The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

How this ever made it out of the editor’s wastebasket I do not know. The story of a boring, misguided teenager with no idea of what he is doing except for existing and breaking the rules. Stutter’s days consist of being the class and party clown, getting boozed up, smoking drugs, getting laid, going nowhere ever. He has grandiose ideas that last a nano second to regress to what he always does. Lose one girlfriend and graze to the next. One thing that impressed me was the advanced vocabulary he used.  I thought somehow those faint hints would lead to something he could do with his brain. A hint for the future. A possible “Aha” moment. Not. Finally a less popular gal catches his eye. Aimee is shy, not a part of his “party” group and he makes sure he corrupts her in every way.  She does need attention and motivation and he starts that ball rolling, but drops it, too. The web he is caught in will get tight just when he could escape and he is more securely wrapped in the nothingness of his now. 0/10 is the rating.