The Spectacular Now

Starred review from November 17, 2008
Unlike most high school seniors, Sutter Keely—the narrator of this smart, superbly written novel—is not concerned with the future. He’s the life of the party, and he’s interested in the “Spectacular Now.” In stream of consciousness–style prose, Sutter describes his lurching from one good time to the next: he carries whiskey in a flask, and once it’s mixed into his 7Up, anything is possible. He will jump into the pool fully clothed, climb up a tree and onto his ex-girlfriend’s roof or cruise around all hours of the night. Without ever deviating from the voice of the egocentric Sutter, Tharp (Knights of the Hill Country
) fully develops all of the ancillary characters, such as socially awkward Aimee, the new girlfriend who tries to plan a future with this quintessential live-for-the-moment guy. Readers will be simultaneously charmed and infuriated by Sutter as his voice holds them in thrall to his all-powerful Now. Ages 14–up.

December 1, 2008
Gr 9 Up-Sutter Keely, a high school senior, is determined to live in the moment. He eschews planning for the future, intent on letting the good times roll. Sutter's been downing six packs since seventh grade and is rarely without his flask of Seagram's. Despite the heavy drinking and some raunchy sex talk, he is initially a likable character with a fresh and funny voice, but his affability wanes quickly and that voice just doesn't ring true. He meets Aimee when he passes out on her front yard. Sutter isn't really interested at first and only dates her because he considers her a project, someone he can help become less of a social outcast. Along the way, he begins to come off as condescending and egotistical and his sarcasm isn't as comic. It's a well-written book told in first person, but the narration seems much too sophisticated to be believable. He uses phrases like, "I am]sore at heart" and utters phrases like, "the room brimmed with padded chairs." Some of the plot is also disconcerting. As the result of Sutter's drunk driving, Aimee is struck by a car on a highway and suffers only a broken arm. The story ends with Sutter drinking in a bar, assured he's a hero after dumping Aimee, and rejoicing about feeling nothing."Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School Library, Lancaster, PA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2008
Grades 8-12 All the seniors inSutter Keelys high school are planning for the future, except for him. The Sutterman is the original party boy, with a perpetual 7-Up and whiskey in his hand and a story to entertain all who will listen. He isa ladies man, but he loses interest when the ladies demand that he pay attention to them, instead of himself, or make other unreasonable requests, such as remember dates or call when he promises. But it is Aimee, a social outsider, who gets under his skin and loves him in spite of his flaws. Tharp offers a poignant, funny book about a teen who sees his life as livable only when his senses are dulled by drink and only as fodder for the next joke or story. Lulled into believing he is happy in spite of his fathers abandonment and his mothers emotional neglect, Sutter is an authentic character, and his unsteadysense of himself, as well as his relationships with his friends, will strike a chord with teen readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2009
Sutter Keely is a charming, unrepentant teenage alcoholic living for the moment. While his friends are busy planning their post-graduation lives, Sutter can't see beyond his current buzz. New girlfriend Aimee might set him straight if he doesn't drag her down his own dead-end path first. Tharp's characterizations of self-destructive teens are spot-on, and his realistic ending is painful, but satisfying.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)