The Ordinary White Boy

by Brock Clarke

Book Overview

Lamar Kerry, Jr., is an unlikely hero. At twenty-seven years old he can't dance unless he's had more than a few drinks. His wardrobe is uninspired, at best. He has returned after college to Little... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0156027097
• ISBN13: 9780156027090
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Loved it....

As an ordinary white boy, with roots in a small town, I loved the writing and the observations in this book. This is not a book for one who wants to read of a far-flung adventure. It is introspective and interesting...

In the Tradition of Percy and Ford

Clarke has written a fine first novel. If you enjoy Walker Percy's The Moviegoer or Richard Ford's The Sportswriter, check out Ordinary White Boy.

Judging a Book by its Cover

Bonnie puts all the Advance Reader Copies out on a table in her independent bookstore. They're there for us to take if we want; she could never read them all. I browsed these books recently, reading titles, author's names, and wondering about the artwork. This one has the guy snoozing on the red couch. The Ordinary White Boy? Sounded interesting, looked interesting. So, I took it.Turns out it was interesting. I love Lamar, the self proclaimed ordinary white boy. What's great about him is that he is coming to terms with who he is and the choices he's made in his life. I felt like I should read with a highlighter pen and mark up the passages of self discovery so I could pass it on to friends and say, check out this passage. But I might as well photocopy the book to yellow paper. It's full of discovery and I want my friends to read every page.It occurs to me that "discovery" is a heavy word. This novel is everything but heavy. Short chapters, snappy dialogue, and insightful monologue made this book fun to read. The fact that I walked away, much as Lamar does, with a little more clarity about ordinary white boys is just bonus.

Exceptional.

Brilliant. A well written debut from an author who is so completely comfortable with his prose that the main character dances in your thoughts long after you've put down the novel. Be prepared, this is by no means a quick read... it is instead, a wealth a detailed wit and controversy which will open your eyes and furrow your brow in the same chapter. To the reader enjoy this book... put up your feet... curl up with your blanket... energize your book club... and to the author... well done.

One of the years best books

A hilarious, yet introspective, tale that takes the reader to places familiar and foriegn, whilst making the reader both think about things we've often dwelled upon as well as things we never imagined imagining. Laugh-out-loud funny. There is a little Lamar in all of us, whether we're proud to admit it or not.