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The Introspective Debate of Owen Brody
Brody was 95 percent sure he was not gay.
That is, until he met Linden, who is funny, intelligent, has a lip ring thing that chicks drop trow for....and kissed him.
The truth of the matter was, that in that moment, Brody was 60 percent sure he was not gay.
Status: Complete
Word count: approx. 39,346
That is, until he met Linden, who is funny, intelligent, has a lip ring thing that chicks drop trow for....and kissed him.
The truth of the matter was, that in that moment, Brody was 60 percent sure he was not gay.
Status: Complete
Word count: approx. 39,346
59 pages, Online Publication
First published May 22, 2008
2 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 30, 2011
Linden probably didn't go through all this song and dance, Brody thought distantly. Linden realized what he was and decided to be. There wasn't a mask he could put on to impress the moody outcast, so he was himself.
It had been a while since Brody dealt with someone who was actually that person. It had never been where someone joined him outside of the crowd. People were always trying to pull him in, make him fit... Linden and Brody would make their own place.
The Introspective Debate of Owen Brody is a story about 18-year old Brody: the anti-party partier, the aloof cool kid, the reluctant Casanova. Brody goes through life doing his own thing, being surrounded by people he doesn't really want to hang out with, with no one to keep his interest for more than 15 minutes. Until that one night at Noah's basement party...
As Brody does his 'popular loner'- party routine, he's joined by Linden. And he realizes he's found someone he likes being with. Better yet: he realizes he's found someone he wants to be with. Only there's a slight problem: Brody is 95% sure he's not gay...
I really loved this story! It's a tale about teens, homosexuality, acceptance, unrequited love... -all the ingredients for an angst filled drama. But the story never went in that direction. In stead, it was no nonsense and upbeat, kinda like Brody. Sure: there were sad, tense and emotional moments. And, as Brody's "I'm not gay"-percentage kept decreasing, there was some fear. But despite it all, Brody just kept going with the flow and see where it would take him.
I really liked this fresh approach to the subject. I loved Brody. I loved his cynicism and sarcasm. I loved his wit and charm. I loved how he described Linden as 'the only spark of originality in the stagnant cesspool of his so-called social life', within 10 minutes of meeting him. It was wonderful to be in his head.
What I also liked about him was that he actually felt like a teen aged boy. No girlified-man, no grown man in a teen body. Brody was exactly like I imagine an 18-year old high school kid to be like. He made the story very real.
Oh, how I wanted to give this story a full 5 stars! Unfortunately, there were some things that really bugged me. Some of the phrasing and scene setting was off, the constant use of 'drug' for dragged was annoying, but what really needed fixing was the way the dialogues were constructed. Not the contents but the paragraphs. The author would put part of a dialogue by one character and an action by another in one paragraph, which made it really difficult to differentiate who was talking to whom. Quite often I had to read back to understand what was actually happening.
I know it's on line fiction and it's free and I may be too strict, but these shortcomings take away from an otherwise very well written story.
All in all: a fresh and engaging read: 5+ for the story, 3 for the execution, so: 4 stars.
It had been a while since Brody dealt with someone who was actually that person. It had never been where someone joined him outside of the crowd. People were always trying to pull him in, make him fit... Linden and Brody would make their own place.
The Introspective Debate of Owen Brody is a story about 18-year old Brody: the anti-party partier, the aloof cool kid, the reluctant Casanova. Brody goes through life doing his own thing, being surrounded by people he doesn't really want to hang out with, with no one to keep his interest for more than 15 minutes. Until that one night at Noah's basement party...
As Brody does his 'popular loner'- party routine, he's joined by Linden. And he realizes he's found someone he likes being with. Better yet: he realizes he's found someone he wants to be with. Only there's a slight problem: Brody is 95% sure he's not gay...
I really loved this story! It's a tale about teens, homosexuality, acceptance, unrequited love... -all the ingredients for an angst filled drama. But the story never went in that direction. In stead, it was no nonsense and upbeat, kinda like Brody. Sure: there were sad, tense and emotional moments. And, as Brody's "I'm not gay"-percentage kept decreasing, there was some fear. But despite it all, Brody just kept going with the flow and see where it would take him.
I really liked this fresh approach to the subject. I loved Brody. I loved his cynicism and sarcasm. I loved his wit and charm. I loved how he described Linden as 'the only spark of originality in the stagnant cesspool of his so-called social life', within 10 minutes of meeting him. It was wonderful to be in his head.
What I also liked about him was that he actually felt like a teen aged boy. No girlified-man, no grown man in a teen body. Brody was exactly like I imagine an 18-year old high school kid to be like. He made the story very real.
Oh, how I wanted to give this story a full 5 stars! Unfortunately, there were some things that really bugged me. Some of the phrasing and scene setting was off, the constant use of 'drug' for dragged was annoying, but what really needed fixing was the way the dialogues were constructed. Not the contents but the paragraphs. The author would put part of a dialogue by one character and an action by another in one paragraph, which made it really difficult to differentiate who was talking to whom. Quite often I had to read back to understand what was actually happening.
I know it's on line fiction and it's free and I may be too strict, but these shortcomings take away from an otherwise very well written story.
All in all: a fresh and engaging read: 5+ for the story, 3 for the execution, so: 4 stars.
April 23, 2011
I am 150% most of you will LOVE this story. Read it, I dare you;)
April 26, 2011
This story is well described with the title, only while it sounds serious the book is everything but that.
You would think Brody is one of those guys who will hide his sexuality, but he's really not. He meets Linden, falls hard and everything else is clear in his book. Now if everyone else thought the same world would be a better place.
Don't worry, everything works out by the end.
I really liked this one, and every time he mentioned a percentage I was laughing my ass off. It's worth reading;)
You would think Brody is one of those guys who will hide his sexuality, but he's really not. He meets Linden, falls hard and everything else is clear in his book. Now if everyone else thought the same world would be a better place.
Don't worry, everything works out by the end.
I really liked this one, and every time he mentioned a percentage I was laughing my ass off. It's worth reading;)
July 31, 2011
This was a really funny story with adorable protagonists. Brody is really cool because he deals with his falling in love with a guy, after seemingly years of womanizing, not with angsty questioning of his sexuality, but starting from the one thing he is sure of: he loves Linden, his golden boy.
What comes after their meeting is something he deals with step by step, when he is ready to or when he thinks Linden needs for him to acknowledge their relationship. There's not much drama in this story, only jealousy makes Brody really lose it. When his mother poses the biggest problem in his relationship with Linden, he doesn't make scenes. He keeps his rebellions outside his home, since he doesn't want to lose the only parent he has left. I also liked seeing the way he kept his dad alive, playing pool whenever possible and wearing his clothes almost absent-mindedly.
Brody is a young man which lives his life at his own terms and he might be worried or even confused, sometimes, but he doesn't let other people mess with what's precious for him. His love for Linden is sweet and refreshing and it really gave me the impression of sunlight.
I found a few moments a bit confusing, sometimes I couldn't understand if the point of view had changed or not, but the story is really lovely and I highly recommend it for the incredible Brody.
What comes after their meeting is something he deals with step by step, when he is ready to or when he thinks Linden needs for him to acknowledge their relationship. There's not much drama in this story, only jealousy makes Brody really lose it. When his mother poses the biggest problem in his relationship with Linden, he doesn't make scenes. He keeps his rebellions outside his home, since he doesn't want to lose the only parent he has left. I also liked seeing the way he kept his dad alive, playing pool whenever possible and wearing his clothes almost absent-mindedly.
Brody is a young man which lives his life at his own terms and he might be worried or even confused, sometimes, but he doesn't let other people mess with what's precious for him. His love for Linden is sweet and refreshing and it really gave me the impression of sunlight.
I found a few moments a bit confusing, sometimes I couldn't understand if the point of view had changed or not, but the story is really lovely and I highly recommend it for the incredible Brody.
July 17, 2011
Okay nobody hit me! Because while I liked it, I won't read it again. I loved loved Brody as a character. I enjoyed his attitude and the way he looked at the world. Like how it was said in the book "he met this guy and fell in love right away. Didn't even know what happened 'til he was gay.'". That was just sublime. I Loved Ernie and Mia, I truely felt like I got to know them. I however didn't like Linden. Nobody is perfect and I get that. I could have gotten over the fact that he pushed Brody when you shouldn't push but after what happened with Michael I get where he was coming from. However he wasn't there, he wasn't supportive, and never said sorry. I honestly didn't see enough of his character in the book to even see why Brody just suddenly had to have him. I really liked the book because I loved all the other characters but Linden just wasn't rounded off enough for me, so it ruined it.
July 30, 2012
This is a quite good story about a young teenager who realizes that he is not 95% gay. The idea of him thinking in percentage is cute. HOWEVER, I find the writing style/paragraph construction to be confusing in order to find out who is talking/thinking. It puts a dent in enjoying the story in overall.
Also, I have never one in favor for a character
Also, I have never one in favor for a character
September 20, 2015
So I made it to Chapter 11…then DNF’d. That’s roughly 50%, but by that point I just wasn’t invested enough in either character OR their relationship to care how things ended up. It was a cute enough premise, but I agree with another poster the flip flopping of POV’s wasn’t done particularly well and could be confusing at times. This really is Brody’s story and at some point Linden’s POV’s stopped being provided so ultimately that confusion sorts itself out.
There were other “relationships” that entered the story that were not really explained and only added to the confusion. At one point Linden’s ex-boyfriend is introduced into the story, apparently things between the two didn’t end well and I’m sure there is a point to that BUT at 50% in the importance hadn’t materialized. Right before I gave up a girl that is a friend of Linden’s reaches out to Brody and they hang out. She says Linden gave her his number but then Brody later finds out that is a lie. I could see some high school backstabbing shenanigans on the horizon and decided enough was enough.
There were other “relationships” that entered the story that were not really explained and only added to the confusion. At one point Linden’s ex-boyfriend is introduced into the story, apparently things between the two didn’t end well and I’m sure there is a point to that BUT at 50% in the importance hadn’t materialized. Right before I gave up a girl that is a friend of Linden’s reaches out to Brody and they hang out. She says Linden gave her his number but then Brody later finds out that is a lie. I could see some high school backstabbing shenanigans on the horizon and decided enough was enough.
May 1, 2012
3.5-3.75 stars.
I really liked this story.
The MC, Owen Brody, is hilarious. He's the cool guy, too cool for his own good, bored by his surroundings, doesn't give a shit about what other's think of him.
He is direct, blunt and witty, always quick with a quip.
And his daily assesment percentages of what he thinks he feels are just priceless.
Those percentages change gradually the more he gets to know Linden, the guy he falls hard for, although he is 96 percent sure of not being gay...
I truly enjoyed this read a great deal.
I really liked this story.
The MC, Owen Brody, is hilarious. He's the cool guy, too cool for his own good, bored by his surroundings, doesn't give a shit about what other's think of him.
He is direct, blunt and witty, always quick with a quip.
And his daily assesment percentages of what he thinks he feels are just priceless.
Those percentages change gradually the more he gets to know Linden, the guy he falls hard for, although he is 96 percent sure of not being gay...
I truly enjoyed this read a great deal.
August 21, 2014
Argh, so, so, so almost worthy of 4 stars - for the content. But the writing! Gng! Half of the time I had no idea who said or thought what (for really important stuff as well!), and there were countless typos or left out words that just ruined the flow. I had to reread lots of passages and still didn't really get them.
Also, the Mia&Michael story line was largely just annoying. Other than that, quite lovely story. Lots of humor, but way too much fade to black.
Also, the Mia&Michael story line was largely just annoying. Other than that, quite lovely story. Lots of humor, but way too much fade to black.
April 25, 2013
This is all the cute words: swoony, sweet, adorable, funny, et cetera....
They are best buds, they complement each other and yeah, soul mates even, that's all cool.
But where's the lusty looks? The can't-keep-their-hands-off-each-other? And some snogging, good old fashion snogging....
That's what I missed.
They are best buds, they complement each other and yeah, soul mates even, that's all cool.
But where's the lusty looks? The can't-keep-their-hands-off-each-other? And some snogging, good old fashion snogging....
That's what I missed.
August 19, 2018
4* or I'm 80% sure I liked it!
a wonderful YA story about coming out and of age incl some related side effects, e.g. homophobic friends/parents and their acceptance (eventually) as well as self discovery and acceptance (finally).
what bothered me though was (but then again that might be a personal flaw :D), that while reading the conversations, to me it wasn't always clear who was saying what (POV-wise). so I ended up having to read passages out aloud or twice so they'd make sense :DDD
ah well a minor flaw you might say, but I'm 100% sure that that's what cost the fifth star ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
a wonderful YA story about coming out and of age incl some related side effects, e.g. homophobic friends/parents and their acceptance (eventually) as well as self discovery and acceptance (finally).
what bothered me though was (but then again that might be a personal flaw :D), that while reading the conversations, to me it wasn't always clear who was saying what (POV-wise). so I ended up having to read passages out aloud or twice so they'd make sense :DDD
ah well a minor flaw you might say, but I'm 100% sure that that's what cost the fifth star ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
November 16, 2019
I liked this story BUT...
The beginning confused the fuck out of me...I had no idea who was talking to who and who was doing what..and more then once in every chapter I had to re read something just to be sure what was going on. But I guess I got used to it after the first few chapters so it was not so bad...however it is a shame, this story in itself is very interesting and this confusion just kinda pulled it down and was a distraction.
The ending was a bit weird too, it was realistic I suppose but at the same time I was left disappointed a bit.
To much was left hanging and unresolved even though the author clearly wanted us to feel that at least for Brody and Linden the HEA was set in stone.
It did not feel like that for me 100%, lol perhaps if we had gotten that 100% from Brody it would have been a bit better...but:
The Mia and Michael characters were very much a big part of this story yet their parts were left open and unfinished. I did not care for the girl and would rather she just left but at the same time I wanted some closure. The same goes for Michael...a huge chunk of this story has one or both of them in it...so to see them just forgotten with their problems still very much there felt wrong.
Brody's mothers change of heart was also very sudden and felt weird...perhaps a bit rushed.
Don't get me wrong...I wanted her to be ok with Brody and him being gay...but after her previous reactions (especially since I thought she was now going to hope for Mia/Brody thing to happen) and behavior it was weird seeing her change in one second.
So I was left with a feeling that Brody and Lindens story was well done and finished...but the overall books story was rushed at the end and left too open.
The beginning confused the fuck out of me...I had no idea who was talking to who and who was doing what..and more then once in every chapter I had to re read something just to be sure what was going on. But I guess I got used to it after the first few chapters so it was not so bad...however it is a shame, this story in itself is very interesting and this confusion just kinda pulled it down and was a distraction.
The ending was a bit weird too, it was realistic I suppose but at the same time I was left disappointed a bit.
To much was left hanging and unresolved even though the author clearly wanted us to feel that at least for Brody and Linden the HEA was set in stone.
It did not feel like that for me 100%, lol perhaps if we had gotten that 100% from Brody it would have been a bit better...but:
The Mia and Michael characters were very much a big part of this story yet their parts were left open and unfinished. I did not care for the girl and would rather she just left but at the same time I wanted some closure. The same goes for Michael...a huge chunk of this story has one or both of them in it...so to see them just forgotten with their problems still very much there felt wrong.
Brody's mothers change of heart was also very sudden and felt weird...perhaps a bit rushed.
Don't get me wrong...I wanted her to be ok with Brody and him being gay...but after her previous reactions (especially since I thought she was now going to hope for Mia/Brody thing to happen) and behavior it was weird seeing her change in one second.
So I was left with a feeling that Brody and Lindens story was well done and finished...but the overall books story was rushed at the end and left too open.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2014
The Introspective Debate of Owen Brody was great, funny and cute. I really like these coming out stories set in a school world. Both Owen and Linden were interesting though Linden might have been a little too "out there" for my taste. A bit too girly. The idea of a Casanove turning into something else was nice and worked out well. The ending was also open in a way that continuation is possible. It also gives the reader the possibility to interpret things the way he/she wants it.
All in all a cute story with realistic characters. Perhaps I would have wanted to know more about Mia and how she actually coped with the outcome and the Michael thing was left a bit too open, I would say. The mom part came from the bushes too and the result was all too sudden. Still, this is a well written story with great remarks and it was totally worth the read. Nice!
All in all a cute story with realistic characters. Perhaps I would have wanted to know more about Mia and how she actually coped with the outcome and the Michael thing was left a bit too open, I would say. The mom part came from the bushes too and the result was all too sudden. Still, this is a well written story with great remarks and it was totally worth the read. Nice!
August 8, 2012
I guess I liked this okay but to quote another reviewer, it was a little too YA for me. I liked Linden a lot. Brody was okay but oblivious when it came to one of the girls and that got annoying. When something is so obvious and all the signs are there, it is kind of frustrating when one of the characters is made to look so clueless. Ernie was funny. Mia, I did not like at all. Michael either, but I think that was expected.
Overall it was a good story for what it was. The ending was more of a HFN which I guess is to be expected considering the ages of the characters.
Overall it was a good story for what it was. The ending was more of a HFN which I guess is to be expected considering the ages of the characters.
April 27, 2011
A lovely, sweet story. It's a shame it's not published. It could have done with a little editing for point of view shifts and tense etc but those things were easy to overlook as the characters were engaging and compelling.
And Brody's internal debates and percentages had me smiling all the way through.
Definately worth a read!
And Brody's internal debates and percentages had me smiling all the way through.
Definately worth a read!
October 14, 2011
3.5
A sweet story of young love. Characters are complicated.
The writing is a little unusual, but good. It does need editing. Sometimes it's hard to understand. But still a good read.
A sweet story of young love. Characters are complicated.
The writing is a little unusual, but good. It does need editing. Sometimes it's hard to understand. But still a good read.
June 2, 2012
I took a star off because of the ending. Things were just left hanging, like Mia's unrequited love and Ernie and Michael. I hope the writer'll decide to write Ernie's story and please, let it have a happy ending;]
May 17, 2012
Cute story, but a little YA for my tastes.
March 3, 2013
4.5 stars
loved it. There were a few times I was confused about who was talking but other than that, this was a solid read. I wish it hadn't ended when it did.
loved it. There were a few times I was confused about who was talking but other than that, this was a solid read. I wish it hadn't ended when it did.
July 25, 2012
A fun, cute, solid read with some grammatical errors that are annoying but don't take too much from what is otherwise a lovely story. Enjoyable...and free.
March 15, 2013
2.75 stars.
The writing was pretty rough. The structure and head-hopping wasn't fun to sort through but the story itself was good.
The writing was pretty rough. The structure and head-hopping wasn't fun to sort through but the story itself was good.
did-not-finish
August 29, 20157.26.15
I'm sorry, ok. I tried. Its just... not in the mood to read so, maybe I'll pick this back up but its been a long time since I was reading it and I just... sry.
I'm sorry, ok. I tried. Its just... not in the mood to read so, maybe I'll pick this back up but its been a long time since I was reading it and I just... sry.
April 27, 2011
Very sweet!
dnf
June 4, 2015I liked the first half well enough but the story then ran out of steam and I lost interest.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews