Be More Chill, by Ned Vizzini

I picked up this book because I had already read It's Kind of a Funny Story by this author and I liked it. In that book, the main character was funny, intelligent, clumsy, unlucky, and depressed. All these things combined made him very lovable and relatable. I'm not terribly far into this book, but I have a feeling I'm gonna like it too.

The main character in this book is named Jeremy Heere. He's pretty much your average, high school dork. He's in every drama production the school puts on, he is madly in love with a girl he will never get to have, and he doesn't have that many friends. Your typical high school-loser cliche. But somehow, Vizzini is managing to put his own spin on it.

One of the things I hate the most in literature, especially realistic fiction, are all the stereotypes and cliches. Normally, I'd put down this book right away and start something more original. I just can't seem to do that though. The main issue in books with a geeky, male protagonist is usually self-esteem or acceptance. Although I can see both of those issues pooping up, the author hasn't emphasized them enough to make them the main issues. I still feel like the real conflict hasn't been introduced yet. I am still waiting for Jeremy to make a mistake.

I am very interested in Jeremy as a character, and I will be tracking his development throughout this story. Right now, he is kind of sad and it is obvious he thinks he needs change in his life. I think he really wants to change, and I think that he will try to make it happen, unlike Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye. The two seem kind of similar; both are unlucky, bad at social interactions, and have a cynical outlook on life. The whole book, Holden complained and complained, and he wasn't doing anything about it. It took a very bad experience to wake him up and jumpstart his change. Jeremy on the other hand is different. He has this huge crush on a girl, and he tried speaking to her. He was going to give her chocolate, but it melted. He failed for a different reason than Holden: rotten luck. One thing all really good characters have in common is that they fail in some way. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird did not win the case. However, he knew in his heart he was right, and it added to him as a character. Holden failed at everything, but eventually he learned from his mistakes and changed for the better. Jeremy failed this time, but it's safe to assume he will do a better job next time.

I think by the end of the book Jeremy will be what he hopes to be, which is popular. I think he will get the girl, and he will also become a better person, just from my other experiences with this author.

Hopefully, I'm right.