Fat Kid Rules the World

Fat Kid Rules the World


By: K.L. Going
Reviewer: XO/Wizard_P3P, 16
Rating: Really liked it


Have you ever had a dream you felt you could never reach? Sometimes its a mental barrier, but other times its a matter of physical ability. K.L. Going, author of "Fat Kid Rules the World," attempts to demonstrate the disastrous effects of not believing in yourself. She does a splendid job at building up characters and relationships, as well as scenarios. The plot is also engaging and fun to read.

One thing that I appreciate is when authors spend the time to create a character that is not only relatable, but is fleshed out with a full background. Character development is, I think, vital to the literary experience. And Going manages to meet and exceed my expectations. Throughout the whole book I found myself rooting for Troy to the very end. I also enjoyed the opportunity to observe his thoughts and complex relationships with his family, friends, and the rest of society. It was extremely entertaining to see the world as he (a 200 pound, 17 year old male) did.

I can honestly say this is one of the better books I have read this summer. There were two minor annoyances I had with it, but its obvious the author purposefully added them. My biggest gripe with it was that he kept putting himself down just because he was overweight. Also, the ending left me wanting closure.

K.L. Going outdid herself with "Fat Kid Rules the World." The amount of personality each character is dripping with is astounding and makes for a deeply satisfying read. My only issues were with the direction of the plot. I highly recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind trotting through the murky waters of depression and the obscene thoughts of a 300 pound, 17 year old.

xkcd: volume 0

xkcd: volume 0


By: Randall Munroe
Reviewer: XO/Wizard_P3P, 16
Rating: Loved it!


"This book is a collection of comic strips from xkcd, a free web comic." FREE. Make no mistake, Randall Munroe's book "xkcd: volume 0" is not needed to enjoy the content within, which is easily accessible at xkcd.com. Regardless, that doesn't retain it from being a good book, as it is brimming with hilarious, pensive, and romantic strips.

This short, quirky book is an absolute pleasure to read, because of its ample variety of comics. Some are comical, inducing humor ranging from a mild chuckle to non-stop laughter. There are a few romantic, and although they help vary the themes present, may act as a turn-off for some people. Another facet that works for the book, is that they are divided into easily digestible strips, provoking reflection on what the artist tries to portray.

I have only two issues with this book. One being that often times Munroe tries to hard to be intelligent. The occasional math, science, or technology joke is thrown in, making it less accessible to the average reader. This is easily overlooked though, as it was designed for a niche audience. My second complaint was that in spite of all the nerdy goodness the book had to offer, it was all over too soon. I felt like only a few minutes after I had picked up the book I was done. This is easily remedied by going to his website to view his collection of daily comic strips.

In the end, this short, entertaining collection successfully does its job (with almost zero flaws). The strange but funny strips are extremely fun to read and the price is justified by the annotations left by the artist, which are exclusive to this book. I wish I could say anyone can pick this up and enjoy it, but in reality I can only recommend it to people who consider themselves nerdy, intellectual, geeky (there is a difference), or artistic.

Man on the Moon: The End of Day

Man on the Moon: The End of Day


By: Kid Cudi
Reviewer: XO/Wizard_P3P, 16
Rating: Loved it!


Nightmares are a constant, persisting plague that has affected, adults, teen, and children all alike, resulting in many a sleepless nights. One boy though, rather than attempt to escape its wrath, finds comfort within its boundaries from the greater horrors of reality Kid Cudi fabricates a fascinating story about his troubles growing up and expresses it through what today is known as his first full-fledged album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day. His unique blend of energetic beats and an exceptional narrative combine to create something never before seen or heard of, setting a new bar in audial storytelling.

When I first heard Kid Cudi repeatedly chanting "You're in my dreams." in his first track, I knew I was about to experience something special. He was allowing ME, a random listener who picked up his album from the music section at an electronics goods store, a chance to visualize the world in his eyes. What makes this album so great is that it tells a story and does it well. It definitely deserves a full listening (or at least until the bonus tracks).

I would attempt to explain the story, but its message is so broad, it would be best for me to leave it to the listener to interpret it in his/her own way. This is an audial experience that must be experienced firsthand to truly grasp its impact.

The production value is evident by the sheer number of QUALITY tracks (something missing in most modern rap albums) in the album. "Soundtrack 2 My Life" is an incredibly depressing (but good) song that manages to recount Kid Cudi's life in only 3 and a half minutes. With its techno-infused rhythm, "Day 'n' Nite" snaps you awake from your groggy state, from listening to the eerie track "Solo Dolo." Also, Kid Cudi's loneliness is a recurring theme accentuated by the wailing of the electric guitar in tracks such as "Alive" and "Up Up & Away." This diversity of music styles make this a pleasure to listen to for fans of any genre. As far as bonus tracks go, "Man on the Moon" is great, and "TGIF" is not so much. "Is There Any Love" is a decent song. He also attempts to lighten the tone with "Make Her Say," which only helps his few mistakes stand out.

As good an album Man on the Moon is, it is not without its faults. Some tracks protrude from the story's overall mood. As I previously mentioned, "Make Her Say," while a an awesome, hysterical song, detracts from the experience. "Simple As..." feels slightly out of place as well. One thing I couldn't help from noticing was a line that Chip Tha Ripper speaks in "Hyyerr." He says "This is easy Sunday morning... Kids are going to school..." which is odd since kids don't go to school on Sundays...

Kid Cudi did a number with Man on the Moon. Not only did he manage to tell a compelling story in the span of 70 minutes. The beats ranged from slow and warped to frantic and fast-paced. I would DEFINITELY recommend this to a fan of any music genre for its diversity its incredible tale. This is truly worthy of being deemed a masterpiece.

Loser

Losers


By: Matthue Roth
Reviewer: XO/Wizard_P3P, 16
Rating: Loved it!


Social status is a highly regarded aspect in the life of the average life of a teenager. In the six year span from middle school to high school, teens spend most of their time steadily building up their reputations. "Losers" by Matthue Roth explores this idea, while simultaneously attempting to point out that sustaining a spot at the peak of the social hierarchy might not be as satisfying as it seems.

As well as being the book's protagonist, Jupiter Glazer is a Russian immigrant who strives for acceptance at school, within social cliques, and the local cafe. His odyssey leads him to learn the reality of the life he had hoped to one day inherit.

The book does a spectacular job at presenting the material in a very lifelike way. It is rich in dialogue that makes the characters stand out as actual people. Without spoiling the story, I must admit that the story presents his revelation in a surprisingly different, but pleasant way. Most importantly, Jupiter's revelation is astounding for its sheer introspectiveness.

In the author's ambiguous attempt to achieve greatness, he loses sight of his main goal. Once or twice he detracts from the plot. He has Jupiter repair an old friendship, but in reality I thought it was completely pointless. I as a reader could care less for him as a character. Another instance is when Jupiter and Bates are walking in downtown. Somehow the character happens to know a person is speaking Russian, when in fact, he neither spoke it or was able to understand it. I felt it was a slight, but noticeable plot hole that really detracted from the reality of the whole story. 

Except for a few minor trip-ups, the book does an impressive job at presenting itself and the material. The characters are vividly represented and the bountiful dialogue keeps the plot feeling fresh. The intricate relationships between Jupiter and society are enthralling. "Losers" by Matthue Roth is a book I would highly recommend to anyone who wants a refreshing read.