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Rich and Mad
Maddy is a seventeen-year-old who likes
a boy in her theater club.
Joe is cute and popular and, incredibly,
sending signals that he likes her back.
Or does he? Isn’t Joe going out with Gemma?
Rich has a crush on Grace, and he even sends a letter
of recommendation from the pope to get
her to pay attention to him. But Grace
doesn’t appreciate that tactic. . . .
The problem is, in life’s messy
mixed signals of friends and lies
and sex and status, true love can
be hard to find. And the real thing
doesn’t always come in the most obvious
package, either. Is it possible that the person
you never thought of that way is the one
who will ultimately touch your
heart?
This compelling exploration of feelings,
expectations, and attraction offers a
contemporary and candid look at love
and sexuality while moving readers with
its gentle portrayal of a very special first
relationship.
a boy in her theater club.
Joe is cute and popular and, incredibly,
sending signals that he likes her back.
Or does he? Isn’t Joe going out with Gemma?
Rich has a crush on Grace, and he even sends a letter
of recommendation from the pope to get
her to pay attention to him. But Grace
doesn’t appreciate that tactic. . . .
The problem is, in life’s messy
mixed signals of friends and lies
and sex and status, true love can
be hard to find. And the real thing
doesn’t always come in the most obvious
package, either. Is it possible that the person
you never thought of that way is the one
who will ultimately touch your
heart?
This compelling exploration of feelings,
expectations, and attraction offers a
contemporary and candid look at love
and sexuality while moving readers with
its gentle portrayal of a very special first
relationship.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2009
8 people are currently reading
798 people want to read
About the author
William Nicholson
215 books481 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
William Nicholson was born in 1948, and grew up in Sussex and Gloucestershire. His plays for television include Shadowlands and Life Story , both of which won the BAFTA Best Television Drama award in their year; other award-winners were Sweet As You Are and The March . In 1988 he received the Royal Television Society's Writer's Award. His first play, an adaptation of Shadowlands for the stage, was Evening Standard Best Play of 1990, and went on to a Tony Award winning run on Broadway. He was nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay of the film version, which was directed by Richard Attenborough and starred Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger.
Since then he has written more films - Sarafina, Nell, First Knight, Grey Owl , and Gladiator (as co-writer), for which he received a second Oscar nomination. He has written and directed his own film, Firelight ; and three further stage plays, Map of the Heart , Katherine Howard and The Retreat from Moscow , which ran for five months on Broadway and received three Tony Award nominations.
His novel for older children, The Wind Singer, won the Smarties Prize Gold Award on publication in 2000, and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award in 2001. Its sequel, Slaves of the Mastery , was published in May 2001, and the final volume in the trilogy, Firesong , in May 2002. The trilogy has been sold in every major foreign market, from the US to China.
He is now at work on a new sequence of novels for older children, called The Noble Warriors . The first book, Seeker , was published in the UK in September 2005.The second book, Jango, in 2006 and the third book NOMAN, will be published in September 2007.
His novels for adults are The Society of Others (April 2004) and The Trial of True Love (April 2005).
He lives in Sussex with his wife Virginia and their three children.
from williamnicholson.co.uk
William Nicholson was born in 1948, and grew up in Sussex and Gloucestershire. His plays for television include Shadowlands and Life Story , both of which won the BAFTA Best Television Drama award in their year; other award-winners were Sweet As You Are and The March . In 1988 he received the Royal Television Society's Writer's Award. His first play, an adaptation of Shadowlands for the stage, was Evening Standard Best Play of 1990, and went on to a Tony Award winning run on Broadway. He was nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay of the film version, which was directed by Richard Attenborough and starred Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger.
Since then he has written more films - Sarafina, Nell, First Knight, Grey Owl , and Gladiator (as co-writer), for which he received a second Oscar nomination. He has written and directed his own film, Firelight ; and three further stage plays, Map of the Heart , Katherine Howard and The Retreat from Moscow , which ran for five months on Broadway and received three Tony Award nominations.
His novel for older children, The Wind Singer, won the Smarties Prize Gold Award on publication in 2000, and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award in 2001. Its sequel, Slaves of the Mastery , was published in May 2001, and the final volume in the trilogy, Firesong , in May 2002. The trilogy has been sold in every major foreign market, from the US to China.
He is now at work on a new sequence of novels for older children, called The Noble Warriors . The first book, Seeker , was published in the UK in September 2005.The second book, Jango, in 2006 and the third book NOMAN, will be published in September 2007.
His novels for adults are The Society of Others (April 2004) and The Trial of True Love (April 2005).
He lives in Sussex with his wife Virginia and their three children.
from williamnicholson.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
February 10, 2011
I have had this book on my radar for a while now even though many readers have found this book less than great. Maybe the cover kept appealing to me, maybe the summary had me hooked, but I just knew I wanted to read this book.
First of all, let me say that a lot of people have had a hard time reading this book due to certain sexual scenes that can come across offensive. That is fine and I agree that some of it didn't really need to be in the book to make the point. What I will add to that though is I am well past my teen years, but I have children who are just entering this stage. I don't censor their reading at all because that is my parenting style. I would have no problem with my daughter reading this book even with the talk of porn, sex, virginity, physical abuse and sexual orientation. I feel what is the book going to hurt when they hear about this stuff from friends anyway. Besides, I have been that age and I remember that books were not the source of info on this stuff--my friends were. Not trying to sound preachy here in my review, but if you don't feel the same way, be cautious of your teen reading it.
With all of that being said, the book was still just an okay book for me. I loved the character of Rich, even though at times his though process made no sense. Who thinks writing a letter from the pope is going to help get a girl to like them? I found that funny and less than attractive. Rich just didn't think that one through. Maddy was a great character that you would like for a friend. She is naive in many things, but she still gives a person the benefit of the doubt. These two were so naive in ways of thinking love should be.
Some of the side characters were great. I loved Cathy and Max. They were funny and what you would expect in normal teenagers for friends. Grace was a piece of work who needed serious help, but I can also understand part of the problem she has. Without going into spoilers, I hope teenagers have learned that this way of thinking by Grace is not love. Joe was up and down for me. At first he was sweet, then I despised him, and then the author does a complete turn around that redeemed him and made him the good guy again or all along.
I loved parts of the books, but there were little things that added up to negatives for the book as well. While I enjoyed it, I didn't fall in love with it like I thought I would. I love the cover the most! It seems romantic and gives you hint at the tenderness that can be found with certain characters of the book.
First of all, let me say that a lot of people have had a hard time reading this book due to certain sexual scenes that can come across offensive. That is fine and I agree that some of it didn't really need to be in the book to make the point. What I will add to that though is I am well past my teen years, but I have children who are just entering this stage. I don't censor their reading at all because that is my parenting style. I would have no problem with my daughter reading this book even with the talk of porn, sex, virginity, physical abuse and sexual orientation. I feel what is the book going to hurt when they hear about this stuff from friends anyway. Besides, I have been that age and I remember that books were not the source of info on this stuff--my friends were. Not trying to sound preachy here in my review, but if you don't feel the same way, be cautious of your teen reading it.
With all of that being said, the book was still just an okay book for me. I loved the character of Rich, even though at times his though process made no sense. Who thinks writing a letter from the pope is going to help get a girl to like them? I found that funny and less than attractive. Rich just didn't think that one through. Maddy was a great character that you would like for a friend. She is naive in many things, but she still gives a person the benefit of the doubt. These two were so naive in ways of thinking love should be.
Some of the side characters were great. I loved Cathy and Max. They were funny and what you would expect in normal teenagers for friends. Grace was a piece of work who needed serious help, but I can also understand part of the problem she has. Without going into spoilers, I hope teenagers have learned that this way of thinking by Grace is not love. Joe was up and down for me. At first he was sweet, then I despised him, and then the author does a complete turn around that redeemed him and made him the good guy again or all along.
I loved parts of the books, but there were little things that added up to negatives for the book as well. While I enjoyed it, I didn't fall in love with it like I thought I would. I love the cover the most! It seems romantic and gives you hint at the tenderness that can be found with certain characters of the book.
September 21, 2010
Wanted to love this so badly but I just couldn't.
I don't like any of the characters, the writing is very dialog driven so I couldn't connect with the characters even if I did like them, and this is totally not YA material.
She wants to please me. She gives me her body to please me. She strokes my c*ck to please me. For this I give her my love now and for ever. All for you, my Maddy. My darling Maddy.
There's more scenes like this, not overly so but you get the point. Plus it's crude and vulgar and has some seriously warped issues. This book is suppose to be about wanting to be in love and the first experiences that come with it, but it just felt like a book about sex.
I don't mind sex in books, at all, I was just expecting fluff-and-stuff, but I do think this book would be better suited for an older teen or adult.
To THINK I almost gave this book to my niece at random *cringes*
Not good IMO
I don't like any of the characters, the writing is very dialog driven so I couldn't connect with the characters even if I did like them, and this is totally not YA material.
She wants to please me. She gives me her body to please me. She strokes my c*ck to please me. For this I give her my love now and for ever. All for you, my Maddy. My darling Maddy.
There's more scenes like this, not overly so but you get the point. Plus it's crude and vulgar and has some seriously warped issues. This book is suppose to be about wanting to be in love and the first experiences that come with it, but it just felt like a book about sex.
I don't mind sex in books, at all, I was just expecting fluff-and-stuff, but I do think this book would be better suited for an older teen or adult.
To THINK I almost gave this book to my niece at random *cringes*
Not good IMO
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2010
This is a compelling and beautifully written novel about first love, first sex, and everything in between. Maddy Fisher has decided to fall in love. And not just any sort of love: can't-eat can't-sleep crazy in love. Rich Ross is after the same thing. He's set his sights high, and he's going to make it happen. The problem is, in life's messy whirlwind of friends and lies and sex and porn, the real thing can be hard to fine. But there's always a first time for everything... From Amazon UK
I am 23. I am quite obviously not a teenager. However, I still have the mentality of a teenager, and continue to find the opposite sex baffling. After reading Rich and Mad, about two teenagers who are falling in love for the first time, I swear it was written for me! I cannot tell you just how amazing this book is!
As I read on William Nicholson’s website (some tiny spoilers on that page, so beware), this is a book written for girls and guys to show them what girls and guys think about love and sex. I have read several YA novels that deal with teen love and teen sex, but none of them really come at it from this angle, and it’s absolute genius! I can’t tell you how often I was surprised at how much I empathised with Rich! I empathised with Maddy a fair amount too, but it was Rich that surprised me.
I loved the characters! I thought it was brilliant that, although we mainly follow Rich and Maddy, everyone had some sort of view on love and sex that was shown. Maddy and Rich were very much teenagers; they were curious, they questioned, they worried, they made mistakes, but what I also loved was that they also had strong feelings about what they wanted from love – this is not about having sex as soon as possible, it’s about meeting the right person and all it entails for them personally. It was refreshing to read about characters, especially teen characters, who knew their own mind so well.
I was blown away by Maddy. She is not completely without flaws, and there were moments when I wanted to just grab her arm and stop her from doing things, because you just know it’s a mistake, but she was just so driven! She would make a decision about something, and then she would go ahead with it, seemingly very easily. She had this nervous confidence that I am just so envious of. Rich is just lovely! He has opinions and views that I have, and it was just so odd yet eye opening! He’s cute and funny, and doesn’t take himself too seriously, but also doesn’t have the best self-esteem. He is just adorable, and I would quite like to adopt him.
Rich and Mad is graphic in places, but most of the time it’s just so sweet! That might sound odd, but I don’t think there really is any other word to describe it. There is one scene where Mad and her friend watch porn, which is a little bit shocking – for me anyway – but also pretty hilarious in how the girls react to it. None of it is gratuitous, and it’s all dealt with maturely yet realistically.
Although Rich and Mad is mainly focussed on their relationships and the way they think, there are other issues covered in the story that teens may come across. I loved all these little sub-plots, it made the book seem more realistic – there were other things going on outside Rich and Maddy’s individual bubbles, but effect them indirectly.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! I stayed up quite late last night to finish it, and closed book "aww"-ing at what a lovely, sweet read it was. I swear every girl and every guy should read this book; not only is it an amazing story, it’s opens your eyes and makes you think. I very much doubt there will be a sequel, but I so wish there would be! Another book joining my favourites!
From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book review blog.
I am 23. I am quite obviously not a teenager. However, I still have the mentality of a teenager, and continue to find the opposite sex baffling. After reading Rich and Mad, about two teenagers who are falling in love for the first time, I swear it was written for me! I cannot tell you just how amazing this book is!
As I read on William Nicholson’s website (some tiny spoilers on that page, so beware), this is a book written for girls and guys to show them what girls and guys think about love and sex. I have read several YA novels that deal with teen love and teen sex, but none of them really come at it from this angle, and it’s absolute genius! I can’t tell you how often I was surprised at how much I empathised with Rich! I empathised with Maddy a fair amount too, but it was Rich that surprised me.
I loved the characters! I thought it was brilliant that, although we mainly follow Rich and Maddy, everyone had some sort of view on love and sex that was shown. Maddy and Rich were very much teenagers; they were curious, they questioned, they worried, they made mistakes, but what I also loved was that they also had strong feelings about what they wanted from love – this is not about having sex as soon as possible, it’s about meeting the right person and all it entails for them personally. It was refreshing to read about characters, especially teen characters, who knew their own mind so well.
I was blown away by Maddy. She is not completely without flaws, and there were moments when I wanted to just grab her arm and stop her from doing things, because you just know it’s a mistake, but she was just so driven! She would make a decision about something, and then she would go ahead with it, seemingly very easily. She had this nervous confidence that I am just so envious of. Rich is just lovely! He has opinions and views that I have, and it was just so odd yet eye opening! He’s cute and funny, and doesn’t take himself too seriously, but also doesn’t have the best self-esteem. He is just adorable, and I would quite like to adopt him.
Rich and Mad is graphic in places, but most of the time it’s just so sweet! That might sound odd, but I don’t think there really is any other word to describe it. There is one scene where Mad and her friend watch porn, which is a little bit shocking – for me anyway – but also pretty hilarious in how the girls react to it. None of it is gratuitous, and it’s all dealt with maturely yet realistically.
Although Rich and Mad is mainly focussed on their relationships and the way they think, there are other issues covered in the story that teens may come across. I loved all these little sub-plots, it made the book seem more realistic – there were other things going on outside Rich and Maddy’s individual bubbles, but effect them indirectly.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! I stayed up quite late last night to finish it, and closed book "aww"-ing at what a lovely, sweet read it was. I swear every girl and every guy should read this book; not only is it an amazing story, it’s opens your eyes and makes you think. I very much doubt there will be a sequel, but I so wish there would be! Another book joining my favourites!
From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book review blog.
November 29, 2024
I had really low expectations for this book. I’ve had it on my shelf for yearrrrrs. The rating on Goodreads is so low. But I needed an ‘R’ book for my alphabet challenge so I thought let’s just get it done. So knowingly going into a romance book written by a man I held my breath and started to read…
But I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this. Watching the young adults navigate their way around love and sex, family disputes, friends in need, and their own truths, felt very wholesome.
The scene at the Grandma’s birthday party had me chuckling out loud. I was in the hospital waiting room and I’m sure people were side-eyeing me 👀
The array of characters and personalities at that party felt very realistic and reminded me of your typical Christmas get together with your own extended family.
I also liked part of the book where some students stuck up for a teacher who was being victimised, and I really liked the maturity that some of the students showed here. Kindness can mean so much, and I think a lot of this book was about that.
Nothing wow, nothing groundbreaking, just a nice book about some young adults coming into their own. 😃
But I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this. Watching the young adults navigate their way around love and sex, family disputes, friends in need, and their own truths, felt very wholesome.
The scene at the Grandma’s birthday party had me chuckling out loud. I was in the hospital waiting room and I’m sure people were side-eyeing me 👀
The array of characters and personalities at that party felt very realistic and reminded me of your typical Christmas get together with your own extended family.
I also liked part of the book where some students stuck up for a teacher who was being victimised, and I really liked the maturity that some of the students showed here. Kindness can mean so much, and I think a lot of this book was about that.
Nothing wow, nothing groundbreaking, just a nice book about some young adults coming into their own. 😃
April 8, 2011
When I came across Rich and Mad on goodreads the first thing I noticed was the steamy cover. I loved how the couple was inside a phone booth, it made me think of England, somewhere I always wanted to go. After reading the attention-grabbing summary I marked the release date on my calendar. Unfortunately Rich and Mad didn't live up to my high expectations.
I read the book in about a day because I was really interested in finding out what happened with the two main characters' love lives. Both Rich and Maddy are pretty unlucky with love and are determined to find "the one" during this school year. Maddy sets her heart on the popular Joe and Rich has his eye on Maddy's sophisticated friend, Grace.
One of the parts I liked about the book was that both the main characters were falling for the wrong people. I enjoyed uncovering the truth that was hidden among the lies, that part really reminded me of high school. Even though, that part of the story was realistic, I had trouble relating the other parts of the book to real life.
I understand that in today's society there are a lot of unhealthy relationships between teens and that friends often cut each other down, but I felt almost all the friendships in Rich and Mad were negative ones. Now I'm not saying that I don't cuss, because honestly I have quite the fowl mouth, but I never call my friends cruel names. In this book I felt like one of the characters was having serious issues, but it was quickly over looked. The person clearly needed help and friends by her side, she didn't need to be bullied by the people she loved.
Unfortunately I felt that the romantic relationships in the book were rushed and not genuine. It seemed like the characters wanted so badly to be in love, that they rushed into all their decisions. To them, it was more important to be able to say they were in love and have had sex than it was to actually love their partner.
For me, the ending was extremely uncomfortable and felt forced. The whole time I kept thinking okay you guys really should stop, you're not ready... I felt like I was watching two people making a big mistake because they are making their decisions solely on what they thought everyone else their age was doing.
Awesome Quote:
"Maybe we're all like that, thought Rich. Maybe we all find when we speak that the words don't match out ideas. We talk to each other, but never know each other.
Loneliness is the default mode."
Characters: 2/5
Creativity: 3/5
Voice: 2/5
Plot: 1/5
Impact: 2/5
Overall: 2/5
Rich and Mad was a quick read that highlighted a lot of the problems with teen relationships. Even though I found the characters a little winy and too impulsive, I recommend this book if your looking for a unique some-what love story between two people who want nothing more than to be loved.
I read the book in about a day because I was really interested in finding out what happened with the two main characters' love lives. Both Rich and Maddy are pretty unlucky with love and are determined to find "the one" during this school year. Maddy sets her heart on the popular Joe and Rich has his eye on Maddy's sophisticated friend, Grace.
One of the parts I liked about the book was that both the main characters were falling for the wrong people. I enjoyed uncovering the truth that was hidden among the lies, that part really reminded me of high school. Even though, that part of the story was realistic, I had trouble relating the other parts of the book to real life.
I understand that in today's society there are a lot of unhealthy relationships between teens and that friends often cut each other down, but I felt almost all the friendships in Rich and Mad were negative ones. Now I'm not saying that I don't cuss, because honestly I have quite the fowl mouth, but I never call my friends cruel names. In this book I felt like one of the characters was having serious issues, but it was quickly over looked. The person clearly needed help and friends by her side, she didn't need to be bullied by the people she loved.
Unfortunately I felt that the romantic relationships in the book were rushed and not genuine. It seemed like the characters wanted so badly to be in love, that they rushed into all their decisions. To them, it was more important to be able to say they were in love and have had sex than it was to actually love their partner.
For me, the ending was extremely uncomfortable and felt forced. The whole time I kept thinking okay you guys really should stop, you're not ready... I felt like I was watching two people making a big mistake because they are making their decisions solely on what they thought everyone else their age was doing.
Awesome Quote:
"Maybe we're all like that, thought Rich. Maybe we all find when we speak that the words don't match out ideas. We talk to each other, but never know each other.
Loneliness is the default mode."
Characters: 2/5
Creativity: 3/5
Voice: 2/5
Plot: 1/5
Impact: 2/5
Overall: 2/5
Rich and Mad was a quick read that highlighted a lot of the problems with teen relationships. Even though I found the characters a little winy and too impulsive, I recommend this book if your looking for a unique some-what love story between two people who want nothing more than to be loved.
October 29, 2012
I first came across this book when the author, William Nicholson came into my school to give a talk. A very good one I might add. He really knew how to communicate with the teenage audience. Not treating us like children but not like adults either. But I digress...
The characters in this love tale are incredibly strong. I thought they had real potential at the beginning of the book and Nicholson definitely utilized that potential.
I also found that the way Nicholson wrote was good. A brilliant love story which leads the reader in all sorts of directions. By including lots of side characters along the two main characters, (e.g Cath,Joe, Max) this opens up lots of possibilities for the story's plot line to take.
In my opinion, the characters are stronger than the plot. Yes, Nicholson includes a variety of red herrings, but the actually story line that happens to the two main characters, (Rich and Mad) is nothing particularly special. Not to say this is a bad thing, some people prefer to have interesting characters and a simpler plot as this gives them more of an opportunity to watch the characters as they develop.
The good attributes to this book is that the characters are ones the teenager readers can relate to. I'm sure many boys like myself will be experiencing or have experienced something similar to what Rich went through, and the same goes for girls and Maddy. It is almost as if it was written based on a true story. The only bad thing that I can think to mention that might be a slight draw back would be the weakness of the plot. But this is no major draw back as the characters are intriguing and the story line doesn't need to be a complex one, like a mystery thriller. This is a romance story, and if you enjoy romance then this is the book for you.
The characters in this love tale are incredibly strong. I thought they had real potential at the beginning of the book and Nicholson definitely utilized that potential.
I also found that the way Nicholson wrote was good. A brilliant love story which leads the reader in all sorts of directions. By including lots of side characters along the two main characters, (e.g Cath,Joe, Max) this opens up lots of possibilities for the story's plot line to take.
In my opinion, the characters are stronger than the plot. Yes, Nicholson includes a variety of red herrings, but the actually story line that happens to the two main characters, (Rich and Mad) is nothing particularly special. Not to say this is a bad thing, some people prefer to have interesting characters and a simpler plot as this gives them more of an opportunity to watch the characters as they develop.
The good attributes to this book is that the characters are ones the teenager readers can relate to. I'm sure many boys like myself will be experiencing or have experienced something similar to what Rich went through, and the same goes for girls and Maddy. It is almost as if it was written based on a true story. The only bad thing that I can think to mention that might be a slight draw back would be the weakness of the plot. But this is no major draw back as the characters are intriguing and the story line doesn't need to be a complex one, like a mystery thriller. This is a romance story, and if you enjoy romance then this is the book for you.
June 12, 2010
'Rich and Mad' is the story of two teenagers, both seventeen and both searching for love. Yes the book is explicit in parts but do not let this put you off; it is tackled sensibly and with great care and thought, ensuring the book is accessible even to younger teenage readers.
Nicholson deals with a whole range of issues that most young adult authors tend to steer clear of. These include porn, violence, bereavement and of course sex. It is hard to write a YA book about sex that is not patronising but will still be accepted by parents and libraries. However, he has shown that it can be done and done well.
Early on in the book Maddy auditions for a part in the school play. She is given a small part but sees it as an opportunity to have fun and more importantly get closer to Joe, the guy she has fallen in love with. Rich, on the other hand, is busy trying to attract Grace who is Maddy's friend. It seems they are both fighting losing battles until Maddy begins an email exchange with Joe and everything spins out of control...
There are lots of sub-plots in 'Rich and Mad' ensuring that there is continual tension throughout the book. I felt it could have perhaps been shorter though, as in my opinion there were passages that didn't really add to the story.
Nicholson is able to adopt the emotions and mindset of both a male and female seventeen year old which makes the characters, Rich and Maddy, seem so much more believable. He has written a really excellent book, one I would advise everyone (above at least 13) to read; one about first love and in particular how two people deal with and overcome the biggest trials of adolescence.
Nicholson deals with a whole range of issues that most young adult authors tend to steer clear of. These include porn, violence, bereavement and of course sex. It is hard to write a YA book about sex that is not patronising but will still be accepted by parents and libraries. However, he has shown that it can be done and done well.
Early on in the book Maddy auditions for a part in the school play. She is given a small part but sees it as an opportunity to have fun and more importantly get closer to Joe, the guy she has fallen in love with. Rich, on the other hand, is busy trying to attract Grace who is Maddy's friend. It seems they are both fighting losing battles until Maddy begins an email exchange with Joe and everything spins out of control...
There are lots of sub-plots in 'Rich and Mad' ensuring that there is continual tension throughout the book. I felt it could have perhaps been shorter though, as in my opinion there were passages that didn't really add to the story.
Nicholson is able to adopt the emotions and mindset of both a male and female seventeen year old which makes the characters, Rich and Maddy, seem so much more believable. He has written a really excellent book, one I would advise everyone (above at least 13) to read; one about first love and in particular how two people deal with and overcome the biggest trials of adolescence.
September 17, 2010
My Thoughts: I had really high hopes for this one. And, yes I did enjoy it. But it didn't get 5 cupcakes from me as I hoped it would. It has an interesting feel to it. We meet Rich and Maddy and of course they aren't interested in each other but people who they believe are unattainable. They've noticed each other throughout the years but just as friends would. Rich likes the popular girl who is kind of friends with Maddy and Maddy likes the guy who doesn't even really know she exists. Plus he already has a girlfriend he's crazy about. Maddy agrees to try to help Rich out but that doesn't go so well either. There were so many twists and turns I did not see coming. People messing with one another's heads. Most of the time I didn't know what was going to happen. The friendship that blossomed between Maddy and Rich was nice though. I liked the ending of the story more than the beginning. Rich and Maddy were interesting characters to read about and the problems they were facing and how they helped face those problems together. It also goes into great detail about love, sex, and issues that not every person will want to read about, even though I didn't mind.
Overall: I liked Rich and Maddy but didn't love it. I just went into this book hoping it would reach beyond the 5 cupcakes but I left feeling a little less great than I hoped I would. Its still an amazing book, it just takes a lot to lead up to the parts I enjoyed the most.
Cover: Love the cover! I think this is one of my favorite things about the book. You can't see their faces really but it looks really cute! The way he's holding her chin!
Overall: I liked Rich and Maddy but didn't love it. I just went into this book hoping it would reach beyond the 5 cupcakes but I left feeling a little less great than I hoped I would. Its still an amazing book, it just takes a lot to lead up to the parts I enjoyed the most.
Cover: Love the cover! I think this is one of my favorite things about the book. You can't see their faces really but it looks really cute! The way he's holding her chin!
July 28, 2010
Maddie wants to fall in love, so deeply and madly in love that she can’t think. She’s even found the perfect candidate in Joe, who is incredibly cute and popular. Too bad he has a girlfriend, but if he’s dating Gemma, then why is he sending signals that he likes Maddie back? Rich had had a crush on Maddie’s friend Grace for the longest time. He knows there’s no chance Grace would like him back, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to win her over anyway. In the midst of all the lies and confusion, Maddie and Rich both struggle to figure out love and relationships. In the end, though, they’ll find that love sometimes comes from where you least expected it.
Rich and Mad is a detailed and realistic exploration of romantic relationships, first love, and everything that comes with that. Nicholson does a fantastic job of portraying teens. I find it rare that an author will go so in depth in discussing love and sex; this novel is less a romance than a question and answer of what love is. With varied but always believable characters, Nicholson is able to write about relationships and opinions of love from multiple angles. Everything about this story, from the content to the questions it presents to the emotions of the characters is sure to resonate with all teen readers. Though some of the plot is predictable or just strange, Rich and Mad remains a very sweet and enjoyable read.
Rich and Mad should be read by teens everywhere and will particularly appeal to those who enjoyed Crash Test Love by Ted Michael and Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
Rich and Mad is a detailed and realistic exploration of romantic relationships, first love, and everything that comes with that. Nicholson does a fantastic job of portraying teens. I find it rare that an author will go so in depth in discussing love and sex; this novel is less a romance than a question and answer of what love is. With varied but always believable characters, Nicholson is able to write about relationships and opinions of love from multiple angles. Everything about this story, from the content to the questions it presents to the emotions of the characters is sure to resonate with all teen readers. Though some of the plot is predictable or just strange, Rich and Mad remains a very sweet and enjoyable read.
Rich and Mad should be read by teens everywhere and will particularly appeal to those who enjoyed Crash Test Love by Ted Michael and Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
August 23, 2010
I was expecting a love story filled with the romance of all that's involved. All the firsts but with a romantic twist but I was wrong. I felt like this was possibly a more realistic showing of relationships and navigating your way through them but the romance factor for me was small. And in retrospect I guess if it was such a neat and romantic process the whole way through your first experiences we'd all be married off before we graduated high school right? As much as I was hoping and expecting a romantic tale, I thought it was refreshing to read such an accurate (and cringe-worthy at times) take on the whole experience.
William Nicholson continued to surprise me with his believable characters. Maddie wants to be in love (and who hasn't been there) and she has it all worked out in her head. Too bad the "perfect" guy she has in mind has a girlfriend? Well it certainly doesn't stop her plan to be put into action. However much I enjoyed Nicholson's take on these elements I think this is one of those YA books that is meant for young adults and teens only. I did like it but it won't become a favorite of mine or a future re-read. I think it's hard to be anywhere but in the middle on this one. I most definitely didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. The ending wraps up nicely and I left the book feeling satisfied that everything worked out the way I was hoping it would.
William Nicholson continued to surprise me with his believable characters. Maddie wants to be in love (and who hasn't been there) and she has it all worked out in her head. Too bad the "perfect" guy she has in mind has a girlfriend? Well it certainly doesn't stop her plan to be put into action. However much I enjoyed Nicholson's take on these elements I think this is one of those YA books that is meant for young adults and teens only. I did like it but it won't become a favorite of mine or a future re-read. I think it's hard to be anywhere but in the middle on this one. I most definitely didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. The ending wraps up nicely and I left the book feeling satisfied that everything worked out the way I was hoping it would.
October 8, 2017
don't make fun of me for this but out of the 182738346 times i've read this book i didn't realize the setting was in the UK until now, basically:
1) i don't know why but i've always been in awe of this book. i think it might be because i first read it when i was a similar age to mad and everything (especially concerning boys) was so new and frightening. discovering this new world of sexuality and sexual experience is daunting and i feel as though this book captures this perfectly. the excitement of first relationships....there's truly nothing like it.
2) i think another reason why i loved this book is because everything between rich and mad was so realistic. the fumbling, the confusion, the inexperience, the fragility, it's all described so beautifully. i know a lot of readers had an issue with how detailed the sex scenes are mostly because this novel is categorized as young adult.
i don't find that the sex scenes are "vulgar" or meant to be construed as something dirty. two teenagers are discovering what orgasms are, discovering what love means to them. it's also easy to keep in mind that most teenagers are required to take health & anatomy classes their freshman year of high school (so 14/15) and know exactly what sex is.
was it worth it? this entire review might be a little biased but this book is honestly one of my favorite. i love it. i encourage everybody to give it a chance.
1) i don't know why but i've always been in awe of this book. i think it might be because i first read it when i was a similar age to mad and everything (especially concerning boys) was so new and frightening. discovering this new world of sexuality and sexual experience is daunting and i feel as though this book captures this perfectly. the excitement of first relationships....there's truly nothing like it.
2) i think another reason why i loved this book is because everything between rich and mad was so realistic. the fumbling, the confusion, the inexperience, the fragility, it's all described so beautifully. i know a lot of readers had an issue with how detailed the sex scenes are mostly because this novel is categorized as young adult.
i don't find that the sex scenes are "vulgar" or meant to be construed as something dirty. two teenagers are discovering what orgasms are, discovering what love means to them. it's also easy to keep in mind that most teenagers are required to take health & anatomy classes their freshman year of high school (so 14/15) and know exactly what sex is.
was it worth it? this entire review might be a little biased but this book is honestly one of my favorite. i love it. i encourage everybody to give it a chance.
March 13, 2013
This review was originally posted on ThirstforFiction.com
17 and never been in love? Then you’re not alone. Maddy Fisher is just the same. But that is all about to change; she has set a course for a great love. But some unexpected happenings arise, and she is swept away with a boy she hardly dreamed of falling in love with. But it is to late now; love has already caught her and is reeling her in, and before her lay many uncharted waters…
I’ve been a convert of William Nicholson’s works for a while now- they always provoked emotions in me and made me think in ways many other books didn’t. So when I heard about Rich and Mad, I was utterly thrilled. I know, it’s a romance, and I’m a boy, and it’s odd for a boy to read, let alone enjoy these books… But I am a complete sucker for romances… Infact, I was so excited about reading Rich and Mad that I requested a review copy of it (luckily, the publishers accepted!). So when I found it in the post, I immediately began to read. I read as much as I could; I couldn’t get enough of it. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about the concepts it put forward, and when I was reading it, I was so engrossed that it pained me to put it down. Yes, I loved it that much! read more...
17 and never been in love? Then you’re not alone. Maddy Fisher is just the same. But that is all about to change; she has set a course for a great love. But some unexpected happenings arise, and she is swept away with a boy she hardly dreamed of falling in love with. But it is to late now; love has already caught her and is reeling her in, and before her lay many uncharted waters…
I’ve been a convert of William Nicholson’s works for a while now- they always provoked emotions in me and made me think in ways many other books didn’t. So when I heard about Rich and Mad, I was utterly thrilled. I know, it’s a romance, and I’m a boy, and it’s odd for a boy to read, let alone enjoy these books… But I am a complete sucker for romances… Infact, I was so excited about reading Rich and Mad that I requested a review copy of it (luckily, the publishers accepted!). So when I found it in the post, I immediately began to read. I read as much as I could; I couldn’t get enough of it. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about the concepts it put forward, and when I was reading it, I was so engrossed that it pained me to put it down. Yes, I loved it that much! read more...
June 17, 2011
I was confused about how i felt about this book until about two thirds through.
That's when i knew i bloody loved it.
Being 17 it's nice to have a character the same age because it is very uncommon ive found. I can compare lifestyles and perceptions of how you should act at this in between age of sweet sixteen and adult 18. I can also say i really relate to the characters, Nicholson has nailed pretty much every question i have about love and 'all that shizzle', i would say im pretty much in Maddie's shoes (before the psycho friend and nice guy, i mean i would love if guys were really like this) i would have never known it was written by an older man AT ALL! He must of had help coz if not this is frickin wierd... I picked it up for £2 at a discount book shop and only realised who wrote it when i looked at the front to see who the hell could be this wise. I had to check about six times throughout because it seems he knows exactly what im thinking and feeling. What a mind freak this was. The poetry, psychological quotes that have you thinking about everything and old song lyrics had me jizzing my pants coz that is me hands down. LOVED it.
I payed £2 for an absolute mindgasm of a book.
Anyone who hated it, fuck you :)
A+
That's when i knew i bloody loved it.
Being 17 it's nice to have a character the same age because it is very uncommon ive found. I can compare lifestyles and perceptions of how you should act at this in between age of sweet sixteen and adult 18. I can also say i really relate to the characters, Nicholson has nailed pretty much every question i have about love and 'all that shizzle', i would say im pretty much in Maddie's shoes (before the psycho friend and nice guy, i mean i would love if guys were really like this) i would have never known it was written by an older man AT ALL! He must of had help coz if not this is frickin wierd... I picked it up for £2 at a discount book shop and only realised who wrote it when i looked at the front to see who the hell could be this wise. I had to check about six times throughout because it seems he knows exactly what im thinking and feeling. What a mind freak this was. The poetry, psychological quotes that have you thinking about everything and old song lyrics had me jizzing my pants coz that is me hands down. LOVED it.
I payed £2 for an absolute mindgasm of a book.
Anyone who hated it, fuck you :)
A+
October 10, 2010
I wasn't sure how I would feel about this contemporary/realistic book. I picked it up because I needed a break from the paranormal. I had read that this book was considered controversial by some due to sexual content. However, this turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
This is a story about firsts. The book follows seventeen year olds Mad and Rich as they attempt to navigate a whole list of firsts: first love, first betrayals, first sex, etc. You name it, it's in this book.
I fell in love with Rich and Mad from the first chapter. They're charming with honest voices that are adorable and flawed, funny and insightful. Not to mention the writing is incredible.
I also didn't find any of the sex in the book offensive. With that said, there actually aren't many sex scenes, and the few scenes were all handelled perfectly and can't be described as anything other than charmingly awkward. I'm honestly not sure why anyone was up in arms about this book.
All in all, I'd give this a 4 on 5. This has convinced me I need to read more contemporary/realistic fiction.
This is a story about firsts. The book follows seventeen year olds Mad and Rich as they attempt to navigate a whole list of firsts: first love, first betrayals, first sex, etc. You name it, it's in this book.
I fell in love with Rich and Mad from the first chapter. They're charming with honest voices that are adorable and flawed, funny and insightful. Not to mention the writing is incredible.
I also didn't find any of the sex in the book offensive. With that said, there actually aren't many sex scenes, and the few scenes were all handelled perfectly and can't be described as anything other than charmingly awkward. I'm honestly not sure why anyone was up in arms about this book.
All in all, I'd give this a 4 on 5. This has convinced me I need to read more contemporary/realistic fiction.
June 30, 2016
I was expecting more. I'm not sure what, exactly, but as I finished reading, all I could think of was that there was something missing. This is the kind of story where things just happen and they keep happening, but there isn't a path, it just seems random. Rich and Mad tell their story, but you get to the end without so many answers about what was happening to the other characters. I still wonder what happened to Grace or to Mad's parents. All these conflits do not get a resolution and I fell cheated.
Really, this book is completely pointless.
Really, this book is completely pointless.
April 21, 2019
Quando o amor é calmaria
Depois do desânimo que sempre me pega no início de cada ano, resolvi sair dessa lendo um livro curto e simples, pois estava difícil ler até recado escrito em guardanapo. Decidido isso, fui atrás do tal livro, e acabei me deparando com o fofíssimo “Rich and Mad”, do William Nicholson.
De maneira geral, a história é uma visão sincera sobre o primeiro amor e a descoberta da sexualidade. A protagonista da história é a Maddy Fisher – conhecida como Mad -, que, aos 16 anos, decidiu se apaixonar. E não é aquela paixão que parece brisa de verão… ela quer o fogo, palpitações o tempo todo, uma completa loucura. Sendo assim, decide mudar um pouco seu jeito, pensando em se soltar mais. Quando Joe, colega da turma de teatro, começa a lhe mandar e-mails, ela sente que finalmente chegou o momento certo. O ‘problema’ é que Joe está saindo com Gemma, o que a faz pensar que ele não tenta nada mais sério por não querer ferir os sentimentos da menina. Afinal, eles namoram desde sempre.
Nesse meio tempo, Rich também sonha em encontrar um grande amor, e pensa que isso poderá ocorrer com a Grace (amiga bonitona da Mad), e está disposto a fazer com que o amor que ele sente seja o bastante para trazê-la até ele. Usando a literatura para basear todo o amor que ele ainda não vivenciou, defende o ponto de que pode ser amado, pois há amor nele. Os caminhos dele e da Mad se cruzam a partir da Grace – melhor, da tentativa dele de ser notado por ela -, e, após ficar conhecido pela Mad como “o garoto com o manual do sexo”, surge entre os dois honestidade, delicadeza, carinho e amor.
Há também questões como:
Pornografia – numa tentativa de saber como seria a primeira vez, Mad resolve assistir um vídeo pornográfico, e fica pensativa com a falta de reciprocidade do ato mostrado.
Preconceito – não poderia faltar nesse mundo repleto de esteriótipos. O caso que eu destaco é a do professor de teatro, que todos pensam ser gay, e acabam prejudicando a vida dele. Rich acaba demonstrando sua coragem ao não permitir que a opção sexual do professor seja colocado como empecilho do trabalho que ele realiza.
Relacionamentos abusivos: mais difícil que admitir para si mesmo, ou perceber que acontece com alguém próximo, é saber que as pessoas acham que isso é amor.
Entre outras coisas…
Bem, essa é uma ideia bem geral da história, e confesso que criticaria muita coisa se tivesse lido em outro momento – afinal, há muitos clichês. Porém, o que ganha o leitor é a sinceridade com que ele aborda todas essas questões. Fora que na história há bastantes reviravoltas, o que acaba mudando as coisas que eu achava que seriam iguais aos outros livros. Outro ponto forte é que a Mad declara ser romântica, mas ela não é frágil e bobinha. Claro que havia momentos em que eu pensava que ela seria assim, mas no decorrer das descobertas, percebi que não era bem assim. A leitura de “Rich and Mad” me fez saudar a inocência do primeiro amor, e é lindo acompanhar a descoberta dos dois: ambos percebendo que começa devagar, te toma por inteiro, mas te deixa em você, pois amor não é posse, e sim calmaria.
Depois do desânimo que sempre me pega no início de cada ano, resolvi sair dessa lendo um livro curto e simples, pois estava difícil ler até recado escrito em guardanapo. Decidido isso, fui atrás do tal livro, e acabei me deparando com o fofíssimo “Rich and Mad”, do William Nicholson.
De maneira geral, a história é uma visão sincera sobre o primeiro amor e a descoberta da sexualidade. A protagonista da história é a Maddy Fisher – conhecida como Mad -, que, aos 16 anos, decidiu se apaixonar. E não é aquela paixão que parece brisa de verão… ela quer o fogo, palpitações o tempo todo, uma completa loucura. Sendo assim, decide mudar um pouco seu jeito, pensando em se soltar mais. Quando Joe, colega da turma de teatro, começa a lhe mandar e-mails, ela sente que finalmente chegou o momento certo. O ‘problema’ é que Joe está saindo com Gemma, o que a faz pensar que ele não tenta nada mais sério por não querer ferir os sentimentos da menina. Afinal, eles namoram desde sempre.
Nesse meio tempo, Rich também sonha em encontrar um grande amor, e pensa que isso poderá ocorrer com a Grace (amiga bonitona da Mad), e está disposto a fazer com que o amor que ele sente seja o bastante para trazê-la até ele. Usando a literatura para basear todo o amor que ele ainda não vivenciou, defende o ponto de que pode ser amado, pois há amor nele. Os caminhos dele e da Mad se cruzam a partir da Grace – melhor, da tentativa dele de ser notado por ela -, e, após ficar conhecido pela Mad como “o garoto com o manual do sexo”, surge entre os dois honestidade, delicadeza, carinho e amor.
Há também questões como:
Pornografia – numa tentativa de saber como seria a primeira vez, Mad resolve assistir um vídeo pornográfico, e fica pensativa com a falta de reciprocidade do ato mostrado.
“Sex wasn’t one thing at all, it came at you in so many forms.
It was pornography, and it was childbirth, and it was love.”
Preconceito – não poderia faltar nesse mundo repleto de esteriótipos. O caso que eu destaco é a do professor de teatro, que todos pensam ser gay, e acabam prejudicando a vida dele. Rich acaba demonstrando sua coragem ao não permitir que a opção sexual do professor seja colocado como empecilho do trabalho que ele realiza.
Relacionamentos abusivos: mais difícil que admitir para si mesmo, ou perceber que acontece com alguém próximo, é saber que as pessoas acham que isso é amor.
Entre outras coisas…
Bem, essa é uma ideia bem geral da história, e confesso que criticaria muita coisa se tivesse lido em outro momento – afinal, há muitos clichês. Porém, o que ganha o leitor é a sinceridade com que ele aborda todas essas questões. Fora que na história há bastantes reviravoltas, o que acaba mudando as coisas que eu achava que seriam iguais aos outros livros. Outro ponto forte é que a Mad declara ser romântica, mas ela não é frágil e bobinha. Claro que havia momentos em que eu pensava que ela seria assim, mas no decorrer das descobertas, percebi que não era bem assim. A leitura de “Rich and Mad” me fez saudar a inocência do primeiro amor, e é lindo acompanhar a descoberta dos dois: ambos percebendo que começa devagar, te toma por inteiro, mas te deixa em você, pois amor não é posse, e sim calmaria.
April 2, 2020
I appreciate that I am not the target market for this novel which talks about teenage love, but it was still an absolutely dreadful, cringeworthy book.
It purportedly talks about 17 year olds falling in love for the first time - but it felt as if it gathered together every cliche that was ever written, threw them all into a pot, and it all came out as some sort of Stereotype Stew.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly believable or consistent, none were likeable (Rich was so floppy - no pun intended - he became an object of pity rather than affection) and all of the others acted out of seeming character far too often. The plot felt extremely forced, and some of the scenes were just stomach churning.
Fair to say, I didn't like it at all - disappointing, as I've enjoyed quite a few of this authors' other works.
It purportedly talks about 17 year olds falling in love for the first time - but it felt as if it gathered together every cliche that was ever written, threw them all into a pot, and it all came out as some sort of Stereotype Stew.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly believable or consistent, none were likeable (Rich was so floppy - no pun intended - he became an object of pity rather than affection) and all of the others acted out of seeming character far too often. The plot felt extremely forced, and some of the scenes were just stomach churning.
Fair to say, I didn't like it at all - disappointing, as I've enjoyed quite a few of this authors' other works.
Read
July 8, 2022From the Publisher
Maddy is a sixteen-year-old who likes a boy in her theater club. Joe is cute and popular and, incredibly, sending signals that he likes her back. Or does he? Isn't Joe going out with Gemma? Rich has a crush on Grace, and he even sends a letter of recommendation from the pope to get her to pay attention to him. But Grace doesn't appreciate that tactic. . . . The problem is, in life's messy mixed signals of friends and lies and sex and status, true love can be hard to find. And the real thing doesn't always come in the most obvious package, either. Is it possible that the person you never thought of that way is the one who will ultimately touch your heart?
Maddy is a sixteen-year-old who likes a boy in her theater club. Joe is cute and popular and, incredibly, sending signals that he likes her back. Or does he? Isn't Joe going out with Gemma? Rich has a crush on Grace, and he even sends a letter of recommendation from the pope to get her to pay attention to him. But Grace doesn't appreciate that tactic. . . . The problem is, in life's messy mixed signals of friends and lies and sex and status, true love can be hard to find. And the real thing doesn't always come in the most obvious package, either. Is it possible that the person you never thought of that way is the one who will ultimately touch your heart?
December 31, 2020
A journey of discovery and the rocky road to finding first love. Sweet and tender.
July 31, 2022
Read this book so many times and each time gets better and better.
January 26, 2024
A decent enough young adult romance between two teenagers who don't fit in. It would have made a good coming of age film, but there's no real standout characters or moments.
June 8, 2011
Rich and Mad...was weird. That's how I'd describe it, because it was just so strange. I didn't dislike it necessarily...I don't know. I guess I just didn't believe it. Everything in it was odd to me. Let me explain. One thing that really got to me is how lightly the word "love" was used. Rich claims to "love" Grace, even though he's never spoken to her. He knows absolutely nothing about her. He goes around feeling superior to other guys his age because he reads poetry and discusses feelings...but the only possible reason he could have for "loving" Grace is because she's pretty. It's not like he knows her personality. I think he’s very hypocritical.
Maddie claims to "love" Joe after speaking to him, like, twice. She also knows absolutely nothing about him. He's just some cute guy at her school. Then she's all "heartbroken" when she finds out he doesn't really like her. I mean, come on. These guys use the word "love" like they use the word "and". They don't know the meaning of the word. I'd hate to see them react to real love and heartbreak. Then Maddy and Rich go from kind-of friendship to love to almost having sex in ONE day. One day. It was completely unrealistic that those things would happen. One day! Seriously! And can I just say that most real teens do not act the way these people do? They don't go around discussing love and heartbreak and loneliness and poetry all the time. They don't think it's normal or funny to invite girls you barely know to your gran's eightieth birthday party. I'm sorry, but that's not endearing, it's plain weird. If some guy who had never spoken to me before gave me the letter that Rich gave Grace, I would have run a mile and then avoided him like the plague. Maybe that makes me the exact kind of person this book was trying to portray as "bad" but all I'm saying is that people's reactions here weren't believable. Who do you know that would do that?
And the way they spoke! Half of it was like they were from the 50s, the other half was like they were intoxicated. I'm not kidding. There're a few lines that no teenager would ever, ever say. You'd have to be really, really drunk to say something like, "Aren't bodies wonderful?" or "That's what gives me good feelings." I actually laughed because imagining someone say those things was just funny to me.
Another thing I really didn't like was the way sex was portrayed. I have nothing against sex in books, but it needs to be done tastefully and this was just...ugh. First of all, Maddie and Rich are talking about love, and Maddie says, "But love is different to sex." Then Rich says, "It feels the same to me." It feels to same to me. Really. Sex is the same as love, that is the moral of this story. Why do they think the term "casual sex" exists? Because it means no strings attached - no relationship, no love. So how can the two be the same? You can have sex and not love somebody and love somebody but not have sex. This really irked me, it really did. The mentality of these two - ugh. I know this is just a personal opinion, so I’m biased here, but this was a main reason I couldn’t relate to these characters. And the sex scene itself - it was embarrassing. It was, I actually cringed because it was that bad. It was like some weird science experiment - did not seem real in my opinion.
Also, I didn't get why Rich thought Mr Pico was such a good teacher. He didn't actually learn much from him, truth be told, and the only thing of significance that he did do was serve two underage teenagers alcohol. I know underage drinking is one of those things but come on. Why would a teacher do that? What reason would any teacher, employed or not, supposedly "neuter as a cat", have to serve two seventeen year olds wine? I get the teens drinking - realistic enough. But a teacher giving them the alcohol? Was it some kind of attempt to be one of the "cool, with the kids" teachers? Because it failed. I don't get it. It made no sense to me at all.
Grace. Leo. That whole thing was messed up. I think police should have been involved, instead of allowing a teenager to take charge of the situation. And Maddie's dad! Forgiving is important, yes, but oh my God. If I were that man's wife I'd have left years ago.
The only character I really liked was Cath as she was the only person who acted remotely like a teenager. I know I keep saying that but I think if you're going to write a book like this then realism is important. And I did not believe this book. Maybe it's just me, I don't know.
Maddie claims to "love" Joe after speaking to him, like, twice. She also knows absolutely nothing about him. He's just some cute guy at her school. Then she's all "heartbroken" when she finds out he doesn't really like her. I mean, come on. These guys use the word "love" like they use the word "and". They don't know the meaning of the word. I'd hate to see them react to real love and heartbreak. Then Maddy and Rich go from kind-of friendship to love to almost having sex in ONE day. One day. It was completely unrealistic that those things would happen. One day! Seriously! And can I just say that most real teens do not act the way these people do? They don't go around discussing love and heartbreak and loneliness and poetry all the time. They don't think it's normal or funny to invite girls you barely know to your gran's eightieth birthday party. I'm sorry, but that's not endearing, it's plain weird. If some guy who had never spoken to me before gave me the letter that Rich gave Grace, I would have run a mile and then avoided him like the plague. Maybe that makes me the exact kind of person this book was trying to portray as "bad" but all I'm saying is that people's reactions here weren't believable. Who do you know that would do that?
And the way they spoke! Half of it was like they were from the 50s, the other half was like they were intoxicated. I'm not kidding. There're a few lines that no teenager would ever, ever say. You'd have to be really, really drunk to say something like, "Aren't bodies wonderful?" or "That's what gives me good feelings." I actually laughed because imagining someone say those things was just funny to me.
Another thing I really didn't like was the way sex was portrayed. I have nothing against sex in books, but it needs to be done tastefully and this was just...ugh. First of all, Maddie and Rich are talking about love, and Maddie says, "But love is different to sex." Then Rich says, "It feels the same to me." It feels to same to me. Really. Sex is the same as love, that is the moral of this story. Why do they think the term "casual sex" exists? Because it means no strings attached - no relationship, no love. So how can the two be the same? You can have sex and not love somebody and love somebody but not have sex. This really irked me, it really did. The mentality of these two - ugh. I know this is just a personal opinion, so I’m biased here, but this was a main reason I couldn’t relate to these characters. And the sex scene itself - it was embarrassing. It was, I actually cringed because it was that bad. It was like some weird science experiment - did not seem real in my opinion.
Also, I didn't get why Rich thought Mr Pico was such a good teacher. He didn't actually learn much from him, truth be told, and the only thing of significance that he did do was serve two underage teenagers alcohol. I know underage drinking is one of those things but come on. Why would a teacher do that? What reason would any teacher, employed or not, supposedly "neuter as a cat", have to serve two seventeen year olds wine? I get the teens drinking - realistic enough. But a teacher giving them the alcohol? Was it some kind of attempt to be one of the "cool, with the kids" teachers? Because it failed. I don't get it. It made no sense to me at all.
Grace. Leo. That whole thing was messed up. I think police should have been involved, instead of allowing a teenager to take charge of the situation. And Maddie's dad! Forgiving is important, yes, but oh my God. If I were that man's wife I'd have left years ago.
The only character I really liked was Cath as she was the only person who acted remotely like a teenager. I know I keep saying that but I think if you're going to write a book like this then realism is important. And I did not believe this book. Maybe it's just me, I don't know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2010
Maddy decided she’s going to fall in love and nice, sweet, jubilant Joe seems to be the perfect candidate. But Joe has a girlfriend yet he is sending Maddie signals!? Maddie has a friend, Grace, who is gorgeous and well adorned by the male population at school including (but definitely not excluding) Rich. Rich is an odd one though.
Rich and Mad’s written style had a style I particularly enjoy: short, clipped sentences with plenty of dialogue. Excessively long paragraphs of descriptions detailing the things that make my eyes glaze off are not found here—yes! Amber tinted eyes, long fringes, luscious, gorgeous, honey locks? Puh-lease. We are talking about real people with real flaws: wide-set eyes, blemishes/acne, lack of breasts, chicken legs, etc.
Rich and Mad provided a different perspective of teenage hormones, love, and sex. Can love exist without sex and vice versa? Yet the novel also points out acts of homophobia where being gay is a good reason to be fired and defending your “gay” teacher only makes you a “gay loser freak”. Rich and Mad was first published in 2009 in the UK yet I wonder how far society has come in this topic. (Speaking of the UK, slang and jokes in British-English in novel. Was lost, but still happily kept going!)
I do so love the characters in this novel. I love the rapid fast dialogue and jostling and butting and the ability to communicate to friends:
“Max Heiblorn joined them. He was eating a packet of crisps.
“I’d offer them round,” he said, “but I want them all for myself.”
“Also you need feeding up,” said Cath.
“Small is beautiful,” retorted Max.
“Them you can’t join our club. Can he, Rich?”
“No, I think Max can join.”
“What club?”
“The losers club. It’s seriously exclusive. We’re going to have a T-shirt.”
“You now what?” said Rich. “I think we should have two levels in the club. Ordinary members would have T-shirts saying LOSER. But the really top losers would have T-shirts saying GAY LOSER FREAK.”
“Like a gold card.”
“Or going to first class.”
“Now wait a minute here, guys,” said Max. “I can see why me and Rich count as losers. But how’s Maddy a loser?”
“Trust me,” said Maddy. “I’m a loser.”
“You sure you’re not just saying that to impress me?”
“Hey! Hey!” said Cath. “This is all getting out of control. Back to basics, guys. How to spot a loser.” She pointed at her own face. “Ugly mug.” She pointed at Max. “Little creep.”
“That’s nice,” said Max, offended.
“The rest of you are just self-pitying phoneys.’” —pages 200/201 of ARC
Rich, in particular, is one of most interesting male characters I have read. He writes in his diary a poetry observation of the world and his inner world that shocked me:
“Unrequited love — like carrying a jug of pure cool water. I must take care not to spill it because this is what I have to give. I will give it to the one I will love forever. The jug of water gets heavier each day. My greatest fear is that I’ll let it fall and all my love drain away before I find her.”—page 40 of ARC
William Nicholson is a male author so this cannot be blamed on the female delusional mind of the “perfect” boyfriend.
Both Rich and Maddy think about sex quite often because it’s all in the hormones, but the novel provides a much different approach. In the realistic world of Rich and Mad there is the abusive relationship where some girls like to be beaten and that is what turns guys on; there is the fear of commitment and the fear of not being worthy of love at that; there are relationships much deeper than what the eye can see and only seen through the beholders. And there is Maddy and Rich, two virgins, desperately connecting love with physical connection because it is as close as close can be. I think what makes this relationship work is the level of comfort in each other’s presence that seeps through from the novel where the spoken truth is as easy as breathing. It wasn’t that instant love connection or that dark brooding nature that calls for chemistry, but a simple understanding and capability.
However, Rich and Mad packed in a lot so some parts are skimped and some parts are left in the dark (Grace anyone?). I wanted to analyze the characters and their actions yet I want to laugh out of loud. Rich and Mad is clearly not for the young as scenes can get quite graphic. Let's just say William Nicholson is not afraid of the word: cock and clitoris.
Rich and Mad’s written style had a style I particularly enjoy: short, clipped sentences with plenty of dialogue. Excessively long paragraphs of descriptions detailing the things that make my eyes glaze off are not found here—yes! Amber tinted eyes, long fringes, luscious, gorgeous, honey locks? Puh-lease. We are talking about real people with real flaws: wide-set eyes, blemishes/acne, lack of breasts, chicken legs, etc.
Rich and Mad provided a different perspective of teenage hormones, love, and sex. Can love exist without sex and vice versa? Yet the novel also points out acts of homophobia where being gay is a good reason to be fired and defending your “gay” teacher only makes you a “gay loser freak”. Rich and Mad was first published in 2009 in the UK yet I wonder how far society has come in this topic. (Speaking of the UK, slang and jokes in British-English in novel. Was lost, but still happily kept going!)
I do so love the characters in this novel. I love the rapid fast dialogue and jostling and butting and the ability to communicate to friends:
“Max Heiblorn joined them. He was eating a packet of crisps.
“I’d offer them round,” he said, “but I want them all for myself.”
“Also you need feeding up,” said Cath.
“Small is beautiful,” retorted Max.
“Them you can’t join our club. Can he, Rich?”
“No, I think Max can join.”
“What club?”
“The losers club. It’s seriously exclusive. We’re going to have a T-shirt.”
“You now what?” said Rich. “I think we should have two levels in the club. Ordinary members would have T-shirts saying LOSER. But the really top losers would have T-shirts saying GAY LOSER FREAK.”
“Like a gold card.”
“Or going to first class.”
“Now wait a minute here, guys,” said Max. “I can see why me and Rich count as losers. But how’s Maddy a loser?”
“Trust me,” said Maddy. “I’m a loser.”
“You sure you’re not just saying that to impress me?”
“Hey! Hey!” said Cath. “This is all getting out of control. Back to basics, guys. How to spot a loser.” She pointed at her own face. “Ugly mug.” She pointed at Max. “Little creep.”
“That’s nice,” said Max, offended.
“The rest of you are just self-pitying phoneys.’” —pages 200/201 of ARC
Rich, in particular, is one of most interesting male characters I have read. He writes in his diary a poetry observation of the world and his inner world that shocked me:
“Unrequited love — like carrying a jug of pure cool water. I must take care not to spill it because this is what I have to give. I will give it to the one I will love forever. The jug of water gets heavier each day. My greatest fear is that I’ll let it fall and all my love drain away before I find her.”—page 40 of ARC
William Nicholson is a male author so this cannot be blamed on the female delusional mind of the “perfect” boyfriend.
Both Rich and Maddy think about sex quite often because it’s all in the hormones, but the novel provides a much different approach. In the realistic world of Rich and Mad there is the abusive relationship where some girls like to be beaten and that is what turns guys on; there is the fear of commitment and the fear of not being worthy of love at that; there are relationships much deeper than what the eye can see and only seen through the beholders. And there is Maddy and Rich, two virgins, desperately connecting love with physical connection because it is as close as close can be. I think what makes this relationship work is the level of comfort in each other’s presence that seeps through from the novel where the spoken truth is as easy as breathing. It wasn’t that instant love connection or that dark brooding nature that calls for chemistry, but a simple understanding and capability.
However, Rich and Mad packed in a lot so some parts are skimped and some parts are left in the dark (Grace anyone?). I wanted to analyze the characters and their actions yet I want to laugh out of loud. Rich and Mad is clearly not for the young as scenes can get quite graphic. Let's just say William Nicholson is not afraid of the word: cock and clitoris.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2018
Essa e outras resenhas estão disponíveis no blog Star Books
Rich e Mad são os protagonistas e alternam a narração desse livro. O que eles têm em comum? Estudam no mesmo colégio. Ao menos, no começo, é essa a única similaridade que percebemos. Conforme a narrativa avança conhecemos a vida desses dois jovens, como são seus respectivos convívios familiares, suas dúvidas e ambições.
Mad tem uma ótima família, composta por uma irmã mais velha, pela mãe e pelo pai que não é muito presente, já que vive viajando graças ao negócio da família. Então quando Mad descobre que o pai, após passar meses fora numa viagem à China, está numa espécie de crise existencial e pensando em se separar da mãe dela, Mad começa a questionar tudo, inclusive sua crença no sexo oposto, já que além da situação com o pai, é provável que o seu possível interesse romântico do colégio não passe de uma simples ilusão platônica.
Rich é um rapaz doce, amigável, por vezes sonhador em excesso, tem grande apreço pela família, mas aparentemente invisível ao sexo oposto e acredita que amor gera amor, então quando ele começa a se interessar por uma das meninas mais bonitas do colégio, fará o possível para se aproximar, incluindo pedir ajuda a amiga da garota em questão, Mad. Pena que nem tudo na vida é tão simples quanto queremos.
‘‘No passado as coisas eram bem-feitas. Havia músicas de verdade, paixões de verdade e desespero de verdade.Hoje em dia era tudo simplesmente um jogo.’’
Afinal, porque é tão difícil haver reciprocidade para esses dois jovens que são incríveis a sua maneira e que só querem amar? Eles enfrentarão muitas coisas e aprenderão várias outras, mas é só quando eles pararem de olhar para uma única direção que perceberão que o que estavam procurando estava bem ao lado.
‘‘ – Você não vê? Uma é o suficiente. Nenhuma é o suficiente. Sua vida tem valor, ponto final. Cada vez que respira, você muda a atmosfera do planeta. Cada palavra que fala continua para sempre. Ondas sonoras nunca morrem, sabia disso? Cada coisa que você faz faz diferença.’’
Rich e Mad é o primeiro YA escrito pelo autor William Nicholson, cujas obras até então publicados eram de fantasia, e pela sinopse achei que seria uma simples estória bonitinha de amor adolescente. Simplesmente adoro quando um autor me faz reavaliar as minhas primeiras impressões (obtidas pela sinopse + capa) e me surpreende com personagens bem elaborados e verossímeis, uma escrita suave e direta fazendo o leitor se questionar, juntamente com os personagens, qual o sentido da vida e qual o impacto que causamos e como o simples fato de existirmos muda tantas coisas.
O livro tem como protagonistas dois adolescentes, então são abordados questionamentos e experiências próprias dessa fase da vida como o convívio familiar e a relação entre pais e filhos, o primeiro amor, primeiro beijo, a perda da virgindade e sim, há cena de sexo e esse assunto é amplamente debatido, acho que esses foram alguns motivos de eu ter curtido tanto a leitura de Rich e Mad, o autor não ficou numa zona de conforto, ele abordou vários temas e não teve medo de fazer seus personagens questionarem e debaterem esses diversos assuntos, alguns até considerados tabus. Indico essa obra principalmente para adolescentes, a estória desse casal traz ótimas reflexões então todos os leitores podem tirar proveito disso e acho que fãs do David Levithan poderão também apreciar a leitura.
‘‘Não sei quem sou. Não sou quem pensava. Sou mais. Sou complexa de formas que nunca pensei antes. Não somente feliz ou triste, mas os dois e todas as tonalidades entre ambos, o tempo todo. (...) Sou uma criatura insignificante e o centro do universo. Minha existência não tem significado e minha existência é seu próprio significado. Eu sou, logo sou.’’
Para mais resenhas e outros conteúdos acesse: http://starbooks.com.br
Rich e Mad são os protagonistas e alternam a narração desse livro. O que eles têm em comum? Estudam no mesmo colégio. Ao menos, no começo, é essa a única similaridade que percebemos. Conforme a narrativa avança conhecemos a vida desses dois jovens, como são seus respectivos convívios familiares, suas dúvidas e ambições.
Mad tem uma ótima família, composta por uma irmã mais velha, pela mãe e pelo pai que não é muito presente, já que vive viajando graças ao negócio da família. Então quando Mad descobre que o pai, após passar meses fora numa viagem à China, está numa espécie de crise existencial e pensando em se separar da mãe dela, Mad começa a questionar tudo, inclusive sua crença no sexo oposto, já que além da situação com o pai, é provável que o seu possível interesse romântico do colégio não passe de uma simples ilusão platônica.
Rich é um rapaz doce, amigável, por vezes sonhador em excesso, tem grande apreço pela família, mas aparentemente invisível ao sexo oposto e acredita que amor gera amor, então quando ele começa a se interessar por uma das meninas mais bonitas do colégio, fará o possível para se aproximar, incluindo pedir ajuda a amiga da garota em questão, Mad. Pena que nem tudo na vida é tão simples quanto queremos.
‘‘No passado as coisas eram bem-feitas. Havia músicas de verdade, paixões de verdade e desespero de verdade.Hoje em dia era tudo simplesmente um jogo.’’
Afinal, porque é tão difícil haver reciprocidade para esses dois jovens que são incríveis a sua maneira e que só querem amar? Eles enfrentarão muitas coisas e aprenderão várias outras, mas é só quando eles pararem de olhar para uma única direção que perceberão que o que estavam procurando estava bem ao lado.
‘‘ – Você não vê? Uma é o suficiente. Nenhuma é o suficiente. Sua vida tem valor, ponto final. Cada vez que respira, você muda a atmosfera do planeta. Cada palavra que fala continua para sempre. Ondas sonoras nunca morrem, sabia disso? Cada coisa que você faz faz diferença.’’
Rich e Mad é o primeiro YA escrito pelo autor William Nicholson, cujas obras até então publicados eram de fantasia, e pela sinopse achei que seria uma simples estória bonitinha de amor adolescente. Simplesmente adoro quando um autor me faz reavaliar as minhas primeiras impressões (obtidas pela sinopse + capa) e me surpreende com personagens bem elaborados e verossímeis, uma escrita suave e direta fazendo o leitor se questionar, juntamente com os personagens, qual o sentido da vida e qual o impacto que causamos e como o simples fato de existirmos muda tantas coisas.
O livro tem como protagonistas dois adolescentes, então são abordados questionamentos e experiências próprias dessa fase da vida como o convívio familiar e a relação entre pais e filhos, o primeiro amor, primeiro beijo, a perda da virgindade e sim, há cena de sexo e esse assunto é amplamente debatido, acho que esses foram alguns motivos de eu ter curtido tanto a leitura de Rich e Mad, o autor não ficou numa zona de conforto, ele abordou vários temas e não teve medo de fazer seus personagens questionarem e debaterem esses diversos assuntos, alguns até considerados tabus. Indico essa obra principalmente para adolescentes, a estória desse casal traz ótimas reflexões então todos os leitores podem tirar proveito disso e acho que fãs do David Levithan poderão também apreciar a leitura.
‘‘Não sei quem sou. Não sou quem pensava. Sou mais. Sou complexa de formas que nunca pensei antes. Não somente feliz ou triste, mas os dois e todas as tonalidades entre ambos, o tempo todo. (...) Sou uma criatura insignificante e o centro do universo. Minha existência não tem significado e minha existência é seu próprio significado. Eu sou, logo sou.’’
Para mais resenhas e outros conteúdos acesse: http://starbooks.com.br
December 30, 2015
William Nicholson decided to bet this time in the most important passage for all beings, the discovery of love and pleasures that are monitored.
In this novel we know Maddy Fisher. Mad is simple and smart and young. Being only 16 years is tired of being ' ignorant ', everything she wants most is to know someone to love, but she doesn't know anyone that interest, until it comes to mind that the young Joe Finnigan is the perfect boy. Being older know understand her and suprira your needs. But, there is a small problem, Joe has a girlfriend. Mad manages his friendship after entering for a play because Joe loves to participate in plays as well as his loyal girlfriend, Gemma Page.
Mad does not support theater, but is ready to make sacrifices to get the attention of Joe. And when she can't overnight they get into a confidential relationship via email.
Amid the mess, Mad befriends one of his colleagues in the English class, Rich Ross. Mad and Rich always studied together there was never an opportunity to introduce themselves.
Rich is in love with Grace Carey, one of Mad's best friends, and Rich view in Mad the opportunity to at last get around Grace and win their friendship, this is the first step in their quest to conquer Grace.
Rich is a young, very cute, plus smart is extremely sentimental. He is different from all the boys Mad knows, though shy he has wise answers to everything, no matter the topic. Mad never noticed Rich, and to know him realized he is very attractive and beautiful. Is true friendship will lead them to a path full of discoveries.
"Unrequited love: it's like carrying a jar of pure cold water. I must take care to spill because it's what I have to give. Give it to the one I will love forever. The pitcher of water gets heavier each day. My biggest fear is letting him fall, and all my love to drain before finding her. "
Adolescence is the most important phase for a human being, as it is in adolescence that we know each other really, our actions and attitudes influence enough in our future life. For these reasons among others that I liked very much this book, and I do not deny that their simplicity makes it dull and even annoying at times, but it didn't take the beauty and delicacy of this novel. When I finished reading, I felt a void immense, and above that I missed the characters, it's hard to let go of something we truly conquest.
Rich and Mad are special youth, as well as Oliver and Hadley (the statistical probability of love at first sight), in both books met teenager who begin a love beautiful, intense and real.
In addition to Rich and Mad are presented to your English teacher a very important figure to Rich, he taught just about everything he knows about the feelings and the responsabilides that we should have to feel them. I was under the impression that although Rich have a unique personality he had a great influence of his teacher, and so Mr. Peak became my favorite teacher of all readings with professors as a character.
Also know cat, Mad's best friend and Max Rich's best friend. These two are fun and frankly I enjoyed them too, I saw in them a potential couple.
Rich and Mad is a fun read, we conquer the simplicity of the characters and by the intensity of the hidden themes in the novel.
"Loving someone is not just a strong feeling: it is a decision, a trial, a promise. If love is only a feeling, there would be no reason for the promise to love each other forever. A sense looks and, perhaps, go away. How can I judge whether it will be forever, when my actions do not involve judgments and decision? "
July 4, 2011
The Short Story? – A novel about first love, first sex and everything in between. Rich and Mad is a coming-to-age that deals with issues that teens face everyday. Lies, betrayal and the importance of love. A novel about first times for everything and taking risks, learning to trust and getting back up when knocked down.
The Long Story? – The first thing that caught my notice about this book was the US cover, the couple in the steamy telephone box. Then I noticed the title, Rich and Mad, sounds like a scandalicious love story. Probably filled with good-looking boys, rich girls and boarding school. False. The cover and the title are very deceptive :P Rich (aka Richard) and Mad (aka Maddy) are two teens, this novel is a coming-to-age novel and I’m not a fan of coming-to-age novels. Not the greatest way to start reading is it?
As far as coming-to-age novels come, this is one of the better ones I have read. The plot was pretty good, a good flow and the pace suited the storyline. It was clever for Nicholson to alternate between telling the story between Rich and Mad, makes it a little more interesting. There was a start, middle and an ending and to expand from that there was drama and personal growth. One of my favorite things about the novel was the plot. It was boring at times and the romance was a little dry but Nicholson has written a fairly complex plot, it’s layered. It’s neat and carefully planned, it’s easy to read and understandable. We have the big idea of love but then we also have friendship and family, Rich and Mad deal with a lot of problems that teenagers face. First love, friendship, acceptance and dysfunctional families to an extent.
The characterization was brilliant. The thing I loved is that Rich and Mad wasn’t in love with each other from the start, they weren’t even in love at the end. They were together in the end because they needed each other. The novel was really telling two stories, Rich’s and Mad’s and how they choices and life pushed them together. Both of protagonists were complex characters that we can all connect to because we’re all teenagers at some point and the experiences they go through are ones that we went through as well. The novel also breaks the cliché that the boys have to be good-looking, let’s face guys, not all the guys are good-looking ( I know, the truth hurts, date a book not a boy :P) Minor characters were very well developed, we had characters to play every role. The loyal friend, the backstabbing friend, the schoolgirl crush, the clingy girlfriend, the beautiful sibling, the jerk sibling, the supportive parent and the not-so-supportive one. A great cast of characters that Nicholson obviously put a lot of thought into.
Rich and Mad is novel that I wished I had read a year or two ago. It’s a novel that deals with problems teenagers face hence the coming-to-age theme. Strong narrative voice, fantastic characterization and a plot that’s been carefully planned. Rich and Mad is a novel to be enjoyed by boys and girls of all ages, its powerful book that can be easily related to. For fans of Sarah Dessen and Judy Blume.
The Long Story? – The first thing that caught my notice about this book was the US cover, the couple in the steamy telephone box. Then I noticed the title, Rich and Mad, sounds like a scandalicious love story. Probably filled with good-looking boys, rich girls and boarding school. False. The cover and the title are very deceptive :P Rich (aka Richard) and Mad (aka Maddy) are two teens, this novel is a coming-to-age novel and I’m not a fan of coming-to-age novels. Not the greatest way to start reading is it?
As far as coming-to-age novels come, this is one of the better ones I have read. The plot was pretty good, a good flow and the pace suited the storyline. It was clever for Nicholson to alternate between telling the story between Rich and Mad, makes it a little more interesting. There was a start, middle and an ending and to expand from that there was drama and personal growth. One of my favorite things about the novel was the plot. It was boring at times and the romance was a little dry but Nicholson has written a fairly complex plot, it’s layered. It’s neat and carefully planned, it’s easy to read and understandable. We have the big idea of love but then we also have friendship and family, Rich and Mad deal with a lot of problems that teenagers face. First love, friendship, acceptance and dysfunctional families to an extent.
The characterization was brilliant. The thing I loved is that Rich and Mad wasn’t in love with each other from the start, they weren’t even in love at the end. They were together in the end because they needed each other. The novel was really telling two stories, Rich’s and Mad’s and how they choices and life pushed them together. Both of protagonists were complex characters that we can all connect to because we’re all teenagers at some point and the experiences they go through are ones that we went through as well. The novel also breaks the cliché that the boys have to be good-looking, let’s face guys, not all the guys are good-looking ( I know, the truth hurts, date a book not a boy :P) Minor characters were very well developed, we had characters to play every role. The loyal friend, the backstabbing friend, the schoolgirl crush, the clingy girlfriend, the beautiful sibling, the jerk sibling, the supportive parent and the not-so-supportive one. A great cast of characters that Nicholson obviously put a lot of thought into.
Rich and Mad is novel that I wished I had read a year or two ago. It’s a novel that deals with problems teenagers face hence the coming-to-age theme. Strong narrative voice, fantastic characterization and a plot that’s been carefully planned. Rich and Mad is a novel to be enjoyed by boys and girls of all ages, its powerful book that can be easily related to. For fans of Sarah Dessen and Judy Blume.
April 16, 2012
I'm giving this 2 stars, though I really feel like I mean 1-1/2 stars. It was okay. And in the end, I really didn't like it. But...I don't want to be too harsh. So, here's my review.
First of all, I need to say that this is a British author and though I feel that I am totally down with Britishisms, this book makes me feel like perhaps I'm not as cool as I thought. Either way, if I were a girl in the UK, I might have had a different view of this. I doubt it, but I thought I'd disclaim.
I picked this book up at the library because hello? Did you see the cover? It's steamy hot, right? And the title: Rich and Mad made me think I would be reading something like my favorite fic, with beautiful rich kids running around and making out in phone booths.
Not so much.
Rich and Mad are actually the main characters names. They are in high school and don't really run in the same social circles. Rich has a tremendous crush on Grace, who is Maddy's best friend. Maddy has a crush on one of the most popular boys at school. They kind of commiserate together. This story is a sort of coming-of-age in that Maddy and Rich both have to grow up and realize that although you don't always get what you want, sometimes you get what you never thought you needed. I can't really tell you very much more about the plot, because I would spoil it, but there is a bit of a mystery and there is some humor, as well as some angst. And lots of talk about sex.
There were a couple of things that I did like about this, which upped the rating slightly for me. I liked the characters, even if I didn't agree with much that they did. I especially liked Maddy's friend, Cath, and Joe's brother. I also liked Rich's little sister. lthough I didn't feel like it really fit in with the story of Rich and Mad and/or their crushes, I liked that the situations with each of their families was realistic.
What I didn't like: Basically everything else. There were a couple of swoony moments, but not really anything to write home about. And the progression of the relationships was kind of...off. ::shrugs::
Overall, I would definitely not recommend this to younger teenagers, because although it does have some really good messages about standing up for yourself and not being a doormat, the flippant attitude about sex seems wrong to me. I wouldn't recommend it to older teenagers either, because I feel like the characters are just so immature. So, I don't know who I'd recommend it to. None of my friends, for sure.
First of all, I need to say that this is a British author and though I feel that I am totally down with Britishisms, this book makes me feel like perhaps I'm not as cool as I thought. Either way, if I were a girl in the UK, I might have had a different view of this. I doubt it, but I thought I'd disclaim.
I picked this book up at the library because hello? Did you see the cover? It's steamy hot, right? And the title: Rich and Mad made me think I would be reading something like my favorite fic, with beautiful rich kids running around and making out in phone booths.
Not so much.
Rich and Mad are actually the main characters names. They are in high school and don't really run in the same social circles. Rich has a tremendous crush on Grace, who is Maddy's best friend. Maddy has a crush on one of the most popular boys at school. They kind of commiserate together. This story is a sort of coming-of-age in that Maddy and Rich both have to grow up and realize that although you don't always get what you want, sometimes you get what you never thought you needed. I can't really tell you very much more about the plot, because I would spoil it, but there is a bit of a mystery and there is some humor, as well as some angst. And lots of talk about sex.
There were a couple of things that I did like about this, which upped the rating slightly for me. I liked the characters, even if I didn't agree with much that they did. I especially liked Maddy's friend, Cath, and Joe's brother. I also liked Rich's little sister. lthough I didn't feel like it really fit in with the story of Rich and Mad and/or their crushes, I liked that the situations with each of their families was realistic.
What I didn't like: Basically everything else. There were a couple of swoony moments, but not really anything to write home about. And the progression of the relationships was kind of...off. ::shrugs::
Overall, I would definitely not recommend this to younger teenagers, because although it does have some really good messages about standing up for yourself and not being a doormat, the flippant attitude about sex seems wrong to me. I wouldn't recommend it to older teenagers either, because I feel like the characters are just so immature. So, I don't know who I'd recommend it to. None of my friends, for sure.
July 23, 2012
IQ "The ideas came as the words formed in her mouth. What was so liberating about talking with Cath was that she could say things she maybe didn't really mean just to see how it felt saying them." Maddy, pg. 220
Isn't that ^ the sign of a real best friend? When you can throw out whatever comes to your mind, just to see if your friends think it sounds crazy too, or if by-george it just might make sense. One of the most realistic depictions of teenage relationships I've ever read. The quick, snappy dialogue between friends, being tongue-tied around crushes and enemies and not wanting to really have a cause for fear of being mocked. It really did seem like the author had been eavesdropping on the conversations of teens across the UK and around the world, after all the dizzying, exciting, confusing thing called love is a universal theme.
At times I did feel like the thoughts and dialogues of the characters war a little forced-especially when Rich was particularly deep. I know there are some sensitive, lost-soul guys out there but Rich was really deep into his head, at times he seemed inauthentic. Domestic abuse has never puzzled me, I've read enough in books and news articles to understand the family history that leads guy to be abusive and the paralyzing fear that keeps a girl there or worse-thinking she deserves it but I'd never heard one girl say it "aroused" them both. That perspective was new to me and its one I find equally troubling but also enlightening. Also if a guy asks you to keep your budding romance a "secret" shouldn't that send up red flags? If anything, unless its due to cultural (i.e. parents are strict about dating outside the race/culture) reasons, you should just end the relationship!
Another quote I liked "Of course she needed a boyfriend. But it wasn't that simple. [...] The difficulty was the boys she had grown up with, the boys in her year at school were simply not up to he job. Undersized, badly dressed, noisy, and stupid, there wasn't a single one about whom she could summon up the smallest tremor of excitement. And falling in love, if nothing else, had to be exciting." pg.11
PS I will never understand white parents. In books (such as this one), on TV and in the movies teenagers can always just abruptly leave the house. In my house and most other minority homes I know (at least for gigs) you get the third degree. Where are you going? Who with? When will you be back? I wish a book would depict that....
Isn't that ^ the sign of a real best friend? When you can throw out whatever comes to your mind, just to see if your friends think it sounds crazy too, or if by-george it just might make sense. One of the most realistic depictions of teenage relationships I've ever read. The quick, snappy dialogue between friends, being tongue-tied around crushes and enemies and not wanting to really have a cause for fear of being mocked. It really did seem like the author had been eavesdropping on the conversations of teens across the UK and around the world, after all the dizzying, exciting, confusing thing called love is a universal theme.
At times I did feel like the thoughts and dialogues of the characters war a little forced-especially when Rich was particularly deep. I know there are some sensitive, lost-soul guys out there but Rich was really deep into his head, at times he seemed inauthentic. Domestic abuse has never puzzled me, I've read enough in books and news articles to understand the family history that leads guy to be abusive and the paralyzing fear that keeps a girl there or worse-thinking she deserves it but I'd never heard one girl say it "aroused" them both. That perspective was new to me and its one I find equally troubling but also enlightening. Also if a guy asks you to keep your budding romance a "secret" shouldn't that send up red flags? If anything, unless its due to cultural (i.e. parents are strict about dating outside the race/culture) reasons, you should just end the relationship!
Another quote I liked "Of course she needed a boyfriend. But it wasn't that simple. [...] The difficulty was the boys she had grown up with, the boys in her year at school were simply not up to he job. Undersized, badly dressed, noisy, and stupid, there wasn't a single one about whom she could summon up the smallest tremor of excitement. And falling in love, if nothing else, had to be exciting." pg.11
PS I will never understand white parents. In books (such as this one), on TV and in the movies teenagers can always just abruptly leave the house. In my house and most other minority homes I know (at least for gigs) you get the third degree. Where are you going? Who with? When will you be back? I wish a book would depict that....
August 23, 2010
Love is something that mostly everybody wants, whether they realize it or not. To be wanted by someone, knowing that somebody other then family members, cares for you and wants to be around you. In this story we meet teenagers on a search for finding love. Maddie Fisher and Rich Ross have come to a point in their young lives where they want a steady relationship, wanting the real thing but searching in the wrong places. Maddie is your average semi popular girl who is used to being looked over and tagged as the "friend", she then sets her sights on one of the poplar guys in school who she feels could be the one. While Rich is more of a loner, keeping to himself and not caring about what anyone say or thinks, finds himself liking one of Maddie's friends who is also one of the popular girls. Through their interaction with each other in their journey in finding love Rich and Maddie realize through trials and tribulations that the person they least expected, the one calledu friend, could be the persons they were meant to be with. I enjoyed reading this story, following Rich and Mad's journey to finding love. They both were easy to relate to with all of their strengths and insecurities. I liked the added depth with Maddie's strained family dynamic as well as Rich. The romance was slow to bloom bit it raised the anticipation with each encounter between Rich and Mad. Though i could understand Maddie, I felt that she was a little bit naive letting people do what they want regardless of her feelings. Though as the story progressed she became a bit more confident in herself and what she wanted to do with her life which saved the story for me. The story was well written with some plot twist to an otherwise predictable plot line. I felt sorry for Maddie's friend but at the end of the day and all the things she did karma came back to bite her, hard. But she defiantly brought the drama to the story. What I enjoyed the most was the romance between Rich and Mad and how deeply and intense their feeling were toward each other after weeding through their crazy crushes. This turned out to be a nice romantic read that had me feeling the love.
September 13, 2015
Review in portuguese by blog MON PETIT POISON
Porque você lê?
Eu leio para me divertir, me informar, viajar, achar algo útil, mas quando se trata de histórias literárias, eu quero ler porque gostaria de imaginar durante aquelas 300/400 páginas, uma vida diferente da minha. Odeio ler algo tão banal e bobo, ou pior, mais sem graça do que o meu dia a dia.
‘Rich e Mad’ para mim foi mais do mesmo, foi fraco e relativamente chato. Aliais, acho que se batesse papo com alguma amiga, elas me contariam coisas mais divertidas e intensas do que eu li no livro. Apesar do livro estar voltado para faixa dos 16 anos, a sensação é que as dúvidas, o jeito de encarar o mundo e alguns questionamentos levantados eram mais para meninas dos 10/12 anos. Simplório demais.
Não me apaixonei pelos personagens principais, Rich e Mad ficaram aquém do que deveriam. Sem emoção, sem paixão, até suas falas pareciam sem graça. Não sei se vocês costumam ler em voz alta as coisas escritas nos livros, mas enquanto lia, fazia isso e a maioria dos diálogos me passou a sensação de vazio, chato e sem a emoção que deveria.
Na história, há outros personagens, porém eles aparecem muito pouco. Talvez isso possa ter sido um erro na história, já que os protagonistas não são tão cativantes e não possuem tanta história para contar, talvez se tivesse tido mais intervenções de outras vidas e histórias, a gente não se focasse tanto neles a ponto de perceber quão rasos eles foram.
A narrativa não é apaixonante ou fluida, mas simples. Então, a gente acaba seguindo. A gente lê porque é um livro totalmente leve e despretensioso. Não senti a obrigação de terminar, mas ao mesmo tempo queria dar uma chance, porque sempre pensava ‘deve ter mais do que isso nessa história’.
De modo geral, não foi um livro apaixonante, com bons personagens ou coisas lindinhas, mesmo aos 16 anos, lembro das histórias divertidas e nonsense que eu e minhas amigas comentavam com relação aos romances, garotos e as coisas do dia a dia. E aqui a coisa foi chata e sem graça. Faltou uma elaboração da autora para mostrar algo mais incrementado.
http://www.monpetitpoison.com/2015/08...
Porque você lê?
Eu leio para me divertir, me informar, viajar, achar algo útil, mas quando se trata de histórias literárias, eu quero ler porque gostaria de imaginar durante aquelas 300/400 páginas, uma vida diferente da minha. Odeio ler algo tão banal e bobo, ou pior, mais sem graça do que o meu dia a dia.
‘Rich e Mad’ para mim foi mais do mesmo, foi fraco e relativamente chato. Aliais, acho que se batesse papo com alguma amiga, elas me contariam coisas mais divertidas e intensas do que eu li no livro. Apesar do livro estar voltado para faixa dos 16 anos, a sensação é que as dúvidas, o jeito de encarar o mundo e alguns questionamentos levantados eram mais para meninas dos 10/12 anos. Simplório demais.
Não me apaixonei pelos personagens principais, Rich e Mad ficaram aquém do que deveriam. Sem emoção, sem paixão, até suas falas pareciam sem graça. Não sei se vocês costumam ler em voz alta as coisas escritas nos livros, mas enquanto lia, fazia isso e a maioria dos diálogos me passou a sensação de vazio, chato e sem a emoção que deveria.
Na história, há outros personagens, porém eles aparecem muito pouco. Talvez isso possa ter sido um erro na história, já que os protagonistas não são tão cativantes e não possuem tanta história para contar, talvez se tivesse tido mais intervenções de outras vidas e histórias, a gente não se focasse tanto neles a ponto de perceber quão rasos eles foram.
A narrativa não é apaixonante ou fluida, mas simples. Então, a gente acaba seguindo. A gente lê porque é um livro totalmente leve e despretensioso. Não senti a obrigação de terminar, mas ao mesmo tempo queria dar uma chance, porque sempre pensava ‘deve ter mais do que isso nessa história’.
De modo geral, não foi um livro apaixonante, com bons personagens ou coisas lindinhas, mesmo aos 16 anos, lembro das histórias divertidas e nonsense que eu e minhas amigas comentavam com relação aos romances, garotos e as coisas do dia a dia. E aqui a coisa foi chata e sem graça. Faltou uma elaboração da autora para mostrar algo mais incrementado.
http://www.monpetitpoison.com/2015/08...
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