Customer Reviews

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My father read it, my niece read it, and I read it--and it's all we've talked about at dinner for the last two weekends. My father loved all of the baseball references, my niece fell in love with both of the boys in the story, and I was amazed at how deeply moved I was by how much the parents cared for their kids. Not to mention the laughs and coming to remember that ANYthing's possible as long as your heart's behind it.

Our library has this one shelved in general fiction AND a second copy in teen fiction. Now I understand why.

This was a book that definitely and swiftly made my list of favorites for 2008. It's full of warmth, heart and most of all laughs. After reading it (one-sitting), I knew it was one of those books that you've just got to share with someone, so I lent it out and sure enough, the friend had to keep it. Needless to say, I've bought about 10 more copies for friends and family. In Last Days of Summer and Almost Like Being in Love, I got hooked on Kluger's writing and his great characters; with My Most Excellent Year, I became a full-fledged fanatic. This is definitely one you won't be able to put down, and one you'll wish didn't have to end.

One of the best parts of any online literary forum is noting wildly diverse reactions to the same book.
Steve Kluger's My Most Excellent Year illustrates the point that we need as wide a variety of reading material on library shelves as there are readers, in order to please a whole spectrum of palates.

Those who gave negative reviews, citing characters who stretch the bounds of believability and a too-happy conclusion without much in the way of real adversity are right, in my opinion. T.C., Augie, Ale, even the parents seem like incredibly evolved and self-actualized human beings; sad little Mary Poppins-loving Hucky signs his way into everyone's hearts; wise guidance counselor Lori might as well have "Pop and T.C.'s future wonderful wife/stepmom" emblazoned across her forehead, and by the end, everyone is practically singing a Broadway finale in harmony with their arms around each other. Fair enough; it is indeed too good to be true.

That said, isn't there still a place for the unapologetically joyful, the perhaps overly hopeful and earnest,world-the-way-you-wish-it-was novel? YA literature is jam-packed with somber dystopian stories, all betrayals, sharp edges and shredded ideals. These are worthy explorations. Young adults need to be challenged, to have their beliefs and boundaries examined, pushed, cast in sinister shadow from time to time; many incredible contributions to YA literature have been written in the past several years, and I am not even attempting to place them in the same category as Kluger's comparatively light and frothy book. But there SHOULD be room for a FUN coming-of-age story, with baseball, show tunes and light romance. It is, frankly, nice to envision a world where someone like Augie is allowed to be entirely himself, open and without fear; where withdrawn little boys are mentored and then adopted by caring families; where love, intelligence, creativity, passion, art, all the things that make life extraordinary, are celebrated. Yes, it requires a suspension of disbelief, but why not go there? We all need a vacation from stark reality, a spot of levity like a purple balloon; a reason to believe.

It's really hard to explain what this book is about, because it has so much. But trust me when I say it's a fun and charming read. It was a light read, but wasn't total fluff, as some of the storyline dug a little deeper. It'll pull at your heartstrings-in a good way, not a bawl your eyes out way. In a lot of ways, I could see this one easily turning itno a teen movie.

The novel is told from three points of view-Augie, T.C. and Ale are all the main narrators. There are journal entries, letters, websites, e-mails, that move the story along. Ocassionally there's an e-mail put in from some of the parents, but for the most part the teens carry the story. Each teen ends up with a project and something changing their life during freshman year. T.C. falls for Ale, but has to work to win her over. Augie is put in charge of a school production, realizes he's gay, and starts to crush on a cute boy at school. Ale, the diplomat's perfect daughter, discovers a love for musical theater and doing what she wants. There's also a story about a young deaf boy and Mary Poppins that comes into play later on in the novel.

So you can tell there's a lot of stuff going on in this novel-but it all works! It's a modern fairy tale that (for the most part) is believable. You may have to suspend reality for just a moment, but I like to think anything can happen! :) My Most Excellent Year left me smiling. I wanted to step into their world and befriend T.C., Ale and Augie.

There really is something for everyone-musical theater, romance, baseball, political activism. I think readers who may shy away from typical romancey-type books might give this one a try. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about this one. It really stood out for me because it had a really unique feel to it. It's going in my favorite reads of the year pile for sure!

Side note-I posted both the hardcover and the paperback covers. (Hardcover is on the left, paperback is on the right) Which one do you prefer? I like them both-the first one is simple, but the second tells you a little bit more about the book, I think.

I absolutely adore this book! I'm thinking of giving it as "the" Christmas present this year. It's a great, fun story of 3 high school students growing up. All kids are very different and yet form a meaningful friendship with one another. The book touches on various life revelations such as sexuality, adoption, the idea of what is expected of you and what makes you truly happy. All the revelations are handled quite tastefully. The book is written if diary/ journal type format so not only do the characters tell you their personal thoughts it's as if you are experiencing their growths along with them. As a reader, you leave feeling as if you are really one of their friends.

I personally am not a fan of modern day fiction. It's always the same - some drama about her girl and her boyfriend... and grades or something. I don't know - BUT I picked up this book, because I was really intrigued by, "A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park."

The characters were a bit over the top, a little too perfect - but that is my only complaint. I loved the story and read the book in one sitting. I was utterly surprised that I actually enjoyed it - I've even recommended it to friends... and now an Internet full of strangers. :P

This book really has something for everyone. I was delighted by all the musical references... but 97% of the baseballs ones went over my head.

If you're looking for a cute, feel-good book, this is your best bet!

Kluger is an unsung master, as he proves again with MMEY. Like all of Kluger's books, the characters are people we'd like to meet with real emotions. Ordinary people, yet extraordinary at the same time. I concur with all of the great things mentioned in the other reviews - but would like to draw attention to one thing in particular, the thing that truly proclaims him an innovator. In a popular main-stream novel, Kluger uses a first person / third person narrative perspective at the same time. By telling the story through emails, IM's, Text messages etc. (which tells the story in first person, but obviously implies the need of a third person omniscient collator) Mr. Kluger is at the forefront of a new long-form narrative structure. One that is a pure product of its times. A structure, that I bet, many young people today find easier and more enjoyable to read. And make no mistake, Kluger's narrative is masterful, the story flows and comes alive in a most delightful way. With MMEY, Mr. Kluger stakes his claim to something few authors can - he is one of them that moved the art of narrative fiction forward.

You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but i could tell from the cover of this one that it would be a great read. Blue, with a blue umbrella, in which the handle is a wooden baseball bat. See, sometimes, you can just tell.
Anyway, i loved this book. It was funny. I laughed out loud a couple of times, just at small, unexpected things-a funny quote or somthing, nothing huge. Usually, i don't really like books written all in diary, letter, email, im, etc form, but this one was perfect.
I fell in love with the characters, especially the two main ones, Anthony and Augie, two "brothers." They're wonderfully written and i wish i knew them in real life!
All in all, it's a great read and will definitely make you smile.

I can't "gush" enough about this book. It truly is a feel good read. Kluger's vivid descriptions of the characters make you feel as if you intimately know them. And Hucky! Makes you want to adopt him yourself. The only way to improve this book is to see it made into a movie. I loved this book so much I'm ordering all of Steve Kluger's books. I just love the way he writes. The chapter layout (each character's perspective and e-mail) is brilliant. I am anxiously awaiting Kluger's next book

Three teens, one assignment... their most excellent year.

T.C., originally Anthony Conigliaro Keller, was born into a family who loves baseball, and speaks with a very distinct accent. Like his family, T.C. loves the sport and practically knows all there is to know about baseball. It certainly helps him with his grades; if only it could help him get the girl of his dreams. With quite an odd family, a knack at frustrating those around him, making sure he only gets a B+ on everything (except for algebra, since he isn't a poser), and being a trendsetter, T.C.'s life completely changed when his mother passed away.

Augie, T.C.'s non-biological, Chinese brother, became his best friend after his mother died, helping him cope. With a love for theater, movies, and everything dramatic, Augie definitely hasn't found his true identity yet, even though everyone around him, especially the ones he loves, has. Besides theatrics, Augie is a pretty good soccer player, especially when he is playing with T.C. Of course, these distractions can't possibly pull his mind away from how his heart is pulling him in a very different direction.

Alejandra, a.k.a. T.C.'s dream girl, has never fit in, both at school or home. With a father who was the ambassador to Mexico, her dream was never with politics like her brother but more towards dance, which she must keep a secret. Because of her father, Alejandra has been able to meet some very famous politicians and celebrities. Of course, all of the famous people she met didn't help her status in school, since she was automatically considered stuck-up. But T.C. still loves her, except she doesn't love him back, or so she thinks. Not one to hide her opinions,
who wouldn't be scared of her?

Beginning in their late junior year, the three flash back to their freshmen year... their most excellent year.

The year where love, sexuality, identity, friendship, and strength were discovered. Each one writing in the diaries for
their English class, all addressed to an important person: T.C. to his mama, Augie to the diva of the week, and Alejandra to Jacqueline, the wife of her favorite president, JFK.

Laughter, tears, and relief will be felt by not only the characters but also the readers. MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR takes three very distinct, honest teens who all have problems of their own, and who need each other
desperately in the end. Steve Kluger allows the reader to have a close interaction with the characters, who are all very well-developed and defined, making the story all the more enjoyable.

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen