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The House of Tomorrow
"A funny and unique debut." ( Publishers Weekly ).
Sebastian Prendergast lives with his eccentric grandmother in a geodesic dome. His homeschooling has taught him much-but he's learned little about girls, junk food, or loud, angry music.
Then fate casts Sebastian out of the dome, and he finds a different kind of tutor in Jared a chain-smoking sixteen-year-old heart transplant recipient who teaches him the ways of rebellion. Together they form a punk band and plan to take the local church talent show by storm. But when his grandmother calls him back to the futurist life she has planned for him, he must decide whether to answer the call-or start a future of his own.
Sebastian Prendergast lives with his eccentric grandmother in a geodesic dome. His homeschooling has taught him much-but he's learned little about girls, junk food, or loud, angry music.
Then fate casts Sebastian out of the dome, and he finds a different kind of tutor in Jared a chain-smoking sixteen-year-old heart transplant recipient who teaches him the ways of rebellion. Together they form a punk band and plan to take the local church talent show by storm. But when his grandmother calls him back to the futurist life she has planned for him, he must decide whether to answer the call-or start a future of his own.
368 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2009
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May 8, 2010
I could tell you what it's about but it'll just sound weird and you'll think, "Yeah, that'll be fun."
Instead, I'm going to tell you what it's like. It's basically like if Nick Hornby, Douglas Coupland in his Generation X/Microserfs days and Tom Perrotta teamed up to write a book about a teenage boy and his introduction to punk music. It's a story about teenagers and it actually is like what it's like to be a teenager. It's a book that is pretty far outside of my experience (I could not tell you thing one about anything the characters experience in this novel) and yet, I completely get everything. It's got nothing to do with me, but it's my story. And I bet you'll have the same reaction, because everyone knows what it's like to experience something for the first time and get a thrill of recognition, that sense of "Oh yeah, this is what I was waiting for."
And without sounding lame (I hope), I was waiting for this book.
And this is Peter Bognanni's debut novel--I cannot wait to see what else he has in store for readers. (I hope he's more prolific than Hornby & Perrotta have been thus far.)
Instead, I'm going to tell you what it's like. It's basically like if Nick Hornby, Douglas Coupland in his Generation X/Microserfs days and Tom Perrotta teamed up to write a book about a teenage boy and his introduction to punk music. It's a story about teenagers and it actually is like what it's like to be a teenager. It's a book that is pretty far outside of my experience (I could not tell you thing one about anything the characters experience in this novel) and yet, I completely get everything. It's got nothing to do with me, but it's my story. And I bet you'll have the same reaction, because everyone knows what it's like to experience something for the first time and get a thrill of recognition, that sense of "Oh yeah, this is what I was waiting for."
And without sounding lame (I hope), I was waiting for this book.
And this is Peter Bognanni's debut novel--I cannot wait to see what else he has in store for readers. (I hope he's more prolific than Hornby & Perrotta have been thus far.)
February 22, 2013
This didn't seem like a book I'd like--teenage boy raised in futuristic geodesic dome by eccentric grandmother forms punk band with an angry teen heart-transplant recipient.
But, it grew on me. I will admit it took me awhile to get into it, and I did debate tossing it aside during the first 30 or so pages. What was the problem? I found myself distracted by Sebastian's very unique voice (imagine a kid who uses absolutely no slang and sounds like he swallowed a dictionary). Soon, though, I noticed I stopped paying attention to how he was talking and instead focused on what was going on.
Because the story is special one--what happens when a boy raised in a literal bubble is introduced simultaneously to the real world and punk music, by a sick kid who's mad at his family and the world in general? I really found myself feeling for all of the characters and really enjoying the realistic way the Whitcombs portrayed a family. Jared, the heart transplant recipient, and his sister Meredith could bicker like anything, but you could see they cared deeply for each other, and I found myself rooting for the very small acts of kindness they would occasionally share. And Sebastian, the main character, was both endearingly naive yet mature, a real kid despite his weird upbringing.
I really enjoyed this book, the relationships--everything about it. One of the first books in awhile that made me a bit sad to finish.
But, it grew on me. I will admit it took me awhile to get into it, and I did debate tossing it aside during the first 30 or so pages. What was the problem? I found myself distracted by Sebastian's very unique voice (imagine a kid who uses absolutely no slang and sounds like he swallowed a dictionary). Soon, though, I noticed I stopped paying attention to how he was talking and instead focused on what was going on.
Because the story is special one--what happens when a boy raised in a literal bubble is introduced simultaneously to the real world and punk music, by a sick kid who's mad at his family and the world in general? I really found myself feeling for all of the characters and really enjoying the realistic way the Whitcombs portrayed a family. Jared, the heart transplant recipient, and his sister Meredith could bicker like anything, but you could see they cared deeply for each other, and I found myself rooting for the very small acts of kindness they would occasionally share. And Sebastian, the main character, was both endearingly naive yet mature, a real kid despite his weird upbringing.
I really enjoyed this book, the relationships--everything about it. One of the first books in awhile that made me a bit sad to finish.
September 27, 2017
I usually find it easy to rate a book based on what it's trying to be - but I struggled with this one. I genuinely love the premise: oddball kid raised in the home of an aging wannabe-futurist finds an outlet in punk rock. Buckminster Fuller research? Check. Some fun, knowing references to punk rock? Check. Depth? ...... Check? Well, kinda...sometimes......at least when the narrator is comparing and contrasting futurist ideology with punk-rock anarchy.
Then it does a sloppy pivot into YA...which would be awesome if it were handled well. Instead, it flirts halfheartedly with "sick teen" tropes and paints the female characters as imploding bundles of nerves in need of any male presence to calm and validate them - even an oddball teen kid who has barely stepped out of his Nana's geodesic dome...and of course...the oddball teen's new angsty teen friend does a lot of up-and-coming misogynist babbling.....
In Bognanni's defense, there IS a great moment when the protagonist calls out his buddy on the fact that all his objectifying talk amounts to a not-so-subtle cover for his own insecurity and inexperience.
In those moments, I started to feel like maybe this book WAS doing more things right than I thought. I mean, I think it IS important to understand the underlying pain that sometimes sparks people, especially teens, to spread ignorance, pain, and anger. I LIKE being challenged to process unseemly behavior in a character that I otherwise want to root for.
If the female characters hadn't been SO poorly written, I think I would have been inclined to read a lot more moments in the text as nuanced social commentary. As it stands, unfortunately, the misogyny just read as misogyny.
That being said, I'd be willing to give Bognanni another try. As I mentioned earlier - the premise was fantastic, and this book came out in 2010. That is a lot of time to mature and develop in a world that has gotten a lot better at encouraging writers to confront their personal biases and narrow lenses.
Then it does a sloppy pivot into YA...which would be awesome if it were handled well. Instead, it flirts halfheartedly with "sick teen" tropes and paints the female characters as imploding bundles of nerves in need of any male presence to calm and validate them - even an oddball teen kid who has barely stepped out of his Nana's geodesic dome...and of course...the oddball teen's new angsty teen friend does a lot of up-and-coming misogynist babbling.....
In Bognanni's defense, there IS a great moment when the protagonist calls out his buddy on the fact that all his objectifying talk amounts to a not-so-subtle cover for his own insecurity and inexperience.
In those moments, I started to feel like maybe this book WAS doing more things right than I thought. I mean, I think it IS important to understand the underlying pain that sometimes sparks people, especially teens, to spread ignorance, pain, and anger. I LIKE being challenged to process unseemly behavior in a character that I otherwise want to root for.
If the female characters hadn't been SO poorly written, I think I would have been inclined to read a lot more moments in the text as nuanced social commentary. As it stands, unfortunately, the misogyny just read as misogyny.
That being said, I'd be willing to give Bognanni another try. As I mentioned earlier - the premise was fantastic, and this book came out in 2010. That is a lot of time to mature and develop in a world that has gotten a lot better at encouraging writers to confront their personal biases and narrow lenses.
March 26, 2010
full disclosure: i'm friends with the author -- and I'm breaking with my "never write reviews of friends books in public" just because I liked this book so much.
first things first, As a YA book, this book gets five stars. It's probably one of the best YA books released this year. As an adult book, it's a little too saccharine at points, but you still can't fault it. It's like your favorite movies from the 80s -- a little too formulaic and a few too many scenes that are set up in either improbable or predictable ways just to tug on the heartstrings.
But really, if you're going to argue that detention never really looks like it does in The Breakfast Club, or that the indie-rock record store nerd in High Fidelity is just a caricature, you're missing the point. (and incidentally, and this is NOT a backhanded compliment, the pace, reading level, and pitch-perfect dialogue in the book, along with its tenderness, reminded me most of Nick Hornby).
About that dialogue, Peter's strength has always been in creating lovable Midwestern misfits, but here he really takes it to the next level. Sebastian's innocent formality and Jared's sneering vulnerability are so strongly written and consistent, that their voices echo in your head long after you finish this book.
One of the nicest parts of reading Peter's writing over the past few years has been watching it evolve from just having a strong, unique, and funny voice to having an actual emotional center. Sometimes we can still see the adult narrator giving us the wink-wink-nudge-nudge for the line a character is about to speak, but the heart(breaking) life of all lonely teenagers everywhere shines through with enough brutal honesty in this book to bring a few tears to the eyes of even the most cynical readers.
The exploration of the sheer joy of making noise will ring true for any high schooler that ever indulged rock star fantasies, ever made a perfect mix tape (or playlist), or ever scribbled memorized lyrics instead of original words in a love note placed on someone's desk during study hall. Which is to say, pretty much all teenage boys.
If I could change anything, it would be to give a bit more attention to Sebastian's relationship with his grandmother -- the scenes in the dome moved me even more than the scenes in Jared's room, and sometimes I felt the geodesic dome/buckminster fuller conceit became just that, a conceit, and that it could have been a bit more tragic and a bit, well, fuller.
This isn't Peter's masterpiece - one hopes that is still coming - and that he explores the darker side of small-town white Midwestern teenage life with a bit less sugarcoating in a future book.
However, it may just be one of the fastest and most heartwarming books you read this spring. Strong voice and a narrative arc as unrelenting as a power chord. There may only be a few notes here, but they are played with honesty and manic energy. You'll know the chorus by heart by the second chapter, but I dare you to try not to sing along.
first things first, As a YA book, this book gets five stars. It's probably one of the best YA books released this year. As an adult book, it's a little too saccharine at points, but you still can't fault it. It's like your favorite movies from the 80s -- a little too formulaic and a few too many scenes that are set up in either improbable or predictable ways just to tug on the heartstrings.
But really, if you're going to argue that detention never really looks like it does in The Breakfast Club, or that the indie-rock record store nerd in High Fidelity is just a caricature, you're missing the point. (and incidentally, and this is NOT a backhanded compliment, the pace, reading level, and pitch-perfect dialogue in the book, along with its tenderness, reminded me most of Nick Hornby).
About that dialogue, Peter's strength has always been in creating lovable Midwestern misfits, but here he really takes it to the next level. Sebastian's innocent formality and Jared's sneering vulnerability are so strongly written and consistent, that their voices echo in your head long after you finish this book.
One of the nicest parts of reading Peter's writing over the past few years has been watching it evolve from just having a strong, unique, and funny voice to having an actual emotional center. Sometimes we can still see the adult narrator giving us the wink-wink-nudge-nudge for the line a character is about to speak, but the heart(breaking) life of all lonely teenagers everywhere shines through with enough brutal honesty in this book to bring a few tears to the eyes of even the most cynical readers.
The exploration of the sheer joy of making noise will ring true for any high schooler that ever indulged rock star fantasies, ever made a perfect mix tape (or playlist), or ever scribbled memorized lyrics instead of original words in a love note placed on someone's desk during study hall. Which is to say, pretty much all teenage boys.
If I could change anything, it would be to give a bit more attention to Sebastian's relationship with his grandmother -- the scenes in the dome moved me even more than the scenes in Jared's room, and sometimes I felt the geodesic dome/buckminster fuller conceit became just that, a conceit, and that it could have been a bit more tragic and a bit, well, fuller.
This isn't Peter's masterpiece - one hopes that is still coming - and that he explores the darker side of small-town white Midwestern teenage life with a bit less sugarcoating in a future book.
However, it may just be one of the fastest and most heartwarming books you read this spring. Strong voice and a narrative arc as unrelenting as a power chord. There may only be a few notes here, but they are played with honesty and manic energy. You'll know the chorus by heart by the second chapter, but I dare you to try not to sing along.
August 4, 2015
In many regards, The House of Tomorrow isn't a spectacular book. It follows a formula that has become trite in fiction. The story largely rolls out as most readers would expect from a coming-of-age story. Every time a new character pops up, you can guess the role they'll play. Stylistically, The House of Tomorrow doesn't stand out.
Despite its lack of surprises, Peter Bognanni's debut novel is still an interesting and entertaining read. Though it sticks with the formula and is peopled with predictable characters, the plot itself and the characters themselves are a joy to watch. This is a story about punk rock, geodesic domes, hero worship, education, and friendship. There's nothing formulaic about the individual aspects of the story, just the way they interact with one another.
Bognanni does a wonderful job crafting main characters who are believably human despite their strange circumstances. On the flip side, many of the secondary characters are used for irony and laughs. They cross lines, particularly in regards to religion, that make them overdrawn stereotypes. I get it, religion—especially youth groups—can be hypocritical and comical, but the lack of a character who countered this stereotype forced a lopsided story in this regard.
The House of Tomorrow is not one of the more memorable stories I've read of late, but it does stand out. Bognanni nails many of the aspects of adolescence that other authors miss. No, there aren't many surprises or unforgettable scenes, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the ride. I loved these characters and I really enjoyed watching their lives unfold. Despite the heaviness of the plot at times, The House of Tomorrow was a fun read.
Despite its lack of surprises, Peter Bognanni's debut novel is still an interesting and entertaining read. Though it sticks with the formula and is peopled with predictable characters, the plot itself and the characters themselves are a joy to watch. This is a story about punk rock, geodesic domes, hero worship, education, and friendship. There's nothing formulaic about the individual aspects of the story, just the way they interact with one another.
Bognanni does a wonderful job crafting main characters who are believably human despite their strange circumstances. On the flip side, many of the secondary characters are used for irony and laughs. They cross lines, particularly in regards to religion, that make them overdrawn stereotypes. I get it, religion—especially youth groups—can be hypocritical and comical, but the lack of a character who countered this stereotype forced a lopsided story in this regard.
The House of Tomorrow is not one of the more memorable stories I've read of late, but it does stand out. Bognanni nails many of the aspects of adolescence that other authors miss. No, there aren't many surprises or unforgettable scenes, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the ride. I loved these characters and I really enjoyed watching their lives unfold. Despite the heaviness of the plot at times, The House of Tomorrow was a fun read.
June 8, 2011
If your parents die in a plane crash, and the Futurist grandmother who is raising you has had a lifelong passionate devotion to the teachings and person of R. Buckminster Fuller, you might end up like Sebastian Prendergast, a quiet, highly intelligent boy living in a geodesic dome on the outskirts of a small town in Iowa. The kid's rarely been into town, and has had interaction with other people only through the visitors that come to marvel at the spherical oddity of his home, but his heart is true, and his love for his grandmother is deep. As a result, when she has an unexpected stroke, Sebastian is thrown for a loop - he begins to question his upbringing, and whether or not avoidance of the world is a good idea after all.
Along the way, he's kicked out of his home, is introduced to punk rock, falls in love with a girl, and ends up serving a the crux of change, confrontation, and unleashed creativity in the lives of those he comes into contact with. I flew quickly through this book, earnest in my liking for this earnest and likable boy, rooting for him every step of the way. It's an honest exploration of the awkward, sometimes ugly world of relational strain, family issues, and the teenage years, so if colorful language at times offends you, you might be better served by continuing to deny the reality of its existence.
An enjoyable read, for sure.
Along the way, he's kicked out of his home, is introduced to punk rock, falls in love with a girl, and ends up serving a the crux of change, confrontation, and unleashed creativity in the lives of those he comes into contact with. I flew quickly through this book, earnest in my liking for this earnest and likable boy, rooting for him every step of the way. It's an honest exploration of the awkward, sometimes ugly world of relational strain, family issues, and the teenage years, so if colorful language at times offends you, you might be better served by continuing to deny the reality of its existence.
An enjoyable read, for sure.
March 25, 2010
Ah, the power of a good endorsement (by that girl Riva Galchen [sp?:]) and a great price ($1).
This was a nice little book. Which is kind of a dickish thing to say: since the book is over three hundred pages, I mean "little" in the patting-a-kid-on-the-head kind of way. Maybe this is a result of everyone always ragging on me for rating everything too high? Maybe I will feel guilty later and bump this up to four stars? But it really was just a solid, average book.
It kind of follows a template, in a lot of ways. It stars sixteen-year-old Sebastian, an idiot savant who has spent his entire life living with his Nana in a geodesic dome just outside of a city in Iowa, his only real contact with others being when people come in to tour the dome. Nana is obsessed with Buckmister Fuller (you know, maybe I would have connected with this more if I knew more about him? not sure), and has home-schooled Sebastian to share many wonky ideas which were ostensibly passed down from "Bucky".
Sebastian meets the Whitcombs -- mom Janice, whose husband has left her and who has turned for comfort to the church; daughter Meredith, a semi-slut who is both gorgeous and a bitch; and son Jared, a budding misanthrope and punk wannabe who recently had a heart transplant -- when they come in for a tour, which is the same day that Nana has a stroke. It is a great and wonderful coincidence that has brought these lonely, fucked-up people together, because they will all teach each other valuable lessons about love, compassion, friendship, and punk music.
See? The plot and characters are interesting and original, but it's really pretty formulaic, on a thematic level. It's for sure fun to see Sebastian and Jerad start a band, to watch Meredith soften and let people in, to learn about Nana's history with Bucky, to see Janice try to figure out how to be a single mom to these two difficult kids -- but it's not like you don't know where things are going to go. Plus there are some sizable plot holes, which drove me nuts because they just seemed really sloppy.
I don't know. I definitely enjoyed reading this, but I don't know that it'll stick with me for very long.
This was a nice little book. Which is kind of a dickish thing to say: since the book is over three hundred pages, I mean "little" in the patting-a-kid-on-the-head kind of way. Maybe this is a result of everyone always ragging on me for rating everything too high? Maybe I will feel guilty later and bump this up to four stars? But it really was just a solid, average book.
It kind of follows a template, in a lot of ways. It stars sixteen-year-old Sebastian, an idiot savant who has spent his entire life living with his Nana in a geodesic dome just outside of a city in Iowa, his only real contact with others being when people come in to tour the dome. Nana is obsessed with Buckmister Fuller (you know, maybe I would have connected with this more if I knew more about him? not sure), and has home-schooled Sebastian to share many wonky ideas which were ostensibly passed down from "Bucky".
Sebastian meets the Whitcombs -- mom Janice, whose husband has left her and who has turned for comfort to the church; daughter Meredith, a semi-slut who is both gorgeous and a bitch; and son Jared, a budding misanthrope and punk wannabe who recently had a heart transplant -- when they come in for a tour, which is the same day that Nana has a stroke. It is a great and wonderful coincidence that has brought these lonely, fucked-up people together, because they will all teach each other valuable lessons about love, compassion, friendship, and punk music.
See? The plot and characters are interesting and original, but it's really pretty formulaic, on a thematic level. It's for sure fun to see Sebastian and Jerad start a band, to watch Meredith soften and let people in, to learn about Nana's history with Bucky, to see Janice try to figure out how to be a single mom to these two difficult kids -- but it's not like you don't know where things are going to go. Plus there are some sizable plot holes, which drove me nuts because they just seemed really sloppy.
I don't know. I definitely enjoyed reading this, but I don't know that it'll stick with me for very long.
July 5, 2011
The Short of It:
Brilliant, beautifully written and touching in a way that surprised me.
The Rest of It:
After losing both parents in an accident, sixteen-year-old Sebastian Prendergast lives with his eccentric grandmother Nana in a geodesic dome. Nana, who studied with the infamous R. Buckminster Fuller (architect, philosopher and futurist), continues to share his teachings by conducting tours of their very unique home.
Most people visiting Iowa come for other reasons, but every once in awhile they have a visitor or two, and that’s enough to keep Nana happy. Sebastian spends his days polishing the dome and as he’s gazing down upon the town below, it occurs to him that he hasn’t seen much of it, or the rest of the world for that matter. You see, the dome acts as a barrier to all things. It protects him, yet it also imprisons him. In his sensible shoes and conservative outdated clothing, Sebastian finds pleasure in simple things, but he secretly desires more. When his Nana falls ill, he meets a family that helps him realize how special he really is.
This is a wonderful story and includes the most interesting cast of characters I’ve encountered in a long time. They are terrifically flawed. I seriously loved them all, which I almost never say. Bognanni manages to make them vulnerable in beautiful, subtle ways. The story is funny and sad and touching without being overly worked. The transitions were effortless, or seemed so anyway.
I adored this book and this is Bognanni’s first novel! It blows my mind. You know that feeling you get after reading a page or two of a new book? The feeling where you just know that it’s going to be great? I had that feeling throughout the book and the ending did not disappoint. There is so much more to say, but it would be better to experience it on your own.
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Brilliant, beautifully written and touching in a way that surprised me.
The Rest of It:
After losing both parents in an accident, sixteen-year-old Sebastian Prendergast lives with his eccentric grandmother Nana in a geodesic dome. Nana, who studied with the infamous R. Buckminster Fuller (architect, philosopher and futurist), continues to share his teachings by conducting tours of their very unique home.
Most people visiting Iowa come for other reasons, but every once in awhile they have a visitor or two, and that’s enough to keep Nana happy. Sebastian spends his days polishing the dome and as he’s gazing down upon the town below, it occurs to him that he hasn’t seen much of it, or the rest of the world for that matter. You see, the dome acts as a barrier to all things. It protects him, yet it also imprisons him. In his sensible shoes and conservative outdated clothing, Sebastian finds pleasure in simple things, but he secretly desires more. When his Nana falls ill, he meets a family that helps him realize how special he really is.
This is a wonderful story and includes the most interesting cast of characters I’ve encountered in a long time. They are terrifically flawed. I seriously loved them all, which I almost never say. Bognanni manages to make them vulnerable in beautiful, subtle ways. The story is funny and sad and touching without being overly worked. The transitions were effortless, or seemed so anyway.
I adored this book and this is Bognanni’s first novel! It blows my mind. You know that feeling you get after reading a page or two of a new book? The feeling where you just know that it’s going to be great? I had that feeling throughout the book and the ending did not disappoint. There is so much more to say, but it would be better to experience it on your own.
Visit my blog: Book Chatter
June 2, 2013
Sebastian Pendergast has lived with his Nana in a geodesic dome since he was four years old. He never leaves the dome, working the gift shop while his Nana gives tours. She has homeschooled him all of his life with the futuristic teachings of R. Buckminster Fuller. She feels that Sebastion will pick up where Fuller left off - hence all of the grooming.
Jared Whitcomb is a sullen, sixteen year old boy who recently had a heart transplant. He feels guilty that someone had to die so he could live. His language is vulgar and he smokes. He meets Sebastian when he and his family go on a tour through the Dome. When Sebastian's nana has a stroke, he goes to stay with the Whitcomb's for awhile.
There, he discovers things he has never known like soda, grilled cheese and punk rock. Sebastian also has a thing for Jared's older sister,Meredith, even though she doesn't really see him. She's too busy with all of her male admirers. Then, Jared and Sebastian decide to start their own punk rock band! They'll be famous and leave their miserable lives behind. The problem? Neither one of them is musically inclined, but they give it their best shot. The two of them, despite their differences, form a unique friendship. But will Sebastian want to return to the dome when Nana is better or will he prefer to start his own life out of the dome?
A compelling coming of age novel that will grasp your attention from the first page. I wouldn't say this is for young adults because of the swearing and smoking, but for a debut novel, Bognanni has written a superb novel. The characters are well-developed and you can feel their angst. I didn't know what a geodesic dome was before I read this novel, either! An original story with great characters and a unique plot that will have you waiting for Bognanni's next novel. A very creative and superb novel!
Jared Whitcomb is a sullen, sixteen year old boy who recently had a heart transplant. He feels guilty that someone had to die so he could live. His language is vulgar and he smokes. He meets Sebastian when he and his family go on a tour through the Dome. When Sebastian's nana has a stroke, he goes to stay with the Whitcomb's for awhile.
There, he discovers things he has never known like soda, grilled cheese and punk rock. Sebastian also has a thing for Jared's older sister,Meredith, even though she doesn't really see him. She's too busy with all of her male admirers. Then, Jared and Sebastian decide to start their own punk rock band! They'll be famous and leave their miserable lives behind. The problem? Neither one of them is musically inclined, but they give it their best shot. The two of them, despite their differences, form a unique friendship. But will Sebastian want to return to the dome when Nana is better or will he prefer to start his own life out of the dome?
A compelling coming of age novel that will grasp your attention from the first page. I wouldn't say this is for young adults because of the swearing and smoking, but for a debut novel, Bognanni has written a superb novel. The characters are well-developed and you can feel their angst. I didn't know what a geodesic dome was before I read this novel, either! An original story with great characters and a unique plot that will have you waiting for Bognanni's next novel. A very creative and superb novel!
March 20, 2013
I picked up Peter Bognanni's debut novel, "The House of Tomorrow" after reading multiple positive magazine reviews. I'm happy to report that this was a wonderful first book by an new, original voice in modern literature.
"The House of Tomorrow" is narrated by Sebastian, an orphaned teenager living with his new age spiritual grandmother in a geodesic dome. The pair live alone, mostly cut off from society except for giving weekly tours of their usual home, which supplement the grandmother's Social Security income. Their way of life is in peril, when Sebastian's grandmother suffers a stroke during a tour and the dysfunctional family visiting the dome take Sebastian into their care.
Bognanni creates wonderful, rich characters that manage to feel very real, despite their rather unusual circumstances. In particular, Sebastian is a sweet boy, desperate to make friends and find a place for himself in a world that is constantly shifting around him. This is a story about family, friendship, faith and love. A story about finding a place to belong.
I throughly enjoyed both the story and Boganni's writing style. It's quirky and unique. I couldn't put it down and despite being on vacation in Europe for the first time, found myself wanting to stay in and finish the book!
I highly recommend "The House of Tomorrow" and look forward to Bognanni's future novels.
Please visit my blog for my England trip report and book related things!
"The House of Tomorrow" is narrated by Sebastian, an orphaned teenager living with his new age spiritual grandmother in a geodesic dome. The pair live alone, mostly cut off from society except for giving weekly tours of their usual home, which supplement the grandmother's Social Security income. Their way of life is in peril, when Sebastian's grandmother suffers a stroke during a tour and the dysfunctional family visiting the dome take Sebastian into their care.
Bognanni creates wonderful, rich characters that manage to feel very real, despite their rather unusual circumstances. In particular, Sebastian is a sweet boy, desperate to make friends and find a place for himself in a world that is constantly shifting around him. This is a story about family, friendship, faith and love. A story about finding a place to belong.
I throughly enjoyed both the story and Boganni's writing style. It's quirky and unique. I couldn't put it down and despite being on vacation in Europe for the first time, found myself wanting to stay in and finish the book!
I highly recommend "The House of Tomorrow" and look forward to Bognanni's future novels.
Please visit my blog for my England trip report and book related things!
March 23, 2017
I want to recommend this book but I don't want to say too much about it. I didn't read the back cover or anything and it was all a wonderful surprise. I read a lot of books and many are very good but only a few are this enjoyable. Check it out.
March 5, 2021
I no longer remember what prompted me to add this to my TBR, but I remember reading the first chapter and thinking it was something I'd like as it featured a socially awkward teen who was raised under odd circumstances (he lives with his grandma in a geodesic dome which doubles as a tourist attraction).
Well, the rest of the book was not what I'd expected from the first chapter, but it was better than I'd hoped it would be. The contrast between Sebastian's neatly ordered life and the absolute anarchy of the punk rock he comes to love were nice, as was his blossoming friendship with heart-transplant recipient Jared.
I spent a lot of time dying from secondhand embarrassment in the first part of the book, and a lot of time laughing toward the end. I was a bit surprised by the ending but in a good way. Even though this deals with some heavy issues, I felt like it ended on an almost hopeful note.
There were a few minor details I felt were glossed over a bit, but based on my overall enjoyment, I'm giving this 5 out of 5 stars.
Well, the rest of the book was not what I'd expected from the first chapter, but it was better than I'd hoped it would be. The contrast between Sebastian's neatly ordered life and the absolute anarchy of the punk rock he comes to love were nice, as was his blossoming friendship with heart-transplant recipient Jared.
I spent a lot of time dying from secondhand embarrassment in the first part of the book, and a lot of time laughing toward the end. I was a bit surprised by the ending but in a good way. Even though this deals with some heavy issues, I felt like it ended on an almost hopeful note.
There were a few minor details I felt were glossed over a bit, but based on my overall enjoyment, I'm giving this 5 out of 5 stars.
December 9, 2019
Sebastian lives in a geodesic dome in in Iowa with his eccentric Grandmother. She's sheltered him and homeshooled him so he's a bit eccentric himself.
To make ends meet they give tours of the dome and it is thus that Sebastian makes his first friend his own age.
This is the story of their friendship and family. It's definitely YAish, and I thought I was bored a couple times, but quickly got over it and ended up liking it quite a bit. Cute and enjoyable.
Lots of references to Buckminster Fuller ... who I know nothing about. LOL
To make ends meet they give tours of the dome and it is thus that Sebastian makes his first friend his own age.
This is the story of their friendship and family. It's definitely YAish, and I thought I was bored a couple times, but quickly got over it and ended up liking it quite a bit. Cute and enjoyable.
Lots of references to Buckminster Fuller ... who I know nothing about. LOL
August 21, 2024
i got this book at the library sale for free without its slip cover, so i had no idea what it was about, only that it seemed cool, it was.
August 1, 2020
A classic, but rare example of the movie being 100x better than the book.
May 28, 2010
Ok. Ok. Where to start. Well, since a lot of the GoodReads friends liked this book, I guess I am sorry that I didn't. Of course, high expectations lead to bigger disappointments, so really you all should be apologizing to me. Just kidding. I finished this over a week ago and have been ruminating over how I feel about it. I’ve vacillated between love and hate. And it boils down to this . . . maybe if I didn't have high hopes, maybe if it had chosen Heavy Metal (or really any kind of music) over punk, maybe if I hadn't just read The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To, maybe I would have liked it more, or appreciated it, at least.
First things first, when I began reading this book, I was underwhelmed. Then I started to get into it, Sebastian is an interesting character (he's grown up in a geodesic dome with his Buckminster Fuller loving Grandma his entire life.) Then his grandma had a stroke and I thought, "Oh, interesting." I thought that because he had been homeschooled and had never been "introduced" to society outside of Buckminster Fuller's futurism. I thought this is going to get good. It didn't. Or, to be more specific, it didn't for me. Again, I am in the minority with my lukewarm feelings toward it.
So let me get into why I felt, you know, meh.
First, Peter Bognanni is a fine writer. I read the book and never did I think, "This guy is NOT a good writer." As a matter of fact, all I could think was, "this is good writing." But I was always aware that it was written. It felt clinical, like he teaches creative writing classes (he does) and that this is just an exercise in good writing. Sebastian, the narrator, has a very distinct voice, but, for me, he doesn't have his own voice. It is Bognanni's voice being channeled through this quirky character that Bognanni came up with. It was a quick read, but I never got lost in the story or the characters. I never connected with them.
The story never got me either. It seemed done; and done better in hundreds of YA titles. Quirky kid meets angry kid, they form a band, and they triumph with their DIY punk rock attitude. There wasn't anything original presented in the formula, besides having the quirky kid grow up in a geodesic dome. But I never felt that Bognanni spent the time to develop the characters outside of their quirks, which is a huge problem for me. Writers like Bognanni, Diablo Cody, and JK Rowling seem to mistake quirkiness for character development. Even when their characters grow, it is only on the shallowest level. Maybe a one-dimensional character becomes two-dimensional. They are never fully fleshed out or fully realized, and they never grow beyond quirksville.
Next, books with punk music always annoy me. They show their true colors pretty early. Basically, any book with punk rock is trying to prove its edginess and that its characters are tough or wounded and they don't give a F*** about anything. However, generally they come across like the author got a "Totally Effing Punk" sampler CD from The Gap. These are the penultimate punk bands that prove that someone is indeed punk. However, everyone listens to these bands, thus making them the opposite of punk rock. Anyone who thinks they're punk has a Misfits sticker somewhere. My parents listen to The Ramones, because they are a great pop band. And the Sex Pistols? Jeez, Bognanni must have Wikipediaed "Punk Rock Music." I do give him some points for including Minor Threat. But, his punk bands are so blasé and mainstream that they lose him major street cred. He still could have kept it mainstream and added some credibility to his characters, because I don't know a punk rock kid who only listens to late 70's/early 80's punk. It's just not realistic to have a kid today who only listens to that stuff. They'd probably also spin some Rancid, Bad Religion, NOFX, Guttermouth, The Vandals, etc. He could Wikipedia those bands too. They'd also probably listen to Op Ivy, and I can't remember if The Clash is brought up, but they'd be there too. And if he really wanted street cred, Joy Division, which were like the really ultimate punk band.
Basically it boils down to this . . . I never bought into or cared about these characters so I never invested myself in The House of Tomorrow. It is a quick read though and most other people like it. I didn't HATE it, I just don't really recommend it, or I do so with hesitation.
First things first, when I began reading this book, I was underwhelmed. Then I started to get into it, Sebastian is an interesting character (he's grown up in a geodesic dome with his Buckminster Fuller loving Grandma his entire life.) Then his grandma had a stroke and I thought, "Oh, interesting." I thought that because he had been homeschooled and had never been "introduced" to society outside of Buckminster Fuller's futurism. I thought this is going to get good. It didn't. Or, to be more specific, it didn't for me. Again, I am in the minority with my lukewarm feelings toward it.
So let me get into why I felt, you know, meh.
First, Peter Bognanni is a fine writer. I read the book and never did I think, "This guy is NOT a good writer." As a matter of fact, all I could think was, "this is good writing." But I was always aware that it was written. It felt clinical, like he teaches creative writing classes (he does) and that this is just an exercise in good writing. Sebastian, the narrator, has a very distinct voice, but, for me, he doesn't have his own voice. It is Bognanni's voice being channeled through this quirky character that Bognanni came up with. It was a quick read, but I never got lost in the story or the characters. I never connected with them.
The story never got me either. It seemed done; and done better in hundreds of YA titles. Quirky kid meets angry kid, they form a band, and they triumph with their DIY punk rock attitude. There wasn't anything original presented in the formula, besides having the quirky kid grow up in a geodesic dome. But I never felt that Bognanni spent the time to develop the characters outside of their quirks, which is a huge problem for me. Writers like Bognanni, Diablo Cody, and JK Rowling seem to mistake quirkiness for character development. Even when their characters grow, it is only on the shallowest level. Maybe a one-dimensional character becomes two-dimensional. They are never fully fleshed out or fully realized, and they never grow beyond quirksville.
Next, books with punk music always annoy me. They show their true colors pretty early. Basically, any book with punk rock is trying to prove its edginess and that its characters are tough or wounded and they don't give a F*** about anything. However, generally they come across like the author got a "Totally Effing Punk" sampler CD from The Gap. These are the penultimate punk bands that prove that someone is indeed punk. However, everyone listens to these bands, thus making them the opposite of punk rock. Anyone who thinks they're punk has a Misfits sticker somewhere. My parents listen to The Ramones, because they are a great pop band. And the Sex Pistols? Jeez, Bognanni must have Wikipediaed "Punk Rock Music." I do give him some points for including Minor Threat. But, his punk bands are so blasé and mainstream that they lose him major street cred. He still could have kept it mainstream and added some credibility to his characters, because I don't know a punk rock kid who only listens to late 70's/early 80's punk. It's just not realistic to have a kid today who only listens to that stuff. They'd probably also spin some Rancid, Bad Religion, NOFX, Guttermouth, The Vandals, etc. He could Wikipedia those bands too. They'd also probably listen to Op Ivy, and I can't remember if The Clash is brought up, but they'd be there too. And if he really wanted street cred, Joy Division, which were like the really ultimate punk band.
Basically it boils down to this . . . I never bought into or cared about these characters so I never invested myself in The House of Tomorrow. It is a quick read though and most other people like it. I didn't HATE it, I just don't really recommend it, or I do so with hesitation.
July 19, 2023
3.5 ✨️
Sweet and relatable, the kind of story that deserves more - I could read a series with these characters - but as it is, it leaves me wanting. It feels like it only scratches the surface... I suppose it's fitting, in a way, but you'd have to read it to understand. Enjoyable audio book narrator.
Sweet and relatable, the kind of story that deserves more - I could read a series with these characters - but as it is, it leaves me wanting. It feels like it only scratches the surface... I suppose it's fitting, in a way, but you'd have to read it to understand. Enjoyable audio book narrator.
October 18, 2011
The House of Tomorrow is a coming-of-age novel with a virtuoso twist and a hint of science fiction. I heard about it in-class, from my teacher, Claudia Swisher, coupled with a book trailer on YouTube.
It's peculiar. I do not know if this book is formally classified as a coming-of-age novel, but it has all of the elements you'd expect from one. But there's one thing that makes it different from other novels of the same vein: I didn't care about the protagonist, Sebastian. One would think that in this kind of novel, a 17-year-old male student would be able to empathize with Sebastian, but I just didn't. Sebastian is an isolated kid - he's spent nearly his whole life living in a giant Geodesic dome with his only company being his grandmother and the various tourists that are drawn to their strange home. As a result of this isolation, he's not like other kids, and while that sounds like a pretty good premise for a coming-of-age story, I do not think that it resonates well with the majority of teens in the expected audience. I think, if anything, this novel would have a powerful appeal to homeschooled teens, and I'm tempted to recommend it to some friends of mine who come from that kind of background just to see what they think.
I'm not saying the novel wasn't good, however. I genuinely enjoyed it, I just could not make myself relate to the protagonist, and this prevented me from ever achieving any sort of suspension of disbelief. Personally, I felt that Jared, Sebastian's first "friend," was a much more dynamic, interesting character than Sebastian. But I wasn't completely detached from the story. Sebastian is an aspiring musician - in the novel he learns to play the bass guitar, which is actually the instrument that I am the most well-versed in. I found the virtuoso portions of the novel to be surprisingly believable, and I think these scenes allowed Bognanni to really flex his literary muscles - there was a section of the book describing Sebastian playing the bass in a forest that gave me goosebumps.
One small disappointment I had while reading the novel was when I realized that the book was never going to take a serious Sci-Fi turn. The book trailer I watched when I heard about the book had me under the impression that it was going to be more surreal than it was. I don't think this is really a fault of the book, though, but rather, the video, so while I was a bit disheartened, I'm not going to hold the realism against the novel.
So in summary, I liked this book, I just feel like I wasn't meant to read it. I think this book is powerful and could easily be a favorite when read from the correct background. If I had the history to truly appreciate this novel for what it's worth, I think it would be one of my favorite novels. But I don't. I can't give this five stars because I don't feel I got the full package from it, but I definitely believe this book is capable of giving someone that experience.
It's peculiar. I do not know if this book is formally classified as a coming-of-age novel, but it has all of the elements you'd expect from one. But there's one thing that makes it different from other novels of the same vein: I didn't care about the protagonist, Sebastian. One would think that in this kind of novel, a 17-year-old male student would be able to empathize with Sebastian, but I just didn't. Sebastian is an isolated kid - he's spent nearly his whole life living in a giant Geodesic dome with his only company being his grandmother and the various tourists that are drawn to their strange home. As a result of this isolation, he's not like other kids, and while that sounds like a pretty good premise for a coming-of-age story, I do not think that it resonates well with the majority of teens in the expected audience. I think, if anything, this novel would have a powerful appeal to homeschooled teens, and I'm tempted to recommend it to some friends of mine who come from that kind of background just to see what they think.
I'm not saying the novel wasn't good, however. I genuinely enjoyed it, I just could not make myself relate to the protagonist, and this prevented me from ever achieving any sort of suspension of disbelief. Personally, I felt that Jared, Sebastian's first "friend," was a much more dynamic, interesting character than Sebastian. But I wasn't completely detached from the story. Sebastian is an aspiring musician - in the novel he learns to play the bass guitar, which is actually the instrument that I am the most well-versed in. I found the virtuoso portions of the novel to be surprisingly believable, and I think these scenes allowed Bognanni to really flex his literary muscles - there was a section of the book describing Sebastian playing the bass in a forest that gave me goosebumps.
One small disappointment I had while reading the novel was when I realized that the book was never going to take a serious Sci-Fi turn. The book trailer I watched when I heard about the book had me under the impression that it was going to be more surreal than it was. I don't think this is really a fault of the book, though, but rather, the video, so while I was a bit disheartened, I'm not going to hold the realism against the novel.
So in summary, I liked this book, I just feel like I wasn't meant to read it. I think this book is powerful and could easily be a favorite when read from the correct background. If I had the history to truly appreciate this novel for what it's worth, I think it would be one of my favorite novels. But I don't. I can't give this five stars because I don't feel I got the full package from it, but I definitely believe this book is capable of giving someone that experience.
June 13, 2012
I find myself at a point where I'm impatient. As a child, I would read a book to the end, no matter what. As a teenager, I read through the first hundred pages, at least. Now? If I'm in the mood to read, I want something that has me clicking along by the first few pages. I don't have time to waste. Peter Bognanni didn't even try to waste my time. Within a few pages, I understood the relationship between Sebastian Prendergast and his grandmother. There's something uncomfortably close about them, but she's controlling and he's growing older and chafing. And then she has a stroke, right when he meets Jared Whitcomb and his mother.
The sheltered Sebastian is an interesting creation. He's been raised like an experiment, but eventually Frankestein's monster has to go out and meet the girl. Punk music is the perfect vehicle for his growth. Punk, despite it's DIY, no-need-to-know-about-music attitude, often isn't for beginners. It's too much a reaction to other stimuli. But I totally believe that a teenager who needs to express something that's his, not his grandmother's, would be seduced as much by punk as by a fellow geek and the fellow geek's hot sister.
I'm a fan of character-driven works. If there are enough convincing relationships going on, the plot becomes a bonus rather than a desparately needed framework. As much as I love unintenionally funny Sebastian (on the character's part, not the author's), I also love the Whitcombs. Janice, Jared, and Meredith have all been through the wringer, but they want their family to be happy. They all try to martyr themselves a little for the sake of the others, but all of their ploys just intersect to make the household tense. Sebastian shakes them up just enough for them to see the ruts they're about to fall into.
But back to the music. I love music and I love reading about it. Some authors write music like they've never seen an instrument. Others, like Stephanie Kuehnert and Maggie Stiefvater, write it like it flows through their veins and drips out from under their fingernails. (For some reason, reading poetry* makes me want to get figurative.) Peter Bognanni can write music. Once Jared and Sebastian form the Rash, they have to figure out something to play. Yet no matter how terrible their lyrics seem, I would love to see them perform. The music reads as fun and consuming.
THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW is a polished story about people with raw edges. There are crushed hopes and living dreams. There are characters straight out of an indie film who act like people you might meet in real life. It's an absorbing book that ends to soon. Everything came to a conclusion, but I could've kept reading. THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW kept me firmly in what I was doing in the present.
*The poetry is William Wordsworth's PRELUDE. THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW is not in verse.
The sheltered Sebastian is an interesting creation. He's been raised like an experiment, but eventually Frankestein's monster has to go out and meet the girl. Punk music is the perfect vehicle for his growth. Punk, despite it's DIY, no-need-to-know-about-music attitude, often isn't for beginners. It's too much a reaction to other stimuli. But I totally believe that a teenager who needs to express something that's his, not his grandmother's, would be seduced as much by punk as by a fellow geek and the fellow geek's hot sister.
I'm a fan of character-driven works. If there are enough convincing relationships going on, the plot becomes a bonus rather than a desparately needed framework. As much as I love unintenionally funny Sebastian (on the character's part, not the author's), I also love the Whitcombs. Janice, Jared, and Meredith have all been through the wringer, but they want their family to be happy. They all try to martyr themselves a little for the sake of the others, but all of their ploys just intersect to make the household tense. Sebastian shakes them up just enough for them to see the ruts they're about to fall into.
But back to the music. I love music and I love reading about it. Some authors write music like they've never seen an instrument. Others, like Stephanie Kuehnert and Maggie Stiefvater, write it like it flows through their veins and drips out from under their fingernails. (For some reason, reading poetry* makes me want to get figurative.) Peter Bognanni can write music. Once Jared and Sebastian form the Rash, they have to figure out something to play. Yet no matter how terrible their lyrics seem, I would love to see them perform. The music reads as fun and consuming.
THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW is a polished story about people with raw edges. There are crushed hopes and living dreams. There are characters straight out of an indie film who act like people you might meet in real life. It's an absorbing book that ends to soon. Everything came to a conclusion, but I could've kept reading. THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW kept me firmly in what I was doing in the present.
*The poetry is William Wordsworth's PRELUDE. THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW is not in verse.
June 14, 2010
Great coming-of-age story about a boy who lives an isolated and home-schooled existince with his eccentric grandmother in a geodesic dome. One day while the Whitcomb family is touring the geodome, Sebastian's grandmother suffers a stroke and is taken to the hospital. This is the catalyst that pushes Sebastian out into the world, specifically into the Whitcomb family. Janice (the mother) is still reeling from a divorce, and her son Jared is recovering from heart transplant surgery. Jared finds Sebastian's upbringing extremely weird, if not cruel, and introduces him to the joys of punk rock. The two become friends and decide to form a punk rock band. The character of Sebastian is amusing, speaking like a scientist much of the time, almost as if he sees the world from an outsider's perspective. Jared is the rebel, full of anger and humiliation at his physical limitations and weakness, but also a very lonely, confused and hurt boy. The friendship between Sebastian and Jared is the heart of the story, as well as Sebastian's growing crush on Jared's older sister. I really liked this story and look forward to more from this author. Recommended to anyone who enjoys quality young adult fiction.
July 12, 2017
This didn't have to be as shitty a book as it was. The characters could have been interesting... except they reverted back to flat, boring cutouts as soon as Bognanni didn't need them to act sad to show how their character had progressed from the start of the story. Jared is godawfully misogynistic, and there's only one half-hearted stab by Sebastian to call him out on it. Meredith exists only for Sebastian to be creepily overprotective towards. Janice could have been an amazing character but we never get to really know anything about her. We get hints, little views, but we never get to actually see any of it.
Also, Bognanni. Please. That is not an archaic, wordy way of speaking. Sebastian sounded like an alien throughout the entire book, not a boy with a large vocabulary and an outdated grammar.
Also, Bognanni. Please. That is not an archaic, wordy way of speaking. Sebastian sounded like an alien throughout the entire book, not a boy with a large vocabulary and an outdated grammar.
November 16, 2024
I don't even know how to describe this book other than amazing. I know I say that a lot, but this book was just that. It tellss the story of a socially awkward teenage boy, who befriends a boy who had a heart transplant. They decide that they're going to start a band for a church tallent show, and Jared, the boy who had the heart transplant opens a whole new world to Sebastien.
You can tell while reading the book that the author either knows about being social awkward, or sure did his research. You can also tell that he loves punk music. I just can't go on enough about the greatness of this book. Even if you don't like punk, but like music, give this book a try. You won't regret it.
You can tell while reading the book that the author either knows about being social awkward, or sure did his research. You can also tell that he loves punk music. I just can't go on enough about the greatness of this book. Even if you don't like punk, but like music, give this book a try. You won't regret it.
March 9, 2010
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
This is wonderful debut with a unique voice. I think it is somewhere between The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and The Life of Pi with my favorite punk songs mixed in. This is my the best book I have read so far the year. This coming of age story really captures some great geek moments and the account of two misplaced teens finding meaning in their lives just hits right on every note.
PLEASE READ THIS BOOK! You won't be disappointed...well, you might be if you like normal.
This is wonderful debut with a unique voice. I think it is somewhere between The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and The Life of Pi with my favorite punk songs mixed in. This is my the best book I have read so far the year. This coming of age story really captures some great geek moments and the account of two misplaced teens finding meaning in their lives just hits right on every note.
PLEASE READ THIS BOOK! You won't be disappointed...well, you might be if you like normal.
February 3, 2016
Started listening to the audiobook off and on yesterday. Not sure if it's the format or what, but I could only get through the 4th chapter of nine. I found that I could care less if this poor boy was able to keep his new friend, if they were able to make a punk rock band(or even if he learned how to play an instrument), if granny lived much longer, really had psychic abilities when she slept or if she levitated, or if the boy's crush Meredith actually gave him a chance or not. I returned this audiobook to my library last night. Bored though.
May 6, 2018
1 Yellow Suit Book Club Sept/2016
Writer is from the UI Writer's Workshop, now lives in Minneapolis. Set in IA. Makes many local references throughout story. (There is actually a geodesic dome somewhere near Cedar Rapids, IA - off of Hwy 30). Wiki indicates that a movie is in the works.
I enjoyed the story. Quirky characters and storyline, short, I can envision this as an indie movie. An afternoon/weekend read. Fills the time, doesn't stick with you.
Writer is from the UI Writer's Workshop, now lives in Minneapolis. Set in IA. Makes many local references throughout story. (There is actually a geodesic dome somewhere near Cedar Rapids, IA - off of Hwy 30). Wiki indicates that a movie is in the works.
I enjoyed the story. Quirky characters and storyline, short, I can envision this as an indie movie. An afternoon/weekend read. Fills the time, doesn't stick with you.
June 1, 2017
My favorite kind of book: one that doesn't need any action because the characters and relationships are story enough. Great descriptive writing that doesn't try too hard and a sweet story that made me smile.
abandoned
April 17, 2018the parts of the book that appealed to me -weird, unsocialized homeschooler, bucky fuller, etc. didn't outweigh the parts that didn't - young man finds himself via punk. And the adults were really annoying.
September 12, 2018
Great book, can't wait to see the film.
December 15, 2025
I just love books about friends:) who are friends:) ugh
January 17, 2018
I'm anxious to see the movie !
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