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What Is Real
What Is Real
What Is Real
Ebook247 pages8 hours

What Is Real

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

2.5/5

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Dex Pratt’s life has been turned upside down. His parents have divorced and his mother has remarried. When his father attempts suicide and fails, Dex returns to their small town to care for him. But he’s not prepared for how much everything has changed. Gone are the nice house, new cars, fancy bikes and other toys. Now he and his wheelchair-bound dad live in a rotting rented house at the back of a cornfield. And, worse, his father has given up defending marijuana growers in his law practice and has become one himself.

Unable to cope, Dex begins smoking himself into a state of surrealism. He begins to lose touch with what is real and what he is imagining. And then there are the aliens...and the girl-of-his-dreams...and the crop circle...
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMay 1, 2011
ISBN9781459800359
What Is Real
Author

Karen Rivers

Karen Rivers is the author of many award-winning books for children and teens, including The Girl in the Well Is Me. She lives in Victoria, BC, with her children.

Read more from Karen Rivers

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Reviews for What Is Real

Rating: 2.59782847826087 out of 5 stars
2.5/5

46 ratings19 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book was certainly . . . interesting. Told completely from Dex’s perception, you’re seeing things only through his eyes. Meaning if he can’t tell the difference between what is actually happening and what he is only hallucinating, you can’t, either. And because Dex is high for nearly the entire length of the novel, things quickly become distorted and it’s easy to become as confused as he is.I think ‘confused’ is a great way for me to describe how this book left me. It was good in its own right, with wonderful imagery and a neat writing style. Every so often the narrative would be interrupted with stage directions, Dex trying to direct the movie that is his entire life. While these scenes show him trying to get a hold on things, they also show that everything he is telling you could be a complete lie. And every person reading the book has to ask themselves-What is real? Some of the minor characters had the potential to be great in their supporting roles, but didn’t seem to quite get there. They had the means, but weren’t shown in a way that really relates them to the reader. I didn’t like that everyone in the story seemed so foreign, like nothing like this could ever happen.Some warnings before you pick this up: There’s heavy language in this book, along with adult themes, the most obvious being drug use.I give What is Real 3/5 stars. While some parts of it were good, I don’t think I’ll be rereading this one.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Lost in the pot-induced haze in the cornfields behind his house, Dex Pratt cannot tell the difference between reality and fiction – or even past and present and future – any more. He smokes until he forgets everything, until nothing makes any sense anymore – and somehow that makes that makes the most sense of all. When he begins to obsess over the new girl and a crop circle mysteriously appears, Dex knows that something might be wrong. Yet he can’t seem to clear his head long enough to figure out what that might be…I have to admit that I felt as confused about What is Real as Dex was throughout the entire book. The screenplay-like beginning threw me off, and when it reverted back to regular prose I still didn’t quite follow the story as easily. If Karen Rivers was trying for surreal, I think she nailed it on the dot – unfortunately, this did not work for me and I struggled to connect with Dex. He seemed to bounce from past to present, regular prose to screenplay, hypothetical people to real people, whenever he felt like it – and I couldn’t keep up. The best way I can describe What is Real is that it is definitely different from other books, a little too “out there” for someone like me. I’d be interested to see how others have taken to this book because I feel like I missed some crucial element that makes this book “click” with me.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I really tried to get into this book but it was really difficult. I felt more like I was reading the rantings of a person on a pot trip since the main character is a big pot smoker. Half of the time, the storyline didn't make sense and the constant repeating of phrases, plus the addition of the main character trying to put part of the story into his version of a film did not help this book at all. I was very hopeful before I read it but I was very let down that so much could have been done with this book that was not done. A difficult and uneventful read to the end.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book was like a whirlwind drunken night at a party, most of what you remember about it is so crazy you question if it was really happening.I will say it was very original. I honestly never came across a book quite like this. Our star of the book is Dex, and all i can say about him is... talk about an unreliable narrator, this guy takes the prize.For the majority of the novel I wasn't really sure what was happening because every other page would confuse me on whether everything was reality or still happening in his mind, or if the information he told us was even true anymore.Its definitely different, and I did enjoy it. I'm not sure if this review is helpful, but to be honest I'm lost on words when describing this book. But I do advise that it is worth giving it a try.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Whew...what a long, strange trip it's been. Or something like that. This is one dark, intense novel. Dex Pratt's life is falling apart, as we learn from his pot-addled narrative. His father tried to kill himself after his mother left him for a rich politician, but ended up partially paralyzed instead. His step-brother dies of a heroin overdose. Dex's father, once a lawyer who defended marijuana growers, has taken to growing it himself. And Dex? Dex copes—or tries—by helping himself liberally to his father's weed. He's pretty much high the entire book, and his state of mind comes through in the surrealism of the narrative. Are the aliens real? How about the girl of his dreams, the one with the freckles in the place he’d always imagined they’d be? And how did the crop circle get into the cornfield in back of the house? Much of the book is written in the form of a film script. These are some of the most surreal sections of the book, fittingly because these are also the parts where Dex is most stoned. This book is for older teens--maybe sixteen and up, and is definitely not for everyone. There's LOTS of drug use (although it's not glorified) and profanity, and some sex. There were some unresolved issues, some things didn't seem believable (his basketball coach never noticed that he was always high?) and things turned around a bit too neatly at the end. I wasn't sure if I liked "What is Real" most of the time I was reading it. It’s pretty unrelentingly depressing, and I found myself wishing for some lighter moments. On the other hand, I couldn't put it down, so there you go. I received an ARC of this book from the Library Thing Reviewers program, for which I am grateful.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I almost did not read this book. I, like many other reviewers, were off- put by the first few chapters since there was no indication that it was the novel it is. It is narrated by Dex Pratt, who is struggling with his aspirations to BE... to be SOMEONE other than him, something other than ordinary. That is what caused all of his choices in his life. When his step brother Feral became addicted then shunned him from his life in his recovery, he realized that he was no one without Feral, that he had never been that center of the social life. Returning home to his failed- suicide father and a small town, he was drowning in his fears of being normal.After adapting to the format of the novel (written both in script form, since Dex is a director at heart, and as a narration), the book picked up and I really enjoyed it. I felt that Dex's constant "lies" and editing is something that many of us do to either buffer an unpleasant experience or just something that happens. Although I don't do drugs, I felt that I could relate well to Dex and his addiction, instability in life, and the need to BE. The best part, was when Dex finally realized that yes you can have dreams, but you won't be happy unless you are content with yourself and the life/ people that surround you.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I was very excited to learn that I had won an advanced reading copy of this book. I love book about teen addiction (and recovery), however this book was not what I thought it would be. This book was so confusing to me for the first few chapters, I did not understand the "script-like" style of writing, nor did i understand WHY the book was written in this style. I almost put the book down, for fear of the entire book being in this writing style. Once I got past the script writing and got to the actualy book I kind of liked it, and I got into it. The parts that REALLY bugged me is that as we are learning whats going on Dex (The main characher) starts going back and telling us "no wait... I lied about that", "Thats not the truth, I made that up", etc. So when you think you understand whats going on Dex flips it and tells you thats not what actually happened. I started to feel like ALL of it was one big lie that he made up, and that made me not want to finish the book. I did finish reading the entire book- and that left me ever more upset, because like the title says "what is real"?I loved the idea of this book, but I just couldnt get over the script style of writing, i found myself scanning it, trying to quickly get those parts over with. I just wish the book had some more structure to it, and wasnt so confusing. I mean i know Dex is on drugs, but I dont want to feel like IM on drugs when im reading it! Also, I would have liked to know what happened in the end of the book. There were a lot of things that happened that I just want answers to. The entire deal with Dex's father and the "care-taker", Dex's girl friend and Our joe, Etc, I just feel like so many things were left hanging, and I want to know how everything turned out.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Dex doesn't know how to tell what is real and what isn't any more. His world has collapsed after his parents divorce and his dad's attempted suicide. Dex spends the entire book high and confused about what is really happening. There are also snip-its of movie script scattered throughout to show Dex's confusion. I personally found the book hard to follow because Dex doesn't know what's going on, so as the reader you don't know what is really happening either. Also there is a lot of drug discussion since Dex's father is growing marijuana in the basement, and Dex is always high. Dex and his friends also swear a lot, which could be a problem for some readers. Overall I thought it was an alright book, but the confusion and high drug use was a bit much for me.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Dex Pratt’s life has gotten really complicated lately. After his parent’s divorce, his father attempts suicide, which leaves him paralyzed. Dex leaves his new life in Vancouver to return home, so he can take care of his father. But things are different now. Instead of the lawyer he once was, he father has started growing pot in the basement. Soon, Dex is sucked into the pot business and becomes hooked on it himself.What I liked and disliked about this book was the same thing: that I couldn’t quite figure out what was real. Since Dex spends almost the entire book high, he starts to imagine things, but some of the things may actually be real. While I enjoyed trying to figure out what Dex was making up, it got kind of tiring after awhile. In the end, there was still some things that I hadn’t figured out. While Dex is a strong enough character himself, the supporting cast fell flat for me. T-Dot seemed to just be the all American jock who had absolutely nothing wrong in his life, and Tanis really did nothing for me. I never felt a connection with any of the characters, so I never had an emotional attachment to the book. I didn’t dislike the characters, but I wasn’t exactly rooting for them either.What is Real isn’t the best book I’ve ever read, nor is it the worst. It falls somewhere in the middle. It wasn’t too memorable for me, but it was a quick read and I enjoyed reading it.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    When I first read the description of What is Real by Karen Rivers, I thought it would be something right up my alley! It seemed like it may be something in the Ellen Hopkins-type category, and those books are my favorites. However, once I received my Early Reviewer copy and began reading, I was disappointed.The writing is jumpy and often confusing. I'm sorry to say that I decided to abandon this book when I was just less than halfway through. The plot is definitely a good idea, but I had real trouble trying to follow the confusing ramblings of a teenage boy high on marijuana. There is certainly a chance that I will decide to give this book another go, but I don't believe it will be any time soon.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My Summary: Dexter Pratt used to have a great life. His loving parents would buy him anything he wanted, he was popular, and he had a band and a camera and actually lived in the same house as the rest of his family. But then, all of a sudden, everything changes.Dex's mom moves out, divorces his dad, and gets married to some politician guy she met online. His dad - so distraught by being abandoned by his wife - attempts suicide. Because of this, Dex is forced to leave his posh new life (private school, new car, popular stepbrother) to return home and take care of his dad. But his dad is different now - instead of defending marijuana growers in his law practice, he has become one, supplying the entire town and Dex as well. Dex is so depressed by his current situation that he does the only thing he thinks he can do - smoke himself into a state or surrealism, where he has no idea what is real.My Thoughts: If you've ever seen the movies Shutter Island or Inception, you'll know what I mean when I say What Is Real is a book that effectively messes with your head (in a good way). Our main character Dex is always so hopped up on his dad's 'stuff' that he hardly knows the difference between what he's imagining (he has quite the active imagination, trust me) and what is real. The reader sees Dex's world through his own point of view, meaning you - like Dex - have no differentiation between reality and imagination. Add to that the fact that there are crop circles popping up in the cornfield next door and the new girl at school is exactly what Dex has always wanted (down to the four freckles on her left cheek), and you'll begin to see Dex's downward spiral taking place. Despite the controversial behaviour of the main character, I really liked this one! It really worked your mind and confused you at times (purposely and in a good way) so that you, like Dex, had no idea if he was actually experiencing certain things or just imagining everything while sitting in the cornfield smoking. Dex is one of those characters that has lost his way, and throughout the book you begin to wish that someone cared enough to help him out. Tanis was also a great character, and I'm sure everyone has met and 'Old Joe' in their lifetimes (creepy, perverted old man, anyone?). The writing was great - smooth and clear - and I really liked the addition of the 'camera scenes' at the beginning of the chapters.Final Thoughts: I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a funny / sad contemporary lit book, and anyone who likes having their mind messed with a little. Because of the topic, I think this should be kept to readers 16 and up (or those who are mature enough to handle it). Can't wait for more from the author!
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    At first this book seemed incredibly interesting, however as I delved more into the book I realized that it was quite jumpy. Dex, the main character has witnessed and faced pain. His brother died, and soon after his mom and sister left his life. Dex's apparent sense of loss turns into a downward spiral when his father is left wheelchair bound after an attempt on his life. Dex struggles throughout the book to find a sense of and determine what is real and not real through a haze of hallucinogens. I would not recommend that you read this book unless you are motivated by teenage angst.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Dex lives with his crippled father in a rotten old house. And they grow marijuana in the basement. Not to mention Dex's perfect girl, Olivia, who only he can see.I didn't particularly enjoy this book. Most of it is told from Dex's pot-infused view and it is hard to follow with no real plot line. I guess if you enjoy stories of downward spirals and mental unbalance you will enjoy this; it just wasn't to my taste.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This book was strange. Very strange. The first chapter didnt really grab me right off the bat. I read it then set it down and picked it four days later. I pushed through the rambling and random snip its...but i got tired of it fast. I thought he was going to get his life together but noooo, it was the same until the very end. I started skipping pages towards the end just to finish it. It bothered me that I didnt know what was real. haha irony. i guess i should have know due to the title. It just seemed pointless to me. When I read the last page I was like, "Whaattt." Nothing was resolved and I am guessing Dex lived life high until he died. Not my kinda story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Ok, I just finished this book. I was a little unsure of it when I first started reading it because of how some of the book is set up like a script for a movie. But, once I really got into the book I realized it really works. This was a really interesting story. You have your main character Dex who is basically high ( on pot) the whole time and you get to see things how he does, then he starts to question what is real and what isnt. I really enjoyed the ending of this book I thought it was perfect. The book flowed really well, This book is very detailed so, I think that helps the reader to really see everything how dex does. So, Overall I would give this book a 5/5.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Other than the random ramblings of a troubled teenage stoner I'm not sure what the point of this book was. The book was confusing and didnt seem to have much of a plot. Throughout the book you are left trying to figure out what is real and what isnt and in the end you still dont know. Maybe this book just wasnt for me, but I gave it two stars.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    What is Real is not the book for me. The title is the premise of the book. Throughout the whole book the reader is trying to figure out What is Real?Dex Pratt is our narrator, and has every right to be a disturbed teen. His once happy family, with a nice house, money, and friends has fallen apart. His mother has left, and remarried, and Dex had moved in with this new family for a while, but after his dad tries to commit suicide and is confined to a wheel chair, Dex is required to go back and help take care of his father.On top of his emotional turmoil, Dex spends pretty much 100% of his time stoned out of his mind. He lives in a dumpy house, and he helps his father grow pot in the basement. He tries to fit in at his old school, but he’s just faking it. He has a girlfriend, but he’s faking that too—or is he?There are other characters involved in the mysteries. Dex’s step brother, his sister, his girlfriend, his friend, his dad’s caretaker, Gary, and the landlord, Our Joe all play a part in Dex’s reality. And there’s a character that might or might not be real, Olivia.The story is very disjointed. Dex lies a lot – I found myself re-reading statements and thinking, “Wait, didn’t he just say the opposite of that on the previous page?” I felt very uncomfortable and confused during the entire book. I have no doubt that this was Karen Rivers’ intention. That’s why I said the book isn’t for me; I didn’t say it was a bad book.I wanted to shake Dex. I wanted to yell at his mother, and I hated his father. These parents left so much to be desired that it was pitiful.There is no big “Aha!” moment at the end. More and more of What is Real is slowly revealed and the ending does leave you with hope.This is contemporary fiction about a disturbed teen. There may be teens, as well as adults, who relate to this story better than I did, so don’t be afraid to give it a try.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The title basically says it all.Dex and the book itself was unlike anything I have ever read.Almost the whole time I read this book, I was confused. But what confused me the most was the inability to put this book down. Just like Dex, you want to be able to get a grip on his life. You feel just as out of control as he does--and if anyone who has experimented with drugs a few times can defiantly understand how he is feeling.As for the aliens...I wasn't sure how that was going to pan out. I was very skeptical about BUT Karen Rivers did a good job in slowly bringing that aspect of the book in. I personally give Karen Rivers huge props and I really hope that she doesn't change a THING in this book. I will most defiantly read this book again.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Dex is messed up. Really messed up. His parents are divorced. Something horrible has happened to his stepbrother. He lives with his suicidal and wheelchair bound father who is growing marijuana in their basement. Dex himself is smoking so much of the stuff that he can no longer tell hallucinations from reality. To top everything off, Dex is a selective liar. You can not believe a word he says in this crazy, over-the-top story of aliens, crop circles, and high school."What is Real" is an apt title for a wandering, hallucinogenic story.

Book preview

What Is Real - Karen Rivers

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