Customer Reviews

Revolting Youth: The Further Journals of Nick Twisp

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Nick Twisp and CD Payne are back with a vengeance in the 2000 novel REVOLTING YOUTH, the continuation of Payne's classic YOUTH IN REVOLT. Shorter and breezier than its predecessor, REVOLTING YOUTH picks up almost exactly where YIR left off, with Nick hiding out in drag in Ukiah, enjoying his Wart Watch royalties and the affections of his ladylove, Sheeni. This peace is not to be long-lived, however, and Dickensian plot twists and turns soon overtake him. Over the course of the story, our protagonist will find himself in the Deep South during a blizzard, south of the border, living the shallow life in Los Angeles, assuming yet another new identity, along with actually undergoing a surprisingly touching process of maturity. One of the surprises of this book is the degree of changes that the characters go through. Unlike most sequels, in which established personalities remain unchanged (and therefore less interesting), Nick actually grows in REVOLTING YOUTH. He picks up newer, more mature character traits and ways of achieving his goals. True, his primary characteristic is still self-interest, but this new willingness to face danger head on and not rely solely on sneakiness points to a means of growth and development that could fill a whole series of Nick Twisp novels. Sheeni also goes through some interesting changes, showing a new depth and vulnerability. Payne commendably refuses to confine her to a simple "girlfriend" role. There is much talk of genes and genetics in REVOLTING YOUTH, and we realize bit by bit how much Nick rebels against his own genes, almost defying Nature itself, in his various quests. He impersonates various other people and sexes, becoming a female (Carlotta) and many other things while performing his scam operations. It is almost as if Nick's own genes are entirely changeable - he vigorously defies the roles that society attempts to assign him, rebelling against his parents and even himself at several points in order to achieve his goals. Nick reflects at several places how genes control us all, but it is clear that nothing controls him. He is entirely adaptable. The book ends on a good note, while one wishes for the story to continue, it could just as easily end at that point once and for all. Nevertheless, I find myself hoping for more stories of Nick Twisp, and I wish Payne the best of luck with this and all his other literary endeavors. Long live the revolt.

C.D. Payne has done it again! Revolting Youth is just as good as, if not better than Youth In Revolt! It has all the plot twist and wonderfully descriptive language that has come to be expected of C.D. Payne! He has great insight into the hearts and minds of every mischevious and love-stricken teenage boy! For anyone who loved Youth In Revolt as much as I did, I implore you to read Revolting Youth! Let's just hope that this is not that last book about the crazy and twisted life of Nick Twisp!

... you'll like this one too. The first book, though, opened up one's eyes to the destructive possibilities of young people with too much time on their hands (and they almost all have too much time on their hands). The second book will merely entertain. I gave it to one of my ArsDigita co-founders on an airplane and, though he hadn't read the first book, he was still laughing hard enough that the flight attendants cut off his alcohol supply...

Alot of the faithful members of the fanbase for C.D.'s underground classic, will of course love this novel. Maybe even more than the origional come to think of it. It seems to me however, that no matter who has read the two part story of Nick Twisp, will either love it and claim it to be the best novel ever written, or hate it for it's childish humor, disturbing images, and malicious actions and goings-on. Trust me people, If you find erection jokes and fat people sexually taking advantage of 14-year olds, then leave right now and find a nice "Clifford the Big Red Dog" book to read. However if plastic surgery and being fugitave from FBI intrigues you. Then C.D. Payne had dutifully provided you with a Love Story to remember.

This is a very good continuation of Youth in Revolt, which stands next to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as one of the funniest books in print today. It starts a little slow, as if it was difficult to get back into that groove of the first book, but a couple pages into it and it's like you never left. The sheer improbability of the events that occure in Nick's life are what make it so enjoyable, yet the emotions still run true to what everyone has felt in their teenage years. Everyone can identify. It's a simple story about True Love, and what life will throw in your way to prevent it. I highly suggest anyone with a sense of humor/irony read this book....right after Youth in Revolt!

C.D. Payne did an absolutely wonderful job writing this sequel! He has done an amazing job perfecting the art of creating a crazy atmosphere for Nick Twisp to live and exist in. This is a must read book but it would be best to have read Youth In Revolt ahead of time even with the summary at the beggining of this one. The two flow together so well that it's hard to believe I ever had to wait to read this one. I have not yet read any other books by this author besides this particular series but I feel confident that they are just as good.

I confess I laughed as much from this book as from the first one. Frankly I'm mystified by the complaints of people who didn't like this one. Am I missing something? My friend who introduced me to Nick thinks some people expect a more realistic story. But with an author as imaginative as this guy, why would you want him to stick with realism. That's why I like Michael Connelly but he writes crime fiction. Reading Nick Twisp I'm just out for laughs. I look forward to more, since I hear there are two more books in the series to be published.

One of the wittiest books you'll ever read, except for possibly the fist one Youth In Revolt (which I highly recommend you read before this as this is obviously the continuation). Overall I'd say the 1st book is funnier and the 2nd book is more exciting. I tend to laugh a little less when the air gets charged with operations, gun shots, and high speed get aways.

That said you simply must read both books in their correct order. I have never laughed so much in my life. Sure, there is plenty of budding male sexuality in here, you could certainly say its one of the major themes, but the book is filled with so many relavent social and political references along with a stunning vocabulary that you simply allow the author to use this crazed 14 year old male as a vehicle for his humorous commentary. I have also been pleasantly surprised that all the women I've talked to have recommended these books to me (a male). This reinforces the notion that though Nick is a sex starved young male, females are also able to relate to Nick and Sheeni's sexuality, validating the book on yet another level.

Bravo! Funniest Books ever written!!!!

Why are you reading this review? Read the book! If you loved "Youth In Revolt" as much as I did, you have to read this, preferably right after finishing "Youth In Revolt" and "Cut To the Twisp". Together it is an amazing, rollicking tale of our 14 year old hero's quest for love, sex, donuts, revenge and money, not necessarily in that order.

If you've ever been 14, or plan to be one day, you must read this and prepare to laugh. No books have made me laugh so much and so consistently, all the time following one of the most complicated set of plot lines in literary history.

Thank you Mr. Payne!

If you haven't read Youth in Revolt, please do. It will help a ton in understanding Revolting Youth. However, contrary to popular belief, you can still read Revolting Youth without having read YiR, and still find it hilarious. Just ask my mom.

Revolting Youth somehow manages to surpass YiR. Payne has mastered his craft and now effortlessly cranks out complicated and unexpected Twispian plot twists, with hilarious results.

Lots of crazy stuff goes down in this book. While Nick is doomed to suffer setbacks and rejections, he always mananges to come out on top. Sheeni is even more indifferent to him than before, but you can bet Nick finds his way into her . . . erm . . . heart. Or something like it. Fuzzy returns as Nick's best pal, who is consistently, albeit NOT stupidly, a true friend. Don't forget about Ukiah's most beautiful teen couple, Trent and Apurva, now married and expecting two babies, although only one of them is Apurva's. Yes, all your favorite characters are back, and some new crazies join in the madness.

Only one problem remains: Don't expect Payne to come out with another Nick Twisp adventure. It doesn't seem possible that he can equal or top this one.