Saturday, June 5, 2010

men are from mars, women are from venus

For me, freshness is almost as important as humor in a novel, and Sarah Miller's Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn has both. An unknown girl narrates the tale, a girl who inexplicably finds herself privy to the every thought of Gideon Rayburn, new kid at an exclusive New England prep school.

Guys always wonder what girls are thinking, but it goes the other way, too-- and now this unknown girl has the opportunity to finally find out as out-of-place Gideon navigates his way in his new environment. His journey isn't made any easier by his roommates Nicholas and Cullen, who are both rich, suave, and sometimes morally questionable. The pair make a bet out of Gideon's semi-virginity, and want him to loose it all the way with fiesty Molly McGarry. Gid likes Molly, and he wants to prove himself to his roommates, but there's the added complication of Pilar, the sexiest, most popular girl in school.

While both the ending and the revelation of the narrator is unsurprising, Gideon Rayburn is still a fun, worthwhile read. It's interesting to get into Gideon's head as he worries about girls, popularity, and impressing the guys. Still, he's a funny, caring guy who readers can't help but like. The rest of the characters are multidimensional, too -- Molly, Pilar, and even Cullen and Nicholas. Despite the faults of Gid's roommates, you can also see hints of why they are the way they are, such as when Gid stays with Nicholas over a school holiday. The book serves as more than just a look into the male mind, however. Gideon Rayburn is a comedic romance with a strong, wry voice that takes place in the over-the-top boarding school environment. And let's face it-- that's always fun.

And remember-- do you have an original review of a mid-list book that you'd like posted? Shoot me an email at doingitwrite@gmail.com.

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