The Sixth Form by Tom Dolby
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.50 You Save: $17.50 (73%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.58 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Sixth Form
Book Review: Suspenseful Coming-of-Age Tale
Summary: 4 Stars
This book really took me by surprise.
Four years ago, I read Dolby's first novel, THE TROUBLE BOY, and while I enjoyed it, felt that it hewed so closely to much of what's already out there in gay literature that it failed to leave a lasting impression. But with THE SIXTH FORM Dolby makes a quantum leap forward.
The story centers on the tangled relationships of three people over the course of one term at a posh New England prep school - Todd, the gay son of a wealthy New York author (in the vein of Danielle Steele or Jackie Collins), Ethan, the brainy [and straight] son of two middle class California intellectuals and Hannah, the unorthodox bohemian teacher who lures them into her orbit with her seemingly freewheeling attitude and her homebaked goodies. Most people might roll their eyes when they see that this is a "gay" novel that takes place in a private boarding school. And certaintly, the opportunity for cliches abound, but these are no stereotypes; they're complicated, down-to-earth characters with believable problems.
Dolby give the reader access to both Todd and Ethan's points of view, but lets Hannah's motives remain opaque. And because of this, I found myself drawn to her character in the same way the boys are - hungrily snatching at clues to her mysterious and tragic past. I'll admit to being impressed that a gay male writer took the time to create a three dimensional female character - even if she is clinging, deluded and predatory. It totally worked for me!
There's a lot of really good stuff here. Even the most minor secondary characters seem leap off the page - recognizable and fully formed. Todd's MILF-y mom and n'er-do-well dad, Ethan's saintly mother being devoured by disease, even the semi-closeted lesbian couple who teach at the school. The dialogue is very naturalistic. The interractions between characters are always revealing and enjoyable to read. Each scene moves along at a leisurely pace, but as a whole the book still reads quickly. And the story itself is a unique combination of love triangle (of sorts), mild suspense and coming of age.
Well done.
Book Review: Fatal Attraction pumped with Hormones
Summary: 5 Stars
What a great second book By Tom Dolby. It's night and day from his first novel. His first novel was fluff when this one really attached to your heart. What you think is going to turn out to be a love story between Ethan and Todd takes many twists and turns that lure you in and make you interested in all the characters - a true threesome.
The final pages of the book are very philosophical and really make the reader think about life and relationships. I found tears in my eyes as I related to every character at the end and could relate their experiences to ones of my own. Death, love, obession, desire, despair, freindship - it's all here in 1 novel.
This novel is truly marvelous. The writing is controlled and clear - this novel is both compelling and entertaining. Read it!
Book Review: adult lets down tale
Summary: 3 Stars
The two boys are well written and I believed in them, but I had strong doubts about the character of Hannah. She was two much the wicked witch from Hansel & Gretel with a bit of the wolf from Red Riding Hood. I could never believe that these two boys in a boarding school could sneak out all the time to her house unnoticed. And she is just two unstable to keep her job at the school.
Book Review: A coming-of-age gem
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a coming-of-age story about one gay teen and one straight teen. This book is set at an East Coast prep school. The gay teen, Todd, is battling an internal conflict, coming to the realization that he is indeed gay and trying to understand and cope with that. The straight teen, Ethan, has something much more external to cope with--a 36-year-old female teacher whose interest in him is much more than educational. She leads Ethan to inner turmoil that no 18-year-old should have to deal with. This is a fantastic story with well-developed characters that unfolds in a well-paced fashion. A great read, which I heartily recommend.Book Review: Fine Form
Summary: 5 Stars
In my review of Tom Dolby's first novel, The Trouble Boy, I said that the work has promise but not much substance. Well, Dolby is back with The Sixth Form and has packed a wallop of substance while not sacrificing the style. This is a beautifully written story about two boys at a New England boarding school and their relationship with each other as well as with a woman teacher, twenty years their senior. In reality, she would have been fired long ago for permitting --er, supplying -- drinking, smoking (cigarettes and otherwise)and sex to seventeen-year-olds. Dolby has some fun and whim with the background story of the founding and founder of Berkley Academy, where all this takes place. In truth, since the main character is from Palo Alto, California, he could have come up with a more original name for the prep school than Berkley (ha!). And maybe some people drive around Massachusetts and Connecticut with the top of a convertible down in March, more proof of global warming. Overall, this is an engaging, attention-holding story. And on top of that, the author is really hot!