The Vast Fields of Ordinary

I started reading this the other night and stayed up until 6 AM before putting it down. I didn't want to, but I was enjoying it so much that I didn't want it to be over with. Plus, my eyelids were getting really heavy. Then the next day I had to work until 11:30 PM and all I could think about was getting home so I could finish the book. I finished it around 4 AM and was so sad it was over. I absolutely loved it. I loved the main character. I got the book from the library but will now buy my own copy. I rarely buy a book after reading it because I don't usually plan on reading them again in the future, and while I've never re-read a book yet, I do plan on reading this one again sometime. I'd like to revisit it when I don't remember all of the details. It's the best book I've read since "Call Me By Your Name," another I had to purchase afterwards. I think these are the only two books I've purchased after having read them. I know this is probably best as a stand alone book and a sequel could ruin the impact, but I would love one. I adored the main character and wasn't ready to leave him. If Nick ever writes one I would have my copy pre-ordered the moment it was available to pre-order. Anyway, this is such a wonderful book. Now one of my favorites.

I bought it as it was on my recommendations and truly enjoyed it. More to come I hope!

Vast Fields of Ordinary is a wondrous read. His main characters were so compelling and dimensional and just plain real. I swear I've got a crush on Dade and Alex. Not that they were too good to be true, but they were real and emotional and okay I admit, Alex might well have been sexy as hell, in the minds eye. :) I hated that it had to end, that the inevitable had to happen, that life goes on and Nick Burd just captured it all beautifully.

Dade Hamilton is an 18 year old gay boy spending the final months, been the end of high school and going away to college, at his upper middle class home in suburban Iowa. As the local media becomes obsessed with the story of a young girl who seems to have disappeared without a trace in his neighborhood, Dade mourns the end of a secretive, codependent affair with a popular, closeted jock, and works at his boring job at a big-box discount store at a local mall. His dad makes good money selling luxury cars, as his relationship with Dade's mother continues to deteriorate. One of the two bright spots in Dade's summer is meeting Lucy, a neighbor's visiting niece, who is a feisty lesbian whom Dade becomes close friends with immediately. The other is meeting Alex, whom Dade is instantly attracted to, and turns out to be just the medicine Alex needs, in order to draw himself out of his shell, come out to his parents, and look forward to what the future can bring. The apparent analogy of Dade and his friends looking within themselves to give meaning to their lives, while authorities are looking for the missing girl, isn't overdone, and is effectively handled by this skilled first-time novelist. The characters are realistic and fully developed, and the story is well-written and satisfying. Excellent gift for a gay teen who is unsure about his future. Looking forward for the author's next work, I give this one five identical suburban stars out of five.

This is definitely one of the best books I've read in long time. I couldn't put it down! Through the author's mesmerizing writing I could feel the sheer loneliness that Dade felt growing up in a midwestern town feeling isolated and out of place as he laid in his bed night confessing to his ceiling fan he is gay. Don't get me wrong, Dade never comes across as helpless or pitiful (maybe a little unsure of himself) instead you can see he is biding his time believing that there has to be more out there for him. His first attempt at reaching out is Pablo a boy he loves but who is using him to express physical feelings he can't even admit to himself. Although Pablo treats Dade horribly and is pretty much a jerk, I couldn't help feeling sorry for him as he desperately tried to deny who he really is. A bright for spot for Dade is when he meets the neighbors niece who is staying for the summer. She is the first person who really pushes Dade to be himself and shows him he is actually a pretty great guy. I would hate to see this book get tagged as only a gay "coming out" book. It's a great read and comes a cross as one point of view of the thousands of teens out there who are just trying to figure out who they are, dealing with what life throws at them and wondering what life has in store for them. Moderately sexual explicit scenes a long with drinking and drug use make this book appropriate for high school and above.