Customer Reviews

Epsilon Zeta

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

 

 

My major criticism with Epsilon Zeta is that it is packaged up as an expose of the dark side of college fraternities, but having been a member of a large fraternity chapter at a large university, and having seen what really happens inside fraternity houses, I was disappointed with what Jock Young revealed (or failed to reveal?). Some of the stories are pretty funny, but many just aren't that impressive which is a surprise since this book is a fictional account of college which should have given Jock Young the freedom to put some wild stuff in here. I guess the author was just trying to stick to what he knew to be true. The most traumatic stories are about a girl falling off a roof busting her face up and some kid stage diving at a football game where he hurts some girl. Not very exciting compared to the wild things I did with my brothers. The hazing was pretty weak too.

The strength of Epsilon Zeta is definitely the dialogue which is both funny and accurate. I have to admit that reading this book brought back memories of my own fraternity days. Some of this stuff is absolutely hilarious. For instance, there is one scene where two brothers are explaining to a young pledge the many reasons why he shouldn't date just one girl. These types of conversations were very much the discussions my brothers and I frequently had with one another. That being said, some of the writing is a little dated. For instance, there is one story where a large meathead makes the following threat, "Let him come down here. I'll twist his arms off." Seriously Jock Young, that sounds like something my Dad would say, not my juicehead fraternity brother. Still, in spite of all this criticism, this is a good book about fraternity life and it gives the reader a clear view into the political battles that occur within fraternities.

I am a sucker for any novel set on a college campus. I received this book from a friend, and couldn't put it down! No need to be a member of a Greek organization to enjoy the book in its entirety. The author makes it easy to follow along. There are a lot of characters introduced that live in this fraternity house of 60+ residents, but the main ensemble is well sketched and has surprising depth, although you may not necessarily want your daughters dating any of them.

This is an accurate book about fraternities. It really gets into the internal problems that these organizations deal with. Brothers form cliques that fight with one another for control. Lots of good laughs here too.

While reading this book did bring back some fond memories of my fraternity days a few decades ago, I was quite disappointed in the book overall. I ordered this book in spite of the Dooley review. Having finished the book, I agree with that review--this book's plot is virtually non-existent. The "story" consists of a collection of disparate scenes loosely strung together. In addition, the cast of characters is large, and the characters are poorly developed. I kept flipping back through the book and re-reading pages to figure out who was who, but I finally gave up and just plowed ahead to get through it.

Many of the activities were reminiscent of my fraternity days; however, these characters took them to an inexcusable--even dangerous--extreme. If the author's real-life fraternity chapter conducted itself the way these guys did, it deserved the same fate as this chapter's. I was appalled at the behavior. My own fraternity experience was incredibly positive and character-building, and I hope that this book is not representative of the kind of behavior and character exhibited by young men's fraternities in the present.

I applaud the author for his accomplishment in getting a book published. I know how challenging that is. Having said that, I do believe he has a great deal of room to improve as a writer, specifically in the areas of plot and character development. I cannot recommend this book.

I bought this book after reading some of the non-Amazon reviews in newspapers and college newspapers. The reviews seemed to be either great or terrible and filled with personal attacks against the author. There wasn't a lot of in between.

While the book probably won't appeal to many people past their mid-20s, and maybe not many women at all, it wasn't a fraternity bashing book as some have claimed. I was in a different fraternity in a different part of the country in a different generation, but I still recognized a lot of things in this book. Fraternities and college aged young men haven't changed very much in the last several decades.

I give it a good rating because it is well written and vivid. What stood out to me was that it does capture all of the different personalities and character types found in that type of environment. Some of the secondary characters do blur together a bit, but it is a cohesive story that follows this fraternity to its ultimate, well earned demise. It's definitely different.

This tightly written first novel has the makings of a cult classic with a lot staying power. It reads almost like a non-fiction expose, and for my money it is the definitive work on college fraternities to this point. The author has told a very entertaining story, presumably about his own former fraternity, while staying away from stereotypes and performing a very thorough examination of life in a fraternity house. The behind the scenes stuff with the pledge class and initiation is intriguing. As someone who was in a fraternity in college, this book nails everything- the internal politics, the hypocrisy, the behavior, and the attitudes. These things were all present in my fraternity, I just didn't look at them like this.

The story focuses on a few cliques of brothers who live in this house. There's a large ensemble cast as opposed to any single main character, but the author does a good job of keeping up with everyone important and they all have very distinct personalities and backgrounds. The dialogue between all of the characters is the strongest part of the book. It's really well done.

It may not become a mainstream hit because there's plenty of raunch and offensive material that will turn a lot of people off. But if someone really wants to learn about fraternities, this is the book.

This book is an eye opening portrayal of the way young men in fraternities act and decision make. It doesn't pull any punches. All the familiar archetypes are illustrated, many of whom you would certainly not want your daughters to date. Fortunately, as in the real world, there are characters who provide a sane counter balance. I won't tell you which side comes out on top though.

Reading this book will definitely make you remember those times you felt you were swimming against the tide or perhaps those times you went along with the crowd and wish you hadn't.

Epsilon Zeta, a 283-page debut novel from Jock Young, puts a new spin on an old theme-frat house living. What sets Epsilon Zeta apart from the myriad books and movies that have examined college fraternities over the years is Young's attention to detail and his going further behind the scenes than anyone has ever gone before.

The author was a member of Sigma Chi at Florida State University in the late 1980's. Epsilon Zeta is based on real events that occurred at his own fraternity in Tallahassee, although it is set in present time.

We meet the Gamma Nu chapter of Epsilon Zeta on the fictional campus of Northwest Florida University in the final months of their existence. The probation-plagued chapter has a long history of problems with its national headquarters and university administration. Its oldest brothers have seen date rapes, rampant drug abuse, and a major expulsion of half the chapter a few years earlier.

The ongoing tension centers around conflicts and old antagonisms between newly-elected chapter president Martin Pierce, pledge trainer Zack Lawrence, and their longtime nemesis, Damon Joyce, who was one of the brothers kicked out of the fraternity only to be later re-instated.

Pierce and Lawrence are virulently anti-drug and recognize the changing landscape for their fraternity at NFU as they attempt to prevent Gamma Nu from backsliding into its old ways. However, Damon Joyce and his allies fondly remember, and long for, those good old days: the times when brotherhood trumped all else and the chapter had an anything-goes mentality.

Set against this backdrop of political in-fighting and historical chapter troubles is a unique ensemble of characters whose behaviors and attitudes are on full display. We hear raw conversations on everything from oral sex techniques to the chapter's refusal to pledge African-Americans. The book unapologetically drips with sexism, racism, and homophobia.

Casual sex between drunken partners is a normal occurrence. In what's known as a "vision," brothers watch other brothers have sex with females. Bets are made as to who can obtain the most invitations to sorority social events. In one of the funnier scenes, one brother learns he has contracted a venereal disease. In another scene, brothers are caught measuring their genitals. You get the idea.

Young is at his best, though, when going into elaborate detail with descriptions of chapter meetings, the pledge program, and his blow-by-blow of Gamma Nu's intense initiation week. This level of fraternity secrecy has never been exposed before in any form of art or entertainment.

On the surface, Epsilon Zeta could be viewed as just another example of men behaving very badly, but Young has moved to the head of the fraternity genre class by bringing a deadly accuracy to his examination. More critical readers will understand the author is putting this unhealthy environment under the microscope, rather than the characters who are an outgrowth of it.

The book also strays from the stereotypical characters and situations we've become so accustomed to in other books and movies. While this is an out of control fraternity that would not be the model for any Greek organization, the events depicted are not filled with the farcical silliness of Animal House. The dialogue in Epsilon Zeta, while often offensive, gets an A+ and is a major strength.

This would be the book to read for anyone wanting to get a full picture of Greek life. There will be an eerie familiarity to readers who already belong or have belonged to fraternities at large state schools. I know there was for me.

I heard a little bit about this book on my campus, so I pre-ordered it. As a fraternity member at a large university, I'm always interested in books about fraternity houses.

This is the first one I've ever read where the characters were not cardboard cutout, stereotypical frat boys. The situations were real and believable. The dialogue is excellent. Some of the characters are just like guys at my house. I'm surprised the writer went so into detail with the initiation week, but that added to the believability.