This book is a teenage Young Adult Novel and it revolves around Sutter Keely who resides in Oklahoma. He is not narcissistic nor spiritual nor a social butterfly. He is a social magic maker. He makes up witty words to describe his thought’s, friends and life whilst voicing his opinion in a whimsical way. There other notable character’s in the book whom are an important role in the book and form what becomes “The Spectacular Now”.
Tim Tharp includes “The Sutterman’s” commentaries on his own relationships, his best friends relationships and all of his ex-girlfriends relationships. Most of the time referring back to Sutter’s large big-gulp style 7-up with Whiskey as a prop of sorts. There are plenty of fun moments in the book melded together with Sutter’s unique brand of wit. Being that the main character is a senior in high-school we might expect more drama from the writer, however, there isn’t a lot of drama in Sutter’s life. Most plot points are discovered light-heatedly and described through the narrator’s unique vernacular. The writer paint’s a pleasant picture of life in the mid-west through the main character’s narration.
Sutter and his best friend Ricky have adventures together and correspond about how to live in the moment with women in their life. They aren’t thinking ahead towards graduating that senior year or much concerned with the past. Sutter’s ex-girlfriend is dating a football player and while in the midst of getting her back he meet’s Aimee unexpectedly. Aimee and Sutter become an item, but swirling around Sutter’s mind is Cassidy his ex-girlfriend and the prediction that Aimee will dump him within a month.
Sutter is a likeable character and the book is written in a way that all the character’s are quite likable. The character’s that Sutter has disdain for are described in a likable way as well. For example, Aimee’s step-dad is referred to enthusiastically as Randy-the-Walrus. The story exudes a good amount of charm and is nonchalant about it. Meaning there are scenes where we might expect something exciting or over-the-top to happen but what results is a very sensible scene of happenstance. Towards the end of the book we are more enthused by the relationship between Aimee and Sutter, even more so by the time his friends intervene.
Luckily, the book does not attempt to surprise the reader which is a nice change from other Young Adult books which put more focus on using more adult themes, like heroism, death and coming of age. Don’t be alarmed by this statement because the book is still a page turner. There are theme’s of Alcohol abuse and sex, however, those theme’s are really second to the character development of the story. Standard high-school rumor’s and tomfoolery are left out leaving us to revel at the “Sutterman’s” social skills and even his relationship inadequacy.
Tim Tharp wrote the book in a way that we get to avoid the more apparent and persistent focus of Sutter’s Alcohol abuse and focus on the more interesting subject for YA audiences of the character’s relationship dichotomy. Instead of over-using heavier themes the book glosses over many lighter themes such as isolation, love and spirituality in a humorous way. So any teen’s reading the book will have plenty to enjoy and older reader’s will enjoy a break from more complex literary devices. The result is a book that is very human at it’s core and yet easy to read leaving us with a warm fuzzy feeling all over.
