born.
Daniel Handler is such a unique writer, as Lemony Snicket he created such a gloomy and wonderful world with A Series of Unfortunate Events, in The Basic Eight he created a story that could rival Heathers, and now with this he's created something resembling a Dennis Cooper novel by way of Roald Dahl, very strange indeed but so good.
Cole is 17, he's obsessed with online porn, he masturbates furiously every day, he gets blowjobs from his best friend, has anal sex with him, basically does all the gay sex stuff but he's definitely not gay, no no definitely not gay, haha. This book is highly pornographic, but it's pornographic in a funny way, a funny clumsy 17 year old way. Some people may get offended by how rude and explicit it is but I'm not easily offended, it's only a book and people should lighten up, teenagers experiment with sex, it's a part of life, get over it.
It's an entertaining read for sure, it's a shame it's not longer because I easily could've read more. If you like Daniel Handler's quirky writing and can handle a lot of talk about bodily fluids and blowjobs I'd highly recommend giving this one a go.
Daniel Handler is such a unique writer, as Lemony Snicket he created such a gloomy and wonderful world with A Series of Unfortunate Events, in The Basic Eight he created a story that could rival Heathers, and now with this he's created something resembling a Dennis Cooper novel by way of Roald Dahl, very strange indeed but so good.
Cole is 17, he's obsessed with online porn, he masturbates furiously every day, he gets blowjobs from his best friend, has anal sex with him, basically does all the gay sex stuff but he's definitely not gay, no no definitely not gay, haha. This book is highly pornographic, but it's pornographic in a funny way, a funny clumsy 17 year old way. Some people may get offended by how rude and explicit it is but I'm not easily offended, it's only a book and people should lighten up, teenagers experiment with sex, it's a part of life, get over it.
It's an entertaining read for sure, it's a shame it's not longer because I easily could've read more. If you like Daniel Handler's quirky writing and can handle a lot of talk about bodily fluids and blowjobs I'd highly recommend giving this one a go.
September 9, 2017
How can writing so vulgar and crass be so eloquent at the same time? How can I hate a character as much as Cole and feel sorry for him at the same time?
A very powerful story, with memorable, beautiful writing and complex characters. Definitely not for everybody, and while I don't agree with most of the stuff that happened or was said in this book, it's still going to be one of the surprise hits for me this year, mostly due to its sheer weirdness.
4.5 stars.
A very powerful story, with memorable, beautiful writing and complex characters. Definitely not for everybody, and while I don't agree with most of the stuff that happened or was said in this book, it's still going to be one of the surprise hits for me this year, mostly due to its sheer weirdness.
4.5 stars.
March 27, 2018
Read Harder 2018 Challenge #15: A one-sitting book
Underwhelmed. I heard good things about this book, but it feel short for me and honestly left me a little uncomfortable. I'm not really sure the intended audience, but I don't think it was me. I can see the intent of showing an overload of sexualization in todays worlds, especially as it pertains to teenagers, but I would like to seen more development of the characters instead of literally "ALL the dirty parts."
Underwhelmed. I heard good things about this book, but it feel short for me and honestly left me a little uncomfortable. I'm not really sure the intended audience, but I don't think it was me. I can see the intent of showing an overload of sexualization in todays worlds, especially as it pertains to teenagers, but I would like to seen more development of the characters instead of literally "ALL the dirty parts."
August 29, 2017
I have no idea how to rate this book. On one hand, I'm shocked that it was written by Lemony Snicket but only because those are the only DH books I've read. On the other, I really enjoyed it..... so..... ⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 9, 2018
Yikes! What made me choose this book? I can’t explain it, but it’s not anywhere near my typical reading taste and it is exactly as its title implies, very, VERY dirty. It made me uncomfortable and a little worried my teenage sons would ask me what it’s about.
It’s about a teenager obsessed with sex - every kind in every way with everyone. Yes, it’s also about more than that. It’s about the line that connects sex, obsession and love. And there’s enough of that for me to go up to 2 Stars, but really it felt like reading porn (and there’s a lot of that too.)
At least it definitely hit the reset on my reading. Read in one sitting.
It’s about a teenager obsessed with sex - every kind in every way with everyone. Yes, it’s also about more than that. It’s about the line that connects sex, obsession and love. And there’s enough of that for me to go up to 2 Stars, but really it felt like reading porn (and there’s a lot of that too.)
At least it definitely hit the reset on my reading. Read in one sitting.
January 12, 2019
Senryu Review:
Teen Casanova
courts Portuguese femme savante—
a middle-aged yoofslap.
Teen Casanova
courts Portuguese femme savante—
a middle-aged yoofslap.
Read
April 27, 2019Though I don't know entirely how I feel about this, Handler has transformed "smut" into a nuanced and complex look at teenage identity and sexuality. By highlighting the parts we neglect ("all the dirty parts") he is able to discuss important aspects of relationships with others and with oneself.
October 14, 2017
Big thank you to Daniel Handler and Bloomsbury for sending me this book through a Goodread’s giveaway. The hardback copy is beautiful and a lot smaller than I expected. As for the content, is this how teenagers think? Did I think like this?? Man that’s scary. This is a novel with only the sex bits, the experimentation, the self love, the complications and nothing else. I feel there was an understory that I just didn’t get. It was weird and I’m not sure if it was just wasted on me?
February 22, 2018
After finishing this book in a day, and reading what other Goodreads reviewers thought of it, I was shocked how many progressive leaning readers had turned up their noses at what I would consider a well-written, insightful piece on current young male sexuality. Many readers may get caught up on the language, the "promiscuity" (and I hate to use that word), or the pornography consumption, but the real fact is that for teenage boys today, this is the world they inhabit. I thought Handler's treatment of it was spot-on, and attempting to sanitize that reality or ignore it seems misguided.
Rather, a more sex-positive approach would be to offer some insight as to how to handle this realm, and normalize these experiences for young men so that they have some context, which is what I believe Handler's book does. Nowhere else have I seen YA literature that openly and unabashedly discusses topics like the Kinsey scale, male and female slut-shaming, lust that turns into love, unreciprocated feelings and what that feels like on both sides of the relationship, acknowledging the differences between pornography and reality, both male and female participants actively consenting in the sex act, etc. I could go on and on, and while I'm sure there are books out there that cover one of these topics, nowhere have I seen them covered all at once, and in such a realistic style. Too often, when adults attempt to talk to teenagers about sex, they speak in this very clinical style, devoid of all meaning. Teenagers pick up on that uncomfortable vibe and instead go and learn what they want to know from their friends or the internet. I loved how this book's tone felt like you were hearing about these things from another teenager.
I won't say that the main character is perfect, but he isn't meant to be; he's a teenage boy learning how lust and love interact, and how those impulses can make yourself and others feel. I feel as though a lot of reviewers were expecting Cole to be this upstanding model of humanity when in reality, it seems he knew about sex as much as the other girls his age. I think adults ought to be aware that young men can and do engage in this kind of behavior, with or without their approval. Most of the time, they're looking to find some kind of shared experience or validation for if what they're doing is right or not. Most of the time, they're finding this information on the internet (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), but Handler takes the right approach and chooses to offer a literary example that can show them they aren't alone in their experiences, and possibly offer some context for experiences they might have in the future.
Just because I feel most reviewers didn't actually push through and finish the book, I wanted to add a few more sex positive topics that I was glad to see the book covered: getting tested after new sex partners, period sex, using the pill, talking during sex and enthusiastic consent (rather than the character's thoughts about the sex act being internal monologue), using protection every time, homoerotic exploration, feeling bad about rejecting someone or how your actions made them feel, sexual jealousy, the female desiring sex, acknowledging that sex is a normal part of teenage life, etc etc.
Rather, a more sex-positive approach would be to offer some insight as to how to handle this realm, and normalize these experiences for young men so that they have some context, which is what I believe Handler's book does. Nowhere else have I seen YA literature that openly and unabashedly discusses topics like the Kinsey scale, male and female slut-shaming, lust that turns into love, unreciprocated feelings and what that feels like on both sides of the relationship, acknowledging the differences between pornography and reality, both male and female participants actively consenting in the sex act, etc. I could go on and on, and while I'm sure there are books out there that cover one of these topics, nowhere have I seen them covered all at once, and in such a realistic style. Too often, when adults attempt to talk to teenagers about sex, they speak in this very clinical style, devoid of all meaning. Teenagers pick up on that uncomfortable vibe and instead go and learn what they want to know from their friends or the internet. I loved how this book's tone felt like you were hearing about these things from another teenager.
I won't say that the main character is perfect, but he isn't meant to be; he's a teenage boy learning how lust and love interact, and how those impulses can make yourself and others feel. I feel as though a lot of reviewers were expecting Cole to be this upstanding model of humanity when in reality, it seems he knew about sex as much as the other girls his age. I think adults ought to be aware that young men can and do engage in this kind of behavior, with or without their approval. Most of the time, they're looking to find some kind of shared experience or validation for if what they're doing is right or not. Most of the time, they're finding this information on the internet (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), but Handler takes the right approach and chooses to offer a literary example that can show them they aren't alone in their experiences, and possibly offer some context for experiences they might have in the future.
Just because I feel most reviewers didn't actually push through and finish the book, I wanted to add a few more sex positive topics that I was glad to see the book covered: getting tested after new sex partners, period sex, using the pill, talking during sex and enthusiastic consent (rather than the character's thoughts about the sex act being internal monologue), using protection every time, homoerotic exploration, feeling bad about rejecting someone or how your actions made them feel, sexual jealousy, the female desiring sex, acknowledging that sex is a normal part of teenage life, etc etc.
October 3, 2017
Handler is such a master of prose. His ability to relate little slices of life and apply meaning without saying anything directly leaves me in awe. I'd probably enjoy anything he writes. Not my favorite, and hard to place an audience, but still great. All the Dirty Parts is an adult book that would be enjoyed by mature teen audiences, yet too mature for me to recommend to teens. IDK, a fabulous weirdo piece of work that stands on it's own.
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