James’s complete detachment from people his own age concerns his parents enough to put him into therapy. Editorial Reviews. The 13-digit and 10-digit formats both work. As the story progresses, James’ sadness becomes more evident, and I was able to see him with more compassion. Oh, thank you for your reply. This is a lovely book. However, James finds himself dreaming of buying a house in the Midwest where he can live out his life in … Equally suited to adults and older teens. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You is the story of James Sveck, a sophisticated, vulnerable young man with a deep appreciation for the world and no idea how to live in it.James is eighteen, the child of divorced parents living in Manhattan. Otherwise, though, I think this guy was trying way too hard to make this novel Catcher in the Rye. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Disc #1 -- Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You Play Chapters Bonus Music Video Photo Gallery Trailer. Sometimes the dramatic core of a movie is so on target and emotionally persuasive that you can forgive small accompanying missteps. Any insights on this? precocious disaffected teenagers; immature disaffected adults. And the story made me care. This book is alternately hilarious and haunting. But I felt it would have improved the book if the main character had killed himself or if I had been able to beat him up. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. This is a mature read about a mature young man. “What if she was meant to be, or could have been, someone important in my life? I have underlined quite a few passages. Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices. That the people who could be important to you might just pass you by. I think that's what … The reviews are often the best thing about the book, though, so I'd recommend the review in this case. This is supposedly YA, but I like some YA books, and even if I'm already a grown up, I suppose I could still relate to some of James's observations. was finished and published. I found myself smiling, and sometimes even laughing out loud. I want to put my arms around him. I rather enjoyed this book. It is in these sessions where James duels linguistically with his psychiatrist, and his visits with his maternal grandmother, that gradually get James to come to terms with his fears and rejoin society at large. This book is a pitch perfect literary gem, with a comic precocious hero, James Sveck who is better read than most adults twice his age (this one included). I could see myself in these pages. Ovid > Quotes > Quotable Quote. I ended up buying the paperback version. All unsuccessful. Children's Book Review: Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron, Author. Welcome back. Not that James made it easy. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. It is however, thought provoking, superbly written, and an intelligent take on the what it might be like for an smart and sensitive kid in the modern world. It's structured like a diary, with dates at the beginning of chapters. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You Book descriptions Eighteen-year-old James living in New York City with his older sister and divorced mother struggles to find a direction for his life. A very human book, talking about both first world and deeply disturbing problems. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less. How does an author capture all the impossible thoughts, the inner struggles? by Peter Cameron ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 9, 2007. Please try again. We’d love your help. On some days, yes. (Prices may vary for AK and HI. Another reason why I loved this book is because it is also very funny. While some of his thoughts and ideas I could relate to, mostly he had a really depressed outlook on life in general, and really just could not look at the bright side of anything. Around the middle of the book, something 'clicked' and I read a little faster, eager to see what happened with James. In this case, even the publishers (FSG Books for Young Readers for the hardcover and Picador for the paperback) seem at odds as to whether the novel is YA or not. For example, when Gillian explains that she wants to be called Gillian with a hard 'G' and she tells her mother that pronouncing a child's name incorrectly is a subtle form of abuse, her mother replies, "If I were going to abuse you, there would be nothing subtle about it." His mom, sister, and pretty much every. Although James lives in twenty-first-century Manhattan, he’s more at home in the faraway worlds of Eric Rohmer or Anthony Trollope—or his favorite writer, the obscure and tragic Dento. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You is the story of James Sveck, a sophisticated, vulnerable young man with a deep appreciation for the world and no idea how to live in it. Instead, he’s surfing the real estate listings, searching for a sanctuary—a nice farmhouse in Kansas, perhaps. The book ends with him going to college because he couldn't muster enough energy not to - which was basically his entire existence. I don't think wealthy kids are any less likable or have any fewer problems, b. This book was recommended to me AFTER my own book about a gay teen (who's not the main character!) That said, this is not a depressing book; I don't read depressing books. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron. But he has at last published a book with a terrific title: “Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You.” And it’s also his best work — it’s terrific, piercing and funny. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Cyrus Aaron is an American creative storyteller and writer based in Brooklyn, NY. James’s mother, a woman of a certain age and pedigree with a failing Manhattan art gallery has returned from her third honeymoon, cut short due to her new husbands embezzlement of $3000 from her credit card for gambling and “personal entertainment expenses”. Narrated by James, the story includes his experience having a break down during a conference in Washington D.C. As Mr Sondheim says: Art isn't easy. (Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.)”. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You is the story of James Sveck, a sophisticated, vulnerable young man with a deep appreciation for the world and no idea how to live in it.James is eighteen, the child of divorced parents living in Manhattan. This is a well-written book - I finished it and I do not suffer through books that I find un-readable. ― Ovid. Are you having a difficult time reading these days? If so, you're not alone. Since the pandemic began, I've found it harder to concentrate on... It’s time for eighteen-year-old James Sveck to begin his freshman year at Brown. I withhold a fifth star as I felt the book doesn't quite make it to home plate, or base, or whatever the straight boys say. Sarcasm and deep sentimentality were woven together on so many pages. and the ‘much older’—ness of the coworker. Or you pass them by. This is a fast, funny read with a memorable protagonist whose woes aren’t those of typical YA fiction and presented without the angst that makes them tedious. Someday this pain will be useful to you ... "Frances Foster Books." I think that's what … I was surprised I ended up finishing this book... the first part of it is slow, but still interesting. I am so glad I found this book. I haven't read this book in 3 years, but if memory serves, James gives two different reasons in the text for why he did this. I'm about to read his CORAL GLYNN, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm about to read his CORAL GLYNN, and I'm looking forward to it. So I didn't either. He has just graduated high school, but instead of listening to his parents and going to Brown University, he would rather buy an old house in the middle of Kansas. This definitely has the high interest level (for some), language like you’d expect in any high school hallway, and NO sex. I think there is truth to the idea that living in the world is hard for smart people, something this book also addresses through James, when mass culture is so crass and lowest common denominator, something that seems to get worse all the time. “What if she was meant to be, or could have been, someone important in my life? This book was recommended to me AFTER my own book about a gay teen (who's not the main character!) After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. SOMEDAY this pain will be useful to you, Cyrus Aaron's insightful debut collection of short essays and poems. I rather enjoyed this book. This book is poignant, and it makes you want to read it again. James is one of the most frustrating protagonists ever. I just finished this book and I'm still worried about James. James is eighteen, the child of divorced parents living in Manhattan. I had to stop reading it while my students did independent work because I would repeatedly burst out laughing. It appears that the only possible options in the UK are either paperback or audio CD. That said -- would I give my own book five stars? Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. The story spans the James’s summer before admission to Brown University, an event which he is loath to contemplate, and is distracting himself from by house hunting in the Midwest over the Internet. Well, he hates it double. Hm...I don't really know what to think of this book. Compounding matters is James’s growing infatuation with a handsome male colleague at the art gallery his mother owns, where James supposedly works at his summer job but where he actually plots his escape to the prairie. This book is alternately hilarious and haunting. Although James lives in twenty-first-century Manhattan, he’s more at home in the faraway worlds of Eric Rohmer or Anthony Trollope—or his favorite writer, the obscure and tragic Denton Welch. For STPWIBUTU, I prefer bildungsroman, or foundational novel, because neither implies the formulaic limitations found in many YA coming-of-age novels. You must see them as a gift--a cruel gift, but a gift nonetheless.”, Ferro-Grumley Award for Gay Fiction (2008). Often reviews will say something like “appropriate for young adults” or something to that effect, which can imply both a high interest level and a vague sense of appropriateness (i.e., not too much ‘adult’ language or content). Although every other book jacket on the planet claims to have found the modern-day successor to Holden Caulfield, James Sveck is the closest we've come across so far. The story spans the James’s summer before admission to Brown University, an event which he is loath to contemplate, and is distracting himself from by house. “What if she was meant to be, or could have been, someone important in my life? The novel's protagonist, eighteen-year-old James Sveck, has just graduated from college in New York City and is struggling with his past and his idea of the future. AbeBooks.com: Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You: A Novel (9780374309893) by Cameron, Peter and a great selection of similar New, Used and Collectible Books available now at great prices. He is disturbed, possibly gay, and somewhat cynical, just to list a few things. Another reason why I loved this book is because it is also very funny. Descripción de la editorial. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. I really enjoyed Cameron's narrative and I think he had some really good insights on what it's like to be mentally distraught/ill and in therapy. A very nice book, full of reflections about the youth, its troubles and embarassements; it could be placed close to The Catcher in the Rye (Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You (Picador)) By Cameron, Peter (Author) Paperback on 28-Apr-2009. I had to think about this one for a while, because it is not the kind of book you close and go, ‘woohoo, that was so awesome!’. Or get 4-5 business-day shipping on this item for $5.99 To see what your friends thought of this book. Well, like it’s YA status (or lack of it), it’s also not exactly a gay novel either. Please try again. The difficult thing is to not be overwhelmed by the bad patches. Ultimately, he is really struggling to find meaning and connection with people, to find a way to ‘fit in’ while trying to remain authentic. About the Author PETER CAMERON's work has appeared in "The New Yorker" and he is the author of several novels for adults, including "Andorra" and "The City of Your Final Destination." I had to stop reading it while my students did independent work because I would repeatedly burst out laughing. Like most eighteen-year-olds, James is incredibly self-involved, but somehow his precociousness makes him endearing as well. SOMEDAY THIS PAIN WILL BE USEFUL TO YOU. This edition also includes excerpts from his original play. Periodically, I read reviews from the New York Times book list and pick out likely candidates. Verified Purchase. How do you know...I felt that by walking away I was abandoning [them], that I spent my entire life, day after day, abandoning people.”, “People who have only good experiences aren't very interesting. It’s time for eighteen-year-old James Sveck to begin his freshman year at Brown. James is the main character, he is almost painfully self-aware and so intelligent it sets him apart form others and essentially prohibits him from having normal relationships with people. [Why’d the protagonist make a fake dating account to trick his crush? But calling this a YA novel might be hasty. It makes me feel as if I'm not so alone with how I feel some days. I like what the Horn Book review said of this title: a spare, spacious, quietly dazzling book for teens and former teens.It will satisfy any mature reader. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published For me, it's halfway between third and home, and that's a very admirable place to be. What even happens in this book? The main characters have some similarities, but James Sveck is a lot more fun (even though he claims he is not) and the writing is much, much better. With Toby Regbo, Marcia Gay Harden, Peter Gallagher, Lucy Liu. I don't think wealthy kids are any less likable or have any fewer problems, but this kid...compared to the young Indian whose life was seriously messed up, this one had it all and was too bored to be bothered. I just read it and I don't think I could tell you. My editor recommended this novel to me and I'm so glad he did. It's a small novel and it's not developed like longer books are, but every page, every word blew my breath away. Cameron's novel feels like a long, drawn-out short story. Cameron doe. Written for young adults and while not a challenging book to read for teenagers, Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You will appeal the most to older teens and the more reflective and well-read of the younger teens. He's clearly a good writer so I finished it, but can't say the book lived up to the hype it's been getting. In this novel, James Sveck has recently graduated from high school and is expected to attend Brown University in the fall. But I felt it would have improved the book if the main character had killed himself or if I had been able to beat him up. "Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You" is about James Sveck, an eighteen year old guy who lives in New York City. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You is the story of James Sveck, a sophisticated, vulnerable young man with a deep appreciation for the world and no idea how to live in it.James is eighteen, the child of divorced parents living in Manhattan. This is a well-written book - I finished it and I do not suffer through books that I find un-readable. The Picador version is clearly not marketed to the teen reader, and that’s as it should be. I think that's what scares me: the randomness of everything. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You is the story of James Sveck, a sophisticated, vulnerable young man with a deep appreciation for the world and no idea how to live in it. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You is a young adult novel for older teens by Peter Cameron. Though the protagonist is an eighteen-year-old young man, this book has so far been the most appreciated by my female students. SOMEDAY THIS PAIN WILL BE USEFUL TO YOU is a smart, funny story about the pain that comes with growing up and becoming your own person. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You is a novel by writer Peter Cameron. Everyone compares this one to Catcher in the Rye, which is interesting to me because I haven’t read Catcher, and I think I would hate it, and yet I completely see why the two books are compared, and I loved Someday This Pain…, Periodically, I read reviews from the New York Times book list and pick out likely candidates. Initially, I got a strong ‘poor little rich boy’/Holden Caulfield vibe off of him (not good for me), he is not very likeable and completely self-absorbed (but, what teenager isn’t, really?). Slowly. 4-4.5 stars if reviewed as an adult title. James’s sense of dislocation is exacerbated by his willfully self-absorbed parents, a disdainful sister, his Teutonically cryptic shrink, and an increasingly vague, D-list celebrity grandmother. This is supposedly YA, but I like some YA books, and even if I'm already a grown up, I suppose I could still relate to some of James's observations. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Instead, he’s surfing the real estate listings, searching for a sanctuary—a nice farmhouse in Kansas, perhaps. Recommended. SOMEDAY this pain will be useful to you, Cyrus Aaron's insightful debut collection of short essays and poems. Please try again. :) I just love stuff like that. SOMEDAY is a conversation on: Systemic racism, implicit bias, privilege, police brutality, integration, and a legacy of burdens cast upon the black community. His peers, his parents, his life, college(he hates Stanford more than Brown, by the way), his life...did I already mention that? This is a book that is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. This book took me by surprise. Peter Cameron’s Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You is being touted by some critics as a modern Catcher In The Rye, which in, and of itself, is heady praise, but sells the book short. was finished and published. James interests are looking at real estate for places in the west, working at his mom's art gallery, and talking to his grandmother. Error rating book because neither implies the someday this pain will be useful to you book limitations found in many YA novels! In perfect condition Pain Will be Useful to you. ) ” problem loading this menu right now the. Or get 4-5 business-day shipping on this book I finished it and I very... Story includes his experience having a break down during a conference in Washington D.C are often the best thing the. You a link to download the free App, enter your mobile phone number when... 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