I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Movie Tie-in Edition) by Jesse Andrews Also by this author: The Haters
Published by Abrams on May 26th 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Humorous Stories, Social Issues, Friendship, Death & Dying
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The book that inspired the hit film! Sundance U.S. Dramatic Audience Award Sundance Grand Jury Prize This is the funniest book you’ll ever read about death. It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he’s figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl. This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg’s mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg’s entire life. Fiercely funny, honest, heart-breaking—this is an unforgettable novel from a bright talent, now also a film that critics are calling "a touchstone for its generation" and "an instant classic."
Includes a discussion with Jesse Andrews and an annotated excerpt from the screenplay!
STARRED REVIEW “One need only look at the chapter titles (“Let’s Just Get This Embarrassing Chapter Out of the Wayâ€) to know that this is one funny book.†–Booklist, starred review
STARRED REVIEW “Though this novel begs inevitable thematic comparisons to John Green's The Fault in Our Stars (2011), it stands on its own in inventiveness, humor and heart.†–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
New York Times bestseller!
Capitol Choices 2013 - Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices 2013 list - Young Adult Fiction YALSA 2013 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers YALSA 2013 Best Fiction for Young Adults YALSA 2014 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
For a book with a dying girl, Me and Earl And The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews serves up laugh after laugh after laugh. I have a very crass, low brow sense of humor and loved the shit out of Greg Gaines’ profanity-laced narration of Me And Earl And The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews.
Greg Gaines does not really have a clique, instead Greg floats from group to group and is friends with everyone on a superficial level. He has one good friend — Earl– whom he makes terrible moves with and who has introduced Greg to video games. When great finds out that a former lady friend is dying of leukemia, Rachel, the dying girl, he rekindles an old friendship and teams with Earl to make a film for Rachel.
There are no saccharine life lessons in Me And Earl And The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. Greg is never stricken with IMPORTANT REVELATORY KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. Thank goodness. I feel that if Greg had some miraculous personality transformation, it would not have been true to the book or it’s characters, especially as Greg states upfront in the beginning of Me And Earl And The Dying Girl not to expect miracles or lessons. I love that Andrews delivers on this promise.
Also, Jesse Andrews’ writing style is something I NEED to mention. It is very blunt. There are swears and boobs. Prudes need not apply. Me And Earl And The Dying Girl is told in first person. Greg’s voice sounds exactly like a male teenager, not like the male that girl readers will crush over, but like actual males that I know in real life – faults and all. I loved the honesty with which Jesse Andrews writes. If you don’t want your characters sanitized, but want characters who are absolutely true to the story, you need to read Me And Earl And The Dying Girl.
Straight up, I think Me And Earl And The Dying Girl will work for those kids who say they hate books. Seriously, it is hysterical. There are naughty things like swearing. Parts are broken up as script. It is not particularly hard to read. Not to mention male point of view, which hey should appeal to boys because Greg’s primary function is not to be Captain Swoony-face. Further, Me And Earl And The Dying Girl is not written down to teens, but rather meets teens on their level — and to me, at the ripe old age of 24, sounds exactly how the teens I know sound.
Disclosure: Received for review via Netgalley.
Other reviews of Me And Earl And The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews:
Rather Be Reading
The Nocturnal Library
Mostly Reading YA
Fictitious Delicious
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I thought this book was hilarious as well! I made the mistake of reading it while I was on the subway, so I kept laughing out loud and people would look at me funny :p But seriously, it’s just a really really funny book!
Oh, I think I need this book right now! I just finished Fever, which was great but OH-so-opposite of hilarious! I’m in dire need of something blunt and laugh-out-loud funny! I need swears..and boobs! 😀 I’ll definitely be giving this book a look! Thanks for recommending, April!
“Captain Swoony-Face” Oh goodness, I’m never going to stop laughing now! XD
This book is seriously one of the best reads I’ve read and I haven’t even finished it yet! While I was reading I thought “omg I KNOW this guy! He was my best friend in high school!” I honestly haven’t felt that way about a character since… well, probably ever. Very great book!
I love the cover. I love what you say about the book. I am DEFINITELY interested in this book because it sounds hilarious and irreverent and honest. Yet I am worried that it might be TOO male teenager for me to settle cozily into the narrative.
I think I’ll still give it a go, but tread with a little caution 🙂 I could use a few laughs! Thanks for such a great review!
I really enjoyed this funny/wacky book and read it pretty fast. I think the content’s definitely a little darker than the cover might let on, but hey, that may help get it past momdars and into the hands of teens, so more power to it.
Woo hoo for dirty talk in YA. Seriously, amazing book choice for high school boys.
Adding this to the To Read list right now. I love funny and honest male narratives.
Why did I think this book was sad? I thought I read that on some blog somewhere, so I stayed away from it.
I didn’t end up liking this one near as much as you, but I think you hit the nail on the head for what I did like! I appreciated it’s honesty and lack of break-through moments–because sometimes things just suck. No life lessons required. And yes! Boobs and swears! This is how real people talk, and the kind of things they talk about. So yay for that.
Ahh, Me and Earl. I really loved this book, mostly for what you’ve described — Greg’s just a hilariously real teenage boy, faults and all. And he reacts in a very real teenage boy kinda way to a lot of things. He’s so terribly awkward. You feel like a lot of Andrews’ teen moments were bottled up into this book (although I have no idea whether this is true or not). And every single syllable that Earl uttered slayed me to bits!
I bought this after hearing it’s “the funniest cancer book ever.” Can’t wait to read it. And hell yeah to crass, low brow senses of humor! 🙂