Going All the Way

I first read Going All the Way in a lit class called "Growing Up In America" at prep school, in 1974. The book was only a few years old then, and it was assigned along with other fine works like The Sound and the Fury, Member of the Wedding, Red Sky at Morning, and The Car Thief. Going All the Way was my favorite, and remains one of my favorites today. I've reread it many times, and have greatly enjoyed reading the whole thing aloud to two different receptive audiences-of-one. Going All the Way is funny, wise, and true. As a girl of 16, it also taught me a great deal about men, and particularly about the visceral fear most men have of women -- the degree to which they feel we have the power to define them. It is a book that entertains, educates, and enlightens, all at the same time. It doesn't get a whole lot better than that. I went to a book signing when this edition came out, so I could meet Dan Wakefield, and tell him how much this book has meant to me. I was also very pleased with the movie, which came out literally decades after the book -- while it did, of necessity, pare the story down to the essentials, it portrayed the heart and soul of the story and the characters truly. Don't miss Going All The Way. It may not be The Great American Novel, but it's certainly *A* Great American Novel.

This is one of the most pitilessly honest and funniest books you'll ever read about early adulthood -- late high school, college and just after. The sexual preoccupation. The social striving. The uncertainty about one's future. Along the way, Mr. Wakefield captures a time and a place (Indiana, early 1950s) perfectly. You could draw a straight line connecting the art of J.D. Salinger, Dan Wakefield and Nick Hornby. Thank you, Mr. Wakefield!

What a book. A true depiction of the male mind, regardless of time period. I don't think I could thank Wakefield enough for writing this novel. It opened my eyes to the things I've been seeing all my life

This book is alternately poignant and hilarious, adding up to a wonderful satisfying read. For anyone who lived through the 50s and 60s, it will evoke unforgettable memories; for those who didn't live through it, the book is the perfect time capsule. Dan Wakefield is a national treasure.

Ben Affleck is an excellent narrator of this already hilarious tale of sex in the 50s. With interesting plot twists, and fun romps, it's great for any Affleck OR Wakefield fan! AND, if you like the book (or book on tape) you should definitely check out the movie. It's great for anyone who's ever felt sexually frustrated!!