The Pigman (1968)

What I wouldn't do to be in high school again....wait, no nevermind. I was momentarily confused. ( )

I had a hard time connecting with this book, but I can see why young adults might like it. ( )

“A most unusual friendship” it says on the back cover of Paul Zindel’s The Pigman and indeed it was. It was unusual, crazy, heartbreaking, heartwarming, exciting, and most of all it was absolutely amazing. It was full of ups and downs, twists and turns and there wasn’t one moment that it didn’t make me feel an emotion with such intensity, that I thought I was there.
In the book John and Lorraine, two sophomores decided to play a practical joke on an old man named the Angelo Pignati, but the joke goes differently than the two expected and they be come great friends with the old man. Eventually they become more comfortable around the Mr. Pignati than around their own parents, but only a few months after they met, Mr.Pignati dies an unexpected death. So John and Lorraine share the story they don’t want to let go of. They tell the story of the extraordinary friendship they shared with Mr. Pignati. They tell the story of the strong love and compassion they felt towards him and each other. They even tell the story of the secrets they kept from him and the secrets he kept from them. They also tell the story of the backstabbing that caused havoc and a scarred friendship. And I can’t forget the story of baboons and the pigs that he kept close to his heart. And most importantly they tell the story of the Pigman and how he changed their lives forever.
This book was one of the best books I have ever read, it tugged on my heartstrings and my emotions. It also made me feel emotions much deeper than other books I have read. It has such an interesting and crazy plot that with each ending chapter it made me wonder what’s going to happen next, and most of the time it was something that I never expected. Something that was interesting and that made me love the book even more was that John and Lorraine were such different characters that when they switched perspectives each chapter it was like reading a whole different story. But the one thing that really made me love the book, the thing that sealed the deal for me, was that every word, every paragraph, and every chapter was so well written that you felt like you diving into the book and living every moment like you were there.

Alexis Dubovick- SWAG
The Pigman Book Review
Final Draft
9/14/12

The Pigman
By: Paul Zindel

Paul Zindel’s powerful novel, “The Pigman” is a duel narration between friends John and Lorraine sharing their story about their friend Angelo Pignati, aka “The Pigman”. Their friendship sprang from a prank call, a practical joke, a nothing. Ever since that night, The Pigman would be a significant part of their lives; they just didn’t know it yet.
Visit after visit, the three get closer and closer until they form a bond that is unbreakable. The Pigman is old and alone, and the best friends to everything together. However, one heart wrenching twist of fate will leave you hanging when it all almost crashes down around them.
This book is one of the best I’ve ever read because Paul Zindel uses perfect literary terms, beautiful descriptions, and vivid imagery that lets you see each and every detail as if it was your own life. I can honestly say I enjoyed every aspect of this book and I couldn’t find any let downs. There was nothing I didn’t like about it. “The Pigman” was five star in all areas! At some point I think everyone should read this amazing book. Paul Zindel knows how to create magic with just strokes of a pen. He knows how to write a novel and this is one of his best. If you like to be entertained, this book is for you!

9/13/12
CJ Callender
Final Draft
The Pigman

The novel The Pigman by Paul Zindel takes place in New York City, the Moravian Cemetery, the Baron Park Zoo and at Mr. Pignati’s house at 190 Howard Ave. John Conlan and Lorraine Jensen are high school sophomores and the main characters in the story. John, a blue eyed handsome boy, hates school and is often bored which causes him to think of crazy things to do. Lorraine Jensen thinks John is crazy but he becomes her friend. John and Lorraine are both narrators , alternating every other chapter.

John, Lorraine and their friends Dennis and Norton enjoy participating in the telephone marathons. They would take turns blindly picking out a telephone number and seeing how long they could keep whoever answered talking on the phone. One day Lorraine picked out a number belonging to Mr. Pignati. This began as a practical joke asking him to donate money to their fake organization. They called it the L and J charity fund. The Pigman which became his nickname, played along with them. They walked to 190 Howard Ave and rang the door bell. When Angelo Pignati, a lonely man in his late fifties and was big, with a bit of a beer belly and a smile on his face. He took the on a tour of his house and proudly showed them his collection of pig figurines. They ended up going to the zoo and becoming his friend.

They continued to visit him on a daily basis and he bought them roller skates and other expensive items. One of the activities they enjoy together was visiting the Baboon named Bobo, at the zoo. They overstepped their trust when Mr. Pignati ended up in hospital and they hosted a huge party at his house. He eventually died and the question in their minds is did they betray him and become his murders.

This novel was filled with action and adventure, which kept me wanting to read the next chapter. Even though I wouldn’t want John and Lorraine as my friends, some of their pranks made me laugh. Their conversations and emotions are typical for most teenagers.