Hi there readers!
Today's post is about the problem novel Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. (Matthew Quick is the guy who wrote The Silver Linings Playbook, in case you were curious. His website can be found here.) There are minimal spoilers in this review, so consider yourself warned.
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is a pretty dark young adult novel. It follows the 24 hour day of Leonard, a high school student who is plotting to kill his tormentor and then himself later in the day. It's Leonard's birthday and no one remembers: his friends (his elderly neighbor, a kid at his school who plays violin, and a really religious girl who hands out pamphlets at the train station) don't remember, his mother (who is absent most of the time and even when she is present, isn't really there) isn't even in the same state as him, and his teacher Herr Silverman (who is trying desperately to understand and help Leonard) doesn't know.
The story is first person in real time, which I thought was a pretty cool approach. I didn't necessarily like the story, but it did keep me enthralled. And it was a very powerful read. The only real issue I had was that it started to drag a little in the middle. Other than that, it's very well written. I will warn you though: be prepared to have a lack of resolution at the end.
Overall, I think Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is a really important read for 12th graders and above. You may not like it, but it will leave an impact on you.
~Meaghan
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