THE OTHER NORMALS by Ned Vizzini

The Other Normals
Ned Vizzini

Rating: C
Release Date: 9/25/12
Synopsis:
Given the chance, fifteen-year-old Peregrine “Perry” Eckert would dedicate every waking moment to Creatures & Caverns, an epic role-playing game rich with magical creatures, spell casting, and deadly weapons. The world of C&C is where he feels most comfortable in his own skin, so when his parents ship him off to summer camp Perry is sure he’s in for the worst summer of his life.

Everything changes, however, when Perry gets to camp and stumbles into the World of the Other Normals. Perry’s new otherworldly friends need his help to save their princess and prevent mass violence. As they embark on their quest together, Perry realizes that his nerdy childhood has uniquely prepared him to be a great warrior in this world, and maybe even a hero.

Bestselling author Ned Vizzini delivers a compulsively readable and wildly original story about the winding and often hilarious path to manhood.

My thoughts on the book:
The Other Normals is an excellent book for the male population. However, since I am female, I could not relate to the character at all. That being said, the writing is fantastic and humorous, the plot is interesting, and the pacing is perfect. It's a bildungsroman with a fantasy twist. I'd definitely recommend this book to guys of all ages. 

Perry was just too much of a teenage boy for my tastes. Since it was first person POV narration, I just couldn't connect to the story because of the male narrator. I do think that there needs to be more books out there for guys, though, and this one is perfect for that function. Perry is likable, awkward, and funny. Guys everywhere should be able to relate to him on some level. 

The plot is intriguing, but the world-building is a bit lacking. The fantasy aspect struck me as a bit unrealistic. That could be because I'm not into the heavy fantasy RPG stuff that is a running theme throughout this book. Or maybe the world-building just wasn't the best. Either way, I didn't feel like I was immersed in the world that Vizzini created. The pacing is spot on, though, and I was never bored. Also, the book ended nicely. 

As I said, I'd recommend this book to guys of all ages, and to girls who don't mind reading from a guy's perspective. This novel would also be a great and enjoyable read for video game lovers. For everyone else, you may want to check it out at the library before buying.

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