Comments on: King Dork, by Frank Portman http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/ a resource for students and teachers Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:22:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Not a Hedianist http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/comment-page-1/#comment-19616 Not a Hedianist Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:20:01 +0000 http://mrquale.com/?p=70#comment-19616 I also did not like King Dork. You would think after all the crap in Tom's life he would be trying to do something good, maybe put a little more light into the dark world that surrounds him. But instead Frank Portman just keeps having tom desperatly trying to fulfill shallow pleasures. He portrays sex as a "Happily Ever After" ending. When in reality messing around with TWO (kinda slutty girls with who knows what diseases) at the same time has never turned out good for anybody. How is that supposed to relieve his guilt? I think it Frank Portman put a little more insight into life and consequences instead of trying to remix Catcher in the Rye King Dork had a great premise and could have been a good book. I also did not like King Dork. You would think after all the crap in Tom’s life he would be trying to do something good, maybe put a little more light into the dark world that surrounds him. But instead Frank Portman just keeps having tom desperatly trying to fulfill shallow pleasures. He portrays sex as a “Happily Ever After” ending. When in reality messing around with TWO (kinda slutty girls with who knows what diseases) at the same time has never turned out good for anybody. How is that supposed to relieve his guilt? I think it Frank Portman put a little more insight into life and consequences instead of trying to remix Catcher in the Rye King Dork had a great premise and could have been a good book.

]]> By: nowhere man http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/comment-page-1/#comment-12117 nowhere man Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:34:20 +0000 http://mrquale.com/?p=70#comment-12117 I really appreciated King Dork. Except for the instrument playing (I have no talent in this area), Tom's life felt a little too familiar. As a guy who still gets no action long after high school, I felt the resolution of the novel was appropriate to the story as told. Tom and Sam didn't win the band competition (they were not good enough), but they did become appreciated for the way their songs distilled the essence of life in their high school. The band names and song titles rocked (mostly). Can't wait for the movie. Alyson Michalka should play Celeste Fletcher/Fiona. I really appreciated King Dork. Except for the instrument playing (I have no talent in this area), Tom’s life felt a little too familiar. As a guy who still gets no action long after high school, I felt the resolution of the novel was appropriate to the story as told. Tom and Sam didn’t win the band competition (they were not good enough), but they did become appreciated for the way their songs distilled the essence of life in their high school. The band names and song titles rocked (mostly). Can’t wait for the movie. Alyson Michalka should play Celeste Fletcher/Fiona.

]]> By: Jillian in first period http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Jillian in first period Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:44:45 +0000 http://mrquale.com/?p=70#comment-44 Mr. Quale, I would like to borrow this sometime in the very near future. I would also very much like to borrow "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs". Thank you very much. Mr. Quale, I would like to borrow this sometime in the very near future. I would also very much like to borrow “Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs”. Thank you very much.

]]> By: the Mysterious "Z" http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/comment-page-1/#comment-18 the Mysterious "Z" Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:06:45 +0000 http://mrquale.com/?p=70#comment-18 You, Alex, are one of the catcher cult. I'm 31 years old and read the book for the first time last year, prior to reading "King Dork", call it homework if you will. Simply put, I didn't like it, probably due to the ending more than anything. I went on to read different analysis of the book by teachers, professors and Joes, but I feel that they missed the point of the book. Holden Caulfield was like a great majority of kids I went to school with, you went to school with, whoever is reading your blog went to school with and most likely even Salinger went to school with, they're timeless. These kids hate everyone and everything, wallow in self misery and brood about doing or even not doing things they will regret later on in life. Holden's problem is not that he was picked on, bullied or abused like many other kids, it's that he can't get over the death of his little brother, that he feels somewhat responsible and feels like he could've, should've done something about it. MANY people feel this way when losing a loved one, especially a child. Salinger's story was great except when he had Holden committed to the sanitarium. Isn't that a bit extreme? I know they had counciling and therapy in the 40s. Frank's book is written in a different way, but about a kid with similar problems to Holder, just replace a brother with a father and make the kid not all that shook up about it but being genuinely abused and made miserable by peers and bullies. Sure he winds up in a hospital in the end and Holden is in the sanitarium but their journeys to get to those points were much different. Tom and Sam have a victory, things look brighter in their future while Holden is locked away in the looney bin. Also, it appears that Frank took great measures to make his story not be as dated in 40 years as "Catcher" is. Sure he makes MANY references to music in the 60s and 70s, but that was 20-30 years in Tom's past and he makes it known that the music he refers to is old, but does not date the time in which KD takes place, although he has said it is in the mid 90s. There is no mention of the internet, cell phones or any other technology to date the book. It could very well take place anywhere from 1970-unforseeable future date. I know you gave it a good rating, but I think you may have severely underestimated it. You should also appreciate where the book came from, a college educated guy in Oakland, who for the last 30 years has been writing and playing in his "dumb little band", traveling the world playing small to medium venues, being one of rock's most brilliant and yet most ignored and unappreciated lyracists. Then amongst doing all of that, writing a book for the first time and having it be this good and sell this well, is utterly astounding. Well, that's all I have to say about that........ Indeed, "Andromeda Klein" is coming next, followed by a sequel of sorts "King Dork: Approximately". Subscribe to his blog, he's a great guy, it's a fun read. If you're ever in Oakland, he'll probably even have a beer with you. You, Alex, are one of the catcher cult. I’m 31 years old and read the book for the first time last year, prior to reading “King Dork”, call it homework if you will. Simply put, I didn’t like it, probably due to the ending more than anything. I went on to read different analysis of the book by teachers, professors and Joes, but I feel that they missed the point of the book. Holden Caulfield was like a great majority of kids I went to school with, you went to school with, whoever is reading your blog went to school with and most likely even Salinger went to school with, they’re timeless. These kids hate everyone and everything, wallow in self misery and brood about doing or even not doing things they will regret later on in life. Holden’s problem is not that he was picked on, bullied or abused like many other kids, it’s that he can’t get over the death of his little brother, that he feels somewhat responsible and feels like he could’ve, should’ve done something about it. MANY people feel this way when losing a loved one, especially a child. Salinger’s story was great except when he had Holden committed to the sanitarium. Isn’t that a bit extreme? I know they had counciling and therapy in the 40s.

Frank’s book is written in a different way, but about a kid with similar problems to Holder, just replace a brother with a father and make the kid not all that shook up about it but being genuinely abused and made miserable by peers and bullies. Sure he winds up in a hospital in the end and Holden is in the sanitarium but their journeys to get to those points were much different. Tom and Sam have a victory, things look brighter in their future while Holden is locked away in the looney bin. Also, it appears that Frank took great measures to make his story not be as dated in 40 years as “Catcher” is. Sure he makes MANY references to music in the 60s and 70s, but that was 20-30 years in Tom’s past and he makes it known that the music he refers to is old, but does not date the time in which KD takes place, although he has said it is in the mid 90s. There is no mention of the internet, cell phones or any other technology to date the book. It could very well take place anywhere from 1970-unforseeable future date. I know you gave it a good rating, but I think you may have severely underestimated it.

You should also appreciate where the book came from, a college educated guy in Oakland, who for the last 30 years has been writing and playing in his “dumb little band”, traveling the world playing small to medium venues, being one of rock’s most brilliant and yet most ignored and unappreciated lyracists. Then amongst doing all of that, writing a book for the first time and having it be this good and sell this well, is utterly astounding.

Well, that’s all I have to say about that……..

Indeed, “Andromeda Klein” is coming next, followed by a sequel of sorts “King Dork: Approximately”. Subscribe to his blog, he’s a great guy, it’s a fun read. If you’re ever in Oakland, he’ll probably even have a beer with you.

]]> By: Megan Lung http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Megan Lung Fri, 24 Aug 2007 06:25:42 +0000 http://mrquale.com/?p=70#comment-16 That is one long but thorough review/analysis of the book. High Fidelity style!? how delicious :D Those people that are way too protective of their music and constantly rate songs (michael...) always make for a good story. The part at the end - where disillusionment is anticipated these days is so incredibly true. Makes me really want to read it. That is one long but thorough review/analysis of the book.

High Fidelity style!? how delicious :D Those people that are way too protective of their music and constantly rate songs (michael…) always make for a good story.

The part at the end – where disillusionment is anticipated these days is so incredibly true. Makes me really want to read it.

]]> By: Sam Carness http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Sam Carness Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:18:25 +0000 http://mrquale.com/?p=70#comment-15 Well, seeing that the review was written by Quale I'd say he can probably take a few liberties with the word count, Alex. ;] Unless of course you plan on grading him. Haha. Well, seeing that the review was written by Quale I’d say he can probably take a few liberties with the word count, Alex. ;]

Unless of course you plan on grading him. Haha.

]]> By: Alex Johnson http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Alex Johnson Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:16:17 +0000 http://mrquale.com/?p=70#comment-14 Well somebody's got to be first Sam. I'm cognizant of the fact that we've yet to discuss the multitude of idiosyncrasies portrayed by Holden's character, but I think it's a shame that Tom provides negative references of Catcher. I've read the Book Review Info as well as this review, and in the criteria it stated we weren't allowed to exceed 700 words. Is this particular review longer though? *Tasteful description of Tom Hanks by the way* Well somebody’s got to be first Sam. I’m cognizant of the fact that we’ve yet to discuss the multitude of idiosyncrasies portrayed by Holden’s character, but I think it’s a shame that Tom provides negative references of Catcher. I’ve read the Book Review Info as well as this review, and in the criteria it stated we weren’t allowed to exceed 700 words. Is this particular review longer though? *Tasteful description of Tom Hanks by the way*

]]> By: Alex Johnson http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Alex Johnson Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:13:12 +0000 http://mrquale.com/?p=70#comment-13 Well somebody's got to be first Sam. Well somebody’s got to be first Sam.

]]> By: Sam Carness http://mrquale.com/2007/08/22/king-dork-by-frank-portman/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Sam Carness Thu, 23 Aug 2007 07:08:08 +0000 http://mrquale.com/?p=70#comment-12 I feel like a total loser for being the only one (to my knowledge) posting a comment on the review, but I'm just going to say that I really appreciated the Ferris Bueller reference. I think I saw this title while I was browsing borders.com but this review has reminded me that I still need to get my hands on it. :] I feel like a total loser for being the only one (to my knowledge) posting a comment on the review, but I’m just going to say that I really appreciated the Ferris Bueller reference. I think I saw this title while I was browsing borders.com but this review has reminded me that I still need to get my hands on it. :]

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