|
Vintage: A Ghost Story | 
| Author: Steve Berman Publisher: Lethe Press Category: Book
List Price: $13.00 Buy New: $7.35 You Save: $5.65 (43%)
New (18) Used (5) from $7.35
Rating: 20 reviews Sales Rank: 494688
Media: Perfect Paperback Reading Level: Ages 9-12 Pages: 208 Number Of Items: 1 Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3 Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.7
ISBN: 1590210530 EAN: 9781590210536 ASIN: 1590210530
Publication Date: March 1, 2008 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Shipping: International shipping available Condition: GREAT BUY!Brand New From US Distributor! WE ARE A 5 STAR SELLER with OVER 3,500,000 BOOKS SOLD!!! OVER ~ 600,000 FEEDBACKS ~ POSTED!!!
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description A lonely boy walking along a highway one autumn evening meets the boy of his dreams, a boy who happens to have died decades ago and haunts the road. Awkward crushes, both bitter and sweet, lead him to face youthful dreams and childish fears. With its cast of offbeat friends, antiques, and Ouija boards, Vintage is not your typical romance but does offers readers a memorable blend of dark humor, chills and love. A finalist for the Andre Norton Award and Gaylactic Spectrum Award!
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
A great first love story November 5, 2008 M. Moline (Atlanta, GA USA) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This was a book I took on the recommendation of Holly Black. (Author of Tithe, the Spiderwick Chronicles and such) I read through the book in one day because I just couldn't put it down. Unlike so much of the gay and lesbian fiction out there in the world, this story wasn't preaching to people about how hard it is to be gay. This story's soap box was all about how difficult it is to fall in love for the first time... especially when that first time happens to be a ghost.
The feelings in this book are universal. As a straight woman, I was was right there with our protagonist trying to figure out what my feelings were. The story is short but stunning, gripping but sweet. An absolutely wonderful read!
Would Recommend October 25, 2008 Shooting Stars Magazine (Ky,Ma,) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
When you and your best friend Trace are fascinated with anything and everything gothic, you wouldn't think that ghosts would cause you any worry. Wrong. The narrator (who is never given a name) finds himself seeing the ghost from the legend of Rt. 47. At first, he's highly attracted to him, but soon realizes the dangers of carrying on a relationship with not only the dead but the jealous. With Trace's help, the two try to find the best possible way to help Josh move on. A new love interest occurs between the main character and Trace's brother, Second Mike, along with trying to unravel the mystery surrounding their older brother, the first Mike.
Vintage is a quick, thrilling read. It was a perfect mix of romance, friendship, mystery, and suspense. The various emotions are clearly shown, pulling you into the lives of this group of clear misfits. Even with the company of ghosts, this is still a great coming-of-age and growing into yourself novel. I loved it and highly recommend to anyone interested in a companion, yet supernatural story. All I wanted to know at the end was, where's the sequel?
Want More? Check Profile for Link to Zine!
Vintage: A Ghost Story by Steve Berman October 10, 2008 Elisa Rolle (Italy) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The story is told in first person by the main character, a teenager, and so we never know his name. I actually realized that I didn't know that name well past the mid of the book, and this is a clue that I was so enthralled by the story to not take care to "small" details like that.
Our hero is a runaway teenager; when he came out with his parents, he was kicked out from home but lucky him he found shelter with his aunt. Probably still suffering from the reject of his family, he retired into his shell, and he only relates with his best friend, a girl named Trace. Both Trace and him have their problems to overcome and in their difference they find a common path: goth teens who go to funerals to spend time, dressing like the adults they still aren't.
Actually our hero was quite lucky and he now has a comfortable and welcoming home with his aunt, and so his problems are the same of a normal teen: the insecurity of a guy who wonders if he is good enough to attract a boyfriend, the daydreams of a young man who is approaching to sex for the first time. Probably since he has this strange familiarity with death, our hero is not so shocked when he meets a ghost: Josh is an 18 years old guy dead in a car accident in 1957. He is not only a teen like our hero, he is also a very handsome guy, a jock; and like every goth teen should do in high school, our hero falls in love for the jock, but this time the jock reciprocates the interest... there is only the little fact that Josh is dead and that his interest in our hero is very deeply, almost lethal.
Meantime our hero realizes that the little brother of his best friend Trace, Mike, is already fifteen years old and rather cute; Mike is clever and tender, with a joy for life that is involving. Where Josh is shadow and night, Mike is full light and sun. Where Josh arises in our hero dark desires (that are actually normal sexual urges in a teen...), Mike inspires him cuddles and playful kiss. From not having the hope to find a boyfriend, our hero now has two boys around him, but it's not a situation he can bring along forever. You could say that Josh represents the dark side of our hero, and staying with him is like choosing to not coming out from the darkness, meanwhile Mike is the light, the future that he could have if he chooses to leave behind his sense of abandonment.
Even if the story deals with quite sad things, dead people (not only Josh), the whole feeling I had of the book is of "lightness". The author is very good in taking the reader glued to the book till the last page, both for the mystery than for the romance; there is also a switch in the story that seems to lead to an angst ending, but still the author chooses for a more "normal" development. All this concurs to the lightness of the story, making it a very good read both for a young adult than for an adult too.
Also the love story between our hero and Mike is light, fresh and sweet; where our hero maybe could be ready for something more, Mike is still 15 years old, and so, for me, it's right that they don't become too involved; they are still boys, not men.
BEAUTIFUL and HAUNTING, A MUST READ :) September 26, 2008 Michaela (Monument, CO) 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
There is everything to love in this book. Expertly capturing a haunting, velvety mood, the tone is smooth and beautiful and simply a joy to read. I found myself right at home with the thoughts and feelings of the characters, their personalites created so well it's as though a real individual is sharing their story with me. I haven't read a story with such well-done characterization in a long time. The plot is gripping and realistic- something that isn't far-fetched and silly. I especially like his attention to details, not nit-picky, but softly calling attention to things most people might miss or look over.
The author handles love as it happens in real life: how people, no matter their orientation, love like anyone else. There isn't any actual sex, although he gets up to some seriously strange play with the ghost that is both erotic and scary. The love scenes with the boyfriend he comes to have are touching and sensitive which seemed right on par with the main character's calm, gentle nature. Again, there's no hard core sex, but for those who are into some fluff will be pleased.
There is under-age drinking and drug use, alongside a jealous ghost. Stuff that I've never done, but it wasn't so in your face that I found myself uncomfortable (if anyone's worried about that stuff.) Overall a real joy to read. I'm very happy I bought it and will enjoy reading it again. I'm looking forward to reading his other books as well.
Read it, now! April 1, 2008 Aimee M. Payne (Jacksonville, FL United States) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed Vintage. Many of the other reviews talk about the paranormal aspects of the novel, but it was the mundane that really made an impression on me. Berman manages to capture how vital friendship is when you're a teenager, how important it is to have someone on your side, especially when you find yourself embroiled in an unhealthy relationship.
Trace reminds me of the friends I had when I was a teenager. They weren't in the cool clique, but they were cool just the same. It made it easy to slip into the main character's shoes. Even though the main character is a young gay man, his problems and strengths were universal. I recommend it.
|
|
|
| |