Customer Reviews

Dough Boy

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a wonderful book! I loved Mr. Marino's characters. I think everyone on some level can identify with Tristan. And for those rare individuals who are Kellys and/or Marcos, perhaps they could learn something!

Even though this book is recommended for young adult readers, I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading it. What great lessons in understanding, compassion, empathy and tolerance.

I look forward to more of Mr. Marino's work!

I have a son who is struggling with his weight. I saw this book and thought I'd give it to him to read. While flipping through the pages I got hooked and decided to read it first. I was really touched. The writing is funny and sensitive. There are no cliche answers to the lead character's problems. It's quite moving the way he learns to find his own way and refreshing to see that losing weight is not the only key to his happiness. My son is currently reading it and tells me he enjoys it too. This is a very unique book and I strongly recommend it.

If you are a teenager or were one, you'll identify with some of the dilemmas facing the Tristan character. A fragile era of everyone's life, this particular teen's predicaments are acutely narrated. Phrases such as, "My face glowed like an embarrassment thermometer," remind adults of a vulnerable time and relate to those still in the throes of growing pains. Teen insensibility and insensitivity are cleverly crafted into an entertaining story. Tristan's tale may be unique but his feelings are universal.

This is a great book. You instantly become attached to the character that you are presented with. It is a heartfelt read that is more than a good book. It is not a masterpiece, but it is pretty good!

Peter Marino has crafted a brilliant book for anyone who has ever experienced insecurity (and let's face it, who hasn't?). The book is designed for teens, but reads well for adults. His dialogue is witty and sharp, particularly in the character of Tristan, who is unpopular with his classmates, but with a self-deprecating wit that is often laugh-out-loud hilarious to the reader. When I first heard the book was for teens, I had doubts if I would enjoy it (I'm a 31-year old man). Certainly at moments I wished the book would be darker, or use fiercer language, but then reminded myself that such words would not be appropriate for 13-17 year olds. As written, the book is PERFECT for that age level, and still VERY GOOD for folks in my age group as well. Though I occasionally felt that I would have cursed more than Tristan in similar scenarios, I respected Marino's restraint, and found it all the more endearing by the end.

I found all of Dough Boy's characters to be honest, believable, and so well described that I could imagine each of them popping up in my daily life. Marino's primary achievement in this novel is the lack of stereotypes. Oh sure, some characters start out as the jock, the loser, the hot chick, and so on, but he ladens each character with such depth, such pathos, and such dimension, I found myself even empathizing with the "villains". While detesting how certain characters treated Tristan, I never felt that those characters were two-dimensional or cliched. I found each character to be fully human and believable.

It is a tribute to Marino's extreme talent as a writer that I felt engaged by each and every character; engulfed in laughter or tears by each and every scene, and the only time I ever felt disappointed was when the book was over, and I knew I'd not be able to follow Tristan's journey any further.

At times in the novel, I felt reminded of a recent news story in which a young boy committed suicide because of all the bullying he received at school. I worried endlessly through the novel that Tristan might follow the same course. I don't wish to reveal the ultimate outcome, or spoil the suspense, but as other reviewers have commented, the book leaves you with hope, wonderment, and delight at the world by the close of the novel. It truly is magnificent, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I was moved to tears, AND fits of hysterical laughter at many different times throughout.

I cannot say enough great things about this novel, except "Thank God Marino wrote another one!" Magic and Misery is another beautiful tome by the same author which follows through on the debut promise of "Dough Boy", and which I'll review on the appropriate page. I'm so impressed by this author, I cannot say enough great things about him. You MUST read these books, and you must recommend them to the teenagers in your life. You won't regret it.

Sincerely,
Daniel Guyton (Playwright, Author)
www.danguyton.com

Couldn't put this book down! I started it and read straight through without a breath. Marino gets inside his main character and creates a fast-paced, funny story that is both moving and entertaining. Will appeal to both teen and adult readers. Not to be missed!

Tristan reminds me of a dear friend who went through many of the same trials...I would love to read the sequel about what happens to Tristan later in life.

Tristan is fifteen years old from a family of divorce. He also happens to be overweight. So start this hilarious funny and sad story. Tristan mom and dad eventually becomes divorce in the beginning of the book. Not too long afterwards his mother moves in with a man name Frank. Tristan gets along with him until the story takes a nosedive when Frank highstrung daughter pays a visit and eventually moves in. Kelly is the daughter from hell. She abuses her father emotionally by obsessing about his weight. She is a spitfire who is very argumentative and never backs down. She eventually starts obsessing about Tristan weight and starts watching what he and her father eats. This book has many comedy relief and sad turns like Tristan falling through the roof and has to be resuced by Kelly and her boyfriend (who happens to be Tristan ex-friend Marcos): Tristan going skiing with Kelly and Marcos and hearing them making love and feeling left out and alone, having to deal with his friend abandoned him and taking up with kelly.I enjoy this book thoroughly it had its highs, lows and saddness. It was many things wrapped up in one. I highly recomend.