Official Review: Playing Hurt by Gerald L Nardella

[desantismt_17]

Wow, this sounds like an intense read. Toxic masculinity is something I've thought about but never much past "it is bad." I really want to read this to see how it's handled here. Thanks for your review!

[nikkyteewhy]

This book sounds very interesting. A young adult book about high school adolescents living in the 1960s, and how they dealt with adolescent issues like sex, drugs, and everyday life. I will like to read this book. Great review.

[Northernbird84]

It’s so refreshing to have the pressures of both sexes to conform to stereotypes and expectations detailed within a novel. It is usually one over arching struggle. This book isn’t for me as I think I’d find it quite upsetting but it sounds like a great read for fans of realism and high school dramas.

[Tars]

I don't like 60s and I extremely dislike high school dramas. So obviously this book is not for me, but it certainly will find its readers))

[MHScaccia]

This is definitely a book I want to read. For personal reasons, I’m intrigued to discover how the author portrays young people, sex, and the the stigma surrounding the two during that time period. Thanks for the review!

[strawberrysab]

Thank you for sharing your review. The writer seems to have done a good job in discussing a sensitive topic like adolescent sex in a delicate yet not boring way.

[krystlezee]

I read a sample of this book and I questioned whether or not it would be enjoyable. I got thrown off a bit by the mention of different names in the beginning and had to reread a few times to put it all together; but the flow, for me, got better after that. Your review provided me with more detail about the way the story was going, which is great! I'm still not sure if I'll eventually read the book in it's entirety, but I'm sure it would be a good book for someone who's looking to read something that focuses more on realistic situations.

[Festus]

Brian and Deanie represent a generation suffocating in a tsunami of moral somersault. I agree with the author’s judgment but wish to add that the 21st century society unlike peer group pressure is seemingly more culpable. To me, Nardella is a patriot who chooses an unpopular genre in order to add his voice to the crisis which has an adverse impact on moral architecture of the society, and by extension, aiding a saner world. Great review no doubt.

[jessicawallace6]

This sounds like a truly engrossing book, about pressures many of us experience in our young years, and a testament that no matter what age we grow up in, youth is a universal experience. I'll have to put this on my to-read list!

[Dahmy 10]

A novel touching in an heavy theme such as sexuality may be an interesting pick. I guess I have to pick it up to see how Brian and Deanie survived their ordeals. The title suggests a tragedy though!!

Beautiful review here, thank you very much..

[Kareka88]

Your review of Playing Hurt by Gerald L Nardella is thought provoking and makes me want to read the book and not read the book all at the same time. The complexities of the topics of the teenage years are still all too clear in my mind, however relationships of the characters draws me more to my want to read side.

[lavellan]

Thanks for your review! This book looks like a compelling read. The effects of toxic masculinity and inadequate sex education seem like they are handled superbly. It's interesting how the author chose to focus on both Brian and Deanie's struggles with toxic masculinity. The 1960's setting also provides unique insight into the topic.

[revna01]

I'm not sure a book with such a heavy focus on sexual relationships is my cup of tea, although it sounds like the author put a great deal of effort into highlighting the various facets of the subject. I'm particularly impressed with how the author details the harmful nature of objectifying women to men as well as women. Thanks for the great review.

[Summer83]

Wonderful review and well written. This novel reminds me of The Outsiders.

[kmatic]

The only thing I liked about this book was that it kept your attention with the twists and turns on every page. It was interesting to see, how authentic the author had portrayed the period. There were some things that in today’s society we would not approve of, but in the 1960’s they were part of the social norms. At times the story was a little easy to predict, but the ending of the book was not one that I expected.