FORGIVE ME LEONARD PEACOCK
by Matthew Quick | Publication: August 13, 2013Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Genre: YA Fiction
RATING: ★★★★★
"If schools ever mandate a required reading list for educators, this title belongs at the top."
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In addition to the P-38, there are four gifts, one for each of my friends. I want to say good-bye to them properly. I want to give them each something to remember me by. To let them know I really cared about them and I'm sorry I couldn't be more than I was--that I couldn't stick around--and that what's going to happen today isn't their fault.
Today is Leonard Peacock's birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather's P-38 pistol. But first, he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school's class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours' tick by and the moment of truth approaches.
In this riveting book, acclaimed author Matthew Quick unflinchingly examines the impossible choices that must be made--and the light in us all that never goes out. ~Goodreads
Today is Leonard Peacock's birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather's P-38 pistol. But first, he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school's class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours' tick by and the moment of truth approaches.
In this riveting book, acclaimed author Matthew Quick unflinchingly examines the impossible choices that must be made--and the light in us all that never goes out. ~Goodreads
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Matthew Quick has officially gained another fan, and I know he will win over many others. Following the massive success of The Silver Linings Playbook, it is hard not to have high expectations for his work, but readers will not be disappointed. His novel, FORGIVE ME, LEONARD PEACOCK , is guaranteed to captivate audiences from the very first page.
Quick deeply understands language, storytelling, and his audience, making it effortless to get swept up in Leonard Peacock’s world. As a reader, I was trapped directly inside Leonard’s head, experiencing his thoughts in real-time. It is not an easy or comfortable place to be, but Quick gives Leonard a voice that is deeply relatable—even during his most inexcusable behaviors. The protagonist's psychological struggles are laid out with immense respect and clinical exactness. His mental state strikes a brilliant balance between chaotic confusion and sharp intellect, making his character entirely believable. Furthermore, the book's unique footnotes serve as excellent tangential stories that perfectly back up his mindset.
Quick takes a remarkably candid approach to a complicated issue, never shying away from sensitive language or occasionally graphic content. I would not be surprised if this eventually faces censorship or gets shelved alongside frequently banned books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower. While it is an accessible read technically, the subject matter is incredibly heavy. However, I want to make one thing clear: books like this can save lives. If schools ever mandate a required reading list for educators, this title belongs at the top. Parents should not be excluded from that assignment, either. As the book beautifully notes: “Do anything! Something! Because you start a revolution one decision at a time, with each breath you take.”
It is obvious that the author conducted thorough research to make this narrative authentic. The vivid portrayal of a teenager’s life, both inside and outside the classroom, rings entirely true. Ultimately, the book serves as a powerful message of encouragement, showing how teenagers can survive the trials of their youth and that adulthood does not have to be miserable. The plot revelations are not meant to catch you by surprise; instead, they serve as deliberate instruments to drive home the story’s life-saving lesson.
If you are looking for a profound book that is truly worthy of your time and thoughts, FORGIVE ME, LEONARD PEACOCK is the perfect choice. I deeply enjoyed reading it, and I hope you will too.
Quick deeply understands language, storytelling, and his audience, making it effortless to get swept up in Leonard Peacock’s world. As a reader, I was trapped directly inside Leonard’s head, experiencing his thoughts in real-time. It is not an easy or comfortable place to be, but Quick gives Leonard a voice that is deeply relatable—even during his most inexcusable behaviors. The protagonist's psychological struggles are laid out with immense respect and clinical exactness. His mental state strikes a brilliant balance between chaotic confusion and sharp intellect, making his character entirely believable. Furthermore, the book's unique footnotes serve as excellent tangential stories that perfectly back up his mindset.
Quick takes a remarkably candid approach to a complicated issue, never shying away from sensitive language or occasionally graphic content. I would not be surprised if this eventually faces censorship or gets shelved alongside frequently banned books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower. While it is an accessible read technically, the subject matter is incredibly heavy. However, I want to make one thing clear: books like this can save lives. If schools ever mandate a required reading list for educators, this title belongs at the top. Parents should not be excluded from that assignment, either. As the book beautifully notes: “Do anything! Something! Because you start a revolution one decision at a time, with each breath you take.”
It is obvious that the author conducted thorough research to make this narrative authentic. The vivid portrayal of a teenager’s life, both inside and outside the classroom, rings entirely true. Ultimately, the book serves as a powerful message of encouragement, showing how teenagers can survive the trials of their youth and that adulthood does not have to be miserable. The plot revelations are not meant to catch you by surprise; instead, they serve as deliberate instruments to drive home the story’s life-saving lesson.
If you are looking for a profound book that is truly worthy of your time and thoughts, FORGIVE ME, LEONARD PEACOCK is the perfect choice. I deeply enjoyed reading it, and I hope you will too.
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About the Author:
Matthew Quick (aka Q) is the New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook, The Good Luck of Right Now, and three young adult novels, Sorta Like a Rock Star, Boy21, and Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock. His work has been translated into thirty languages, and has received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention. The Weinstein Company and David O. Russell adapted The Silver Linings Playbook into an Academy Award winning film. Q lives in North Carolina with his wife, novelist/pianist Alicia Besette. His website is matthewquickwriter.com. Photo from LittleBrownLibrary.com
**Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley,
for giving me a chance to read this
in exchange for an honest review.
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for giving me a chance to read this
in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also available on Goodreads and Tumblr.
This is a free ad.
Posts
This looks like an interesting read. I enjoyed Silver Linings but I guess I willlove this more. Thanks for the recommendation, Louize! :)
ReplyDeleteI read Matthew Quick's Sorta Like a Rock Star and I thought it's just another one of those contemporary YA books. I was surprised at how much it made me cry at the end! I'm really curious about the topic of this book, and I have a feeling that I will like this one too. :)
ReplyDeleteLynai and Tina, I hope you girls enjoy this too. I will be looking for the rest of Matthew Quick's books soon. ♥
ReplyDeleteOh, so Matthew Quick has a new book out! Woot woot! I hope our bookstores stock it soon!
ReplyDeleteHi Peter! Some friends told me that they've seen copies at Fullybooked already. ♥
ReplyDelete