Book Review: Tilt by Alan Cumyn

Title: Tilt

Author: Alan Cumyn

Pages: 269

Publisher: Groundwood Books

Year Published: 2011

“A funny, sexy novel about a teenaged boy’s obsessions as he lives through an impossibly absurd time of life.”

“Finally they found Feldon semi-snoring in the kitchen cupboard… His chin leaned against the edge of a pot and Stan tried to extricate him gently, but he was not moving.

‘Do you think he can just stay in there?’ Janine asked. They were both on their knees looking in the cupboard. Her mouth was so close to his that he had to pull back to miss it.

Her hand was on his thigh. For balance.

‘Can’t be very comfortable,’ he said. If she pushed slightly she could knock him flat on his back.

‘I’d love to see your room,’ she whispered.”

My Rating: 8/10

This book is really unusual. It doesn’t have a set purpose other than to show how one boy’s life is, but that is purpose enough. I enjoyed this book because it was light and fun to read. I loved the way that the main character related so many things to his passion, basketball. I think all of us do this with something we are passionate about. In my case, books.

At times, the novel is difficult to follow. The author uses a different thought process for the main character that at time makes scenarios difficult to follow. It’s hard to decipher what is a dream to Stan and what is reality. For the most part, this book is enjoyable.

THANK YOU ALAN CUMYN FOR LETTING ME INTO THE MALE MIND!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Tilt by Alan Cumyn

This book is kind of weird. It’s not something I’d usually read and so I had trouble rating it. This book mainly follows Stan’ journey to finding out who he is. We see that he is, like most 16 year old boys, interested in sex. His family situation is insane and ever since his dad left he has trouble coping with who he is.

CHARACTERS:

Stan: I love the fact that he’s not a hidden male character. He thinks about sex, and that’s normal. Alan Cumyn doesn’t try and hide that, he just puts it out in the open. I love that he is so passionate about basketball, but I’m sad that he doesn’t follow his dream. He is crazy passionate about his family, although he doesn’t know how to deal with his mom, he is an amazing brother. I don’t like him and Janine together, but that’s a personal thing.

Lily: I have this idea that she’s not actually imaginative, that she’s schizophrenic. And how would we know? There must be a fine line between gifted and crazy. I kinda think she’s crossed that line. She’s a cute little girl though and I can’t help but wonder how old she is.

Stan’s Mom: She is a weird woman. She seems to blame her children for Ron’s leaving which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Stan says repeatedly that they fought, and so I don’t think that they were really in love, not a true love. I think she can do better than Gary though. 

Ron (Stan’s Dad): What a jerk? He blames everyone else for everything when in reality it is usually his fault. He runs out on both of his women and he doesn’t deserve to have such wonderful children or two women at all. Hate him!

Gary: I thought he was a sleaze at first, leading on Stan’s mom, but he turns out to be a decent guy.

Feldon: So cute, I feel sorry that this kid gets taken from his mother, he doesn’t deserve it.

Janine: I don’t understand her character. She’s bisexual, and sneaks around on Stan at the dance, still she has sex with him. I wonder if that was just an experiment or if it was because she actually likes him. I don’t agree with what they did, but it seems like the normal high school thing now. She’s such a big thing to Stan, but really I don’t think that if it were reality that they’d last at all. They just don’t make sense together.

Moments to Remember:

♥Pg. 111

 “ ‘What was his name?’ Stan felt like he was learning more about his mother in just a few minutes on this freezing back porch than in his whole life so far.

‘I think it was Pete.’

‘You think?’”

♥Pg. 149

“ ‘Contractors rip you off,’ Joe said. ‘No offense to your father, Stan. But if it’s at all possible to do the work yourself…’

Gillian snorted. ‘Two words, dear. The bathroom. And three more. Lest we forget.’”

Hope you enjoyed,

Love,

Sidny xoxo