“The main character of this story is a teenage boy, Brian, trying to discover himself. Brian is lost and angry and confused until, like many of us, he discovers punk rock. He's still angry after this, but not lost or confused. The book basically attempts to show the mental and emotional changes Brian undergoes at this time, the conclusion basically being that once he finds Punk Rock he finds himself. As I stated, this has true for many of us--myself included, so one would think I could empathize and relate to this story.
However, I hated it. Brian's main love interest is his best friend Gretchen. Despite Brian's near obsession with her, he refuses to act on or acknowledge his feelings. Not, however, for an understandable fear of rejection, but because he's embarrassed of what other people would think about him because Gretchen is "Fat." While this Chauvenistic and objectifying mindset is sadly pretty common amongst "normies", Brian never grows out of this, even as he becomes "Punk".
Brians character is very difficult to like because of this and other reasons. One familiar with Punk, such as myself, can easily see him becoming a "Fashion Punk" and eventually a "Drunk Punk. Punk Rock was, and is, more than just an excuse for Meathead Jocks to come around and impose stereotypical and hierarchical gender roles and rules the guise of a "rebellion" that is little more than a different set of Fashion-Only standard's to adhere to.
Brian's Character is pathetic and despicable. Just because he "discovers" Punk music doesn't make him a Punk and it certainly doesn't make this book worth reading.”
