Customer Reviews

Love on the Big Screen

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a must read for everyone who came of age in the 80's! You won't be able to put it down!

Loved, loved, loved LOVE ON THE BIG SCREEN. The story of Zuke, a student at a small Christian college, will make you laugh, think, and reminisce about the 80's and 90's through clever details and pop culture allusions.

There is a resonant truth in the story of Zuke that we can all relate to as he struggles with love, relationships, college life, and quest for true happiness. Torgerson's prose is fresh, and the characters he created are true to life and very relatable, while at the same time interesting and often surprising. LOVE ON THE BIG SCREEN is a page turing read that succeeds in creating a perfect balance of humor and thought provoking themes.

I was initially drawn to reading this book after meeting the author in a writing workshop. As an alumni from the "real" Pison Nazarene College, I couldn't help but being drawn into the world of Zuke, Abby, and the rest of the characters. If you have never gone to college or stayed in a dorm, this book will make you want to have those experiences.

This book works on at least three levels. It works as a poignant look at what love really is and how the idealized love portrayed in movies (particularly rom-coms and 80's romance flicks) is vapid, unattainable, and not worthwhile of imitation. It works as entertaining nostalgia with many pop-culture references (well... references to what was pop-culture 30 years ago). Lastly is works as an example of a book that can straddle the lines between a fun read and literature. I found myself quickly engaged in the characters and story of the book, but throughout the journey I was impressed by the imagery and allusions. It's clear that the author carefully crafted the book. The literary elements don't get in the way of the story and the story is given greater depth and less "fluffiness" through the strategic placement of literary elements.

I'm a fan of sports, but not sports books. I'm a child of the '80s and a slave to pop-culture, but I'm not one for nostalgia. I love movies, but disliked most of the movies referenced in this book. I should have disliked this book for all the reasons that most of the other reviewers loved it. I didn't. I enjoyed the book immensely. For me, that's a testament to a well written and well crafted story. So, if you love the '80s, read this book. If you love basketball, read this book. If you love "Say Anything", read this book. If you hate all those things, you still owe it to yourself to read this book.

First of all...I Loved the male club title given to the character Zuke and his fellow friends involved...

"Brothers in Pursuit" (Zuke, Cowboy, The Dini, Moon, and Flabby)...Young Men whom are in pursuit of God,

knowledge, compassion and women. Through out reading the book I tried to picture the young men I went to school with and pair them up with the characters I've mentioned above. A few came to mind and one I thought could be Zuke.(so, I chuckled through out reading and thought how fun it would be to send a copy to all and get reactions...if that doesn't happen, I will definately share with my male classmate buddies)

My experience:

I really enjoyed reminiscing my beloved decade of choice through this book and enjoyed reading of places mentioned that I know about and have visited by living close.(I've had a similar experience of a memoir novel I read not long ago set in Richmond IN)

So, placement of where the story takes place was Fun for me...

Reading about Zuke, who has unrealistic expectations about Love created through the 80's movies he loves, gave me an inside look into what it's like for a male to experience mid-west conservative Christian college life in the late 1980's...something I never thought about at all since College Life was never an option/or should I say, an option I wanted to pursue at that time in my life. Aww Zuke, the poor guy...I did feel bad for him in a sense.(I've been there...just in a different way. What woman doesn't experience The Cinderella Syndrome...if she's honest with herself anyway) Isn't that what Hollywood film/TV/even fiction novels can do to every normal mid-westerner??(of course, speaking personally...and I'm sure to us all~no matter where we live) Unrealistic expectations of Life on subjects that we really need to learn to be realistic about. For me, back in the late 80's it was dreaming of "getting the heck outta dodge" and jumping onto a bus headed out to California to experience the sunset strip and run with all the hair bands I still love today. You know, I still entertain myself with such dreams but I'm definately living in the real world when it comes to Love and Life.(although don't ask my family...they'd probably say I do live in a fantasy world most days)

So, basically we learn about Zuke and his Love life in a strict college setting, his male relationships and experiences with being on a college basketball team. We also learn of his choices and the consequences of them...and we see growth(at the end...or should I say, in this chapter of his life)...but, isn't that life? Yes. And that's what I think Bill Torgerson portrayed here in this book...actual feelings/actual confusion/actual ways one plays out their life to lead themselves to the next chapter...without even realizing it.

I am anxious for the next chapter...hopefully about Zuke in the real World with wife/kids/job.

Simply put; I did not want this book to end. Personally, Love on the Big Screen joins an elite handful of books that have caused me to cancel all prior engagements in order to finish reading in one sitting. It raises a nostalgia that warms the heart, like sharing stories with an old friend. Any young guy or gal who pursued love in high-school/college will see them-self and their friends in Zuke and co. Impossible to not recommend! Eagerly awaiting future titles from Torg!

What a great read! This book moves at a nice, crisp pace and the protagonist, Zuke, is utterly likable and surprisingly complex. It's an expert hand that keeps this book (so steeped in obvious nostalgia and coming-of-age material) from bogging down in mawkish sentimentality: Torgerson is to be applauded.

I was born way before the 80's but this book covers generations and feelings that women have also, the same as Zuke. What a fun book to read; it makes you laugh, cringe at various forms of dorm life and behavior, hope, and you are right there with Zuke, cheering him on. Bill absolutely has to write a sequel so we learn if Zuke ever dates Marie! I think it was foolish of Abby to go back with Cheese!

This book is amazing. It takes me back to the eighties when life was a bit simpler. The story focuses on a man named Zuke who feels that love is what you see in the movies. He spends his whole life trying to find that "movie love" only to miss the true love that is right in front of him. The story is told from a perspective that you don't often see...the male perspective. It will make you laugh out loud and yet get angry at the same time. Everyone should get this book; you won't be able to put it down. This is a must read!!

It's been a long time since I couldn't put a book down but this one did it! It is a poignant yet humorous "coming of age" story that keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. Sometimes I cheered at the characters' actions, sometimes I cringed, sometimes I was sad at how things were going, and honestly, sometimes I found myself sitting all by myself laughing out loud. I found myself really caring about Zuke, the main character and to me, that's the hallmark of a good book. Perfect ending. Like a couple of the other reviewers, I am hoping there is a sequel. Sequel or another story entirely, I am anxiously awaiting this author's next book!