Publisher:
Hot Key Books
Release
Date: 1st
January 2014
Edition:
UK paperback,
purchased
After
an unfortunate incident with a lollipop lady (it’s a long story) Ben Fletcher
avoids the Young Offenders Unit. Instead he is told to Give Something Back to
the community and develop his Sense of Social Alignment.
Of
course Ben does what most teenage boys would do: he takes up knitting. He’s
always had a Thing for the teacher and it would be a welcome change from
endless conversations about Top Ger and Chelsea FC with his dad.
Obviously
it doesn’t quite go as he thought it would. There is a high risk of eternal
HUMILIATION and becoming REPELLENT to all girls. But Ben’s nothing if not a
risk-taker.
Just
ask the lollipop lady...
When I first heard about TS
Easton’s debut, I didn’t think it would be for me and I turned down a review. Then
everyone raved about it and I felt left out so I bought it. Man, I was missing out!
I’m a big fan of the diary
format, but I’ve never seen one for a male protagonist before I loved it. Ben’s
voice is charming, funny and intelligent, but he’s still a bit of a goof and completely
adorkable. The path that led Ben to community service one is a hilarious one;
an unexpected one. Then came the knitting and the obsession that took hold of
him. It was nice to see a character so genuinely in love with a new hobby and
taking it as far as they could, it also helped that it was a little embarrassing
and through in some excellent close calls and embarrassing moments.
Boys
Don’t Knit has
a subtly unsubtle thread of humour running through it, veering from double
entendre to physical humour; horrific Fifty
Shades rip offs to cringey kisses. Brilliant. The excerpts from Graham’s
masterpiece, Fifty Shades of Graham, were
particularly cringe-worthy and uncomfortably funny.
I really enjoyed how TS Easton
approached the gender stereotype of knitting. He didn’t make a big deal out of
it, and yet he did. The reactions of people around his and his fear of people’s
reactions all stemmed around knitting being a feminine activity and him being a
teenage boy. I loved that he didn’t really care whether it was girly or not
because he loved it; it was even better when other people seemed to feel the
same way.
Boys
Don’t Knit is
sweet, funny, charming and so much fun. I’m so glad there’s going to be another
book chock full of Ben’s adventures. I can’t wait!
Sophie
I can't wait to read this book. Especially as most people seem to be raving about it. I'm glad it's coming up soon. Great review :-)
ReplyDeleteDoh! I saw this in Foyles a few weeks ago and *almost* bought it, Going to have to correct that mistake now! Fab review :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you decided to pick this up after initially saying no- it was definitely worth it!
ReplyDelete