A much heralded, compelling sex story for teenage boys from this provocative writer. Melvin promised us all a 'knobby book for boys' during the astonishing publicity for Lady, his book that stripped all the sensibilities about sex from books for teenagers. This is it. Three teenage boys have a healthy interest in sex: Dino's girlfriend won't commit; Jonathon's biggest fan is very keen; and Ben gets embroiled with a predatory teacher. Put all these ingredients into an unsupervised teenage party, and allow to steam gently!
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon Review
In Doing It Melvin Burgess has written what is potentially the most controversial young adult novel ever. It's an honest and funny book about three teenage British boys learning about themselves and life through their sexual experiences. But here's the catch: the story is told from the point of view of the hormone-sodden young males, naughty bits and all.
Gorgeous Dino thinks that equally gorgeous Allie should realise that they belong together and is puzzled and frustrated when their passionate lovemaking always ends with her refusing him. Jonathan fancies sensible, sexy Deborah but can't admit it to his friends, even after several steamy grope sessions, because she is…well…plump. And Ben is living every teenage boy's dream, an affair with a lusty teacher--but somehow it's getting to be too much of a good thing. Nearly all young adult novels about love and sexuality are told by and for girls: the perspective of this book will be educational for female readers. --Patty Campbell, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Melvin Burgess is a rare talent whose work is powerful, compelling and sensitive.' Lee Hall (screenwriter of Billy Elliot)
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
'OK,' said Jonathon. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
'OK,' said Jonathon. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is an entertaining story about three 17 year old boys, each of whom have their own problems when it comes to their sex lives. Being 17, these problems are uppermost in their minds (and in any case, how could they ignore what certain parts of their anatomy are telling them?).
The characters are easy to identify with, most of us will recognise them from our own schooldays. The style of the book makes it easy to read, and the plot draws you along: although maybe I would say it is more well written popular soap than classic serial. The author shows a great deal of empathy with his characters and the problems they experience, and the language seemed about spot on to me. In other words, the book was, I felt, realistic and set in a world a lot will recognise. It seems clear that the author wanted to set teenage readers thinking about their lives, rather than preach to them about the right way to behave.
I personally don't think this will be a medal winner, but that isn't to detract from it being a good read. I also think this unashamed/explicit/relevant (delete depending on your viewpoint) book might appeal to those teenagers who perhaps aren't drawn by many of the teenage titles on the market. Of course, the aim is to interest boys, although I don't think girls will feel left out.
I don't want to give away the plot, but I think it would be reasonable to say that issues covered include a pupil having an affair with his teacher, attempted suicide, image conciousness, parent's separation, a girl who will, a boy who won't, a cancer scare, shoplifting, and many, many attempts to have sex! As you can see, a busy book!
Who is this book for? Well I guess anybody aware of the hype/debate will want to know this! I think most teenagers at 14 will not find the contents shocking or the language unusual, although many of their parents probably will. In short: your view on this will depend on whether you think books for teenagers should reflect the world in which many of them live, or whether you think the books should reflect a moral tone which needs to be put across. Read the book, decide for yourself!
The book may not be an award winner, but I think it will encourage debate. Hopefully it will encourage some new readers too.
(NB the book does contain strong language and explicit themes)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By bevn
Format:Hardcover
Although I had seen some of the adverse publicity surrounding Doing It I was determined not to let it affect my opinion. Although the idea behind the story is a good one, the way it is written is questionable. Lots of swearing and sexual references don't make up for a bad story. Unlike Junk which also touches upon a delicate subject this one seems to have been written to shock and not to show off his writing skills. I'm not quite sure who this is aimed at but under 16's would just giggle and over 16's would be bored. In his attempt to be "cool" Burgess is in danger of alienating his target audience.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a female reader, this book was fascinating to me as a 'snapshot' of teenage boys' thinking processes. I laughed and screwed up my face as the boys talked about their girlfriends to each other in an extremely derogatory way, and yet all of them were terrified of the girls finding out they had behaved like this! All the boys have problems of their own - each is keeping a secret that he can't possibly share with anyone. Unlike girls, who tell each other everything (often to their own detriment, as such secretc can be used against them later), boys use words to impress each other and thus boost their own standing within the group - words that may not necessarily be true and are certainly unlikely to reflect their true feelings.
The book is written in shifting points of view and alternately in past and present tense - a style that does hold the interest (as each chunk is short and quick to read) but also makes it difficult to keep caring about the overall story.
I would have given this book three stars but for the storyline involving Ben, who is sleeping with his teacher. I thought this storyline showed excellently how an older (emotionally damaged) woman could manipulate a younger man in a sexual situation. And how that seventeen-year-old would feel trapped because, to all intents and purposes, he is living every boy's fantasy - even though it's turned sour.
The book is explicit but not unnecessarily so. An interesting and insightful read.
The book is written in shifting points of view and alternately in past and present tense - a style that does hold the interest (as each chunk is short and quick to read) but also makes it difficult to keep caring about the overall story.
I would have given this book three stars but for the storyline involving Ben, who is sleeping with his teacher. I thought this storyline showed excellently how an older (emotionally damaged) woman could manipulate a younger man in a sexual situation. And how that seventeen-year-old would feel trapped because, to all intents and purposes, he is living every boy's fantasy - even though it's turned sour.
The book is explicit but not unnecessarily so. An interesting and insightful read.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 22 reviews
3.9 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
naughty but very realistic!
My fourteen year old daughter asked me to purchase this book for her, as she enjoys reading books about teenage love stories and boys, so I wasn't at all shocked by the title... Read more
Published 11 months ago by mum of a teenage lad!
1.0 out of 5 stars
Every generation gets the books it deserves...
,,, so what has the unfortunate present young generation done to deserve 'Doing It'?
Even the quotes on the cover warn you what to expect: 'Filthy, whichever way you... Read more
Even the quotes on the cover warn you what to expect: 'Filthy, whichever way you... Read more
Published on 19 April 2010 by R. A. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply hilarious!
Dino really fancies fit, sexy Jackie, but she just won't give him what he wants; Jonathan likes Deborah, but she's a bit fat - what will his mates say? Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2010 by Jo
5.0 out of 5 stars
best read
this book is written for older children and young teens although i really enjoyed reading it and being older than both of these!! Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2009 by K. Clark
2.0 out of 5 stars
Laddish Lit for the Teen Set
According to Burgess, he wrote this, his third YA (young adult) book because, "I do believe that we have let young men down very badly in terms of the kinds of books written for... Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2008 by A. Ross
4.0 out of 5 stars
Will appeal to younger readers
This is not a book for mature men and women.
This novel just relates so much to people we've all known at school (except maybe the one who's sleeping with his teacher). Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2004 by Mr. Daniel W. Weinberg
3.0 out of 5 stars
If you are 30 going on 50 give it a miss otherwise.
Funny, spot on and makes your toes curl. A book about how awful it is to be a tennager in lust! Well worth a read but only if you can remember being a teenager.....
Published on 31 Oct 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not all that but not the 'BIN IT' type either!
I read the book and had a laugh at some descriptions of the three teenagers and their experiences as Melvin wrote. Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2004
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dire
I am quite sure that the one thing Burgess doesn't want to be is "boring", yet that's the most striking quality of this dismal offering. Flat, single-track, and just DULL. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2004
1.0 out of 5 stars
Flat, without insight, dull.
A very bad book. Shame, because it's a wasted opportunity. All the characters, including those around who the narrative revolves most closely, are one-dimensional and unbelievable. Read more
Published on 17 July 2004 by Clement Wether
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Children's Books > Fiction > Issues > Social
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
