le book review number one hundred twenty-two~ That Was Then, This is Now

Title: That Was Then, This Is Now
Author: S.E. Hinton
Standalone
Paperback
Pages: 159
Year First Published: 1971
Publisher: Speak
Personal Star Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Description:
Does growing up have to mean growing apart?

Since childhood, Bryon and Mark have been as close as brothers. Now things are changing. Bryon's growing up, spending a lot of time with girls, and thinking seriously about who he wants to be. Mark still just lives for the thrill of the moment. The two are growing apart - until Bryon makes a shocking discovery about Mark. Then Bryon faces a terrible decision - one that will change both of their lives forever.

Cover Comments:
I really like this cover. I enjoy how dark it is, and also, that it matches with the copy of The Outsiders that I have.

Title Thoughts:
I think the title is very fitting for the story, and shows the transition through a Liminal Space that adolescence encompasses.

Review:
The Outsiders was one of my favourite books that I have read, and I was so excited when I bought this book years ago when I found out that Hinton had written other books. Although I wasn't as thrilled about the ending when reading this, and perhaps I was more cynical of the choices the characters made that I may not have been as critical if I had read this when I was younger. However, I am glad that I waited to read this until I had more experience and had already been through adolescence. I think that the characters were well written, although I would have liked to understand Mark more. He seems to have a lot of depth of character and that we also didn't get to know Bryon independently of the influence that others had on him. However, it portrayed an honest story of teenagers that shows how rough it can be to grow up.

le book review number one hundred eighteen~ The Outsiders

Title: The Outsiders
Author: S.E. Hinton
Standalone
Paperback
Pages: 180
Year First Published: 1967
Publisher: Speak
Personal Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Description:
In Ponyboy's world there are two types of people. There are the Socs, the rich society kids who get away with anything. Then there are the greasers, like Ponyboy, who aren't so lucky. Ponyboy has a few things he can count on: his older brothers, his friends, and trouble with the Socs, whose idea of a good time is beating up greasers. At least he knows what to expect - until the night things go too far.

Cover Comments:
I love the leather jacket on the cover of this edition and the basic white t-shirt. It symbolizes the archetypal image of a greaser.

Title Thoughts:
The title is perfect. The Outsiders expresses just how outcast the characters are.

Review:
I read this book years ago, but it is still one of the more important books that I have read. It encompasses adolescence and what it means to grow up. It shows an honest look at what rough and tough life is like, while holding on to an innocence that eventually is lost as life becomes harder for the teenagers in the book. I would recommend this book to everyone growing up and although it was written, it has stood the test of time in capturing the angst and struggles that are faced during adolescence.