This book truly took an unexpected turn compared to what I had anticipated from the flap copy.

It presents a distinct perspective on uncomfortable and upsetting subject matters, which is both refreshing and thought-provoking.

I was pleasantly surprised to find Darren Flynn to be a highly believable and sympathetic narrator, despite his flaws.

Joyce Carol Oates' ability to capture a teen boy's voice so accurately is simply amazing.

She manages to bring Darren to life on the pages, making the reader empathize with his experiences and emotions.

The story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish, and I found myself constantly turning the pages to see what would happen next.

Overall, this book is a great read for anyone looking for something different and challenging.

**Title: [Original Article Title]**

The original article presented some interesting points.

However, it could be further expanded to provide more in-depth analysis and details.

For example, certain aspects could be explored more thoroughly, perhaps by including specific examples or case studies.

This would enhance the understanding and credibility of the article.

Moreover, the language could be made more engaging and vivid to capture the reader's attention.

By using more descriptive words and phrases, the article would come alive and leave a stronger impact on the reader.

In conclusion, with these improvements, the article would be more comprehensive, interesting, and valuable to the readers.

It would offer a more detailed and engaging exploration of the topic, making it a more worthwhile read.

An interesting perspective.

Darren, who is popular and attractive, constantly struggles with a sense of not truly belonging in any group. He also grapples with the question of how to be his authentic self. One day, he has a moment with his history teacher. After realizing the awkward flirtation the teacher exhibits, Darren distances himself from the situation, feeling disgusted by it. However, we also learn that what he hears about homosexuality, which is basically associated with pedophilia, influences his reaction. Meanwhile, a scandal erupts against the teacher due to kids playing a horrid joke. Darren wants to assist but feels powerless in actually being able to help. This leads to several questions. Is Darren having issues with his own sexuality? Does he perceive in the teacher a part of himself that he believes he doesn't want to be?

It is indeed an interesting little character study that delves into the complex emotions and self-perceptions of Darren, leaving the reader to wonder about the true nature of his internal conflicts and how they might shape his future.

Knapp 2:

Trodde Oates was a reasonable writer, but this was some hastily cobbled together high school film.

The actual story (which doesn't even feel unique) was left a bit to chance.

It seems as if the makers of this film didn't put in the necessary effort to develop a truly engaging and original narrative.

Perhaps they were in a rush to get the film out or simply didn't have a clear vision.

Whatever the reason, the result is a film that fails to capture the audience's attention and leaves them feeling disappointed.

It's a shame because Oates has the potential to create something great, but in this case, the final product falls short of expectations.

Hopefully, in the future, Oates will take more time and care with their work and produce films that are truly worth watching.

I found this to be a fascinating fact.

It is beautifully poetically written, with sometimes long and sometimes very short chapters.

Ultimately, the story still feels a bit rushed, as if the author didn't want to take the time to fully illuminate the themes.

That's why only three stars.

Overall, despite the rushed feeling, the poetic writing style makes it an interesting read.

The short chapters add a certain rhythm to the story, keeping the reader engaged.

However, the lack of in-depth exploration of the themes leaves something to be desired.

Perhaps with more time and attention, the author could have developed the story even further and made it a truly outstanding piece of work.

Nevertheless, it is still worth reading for those who enjoy poetic and engaging literature.

Undoubtedly, Oates' writing is disturbing.

It is a book where everyone is guilty, even the innocent.

However, it is also the awakening of a seemingly perfect boy who is full of fears and a hostage to the narrow-minded and homophobic thoughts of his parents and companions.

Because even without being a good hero, one can and must come to terms with oneself and one's conscience.

This exploration of the human psyche and the complex web of relationships and beliefs is what makes Oates' work so captivating and thought-provoking.

It forces the reader to confront uncomfortable truths and question their own values and prejudices.

Despite the disturbing nature of the story, there is also a glimmer of hope as the protagonist begins to take steps towards self-acceptance and growth.

Overall, Oates' writing challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the hidden depths within ourselves and others.

Good quote: "It was all invented, wasn't it? People saw on others what they wanted to see, not what was there." (page 184)

This profound statement holds a great deal of truth. In our daily lives, we often find ourselves projecting our own desires, expectations, and biases onto others. We tend to see what we want to see, rather than the objective reality.

For example, when we meet someone new, we might form an initial impression based on our own preconceived notions. We might assume that a person is friendly because they have a warm smile, or that they are intelligent because of their educational background. However, these assumptions may not be accurate.

We should strive to be more objective and open-minded when interacting with others. We need to look beyond the surface and try to understand the true essence of a person. By doing so, we can avoid making inaccurate judgments and build more meaningful relationships.

This book presents itself as seemingly harmless enough. It is a young adult fiction titled "Sexy" and revolves around a teenage boy who is an athlete on a high school swim team. However, it is written by Joyce Carol Oates, and perhaps I should have known better and anticipated being completely disgusted and perturbed right from the start.

Every aspect that I loathe about conservative American culture is encompassed within the pages of this small book. There is the ignorance of small towns, the hypocrisy, the homophobia, the pressure to conform, the power of the lies we tell ourselves, the narrow-minded sports culture, the madonna/whore complex, the worship of athletes, cowardice, soulless bureaucrats, and a general disdain for teachers and "book learnin'". I believe I have just about covered everything.

While Oates' prose is clear, direct, and makes for easy reading (I finished this book in one sitting), there is absolutely nothing beautiful about it. Moreover, there is nothing redeeming about this story. In fact, after reading it, I feel a little queasy, as if I had just watched the TV news, which I usually manage to avoid successfully through books. Books that enrich and beautify my life, regardless of how dark or sad their stories might be.

This book was, quite frankly, an absolute mess. I'm truly at a loss for words.

It makes me wonder how on earth this book managed to get published in the first place.

The content seems to be a jumbled-up collection of ideas that lack any coherent structure or flow.

The writing style is choppy and unengaging, making it a real struggle to get through even a few pages.

There are numerous errors in grammar and spelling, which only serve to further detract from the overall quality of the book.

It's really quite astonishing that something of this caliber could have made it past the editors and into the hands of readers.

One can only hope that in the future, more care and attention will be given to the selection and editing process to ensure that only high-quality books are published.

This is the sole JCO novel that instantaneously hooked me and refused to let go.

It narrates the tale of 16-year-old Darren, who shines on the swim team and has grown astonishingly handsome. He attains popularity and commences receiving numerous special favors earmarked for the young and beautiful. However, being of the shy sort, he refrains from abusing his newfound status.

There is a crucial moment when his male English teacher offers him a ride home and gets rather flirty. Although nothing sexual occurs, Darren feels mortified and recalls his father's severe stance on homosexuality. He is also grappling with his own sexuality. Above all, he desires to forget all about the encounter. Indeed, he manages to brush it off, but when his friends wish to exact revenge on the English teacher for failing them for plagiarism, he is confronted with more difficult decisions.

The book is dedicated to the "Darrens" of the world, and I believe that is highly appropriate. Darren is a jock yet gay, or perhaps just distinct from what society deems a jock should be. He is a child still but facing adult quandaries. Even though his popularity ought to make him feel at ease everywhere, he feels out of place in every crowd. He is an underrepresented kind of kid, and although his situation may seem less significant than the heartache of others, Oates manages to infuse life into his experience and demonstrate that it merits being spotlighted.

Certainly, I knew some Darrens in high school, though I didn't realize it until much later. Some confided their feelings to me through tears and years of pent-up anger. In many respects, it must have been far more arduous for them. To be popular on the one hand, but feel different inside demands much more acting, repression, and self-loathing than to be unpopular and embrace it. Sexy explores this situation better than anything I've read, and surely fish out of water stories have been told countless times before. She succeeds by concentrating on a specific type of high school dilemma, even when she could have taken it in a more theatrical direction. It's a quiet drama, yet it crackles like a live wire.

I can't say how well it endures. I read it nearly 10 years ago and the culture has shifted considerably. I've also been out of high school long enough to not know if Darrens still exist. I'd be astounded if they didn't. There's probably more acceptance now for jocks to be gay or express emotion that isn't hyper-masculine, but at the same time, we're still labelling them 'jocks' and thereby pigeonholing their diverse personalities.

Anyway, the fact that this YA book has remained in my consciousness for 10 years must signify something. If nothing else, it's undoubtedly an excellent catalyst for discussion. Highly recommended!

This book was an easy read for me, and I was able to finish it in just two days.

Oates’ ambiguous writing style truly shines through in the minimalistic language she employs. It is juxtaposed by the sayings and inner adolescent-esque thoughts that add depth and complexity to the story.

Throughout the novel, I found myself constantly making connections. There were several writing callbacks to earlier in the plot that were quite obvious to anyone reading this book as a Joyce Carol Oates fan.

I really enjoyed the pace of the story, which kept me engaged from start to finish. The profession of the characters also added an interesting layer to the narrative.

Getting to know Darren both inside and through the outside in a way was a fascinating aspect of the book. Overall, it was a great read that I would highly recommend to others.

Let's say that Joyce really surprised me. Oh yes, indeed! Perhaps I expected too much from this novel. In its favor, I can say that she knows how to write, but the plot left me a bit like this. True, of course, believable, without a doubt, but to what end? That is, when I got to the end, I thought: and now what? Generally speaking, when I close a novel thinking "and now what?" it's not a good thing.

Maybe I was looking for something more profound, more thought-provoking. Maybe I wanted a story that would change my perspective on life or make me feel something intense. But with this novel, I just didn't get that. It was a good read, don't get me wrong. The writing was smooth and engaging, and the characters were well-developed. But the overall story just didn't have that wow factor for me.

However, I do think that Joyce has talent. Maybe this wasn't the right novel for me, but I would be interested in reading something else by her. Maybe she'll surprise me again in a different way.