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When Jeff Comes Home - Review
Mar. 9th, 2006 09:50 pmThe last book we had to read for book club, if you didn't already catch it in earlier posts, was When Jeff Comes Home by Catherine Atkins. The synopsis is basically 8th grader sports all-star Jeff Hart gets kidnapped and is returned two and a half years later and how he deals with things. I'm not sure how interesting the topic of the book is alone, but I personally would NEVER pick up this book unless it was required.
First, I will start with my expectations of the book. From the title and summary on the back, I expected this book to be boring and a complete waste of time. To me, my expectations came true, lol. But that's not what this post is about, so continuing on.. I believed that when Jeff came back to his "home", he would feel awkward and out of place. His family and friends would treat him as if he was the same kid he left as and wouldn't be able to understand or comprehend whatever he had to deal with. Even without the summary in the back, I'm sure the majority of people can assume the same as I have and, of course, it was correct. But from those assumptions alone, I believe that this book would be a boring read because the plot is very predictable. Jeff comes home, lies about what happened while he was with his kidnapper, has to deal with family, friends, and the police / press / etc, and eventually tells all. And yes, that is the basic summary of the book.
My reactions after reading the book? First off, I believe that Jeff is gay. I know, I know, that's such an OMG everyone thinks that response, but they say it somewhat condescendingly, like the kids at his school did, but I don't mean it that way. I'm just saying what I got out of the book. I mean.. there isn't really any substantial evidence pointing to it, but that's how I feel, so yeah. I don't know..
Anywayz.. Other thoughts on Jeff... I know Jeff's life was bad with Ray (his kidnapper). It was implied throughout the book in flashbacks, but at the same time, I feel that Jeff kinda didn't want to go back home 'cause he knows, subconciously, that things will not be the same and he doesn't want to face the people from his past. I also think that he really wanted to believe that Ray loved him and that he loved Ray. Like.. I think he knew that Ray didn't love him ((or maybe he did in a sick, twisted way.. Who knows?)), but he wanted to believe Ray when he said that he did so he could justify his actions to himself.. So it didn't feel as wrong, ya know? And even though in the end, Jeff said that he "used that to his advantage" or whatever, I don't really think that's true 'cause I don't know.. maybe that was his intentions at first, but I think he started to believe in that lie 'cause when it talked about how they found naked pictures of Jeff in Ray's car, he was thinking, "Oh God, Ray, we were driving for hours and you were telling me you loved me and shit and we were sitting--siting--on those goddamn pictures. You must have been laughing the whole time" (161). To me, it seems like he truly believed that Ray was telling the truth and he was honestly shocked and betrayed.
Lastly, I say that there's potential for some Vin/Jeff, lol. I don't know, but I think it was there.. But that's just me, haha.
Anyway.. I don't know what else to say about this book. I didn't like it and I wouldn't recommend it, but that's my opinion, so yeah.
~Remula
First, I will start with my expectations of the book. From the title and summary on the back, I expected this book to be boring and a complete waste of time. To me, my expectations came true, lol. But that's not what this post is about, so continuing on.. I believed that when Jeff came back to his "home", he would feel awkward and out of place. His family and friends would treat him as if he was the same kid he left as and wouldn't be able to understand or comprehend whatever he had to deal with. Even without the summary in the back, I'm sure the majority of people can assume the same as I have and, of course, it was correct. But from those assumptions alone, I believe that this book would be a boring read because the plot is very predictable. Jeff comes home, lies about what happened while he was with his kidnapper, has to deal with family, friends, and the police / press / etc, and eventually tells all. And yes, that is the basic summary of the book.
My reactions after reading the book? First off, I believe that Jeff is gay. I know, I know, that's such an OMG everyone thinks that response, but they say it somewhat condescendingly, like the kids at his school did, but I don't mean it that way. I'm just saying what I got out of the book. I mean.. there isn't really any substantial evidence pointing to it, but that's how I feel, so yeah. I don't know..
Anywayz.. Other thoughts on Jeff... I know Jeff's life was bad with Ray (his kidnapper). It was implied throughout the book in flashbacks, but at the same time, I feel that Jeff kinda didn't want to go back home 'cause he knows, subconciously, that things will not be the same and he doesn't want to face the people from his past. I also think that he really wanted to believe that Ray loved him and that he loved Ray. Like.. I think he knew that Ray didn't love him ((or maybe he did in a sick, twisted way.. Who knows?)), but he wanted to believe Ray when he said that he did so he could justify his actions to himself.. So it didn't feel as wrong, ya know? And even though in the end, Jeff said that he "used that to his advantage" or whatever, I don't really think that's true 'cause I don't know.. maybe that was his intentions at first, but I think he started to believe in that lie 'cause when it talked about how they found naked pictures of Jeff in Ray's car, he was thinking, "Oh God, Ray, we were driving for hours and you were telling me you loved me and shit and we were sitting--siting--on those goddamn pictures. You must have been laughing the whole time" (161). To me, it seems like he truly believed that Ray was telling the truth and he was honestly shocked and betrayed.
Lastly, I say that there's potential for some Vin/Jeff, lol. I don't know, but I think it was there.. But that's just me, haha.
Anyway.. I don't know what else to say about this book. I didn't like it and I wouldn't recommend it, but that's my opinion, so yeah.
~Remula
