I Love You, Beth Cooper
It is hard to find funny books anymore. I mean books that make you make you laugh out loud. Maybe you know some authors or books. King Dork comes immediately to mind. It was a book that I would just laugh and laugh. People would stare at me like I was a maniac. (I am, but the humor in the book proves this or disproves this.) Other examples for me would be Douglas Adams, or Chuck Klosterman. The point to this? I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle is a funny book. I mean laughing out loud being stared at by strangers.
It is a coming of age novel. I know insert groans here. To be honest, I think the subject has been killed, but I also know that each generation needs it’s own spin on the genre. Their take of this mostly humiliating Western world experience. Why it is almost written by someone so far beyond their high school years, is beyond me.
Larry Doyle was a Simpson writer, during the time, when the show was funny. So good pedigree so far, even with the high school yearnings.
Yes, this book is about yearnings. The main character, a valedictorian named Denis, proclaims his love of Beth Cooper on the eve of high school graduation. The head cheerleader doesn’t even know of Denis’ existence. What follows is a last night of fun and loathing following their last night of high school.
Yes, it is a funny book, but it has pathos. It probably has one of the most three dimensional female characters in this type of fiction. (The titular female of Denis’ affection becomes a complex individual, and worthy of anyone’s love.) Denis, himself, is smart…maybe a genius, but so social awkward it hurts. You will never believe Denis has a chance with Beth, in fact even Beth believe in this tidbit, but Denis knows this much to be true: his love is pure.
The night has many adventures, and humorous situations. It also has a clique of Beth’s friends. (Again the women end up being the most fascinating in the novel. They become much more interesting then their male counterparts.) Denis’ slightly less social awkward best friend, who is sexual ambiguous. And of course Beth’s psychotic boyfriend, Kevin.
As the book progresses we see how it literally affects Denis. There are illustrations before the chapter showing the bumps and bruises the night inflicting on our protagonist. Under each picture, there is a quote from a coming of age movie or book. It is fun to spot the pop culture references. Again this is a fun read, but it won’t change the world. (I don’t think is this generation’s movement book.) It will make you laugh occasional, and smile quite a bit. It recaptures our braver moments in high school, while reminding us of our existential woes of high school. It also has the courage to tell us that for most of us, life will get better after high school, while for others it was the best part of their lives.