The Vast Fields of Ordinary
by Nick Burd
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The summer after graduating from an Iowa high school, eighteen-year-old Dade Hamilton watches his parents' marriage disintegrate, ends his long-term, secret relationship, comes out of the closet, and savors first love.Tags
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This was an easy, fairly lightweight book to read. It covers some familiar territory, the coming of age of a gay teenager in his last year of high school. It was somewhat ordinary, with a plot twist at the end that was not completely predictable. There were moments that did not seem to work, yet these were not sufficient to derail the narrative. I'm not sure that any of the characters were all that interesting, much less convincing, but the story held my interest and for that I have to give it credit.
I cannot figure out how this book is managing a 3.92 average rating. I really can't.
If it were possible to reach in and pull out every character from this book, I would do it. And then I would slap them. And then I would ship them off to Dr. Phil, or maybe force them to attend a life enrichment boot camp, a life skills program, self-improvement through wilderness therapy, strap them inside a spaceship headed for the biggest black hole—anything! This is the saddest, most frustratingly idiotic batch of dislikable characters I have encountered since Twilight.
I am not exaggerating. In fact, I’m very serious. At this moment, I’d rather suffocate myself reading the entire Twilight series than go near this book a second time. In a sad show more way, the ridiculousness that is Twilight can provide trivial amusement; The Vast Fields of Ordinary cannot.
Dade wants a boyfriend, but Dade already has a boyfriend (kind of). So what is the problem? His kind-of-but-not-really boyfriend, Pablo, is in a public relationship with Judy. Pablo, who’s a stereotypical jock with stereotypical jerkwad jock friends, also has issues admitting he likes other men. So what does Pablo do? Sees Dade in secret (even though it’s not quite a secret-secret) yet enforces an anti-gay attitude.
Whatever. Dade needs to ditch Pablo, but Dade is so desperate for an intimate relationship that he beckons to Pablo’s every "let’s fornicate!" call.
In Dade’s defense, I can understand (only slightly, however) why he sticks with Pablo. He’s not openly gay, and Pablo is the only one in town who one-hundred percent, without a doubt, knows Dade’s sexual orientation. In secret, Pablo provides one-fourth of Dade's relationship needy-ness. (Even though Pablo is a jerk.) But still.
Dade sits with and attends parties hosted by Pablo & Homophobic Co. You know, I hate victim blaming. It’s wrong, but this kid is beyond moronic. He puts himself in uncomfortable situations where it’s painfully obvious that his bullies are going to use them as bullying opportunities. The guy is clueless.
Example: here is a conversation I summarized from memory (because I was so eager to remove The Vast Fields of Ordinary from my presence that I chucked it inside the nearest library drop-box ASAP):
Oh, that was painful. Dade is the one obviously gay kid in the entire school that everyone loves to degrade, so no. I don’t call that an invitation. It’s like witnessing someone make a catastrophic social faux pas that even I feel embarrassed for the person. I feel the impending doom knowing that Dade will never defend himself. To make the matter worse, Dade sits with these people at lunch. Please, someone tell me why he does this, because I have difficulty understanding. I don't condone bullying, but it is in Dade's best interest to spend less time trying to socialize with this group. I'm a ferocious energy ball of frustration: why can't Dade see my point?!
Dade continues to place himself in situations he really shouldn’t until—ooh!—a mysterious handsome drug dealer appears! Promising, really—but wait! It gets better.
Mysterious Handsome Drug Dealer (a.k.a. Alex) is also gay. And attractive. And wears shirts that show off chest hair (eww). And! He is interested in having a (public!) relationship with our protagonist.
What are the chances that narrow-minded suburban Cederville (apologies if I incorrectly remember the town’s name) is going to have an openly gay drug dealer who is a striking, kind young man? I’m talking about a town whose gay men count hits a whopping high of ten middle-aged dudes. Furthermore, something tells me that the likelihood of finding a caring, well-mannered, drug-dealing boyfriend is rarer than spotting a strong, independent Bella Swan.
Now that Dade has Alex to preoccupy smooch and sexy times, Pablo incessantly pops up like a miserable, fraught wounded rabbit. Only... you don’t exactly want to comfort that wounded rabbit in fear of contracting rabies. Pablo is not a nice wounded rabbit. Pablo evolves into a creepy, suicidal stalker, sending text messages like, “I SEE YOU LEAVING WITH HIM,” and, “I SEE YOU.” Then this happens:
Dade doesn’t do anything! But it doesn’t matter if you have a crazy, forlorn, and confused ex non-boyfriend who sends harassing text messages and whips out his downstairs manliness. I mean, what’s concerning about that? It's harmless. Nothing bad can result from that behavior. (Sorry, involuntary eye-rolling has occured.)
I kept expecting the author to let Pablo sort out his sexual confusion and feelings about Dade. Perhaps Pablo and Dade could agree to talk and come to an understanding like LEVEL-HEADED people, but nothing of the sort happens. I expected Dade to discover inner-confidence and stand up for himself, to feel more comfortable about admitting he’s gay, but that doesn’t happen either.
Instead,Pablo kills himself because that’s what bisexually confused teens do and Dade can’t even properly tell his non-love interest Fessica, "I know you like me, but I can’t like you because... a)"I am not romantically interested" and/or b)"I'm gay and therefore incapable of loving you." Dade, like the oblivious idiot he is, has his BFF Lucy point out why his new drug-stud boyfriend may be distant. (Mayhaps it is because you are heading off to college and Alex is not, Dade. Hmm?) Dade fails at everything. He can’t even pick out an outfit for himself.
And what, if I may, is so swoon-worthy about Alex Kincaid? He’s a twenty-something year old who sells marijuana and works at a place called Taco Taco for a living. Oh! Well, I guess he has this aesthetically appealing body, so the idea that Alex is probably not the best person to hang around isn’t a problem. Once Dade gets it on with Alex, whoa-ho do sparks fly and problems dissolve! He’s Dade’s romantic hero.
No, seriously. He is. Alex and Lucy have to step in each time Dade gets picked on. Dade: grow a back-bone.
All of this—this Pablo nonsense and Alex fascination—makes up the entire plot. There are marital problems going on in the background between Dade’s parent, but I think I’ve covered the oh-my-god-I’m-gay-and-incapable-of-handling-my-problems aspect. Dade has no goals in life. He doesn’t come across as moderately concerned or interested in college. Alex aside, the only things Dade does eem to care about are whining to the maximum degree and writing meh-poetry ("Looking up at an ordinary sky / It could fall on me and somehow be / The day I didn't die").
This story is about spending your last summer at home, that gap between high school graduation and heading off for college. That's satisfactory, I suppose, but where's the adventure? A climax? Not even the book's conflicts are resolved. It would be a lot more interesting if
a)An actual plot existed
b)The plot was interesting and did not drone on for 309 pages
c)Dade learned how to not act like idiot and discover fortitude
d)Issues were resolved
But none of that lives inside this book, and the characters are too shallowly explored for me to even try and care about their woes. On to the next... show less
If it were possible to reach in and pull out every character from this book, I would do it. And then I would slap them. And then I would ship them off to Dr. Phil, or maybe force them to attend a life enrichment boot camp, a life skills program, self-improvement through wilderness therapy, strap them inside a spaceship headed for the biggest black hole—anything! This is the saddest, most frustratingly idiotic batch of dislikable characters I have encountered since Twilight.
I am not exaggerating. In fact, I’m very serious. At this moment, I’d rather suffocate myself reading the entire Twilight series than go near this book a second time. In a sad show more way, the ridiculousness that is Twilight can provide trivial amusement; The Vast Fields of Ordinary cannot.
Dade wants a boyfriend, but Dade already has a boyfriend (kind of). So what is the problem? His kind-of-but-not-really boyfriend, Pablo, is in a public relationship with Judy. Pablo, who’s a stereotypical jock with stereotypical jerkwad jock friends, also has issues admitting he likes other men. So what does Pablo do? Sees Dade in secret (even though it’s not quite a secret-secret) yet enforces an anti-gay attitude.
Whatever. Dade needs to ditch Pablo, but Dade is so desperate for an intimate relationship that he beckons to Pablo’s every "let’s fornicate!" call.
In Dade’s defense, I can understand (only slightly, however) why he sticks with Pablo. He’s not openly gay, and Pablo is the only one in town who one-hundred percent, without a doubt, knows Dade’s sexual orientation. In secret, Pablo provides one-fourth of Dade's relationship needy-ness. (Even though Pablo is a jerk.) But still.
Dade sits with and attends parties hosted by Pablo & Homophobic Co. You know, I hate victim blaming. It’s wrong, but this kid is beyond moronic. He puts himself in uncomfortable situations where it’s painfully obvious that his bullies are going to use them as bullying opportunities. The guy is clueless.
Example: here is a conversation I summarized from memory (because I was so eager to remove The Vast Fields of Ordinary from my presence that I chucked it inside the nearest library drop-box ASAP):
Pablo: I can’t hang out tonight, because I’m going to a party with Judy and the others.
Dade (lusting): I may be there, too.
Pablo: Were you even invited?
Dade: Well, I saw a flyer at school and assumed everyone is invited. So yeah, I was invited.
Oh, that was painful. Dade is the one obviously gay kid in the entire school that everyone loves to degrade, so no. I don’t call that an invitation. It’s like witnessing someone make a catastrophic social faux pas that even I feel embarrassed for the person. I feel the impending doom knowing that Dade will never defend himself. To make the matter worse, Dade sits with these people at lunch. Please, someone tell me why he does this, because I have difficulty understanding. I don't condone bullying, but it is in Dade's best interest to spend less time trying to socialize with this group. I'm a ferocious energy ball of frustration: why can't Dade see my point?!
Dade continues to place himself in situations he really shouldn’t until—ooh!—a mysterious handsome drug dealer appears! Promising, really—but wait! It gets better.
Mysterious Handsome Drug Dealer (a.k.a. Alex) is also gay. And attractive. And wears shirts that show off chest hair (eww). And! He is interested in having a (public!) relationship with our protagonist.
What are the chances that narrow-minded suburban Cederville (apologies if I incorrectly remember the town’s name) is going to have an openly gay drug dealer who is a striking, kind young man? I’m talking about a town whose gay men count hits a whopping high of ten middle-aged dudes. Furthermore, something tells me that the likelihood of finding a caring, well-mannered, drug-dealing boyfriend is rarer than spotting a strong, independent Bella Swan.
Now that Dade has Alex to preoccupy smooch and sexy times, Pablo incessantly pops up like a miserable, fraught wounded rabbit. Only... you don’t exactly want to comfort that wounded rabbit in fear of contracting rabies. Pablo is not a nice wounded rabbit. Pablo evolves into a creepy, suicidal stalker, sending text messages like, “I SEE YOU LEAVING WITH HIM,” and, “I SEE YOU.” Then this happens:
"I heard the rattle of his belt coming undone followed by the sound of his zipper. I turned around. His pants were partially down his thighs and his dick was hanging out.
'Dude.' His voice came out quiet and mangled, like an injured animal flopping painfully out of its hiding spot, and the massiveness of how sad it is to want someone suddenly fell on my head like an anvil in some comically violent cartoon.
'Oh my God.' I turned and hurried out of the dairy cooler. [...] Twice I checked over my shoulder to see if Pablo was following me, but he wasn't."
Dade doesn’t do anything! But it doesn’t matter if you have a crazy, forlorn, and confused ex non-boyfriend who sends harassing text messages and whips out his downstairs manliness. I mean, what’s concerning about that? It's harmless. Nothing bad can result from that behavior. (Sorry, involuntary eye-rolling has occured.)
I kept expecting the author to let Pablo sort out his sexual confusion and feelings about Dade. Perhaps Pablo and Dade could agree to talk and come to an understanding like LEVEL-HEADED people, but nothing of the sort happens. I expected Dade to discover inner-confidence and stand up for himself, to feel more comfortable about admitting he’s gay, but that doesn’t happen either.
Instead,
And what, if I may, is so swoon-worthy about Alex Kincaid? He’s a twenty-something year old who sells marijuana and works at a place called Taco Taco for a living. Oh! Well, I guess he has this aesthetically appealing body, so the idea that Alex is probably not the best person to hang around isn’t a problem. Once Dade gets it on with Alex, whoa-ho do sparks fly and problems dissolve! He’s Dade’s romantic hero.
No, seriously. He is. Alex and Lucy have to step in each time Dade gets picked on. Dade: grow a back-bone.
All of this—this Pablo nonsense and Alex fascination—makes up the entire plot. There are marital problems going on in the background between Dade’s parent, but I think I’ve covered the oh-my-god-I’m-gay-and-incapable-of-handling-my-problems aspect. Dade has no goals in life. He doesn’t come across as moderately concerned or interested in college. Alex aside, the only things Dade does eem to care about are whining to the maximum degree and writing meh-poetry ("Looking up at an ordinary sky / It could fall on me and somehow be / The day I didn't die").
This story is about spending your last summer at home, that gap between high school graduation and heading off for college. That's satisfactory, I suppose, but where's the adventure? A climax? Not even the book's conflicts are resolved. It would be a lot more interesting if
a)An actual plot existed
b)The plot was interesting and did not drone on for 309 pages
c)Dade learned how to not act like idiot and discover fortitude
d)Issues were resolved
But none of that lives inside this book, and the characters are too shallowly explored for me to even try and care about their woes. On to the next... show less
I cannot figure out how this book is managing a 3.92 average rating. I really can't.
If it were possible to reach in and pull out every character from this book, I would do it. And then I would slap them. And then I would ship them off to Dr. Phil, or maybe force them to attend a life enrichment boot camp, a life skills program, self-improvement through wilderness therapy, strap them inside a spaceship headed for the biggest black hole—anything! This is the saddest, most frustratingly idiotic batch of dislikable characters I have encountered since Twilight.
I am not exaggerating. In fact, I’m very serious. At this moment, I’d rather suffocate myself reading the entire Twilight series than go near this book a second time. In a sad show more way, the ridiculousness that is Twilight can provide trivial amusement; The Vast Fields of Ordinary cannot.
Dade wants a boyfriend, but Dade already has a boyfriend (kind of). So what is the problem? His kind-of-but-not-really boyfriend, Pablo, is in a public relationship with Judy. Pablo, who’s a stereotypical jock with stereotypical jerkwad jock friends, also has issues admitting he likes other men. So what does Pablo do? Sees Dade in secret (even though it’s not quite a secret-secret) yet enforces an anti-gay attitude.
Whatever. Dade needs to ditch Pablo, but Dade is so desperate for an intimate relationship that he beckons to Pablo’s every "let’s fornicate!" call.
In Dade’s defense, I can understand (only slightly, however) why he sticks with Pablo. He’s not openly gay, and Pablo is the only one in town who one-hundred percent, without a doubt, knows Dade’s sexual orientation. In secret, Pablo provides one-fourth of Dade's relationship needy-ness. (Even though Pablo is a jerk.) But still.
Dade sits with and attends parties hosted by Pablo & Homophobic Co. You know, I hate victim blaming. It’s wrong, but this kid is beyond moronic. He puts himself in uncomfortable situations where it’s painfully obvious that his bullies are going to use them as bullying opportunities. The guy is clueless.
Example: here is a conversation I summarized from memory (because I was so eager to remove The Vast Fields of Ordinary from my presence that I chucked it inside the nearest library drop-box ASAP):
Oh, that was painful. Dade is the one obviously gay kid in the entire school that everyone loves to degrade, so no. I don’t call that an invitation. It’s like witnessing someone make a catastrophic social faux pas that even I feel embarrassed for the person. I feel the impending doom knowing that Dade will never defend himself. To make the matter worse, Dade sits with these people at lunch. Please, someone tell me why he does this, because I have difficulty understanding. I don't condone bullying, but it is in Dade's best interest to spend less time trying to socialize with this group. I'm a ferocious energy ball of frustration: why can't Dade see my point?!
Dade continues to place himself in situations he really shouldn’t until—ooh!—a mysterious handsome drug dealer appears! Promising, really—but wait! It gets better.
Mysterious Handsome Drug Dealer (a.k.a. Alex) is also gay. And attractive. And wears shirts that show off chest hair (eww). And! He is interested in having a (public!) relationship with our protagonist.
What are the chances that narrow-minded suburban Cederville (apologies if I incorrectly remember the town’s name) is going to have an openly gay drug dealer who is a striking, kind young man? I’m talking about a town whose gay men count hits a whopping high of ten middle-aged dudes. Furthermore, something tells me that the likelihood of finding a caring, well-mannered, drug-dealing boyfriend is rarer than spotting a strong, independent Bella Swan.
Now that Dade has Alex to preoccupy smooch and sexy times, Pablo incessantly pops up like a miserable, fraught wounded rabbit. Only... you don’t exactly want to comfort that wounded rabbit in fear of contracting rabies. Pablo is not a nice wounded rabbit. Pablo evolves into a creepy, suicidal stalker, sending text messages like, “I SEE YOU LEAVING WITH HIM,” and, “I SEE YOU.” Then this happens:
Dade doesn’t do anything! But it doesn’t matter if you have a crazy, forlorn, and confused ex non-boyfriend who sends harassing text messages and whips out his downstairs manliness. I mean, what’s concerning about that? It's harmless. Nothing bad can result from that behavior. (Sorry, involuntary eye-rolling has occured.)
I kept expecting the author to let Pablo sort out his sexual confusion and feelings about Dade. Perhaps Pablo and Dade could agree to talk and come to an understanding like LEVEL-HEADED people, but nothing of the sort happens. I expected Dade to discover inner-confidence and stand up for himself, to feel more comfortable about admitting he’s gay, but that doesn’t happen either.
Instead,Pablo kills himself because that’s what bisexually confused teens do and Dade can’t even properly tell his non-love interest Fessica, "I know you like me, but I can’t like you because... a)"I am not romantically interested" and/or b)"I'm gay and therefore incapable of loving you." Dade, like the oblivious idiot he is, has his BFF Lucy point out why his new drug-stud boyfriend may be distant. (Mayhaps it is because you are heading off to college and Alex is not, Dade. Hmm?) Dade fails at everything. He can’t even pick out an outfit for himself.
And what, if I may, is so swoon-worthy about Alex Kincaid? He’s a twenty-something year old who sells marijuana and works at a place called Taco Taco for a living. Oh! Well, I guess he has this aesthetically appealing body, so the idea that Alex is probably not the best person to hang around isn’t a problem. Once Dade gets it on with Alex, whoa-ho do sparks fly and problems dissolve! He’s Dade’s romantic hero.
No, seriously. He is. Alex and Lucy have to step in each time Dade gets picked on. Dade: grow a back-bone.
All of this—this Pablo nonsense and Alex fascination—makes up the entire plot. There are marital problems going on in the background between Dade’s parent, but I think I’ve covered the oh-my-god-I’m-gay-and-incapable-of-handling-my-problems aspect. Dade has no goals in life. He doesn’t come across as moderately concerned or interested in college. Alex aside, the only things Dade does eem to care about are whining to the maximum degree and writing meh-poetry ("Looking up at an ordinary sky / It could fall on me and somehow be / The day I didn't die").
This story is about spending your last summer at home, that gap between high school graduation and heading off for college. That's satisfactory, I suppose, but where's the adventure? A climax? Not even the book's conflicts are resolved. It would be a lot more interesting if
a)An actual plot existed
b)The plot was interesting and did not drone on for 309 pages
c)Dade learned how to not act like idiot and discover fortitude
d)Issues were resolved
But none of that lives inside this book, and the characters are too shallowly explored for me to even try and care about their woes. On to the next... show less
If it were possible to reach in and pull out every character from this book, I would do it. And then I would slap them. And then I would ship them off to Dr. Phil, or maybe force them to attend a life enrichment boot camp, a life skills program, self-improvement through wilderness therapy, strap them inside a spaceship headed for the biggest black hole—anything! This is the saddest, most frustratingly idiotic batch of dislikable characters I have encountered since Twilight.
I am not exaggerating. In fact, I’m very serious. At this moment, I’d rather suffocate myself reading the entire Twilight series than go near this book a second time. In a sad show more way, the ridiculousness that is Twilight can provide trivial amusement; The Vast Fields of Ordinary cannot.
Dade wants a boyfriend, but Dade already has a boyfriend (kind of). So what is the problem? His kind-of-but-not-really boyfriend, Pablo, is in a public relationship with Judy. Pablo, who’s a stereotypical jock with stereotypical jerkwad jock friends, also has issues admitting he likes other men. So what does Pablo do? Sees Dade in secret (even though it’s not quite a secret-secret) yet enforces an anti-gay attitude.
Whatever. Dade needs to ditch Pablo, but Dade is so desperate for an intimate relationship that he beckons to Pablo’s every "let’s fornicate!" call.
In Dade’s defense, I can understand (only slightly, however) why he sticks with Pablo. He’s not openly gay, and Pablo is the only one in town who one-hundred percent, without a doubt, knows Dade’s sexual orientation. In secret, Pablo provides one-fourth of Dade's relationship needy-ness. (Even though Pablo is a jerk.) But still.
Dade sits with and attends parties hosted by Pablo & Homophobic Co. You know, I hate victim blaming. It’s wrong, but this kid is beyond moronic. He puts himself in uncomfortable situations where it’s painfully obvious that his bullies are going to use them as bullying opportunities. The guy is clueless.
Example: here is a conversation I summarized from memory (because I was so eager to remove The Vast Fields of Ordinary from my presence that I chucked it inside the nearest library drop-box ASAP):
Pablo: I can’t hang out tonight, because I’m going to a party with Judy and the others.
Dade (lusting): I may be there, too.
Pablo: Were you even invited?
Dade: Well, I saw a flyer at school and assumed everyone is invited. So yeah, I was invited.
Oh, that was painful. Dade is the one obviously gay kid in the entire school that everyone loves to degrade, so no. I don’t call that an invitation. It’s like witnessing someone make a catastrophic social faux pas that even I feel embarrassed for the person. I feel the impending doom knowing that Dade will never defend himself. To make the matter worse, Dade sits with these people at lunch. Please, someone tell me why he does this, because I have difficulty understanding. I don't condone bullying, but it is in Dade's best interest to spend less time trying to socialize with this group. I'm a ferocious energy ball of frustration: why can't Dade see my point?!
Dade continues to place himself in situations he really shouldn’t until—ooh!—a mysterious handsome drug dealer appears! Promising, really—but wait! It gets better.
Mysterious Handsome Drug Dealer (a.k.a. Alex) is also gay. And attractive. And wears shirts that show off chest hair (eww). And! He is interested in having a (public!) relationship with our protagonist.
What are the chances that narrow-minded suburban Cederville (apologies if I incorrectly remember the town’s name) is going to have an openly gay drug dealer who is a striking, kind young man? I’m talking about a town whose gay men count hits a whopping high of ten middle-aged dudes. Furthermore, something tells me that the likelihood of finding a caring, well-mannered, drug-dealing boyfriend is rarer than spotting a strong, independent Bella Swan.
Now that Dade has Alex to preoccupy smooch and sexy times, Pablo incessantly pops up like a miserable, fraught wounded rabbit. Only... you don’t exactly want to comfort that wounded rabbit in fear of contracting rabies. Pablo is not a nice wounded rabbit. Pablo evolves into a creepy, suicidal stalker, sending text messages like, “I SEE YOU LEAVING WITH HIM,” and, “I SEE YOU.” Then this happens:
"I heard the rattle of his belt coming undone followed by the sound of his zipper. I turned around. His pants were partially down his thighs and his dick was hanging out.
'Dude.' His voice came out quiet and mangled, like an injured animal flopping painfully out of its hiding spot, and the massiveness of how sad it is to want someone suddenly fell on my head like an anvil in some comically violent cartoon.
'Oh my God.' I turned and hurried out of the dairy cooler. [...] Twice I checked over my shoulder to see if Pablo was following me, but he wasn't."
Dade doesn’t do anything! But it doesn’t matter if you have a crazy, forlorn, and confused ex non-boyfriend who sends harassing text messages and whips out his downstairs manliness. I mean, what’s concerning about that? It's harmless. Nothing bad can result from that behavior. (Sorry, involuntary eye-rolling has occured.)
I kept expecting the author to let Pablo sort out his sexual confusion and feelings about Dade. Perhaps Pablo and Dade could agree to talk and come to an understanding like LEVEL-HEADED people, but nothing of the sort happens. I expected Dade to discover inner-confidence and stand up for himself, to feel more comfortable about admitting he’s gay, but that doesn’t happen either.
Instead,
And what, if I may, is so swoon-worthy about Alex Kincaid? He’s a twenty-something year old who sells marijuana and works at a place called Taco Taco for a living. Oh! Well, I guess he has this aesthetically appealing body, so the idea that Alex is probably not the best person to hang around isn’t a problem. Once Dade gets it on with Alex, whoa-ho do sparks fly and problems dissolve! He’s Dade’s romantic hero.
No, seriously. He is. Alex and Lucy have to step in each time Dade gets picked on. Dade: grow a back-bone.
All of this—this Pablo nonsense and Alex fascination—makes up the entire plot. There are marital problems going on in the background between Dade’s parent, but I think I’ve covered the oh-my-god-I’m-gay-and-incapable-of-handling-my-problems aspect. Dade has no goals in life. He doesn’t come across as moderately concerned or interested in college. Alex aside, the only things Dade does eem to care about are whining to the maximum degree and writing meh-poetry ("Looking up at an ordinary sky / It could fall on me and somehow be / The day I didn't die").
This story is about spending your last summer at home, that gap between high school graduation and heading off for college. That's satisfactory, I suppose, but where's the adventure? A climax? Not even the book's conflicts are resolved. It would be a lot more interesting if
a)An actual plot existed
b)The plot was interesting and did not drone on for 309 pages
c)Dade learned how to not act like idiot and discover fortitude
d)Issues were resolved
But none of that lives inside this book, and the characters are too shallowly explored for me to even try and care about their woes. On to the next... show less
I checked out Vast Fields of Ordinary from the library when it won the (first ever) Stonewall Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. I got about halfway through when I realized that this is a book I just had to own, so I returned it to the library and bought my own copy. It's just about everything I've been looking for in a contemporary YA fiction novel about a queer teen and I couldn't bear to not have a copy to mark-up, loan out, and make a home for on my bookcase.
This book is not all about the gayness, and I love it for that.*
The summer after senior year and before college is a summer of huge changes for a lot of people. For Dade, it means the end of an unequal and often emotionally abusive relationship. It's also the show more summer of finally having a best friend (Lucy!), drunken parties, extreme haircuts, and a hot new boyfriend who ::gasp:: holds his hand in public. He also becomes obsessed with a local girl who has gone missing and watches his parents' marriage continue to crumble. In short, this is an almost typical teen romance novel with a few Important Issues thrown in. But Dade's sexuality is not one of them.
Dade's crush and following romance with Alex is so sweet. It's not perfect, Alex is a drug dealer after all, but they make it work. The fact that Dade has someone to gush about this new relationship with in Lucy doesn't hurt either. He starts to fall in lurv in a way he never could with his secret ex, Pablo. He introduces Alex to his parents, fails to see the disasterous consequences of having the name "Dade" and becoming involved with someone who's last name is "Kincaid," and generally plans out the rest of their happy lives together. And those plans may or may not work out.
Just like any other YA romance. :)
*Looking through the LGBTQ books I've reviewed, there are only one or two where the main character is queer and where one of the main conflicts of the story is not the character's sexuality. They're still great books, but there needs to be books where some of that has already been done and the character is just out living life. This book includes Dade coming out, but that's not nearly as important as his healthy relationship with Alex.
Book source: I bought it at the always wonderful Giovanni's Room in Philadelphia show less
This book is not all about the gayness, and I love it for that.*
The summer after senior year and before college is a summer of huge changes for a lot of people. For Dade, it means the end of an unequal and often emotionally abusive relationship. It's also the show more summer of finally having a best friend (Lucy!), drunken parties, extreme haircuts, and a hot new boyfriend who ::gasp:: holds his hand in public. He also becomes obsessed with a local girl who has gone missing and watches his parents' marriage continue to crumble. In short, this is an almost typical teen romance novel with a few Important Issues thrown in. But Dade's sexuality is not one of them.
Dade's crush and following romance with Alex is so sweet. It's not perfect, Alex is a drug dealer after all, but they make it work. The fact that Dade has someone to gush about this new relationship with in Lucy doesn't hurt either. He starts to fall in lurv in a way he never could with his secret ex, Pablo. He introduces Alex to his parents, fails to see the disasterous consequences of having the name "Dade" and becoming involved with someone who's last name is "Kincaid," and generally plans out the rest of their happy lives together. And those plans may or may not work out.
Just like any other YA romance. :)
*Looking through the LGBTQ books I've reviewed, there are only one or two where the main character is queer and where one of the main conflicts of the story is not the character's sexuality. They're still great books, but there needs to be books where some of that has already been done and the character is just out living life. This book includes Dade coming out, but that's not nearly as important as his healthy relationship with Alex.
Book source: I bought it at the always wonderful Giovanni's Room in Philadelphia show less
I picked this book up off the Young Adult shelf at my local library. I hadn't heard of it previously, but when I read the description and realized it was a story about a gay teenager coming of age, I couldn't resist picking it up. Boy, am I glad that I did! The book is narrated by Dade, a gay teenager living in a small midwestern town. Dade is a fully realized character, not just a caricature of a teenage gay boy. While there are the usual struggles of coming out and dealing with first love, the book is about far more... Dade's parents are splitting up and he longs for something more than the empty life he has in his little town. Burd has a way with language and some of the descriptions are just plain beautiful. He manages to capture show more the moodiness and longing of being a teenager without making the character annoying or trite. I highly recommend this one. Four and a half stars. show less
Although it’s back-to-school and the tail-end of summer, how about getting lost in one last great summer read? Casting a dream-like spell and lingering long after you’ve finished it, The Vast Fields of Ordinary is anything but ordinary. Heartfelt, true, and written by someone with a deep sense of knowing, it is a coming-of-age and coming out story that refreshingly departs from formula. We experience the roller coaster ride that is Dade Hamilton’s summer before leaving his Iowa town to begin college. A lot happens to Dade during this transformative summer: his casual “boyfriend” continues to not acknowledge his existence, his father has a girlfriend & his parents’ marriage is on the brink of collapse, and he meets the guy show more who becomes his first true boyfriend. While his sexual orientation is an important part of Dade’s story, it’s not the sole focal point—it is a part of who he is. He and the other very real characters in this book are all adrift in life, trying to figure where they belong and longing for serious connection. The Vast Fields of Ordinary pulsates with vitality and honesty and is beautifully written by first-time author Nick Burd. There are parts that clearly illustrate Dade’s thinking, letting us know what is going on inside his head:
The thought occurred to me that so much of life is reenactment, people doing things that they saw other people do in the hopes that it could make them rich or happy or popular. I wondered if people would be happier if they just were who they really were, if they didn’t try and find themselves in other people. (p.216)
The book’s descriptions of the suburban Midwest are also spot-on—not surprisingly, Burd grew up in Iowa (he talks about it in this NPR interview.) This is a book that will stay with you—both for it’s freshness and resonance. Dade is an original and authentic voice that deserves to be heard. Check out the story of his pivotal summer in this stunning first novel. show less
The thought occurred to me that so much of life is reenactment, people doing things that they saw other people do in the hopes that it could make them rich or happy or popular. I wondered if people would be happier if they just were who they really were, if they didn’t try and find themselves in other people. (p.216)
The book’s descriptions of the suburban Midwest are also spot-on—not surprisingly, Burd grew up in Iowa (he talks about it in this NPR interview.) This is a book that will stay with you—both for it’s freshness and resonance. Dade is an original and authentic voice that deserves to be heard. Check out the story of his pivotal summer in this stunning first novel. show less
A sensitive novel. Dade just graduated high school and is about to attend an out-of-state college. Dade is gay and has been in a secret relationship with a football player from school.
However, once Dade meets Alex, a sexy, mysterious man, his life starts to change...
Dad's journey from closeted to out gay man is touching and honest. However, sometimes I found his thoughts to be too mature for his age-level. I occasionally thought I was reading the thoughts of a 35 year old man, not an 18 year old. Also, the side story regarding the missing autistic girl didn't have enough weight to make it as symbolic as the author would've liked. If there was just a bit more of it, I think this would've been an outstanding novel.
That said, I did really show more enjoy it and would recommend it to teens. show less
However, once Dade meets Alex, a sexy, mysterious man, his life starts to change...
Dad's journey from closeted to out gay man is touching and honest. However, sometimes I found his thoughts to be too mature for his age-level. I occasionally thought I was reading the thoughts of a 35 year old man, not an 18 year old. Also, the side story regarding the missing autistic girl didn't have enough weight to make it as symbolic as the author would've liked. If there was just a bit more of it, I think this would've been an outstanding novel.
That said, I did really show more enjoy it and would recommend it to teens. show less
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Author Information
1+ Work 551 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Notable Lists
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2009
- People/Characters
- Dade Hamilton; Pablo Soto; Alex Kincaid
- Important places
- Cedarville, Iowa, USA
- Dedication
- "For my mom, my dad, and my sister."
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"There is always somewhere else to go."
Classifications
- Genres
- LGBTQ+, Teen, Fiction and Literature, Young Adult
- DDC/MDS
- 813.6 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 2000-
- LCC
- PZ7 .B915985 .V — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
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- 551
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- 53,600
- Reviews
- 29
- Rating
- (3.80)
- Languages
- English, German, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 4
