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Visible Amazement
Sexually precocious fourteen-year-old Roanne Chappell embarks on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery as she searches for an escape from the difficult aspects of her life, including the overpowering shadow of her unorthodox mother, Del. A first novel. 20,000 first printing.
- GenresFictionYoung Adult
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 24, 2023
With a meagre 95 ratings and 16 reviews on Goodreads, “Visible Amazement” by Gale Zoe Garnett can probably safely be called an “insider tip” or “Geheimtipp” in my native German.
It might also be due to the somewhat problematic subject matter… So, to get it out of the way immediately: Roanne tells everyone she’s just turning 16 whereas, in fact, she is 14 and Pascal with whom she proceeds to have a sexual relationship is 42.
This is in many ways, a significant and, yes, troubling aspect of the novel that raises important questions about consent, power dynamics, and the sexualisation of young girls.
The portrayal of the relationship between Roanne and Pascal is done carefully and in a complex and nuanced way, exploring the emotional and psychological dynamics at play.
At this point, you should choose: You can follow me and choose not to render judgement. I will neither condemn nor condone this relationship which would be illegal in my and most other Western jurisdictions and for good reasons as well. I simply refuse to judge ethically.
The reason for that is that Roanne in many instances acts beyond her age: Growing up with her single mother Delores (whom she calls “Del”) and Del’s partners, moving often, she has made many experiences that separate her from her peers.
»I think when you move around a lot and don’t relate really well with kids your own age, books can be an important alternative to suicide.«
Her journey, which is triggered by her mother sleeping with a man whom Roanne has a crush on (he’s also older and she also slept with him). Thus, the novel after a short introduction quickly becomes an unforgettable roadtrip, a journey of self-discovery, and a coming-of-age story.
It’s told in Roanne’s own dialect (»superamazingbrillianterrific«) and words (because it’s told somewhat episodically as diary entries), which is a mix of Canadian vernacular and big words. It’s a funny, sad, and surprising story that explores themes of sexuality, identity, and family.
From the very beginning, my heart went out to Roanne who feels misunderstood, lonely and isolated in pretty much every aspect of her life. Her adventures are wild, highly entertaining and emotionally immensely touching.
She meets various eccentric characters along the way, such as a gay dwarf cartoonist, his brother Pascal, a son of evangelist celebrities, and a rich heiress.
Roanne immediately captures pretty much everyone’s hearts - including the readers’ - because while she presents stories that will often raise more questions than answers, in her dealings with her newfound friends, she’s direct, honest and authentic. The gay French dwarf with a humpback, smelling like strawberries? She loves his work, he’s kind to her and that’s all that matters to her. She accepts people’s “weirdness” at first sight and treats people with respect and kindness herself. And get this: We’re in the early 80s where such kind of acceptance was the rare exception…
The novel drew me in irresistibly; I just couldn’t get enough of the strange, outlandish and yet believable adventures of Roanne. Especially the authentic, sometimes rough and raw tone of the narration prompted me to research Garnett's life, as the novel read like a memoir in parts.
»Thank you, sir,” I said. “I hope a whole family of starving scorpions nests in your fat ass,” I thought.«
Some parts were very relatable for this German potato…
»When I was seven, and Del was seeing Brian, who was Irish, he said, “When all else is out of the question, a person needs to eat a potato,” that potatoes would “soothe you, whether you were sick at heart or sick in body.” I don’t know if it was just the power of suggestion, but ever since he said it, baked potatoes have been one of my major comfort foods.«
(Try it for yourself!)
There were a few points during which a potato would have been very, very welcome…
»It is called GRID, “Gay RelatedImmune Deficiency.” Can you imagine, my very own influenza!«
If you can suspend judgement, or are a Del (if you are, I salute you), and you want to go on an amazing, brilliantly told, wonderful, laugh-out-loud and cry, and sometimes both at the same time, trip; if you like roadtrips and coming-of-age stories, I challenge you, I implore you, read this novel. I’ve never read something alike before. One might say, I was visibly amazed!
Five out of five stars.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
It might also be due to the somewhat problematic subject matter… So, to get it out of the way immediately: Roanne tells everyone she’s just turning 16 whereas, in fact, she is 14 and Pascal with whom she proceeds to have a sexual relationship is 42.
This is in many ways, a significant and, yes, troubling aspect of the novel that raises important questions about consent, power dynamics, and the sexualisation of young girls.
The portrayal of the relationship between Roanne and Pascal is done carefully and in a complex and nuanced way, exploring the emotional and psychological dynamics at play.
At this point, you should choose: You can follow me and choose not to render judgement. I will neither condemn nor condone this relationship which would be illegal in my and most other Western jurisdictions and for good reasons as well. I simply refuse to judge ethically.
The reason for that is that Roanne in many instances acts beyond her age: Growing up with her single mother Delores (whom she calls “Del”) and Del’s partners, moving often, she has made many experiences that separate her from her peers.
»I think when you move around a lot and don’t relate really well with kids your own age, books can be an important alternative to suicide.«
Her journey, which is triggered by her mother sleeping with a man whom Roanne has a crush on (he’s also older and she also slept with him). Thus, the novel after a short introduction quickly becomes an unforgettable roadtrip, a journey of self-discovery, and a coming-of-age story.
It’s told in Roanne’s own dialect (»superamazingbrillianterrific«) and words (because it’s told somewhat episodically as diary entries), which is a mix of Canadian vernacular and big words. It’s a funny, sad, and surprising story that explores themes of sexuality, identity, and family.
From the very beginning, my heart went out to Roanne who feels misunderstood, lonely and isolated in pretty much every aspect of her life. Her adventures are wild, highly entertaining and emotionally immensely touching.
She meets various eccentric characters along the way, such as a gay dwarf cartoonist, his brother Pascal, a son of evangelist celebrities, and a rich heiress.
Roanne immediately captures pretty much everyone’s hearts - including the readers’ - because while she presents stories that will often raise more questions than answers, in her dealings with her newfound friends, she’s direct, honest and authentic. The gay French dwarf with a humpback, smelling like strawberries? She loves his work, he’s kind to her and that’s all that matters to her. She accepts people’s “weirdness” at first sight and treats people with respect and kindness herself. And get this: We’re in the early 80s where such kind of acceptance was the rare exception…
The novel drew me in irresistibly; I just couldn’t get enough of the strange, outlandish and yet believable adventures of Roanne. Especially the authentic, sometimes rough and raw tone of the narration prompted me to research Garnett's life, as the novel read like a memoir in parts.
»Thank you, sir,” I said. “I hope a whole family of starving scorpions nests in your fat ass,” I thought.«
Some parts were very relatable for this German potato…
»When I was seven, and Del was seeing Brian, who was Irish, he said, “When all else is out of the question, a person needs to eat a potato,” that potatoes would “soothe you, whether you were sick at heart or sick in body.” I don’t know if it was just the power of suggestion, but ever since he said it, baked potatoes have been one of my major comfort foods.«
(Try it for yourself!)
There were a few points during which a potato would have been very, very welcome…
»It is called GRID, “Gay RelatedImmune Deficiency.” Can you imagine, my very own influenza!«
If you can suspend judgement, or are a Del (if you are, I salute you), and you want to go on an amazing, brilliantly told, wonderful, laugh-out-loud and cry, and sometimes both at the same time, trip; if you like roadtrips and coming-of-age stories, I challenge you, I implore you, read this novel. I’ve never read something alike before. One might say, I was visibly amazed!
Five out of five stars.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
January 1, 2019
I read this book ten years ago so I may remember some things wrongly. What I remember most is that I enjoyed it a lot, hence the high rating. The plot is basically what happens when a promiscuous woman who says whatever random thing she thinks and does whatever reckless thing comes to mind raises a daughter with zero level-headed outside influences or boundaries. So begins Roanne's story, a young girl who ends up in one outrageous situation after another.
I agree with the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover." But sometimes the cover really ought to do a better job conceptualizing the contents inside. This one should have a garish, over-the-top ridiculous cover to match the no-holds-barred dysfunction and sexually-charged improprieties inside. Instead it looks like a somber horror/gothic. But in a sense, this is a horror story and I was hooked from first page to last.
I can see why it was not a success. This is a coming of age story that no parent would want their coming-of-age child to read. And even though the heroine is a young adult, this is not for youths and does not attempt to preach responsibility. Quite the opposite. This is a story that bucks normalcy at every turn, even to the point of being off the rails. I imagine that ordinarily, such a premise would try to parlay into a more reflectional and somber exploration of how tangled things have become. It doesn't. That is one of the things I really liked, sort of in the way I enjoyed the plainly laid honesty of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar (No, the two books have nothing in common beyond that.) The most shocking thing of all is that the heroine doesn't do a total turn around by book's end. I find that more interesting than being clocked over the head constantly with the obvious life coach hints on what she should be doing.
I agree with the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover." But sometimes the cover really ought to do a better job conceptualizing the contents inside. This one should have a garish, over-the-top ridiculous cover to match the no-holds-barred dysfunction and sexually-charged improprieties inside. Instead it looks like a somber horror/gothic. But in a sense, this is a horror story and I was hooked from first page to last.
I can see why it was not a success. This is a coming of age story that no parent would want their coming-of-age child to read. And even though the heroine is a young adult, this is not for youths and does not attempt to preach responsibility. Quite the opposite. This is a story that bucks normalcy at every turn, even to the point of being off the rails. I imagine that ordinarily, such a premise would try to parlay into a more reflectional and somber exploration of how tangled things have become. It doesn't. That is one of the things I really liked, sort of in the way I enjoyed the plainly laid honesty of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar (No, the two books have nothing in common beyond that.) The most shocking thing of all is that the heroine doesn't do a total turn around by book's end. I find that more interesting than being clocked over the head constantly with the obvious life coach hints on what she should be doing.
March 17, 2024
This is BY FAR my favorite book EVER. I have read it several times, and I think about the characters and some of the lines in this book all the time. It is totally unrealistic, yet totally believable and that is part of the magic. I bought it on a whim in a sale bin for just a few dollars. I wish I would have bought the whole bin to give to every friend I have. It is very funny, very sad, but you can relate and fall in love with not only the main characters, but all of the characters. The person who gave this book a bad review, obviously isn't very intelligent because they listed the "switching" characters as a problem. The characters are great! If you like coming of age stories, then this one is for you. It paints a fantastic picture and a very interesting adventure, that will remind you of yourself as a young woman, but will also touch you as an adult!
January 3, 2011
I came across this book completely by accident and I couldn't have guessed or imaginged what it would be about. Although fiction, the story in parts seems utterly unbelieveable, yet, plausibly imaginable. You tell yourself, "it could happen." There are new characters every few chapters, yet the story comes around full circle in the end. In final, I enjoyed the story, and the main character Roanne you can't help but adore. Will look into the author in the future.
March 29, 2010
This is one of the weirdest, most inappropriate books I have ever read. It's a coming-of-age tale with some very dark twists. I think I actually read it two times in a row, just because it was so strange.
November 23, 2020
The term "coming of age" seems inadequate for this modern, somewhat psychedelic Wizard of Oz story. Colorful characters and situations deliver a landscape of endless paths to many possible futures, but the main character, Roanne, has a lot of reluctant growing up ahead of her.
January 5, 2008
Great, whimsical coming of age journey
July 29, 2022
The deeper into this book I got, the more attached I get to the author who created these characters. The more I appreciate her way of thinking. She's funny, smart and interesting in a fully rounded / mature way.
It brought me back to my teenage years and reminded me of how carefree I was. You don't think about things as much then. If you need a ride and somebody offers you're going to take it. This book has a lot of those little situations. I think she made the main character very mature and old beyond her years in a good way so it didn't become annoying or below an adults patience . I think if the main character Rowan acted her age, a lot of people would put it down because it would become more of a teenage book. Instead it reminded me of how much crushes mean to you. They're like everything. And your friends. If only we could keep that level of loyalty and fun as we get older.. It was like the best of all worlds even with the paradoxes.
Judging only by her writing style since this is fiction, I believe? I'm not much of a novel reader ..not for fiction .even though this isn't a book of major disaster turning point that leads to a mystery that needs to be solved at the end, it was even better. It was kind of like an ongoing thing with little suspenses and relatable material.
. It reminds me of how she kind of explains having an orgasm in the book. Well they say it's the best thing in the entire world which it is but if you say that I'm jump and somebody has one for the first time they're going to expect better. If it down play it and then it is like the best thing ever. In real life, you're not going to be sucked into the ground by an earthquake leaving you too lose complete control of your mind and body where you're on a ecstasy trip kind of feeling because you have to be somewhat there to carry it on. I'm talking about your orgasm. This book is like that. It's not one big wham bam thank you ma'am but a constant good feeling and enjoyable read that made me just read it until it was over without stopping not once... isn't a memoir, I still read it as one. I find it hard to believe it's anything but! So realistic on so many levels. I only wish she had a continuation for carrots because I don't want to say bye. Maybe this book is my turning point into reading fiction novels.:)
It brought me back to my teenage years and reminded me of how carefree I was. You don't think about things as much then. If you need a ride and somebody offers you're going to take it. This book has a lot of those little situations. I think she made the main character very mature and old beyond her years in a good way so it didn't become annoying or below an adults patience . I think if the main character Rowan acted her age, a lot of people would put it down because it would become more of a teenage book. Instead it reminded me of how much crushes mean to you. They're like everything. And your friends. If only we could keep that level of loyalty and fun as we get older.. It was like the best of all worlds even with the paradoxes.
Judging only by her writing style since this is fiction, I believe? I'm not much of a novel reader ..not for fiction .even though this isn't a book of major disaster turning point that leads to a mystery that needs to be solved at the end, it was even better. It was kind of like an ongoing thing with little suspenses and relatable material.
. It reminds me of how she kind of explains having an orgasm in the book. Well they say it's the best thing in the entire world which it is but if you say that I'm jump and somebody has one for the first time they're going to expect better. If it down play it and then it is like the best thing ever. In real life, you're not going to be sucked into the ground by an earthquake leaving you too lose complete control of your mind and body where you're on a ecstasy trip kind of feeling because you have to be somewhat there to carry it on. I'm talking about your orgasm. This book is like that. It's not one big wham bam thank you ma'am but a constant good feeling and enjoyable read that made me just read it until it was over without stopping not once... isn't a memoir, I still read it as one. I find it hard to believe it's anything but! So realistic on so many levels. I only wish she had a continuation for carrots because I don't want to say bye. Maybe this book is my turning point into reading fiction novels.:)
January 23, 2024
Je suis super mitigée sur ce livre dans la mesure où j’ai été extrêmement divertie par l’histoire mais en même temps dégoûtée par certains moments.
Le personnage principal est attachant par sa naïveté mais c’est aussi agaçant parfois. N’empêche l’ensemble des personnages était plutôt intéressant et c’était un bon page Turner !
Le personnage principal est attachant par sa naïveté mais c’est aussi agaçant parfois. N’empêche l’ensemble des personnages était plutôt intéressant et c’était un bon page Turner !
July 2, 2025
i bought this for the cover (the one with the eye and curlies drawn onto it, it reminded me of the anthems for a seventeen year old girl music video!). still can't get over how she's literally 14, everyone in this book is a pedophile or just weird... but getting past that, this was fun-ish and colorful
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October 9, 2013A current day LA fairy/cinderella tale with a main character who runs away to sleep with a gay dwarf in the woods, before continuing on to find her place in the Hollywood scene. Rampant sexuality (implied and explicit!) but humorous, touching, and so unrealistic as to be fairy-tale like in its reading. There is no confusion about whether or not this 'could' happen to you - it won't! The character's strength, values, outlook and willingness to reveal herself to the reader are to positives of this book.
June 23, 2007
I read this book after it was donated to a book drive I was running for the county jail. The jail didn't accept hard cover books, and this was one, so I decided to read it before I tried to sell it.
The main character is a likeable, precocious teenager. The book is about her adventures.
I recommend it for reading at the beach or by the pool or before falling asleep.
The main character is a likeable, precocious teenager. The book is about her adventures.
I recommend it for reading at the beach or by the pool or before falling asleep.
May 26, 2008
An extremely endearing main character, laugh aloud funny in parts, but some of the themes are just too jeebly for 5 stars (for instance, a road trip to Mexico for an abortion)
March 30, 2009
Started out interesting though gross, then I got tired of all the changing characters and the miserable attempts at humor made by the author.
April 1, 2011
Loved this book!
April 14, 2011
Really good book.
June 6, 2013
Great characters, unique story, fun read!
January 22, 2019
This truly captures the nature of being a wild, adventurous teenager.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews