Tuesday 22 May 2012

Geekhood by Andy Robb

From Goodreads:  If you haven't worked it out yet, girls don't do this. They don't come to the Hovel. They don't like goblins and dragons. They don't paint miniatures. They don't play role playing games or re-enact fictional battles. And they don't talk to Geeks like me especially if they're pretty. And this girl is pretty. What do you do if you're a fourteen-year-old Geek, and a Beautiful Girl has appeared in the midst of your geeky world? And she seems to like you... For Archie, the natural reaction would be to duck and cover ... run for the hills ... buy a new model elf... Anything but risk stepping into the Real World. But even Geeks have to put their heads above the parapet at some point. With his mum barely able to contain her excitement that her son is about to join the human race, and his step-father, Tony the Tosser, offering crass advice, it's time for Archie to embark on a daring Quest to win the Beautiful Girl's heart and shake off his Geekhood for good...

Geekhood is one of those books that you can't help but fall in love with.  And I have to agree with the quote of the front cover - the book makes being a geek feel pretty cool to me too!

I loved Archie's voice from the first page and he just grows on you more and more. I adored his IM (Interior Monologue) and EM (Exterior Monologue) and then his PS (Psychic Self) was particularly hilarious (if misguided!). I really liked his friends too, and of course, Sarah's lovely.  And surprisingly, I really enjoyed hearing all about the role playing games and fictional battles!

One of the things that really stood out for me was the focus on Archie's family life.  I found it interesting to hear about his parents divorce from his point of view - after it had happened and when both parents have new 'others' in their lives.  I laughed every time he referred to his mum's boyfriend as the 'tosser' but by the end of the book realised there was some affection there. It also shows how 'messy' things can be - how the grown ups don't always act like the grown ups, and how the divorce doesn't just affect those around it while it is happening but continues to do so - this was something I hadn't really appreciated before reading this.

I'm really excited to hear Archie will be having a new geekhood adventure next year!  I'm definitely looking forward to catching up with him.


Pop back later today - I have a Q&A with Andy Robb :)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fab review, I loved Geekhood too (wondering how I missed what PS stood for - I've been wondering for ages!)

Unknown said...

I really want to read this now!! :-D Will have to get a copy... or get someone else to get me one for my birthday :-P Anyway, great review, thanks!

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