When I first came across the information about that book, I was truly filled with excitement. I set my expectations extremely high as the story appeared to be captivating and the author, Joyce Carol Oates, was widely popular and highly respected. However, to be completely honest, this novel ended up disappointing me.

The initial few pages were indeed very interesting, grabbing my attention right away. But as I continued reading, it started to feel as if the book lacked a real point. At least, that was the impression it gave me. After a while, it began to bore me, even though the story had some elements of interest... in a rather strange way.

I suppose that Oates's writing style just isn't to my taste. I do plan to give her works another try in the future to see if my literary preferences have changed. But for now, having read three of her books and not enjoying them, everything she writes will remain on the highest shelf of my "to-read" library, gathering dust for the time being.

Swim your heart out! What else do you have? This was the catchphrase that seemed to be forced upon the story. I haven't read a great deal of Joyce Carol Oates' work, but I was truly disappointed with the way this book was written.

Although it is categorized as a Young Adult (YA) book, I found that there was shockingly little depth to the story. The title felt contrived, and the writing itself was choppy and filled with fluff. We are meant to believe that Darren is torn, but I never really got the sense that he felt bad about anything. We don't witness him taking any steps to right the wrong, to fix the situation, or to show that he regrets his inaction. Instead, we are presented with a lot of one-word sentences and a very superficial teenage boy who undergoes no growth throughout the story. The only thing that changes is that a tragedy occurs.

Especially considering the serious themes of this book, such as pedophilia and homophobia, very little of it is actually addressed in a meaningful way. In fact, this book seems to imply that gay people are more likely to be pedophiles, which is completely absurd. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting from this book, but what I got was a story with no resolution, no character growth, and no redeemable characters.

Badly written and lame.

This description seems rather harsh, but it might be an accurate assessment in some cases. When something is badly written, it can be difficult to understand and may lack coherence and flow. The language used may be simple or even incorrect, making it less engaging for the reader.

Lameness, on the other hand, implies a lack of creativity or excitement. It could mean that the piece is dull, unoriginal, or fails to capture the reader's attention.

However, it's important to note that everyone has their own writing style and level of proficiency. What may seem badly written or lame to one person might be perfectly acceptable or even enjoyable to another. Additionally, with practice and feedback, writing skills can always be improved.

Instead of simply dismissing something as badly written and lame, it can be more helpful to offer constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement. This way, the writer can learn from their mistakes and grow as a writer.

In conclusion, while badly written and lame may be valid critiques, it's important to approach them with an open mind and a willingness to help the writer improve.

It is not a bad book, but rather a somewhat peculiar story.

This book presents a narrative that is distinct from the ordinary. The plot unfolds in a way that keeps the reader intrigued, yet it also has an element of strangeness that sets it apart.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own unique traits and motives. However, their actions and decisions sometimes seem a bit odd, adding to the overall peculiarity of the story.

Despite its peculiar nature, the book still manages to engage the reader and hold their attention. It makes one think and question, which is a sign of a good piece of literature.

Overall, while it may not be a conventional or typical book, it has its own charm and吸引力 that makes it worth reading.

I don't remember much about this book, but I vividly recall the intense love I had for it.

The story, unfortunately, has become a little blurry in my head, and the finer details have slipped my memory. It's quite frustrating, really.

However, this has also motivated me to do something about it. I have decided that I will be rereading this book soon!

I'm looking forward to rediscovering the plot, the characters, and all those little nuances that made me fall in love with it in the first place.

Rereading it will not only help me remember the story better but also give me a new perspective and perhaps allow me to appreciate it even more.

I can't wait to embark on this literary journey once again and immerse myself in the world of this wonderful book.

This book was initially quite difficult for me to engage with. I wasn't overly enthusiastic about it at the start.

However, as I delved deeper and more details were revealed, it gradually became more interesting, and I found myself reading more and more.

Darren Flynn, a teenage boy, was considered "very attractive" by everyone else. They had always said so.

He was aware that people thought this way, but he didn't give it much thought. Darren's life was great, and he had no complaints until an experience with his English teacher, Mr. Tracy, drove him wild. He constantly fought with himself not to think about it, but he couldn't help it.

This incident then led to other changes in his relationships with his friends, his swimming career, and his family.

I didn't really have anything that I disliked about the book. It was very good, although it was a little slow in the beginning.

I recommend this book to teenagers or adults who are looking for something a little different from other fictional stories. It offers a unique and engaging narrative that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

The storyline of this book is truly quite creative.

It manages to capture the reader's attention right from the start and keeps them engaged throughout.

What makes it even more interesting is that something truly unexpected occurs in the middle of the book.

One can never call Oates predictable, I would definitely say.

Her writing style is such that she constantly surprises the readers with her unique twists and turns.

The element of surprise adds an extra layer of excitement to the reading experience.

It makes the readers eager to turn the pages and find out what will happen next.

Overall, the creative storyline and the unexpected events make this book a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good literary adventure.

It could have been love at first sight.

However, every time I think back to my reading, I have the strong impression that there is something very problematic with this novel, and I can't figure out what it is...

Nevertheless, I was drawn in by the story, I liked the particular style, was hooked on the characters, and throughout I wanted to know what happened next, to understand the sequel.

We finish this book with a great deal of ambiguity on many things, especially because the main character seems not to want to know, but the moral is there, quite horrible...

Perhaps it is this very ambiguity that makes the novel so thought-provoking.

It forces the reader to question their own beliefs and values, and to consider the consequences of our actions.

Even though I had my reservations about the novel, I have to admit that it left a lasting impression on me.

I found myself thinking about it long after I had finished reading, and I was eager to discuss it with others.

In the end, I think that's what makes a good novel - not necessarily that it's perfect, but that it makes you think and feel.

When I finished the book, the only thing that came to my mind was "what was this now?".

It was a strange feeling. The story had taken me on a journey, but at the end, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it all.

Maybe it was because the ending was a bit ambiguous, or perhaps I had expected something different.

Nevertheless, I couldn't deny that the book had held my attention throughout.

The characters were well-developed, and the plot had enough twists and turns to keep me engaged.

Even though I was left with some questions, I still felt that it was a worthwhile read.

It had made me think and had given me something to ponder long after I had turned the last page.

Overall, I would say that it was an interesting and thought-provoking book, even if the ending left me a bit confused.

On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, I started my day with a reading that was both captivating and disorienting, and which plunged me into reflection once the book was closed: Sexy, by the great Joyce Carol Oates.

The story of Darren, a 16-year-old boy, the hope of his high school's swimming team. With a breathtaking beauty he is not aware of, Darren attracts everyone to him, girls... as well as boys. And this power he wields over others frightens and embarrasses him, as much as it pleases him for the sensation it gives him. But when his English teacher, Mr. Tracy, shows him a particular interest, things change for Darren. Especially when his friends one day send an anonymous letter to the principal accusing Tracy of pedophilia...

Joyce Carol Oates' writing is of a formidable effectiveness. She goes straight to the point, her chapters are energetic, nervous, physical or psychological violence is present on every page, and her hero, sometimes cowardly, sometimes brave, often disconcerts and proves to be disturbing.

Oates addresses male sexuality here in many forms and with great accuracy, which made me realize that I knew it poorly and that it is much more nuanced than one might think. She also addresses the subject of slander and its dramatic consequences, referring each one to his responsibility in the face of situations that exceed us, denouncing the silence that we sometimes observe for the sake of convenience, and not to upset our own existence. And if Darren, under the weight of guilt, finds a way to make amends, the novel ends on a bittersweet note, bringing us back to this brutal fact: we, human beings, are capable of the best as well as the worst. A very interesting book.

This book was my last choice.

I had plenty of money to spend as it was my birthday, and I was hoping from the title that it would be a book for a guy who tries to figure out his sexuality. But I was wrong, not fully, but still wrong.

The book tells the story of a high-school athlete who is shy and very different from his playmates. He doesn't have a car, so his best friend takes him home after practice. One day, there is snow and he has a disagreement with his friend. So he is stuck in the school. One of his teachers sees him and offers to take him home. On the way, they stop at a coffee shop and are spotted by some students' mothers. And the rumor begins. The next day, the whole school is talking about the teacher and who he really is. Thank God no one noticed the high-school student in the passenger's seat. And the worries for the guy begin. What happened? Why did it happen? And did it really happen?

As I said, the character is quite shy when it comes to girls. So that incident makes him think about his sexuality. He starts to have doubts about himself, mostly about why this thing happened to him and what he should do next.

The writer is really great. She keeps you in agony the whole time. Who is really the teacher? And what is the guy going to do? And it's amazing. Even though the book is written by a female author, you learn many things about guys. How they think and about their considerations. Teenage guys have, somehow, about the same number of problems that girls have, and no girl knows about them. That's why I'm telling you that the book can be read by anyone.

This is a book that makes you think about a lot of things. It's hard for me to explain, so if you have any opinions, I would be more than glad to hear about them.

Hmm... There are a plethora of subtle, unnamed elements here. I truly liked the main character and the profound meditation on what it means to be a sexy boy - seriously. Consider what it's like to have the attention of both older men and women in addition to one's peers. Oates skillfully took the dreamy and attractive main character and really zeroed in on how uncomfortable it would actually be in reality. Darren was an interesting character, and I wouldn't mind delving deeper into his story - perhaps like if he ever managed to solve his entire gay dilemma. It makes one wonder and speculate about what might lie ahead for him. There's something captivating about his character that leaves the reader eager for more.