Teen Tuesday: Forrest Gump by Winston Groom

Synopsis (Goodreads): Meet Forrest Gump, the lovable, herculean, and surprisingly savvy hero of this remarkable comic odyssey. After accidentally becoming the star of University of Alabama's football team, Forrest goes on to become a Vietnam War hero, a world-class Ping-Pong player, a villainous wrestler, and a business tycoon -- as he wonders with childlike wisdom at the insanity all around him. In between misadventures, he manages to compare battle scars with Lyndon Johnson, discover the truth about Richard Nixon, and survive the ups and downs of remaining true to his only love, Jenny, on an extraordinary journey through three decades of the American cultural landscape. Forrest Gump has one heck of a story to tell -- and you've got to read it to believe it....

Review:

Forrest always said, "Bein' an idiot ain't no box of chocolates." Well, after reading this curiously interesting book, I've decided I agree.

   Through many hardships, adventures, careers, and friendships, Forrest led a captivating life. He even ended up travelling to outer space with the first woman astronaut and a male monkey named Sue.

   After listening and discovering Forrest's life story一beginning to end一I realized that Forrest did live an exciting life. However, he sure didn't strive to be a good person. Through the entire book, I felt like he was always hurting Jenny. His character portrayed in the movie (which I watched first) was entirely different than that of the book. I liked him because he was humorous and innocent, but in the book he was none of that. Plus, there were some uncomfortable bedroom scenes I skipped through, and I absolutely hated the ending.

   However, through all of the aggravating parts of this book, there were also a few laugh-out-loud scenes. I loved the way Forrest managed to inspire Dan when he had hit rock-bottom.

   Overall, I don't feel like this book had a major life changing impact on me like so many other readers describe. Honestly, I was pretty disappointed through almost the entire thing. I just kept reading, hoping it would get better. To my discouragement, it never did.

   I give this book two stars ** and completely recommend the movie, instead.

Author: Winston Groom is an American novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for his book Forrest Gump, which was adapted into a film in 1994. Groom was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Mobile, Alabama where he attended University Military School (now known as UMS-Wright Preparatory School). He attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the Army ROTC, and graduated in 1965. He served in the Army from 1965 to 1969, including a tour in Vietnam. Groom devotes his time to writing history books about American wars. Recently he has lived in Point Clear, Alabama, and Long Island, New York.

Teen Reviewer: Brandi