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The Impossible Fortress
A dazzling debut novel—at once a charming romance and a moving coming-of-age story—about what happens when a fourteen-year old boy pretends to seduce a girl to steal a copy of Playboy but then discovers she is his computer-loving soulmate.
Billy Marvin’s first love was a computer. Then he met Mary Zelinsky.
Do you remember your first love?
The Impossible Fortress begins with a magazine…The year is 1987 and Playboy has just published scandalous photographs of Vanna White, from the popular TV game show Wheel of Fortune. For three teenage boys—Billy, Alf, and Clark—who are desperately uneducated in the ways of women, the magazine is somewhat of a Holy Grail: priceless beyond measure and impossible to attain. So, they hatch a plan to steal it.
The heist will be fraught with peril: a locked building, intrepid police officers, rusty fire escapes, leaps across rooftops, electronic alarm systems, and a hyperactive Shih Tzu named Arnold Schwarzenegger. Failed attempt after failed attempt leads them to a genius master plan—they’ll swipe the security code to Zelinsky’s convenience store by seducing the owner’s daughter, Mary Zelinsky. It becomes Billy’s mission to befriend her and get the information by any means necessary. But Mary isn’t your average teenage girl. She’s a computer loving, expert coder, already strides ahead of Billy in ability, with a wry sense of humor and a hidden, big heart. But what starts as a game to win Mary’s affection leaves Billy with a gut-wrenching choice: deceive the girl who may well be his first love or break a promise to his best friends.
Billy Marvin’s first love was a computer. Then he met Mary Zelinsky.
Do you remember your first love?
The Impossible Fortress begins with a magazine…The year is 1987 and Playboy has just published scandalous photographs of Vanna White, from the popular TV game show Wheel of Fortune. For three teenage boys—Billy, Alf, and Clark—who are desperately uneducated in the ways of women, the magazine is somewhat of a Holy Grail: priceless beyond measure and impossible to attain. So, they hatch a plan to steal it.
The heist will be fraught with peril: a locked building, intrepid police officers, rusty fire escapes, leaps across rooftops, electronic alarm systems, and a hyperactive Shih Tzu named Arnold Schwarzenegger. Failed attempt after failed attempt leads them to a genius master plan—they’ll swipe the security code to Zelinsky’s convenience store by seducing the owner’s daughter, Mary Zelinsky. It becomes Billy’s mission to befriend her and get the information by any means necessary. But Mary isn’t your average teenage girl. She’s a computer loving, expert coder, already strides ahead of Billy in ability, with a wry sense of humor and a hidden, big heart. But what starts as a game to win Mary’s affection leaves Billy with a gut-wrenching choice: deceive the girl who may well be his first love or break a promise to his best friends.
285 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2017
About the author
Jason Rekulak
11 books5,023 followersI'm the author of three novels: HIDDEN PICTURES, THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS, and (coming in October 2024!) THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING. For many years I was Publisher of Quirk Books, an indie press headquartered in Philadelphia, where I ghost-wrote many odd books that may or may not surface on this page, depending on the metadata. I live in West Philly with my wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,789 reviews
December 13, 2016
Billy and his two buddies Alf and Clark are desperate. They have learned about the teenage holy grail. Vanna White is in Playboy!
They hatch schemes to get their hands on a copy since it's the late 80's and no one will sell it to them since they are all under the age of eighteen. So they devise a plan to steal that sucker.
Billy's job is to get the security code from the grouchy old man that owns the stores daughter. Mary is a bit on the chubby side but Billy can handle it. (Not my words because my arse is chubby too.)
The thing is? Mary is kinda cool. She knows another one of Billy's kryptonites. Computer coding.
Keep in mind this is the eighties and computer programming is a whole different bag of nuts than it is now. She also tells him about a super cool contest going on where the winner of the best computer game gets a brand new computer (back in the day when those things were the cost of a house) and they get to meet the video game wizard of the time.
So Billy gets himself all worked up, he does have that game of strip poker featuring Christie Brinkley but Alf makes fun of it because her pubic hair is all jacked up. So he takes his second best game, The Impossible Fortress and knows it's a winner.
With Mary's help. (Because she totally is the brains in this operation)
This sounds like a cute book doesn't it? And in some ways it is. It does end up going in a very weird story arc in my opinion, but I'm not the best judge of crap like that.
The thing I am judgey about is if you are going to write a book about the eighties...get your stuff right. I have no clue about all the video game/computery stuff so I'm not judging there. BUT there is a joke made that threw off the whole book. I know the eighties were forever ago.
But you gotta know that some old asshole (namely me) is going to notice when you get something glaringly wrong and there are several things so wrong in this book.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
They hatch schemes to get their hands on a copy since it's the late 80's and no one will sell it to them since they are all under the age of eighteen. So they devise a plan to steal that sucker.
Billy's job is to get the security code from the grouchy old man that owns the stores daughter. Mary is a bit on the chubby side but Billy can handle it. (Not my words because my arse is chubby too.)
The thing is? Mary is kinda cool. She knows another one of Billy's kryptonites. Computer coding.
Keep in mind this is the eighties and computer programming is a whole different bag of nuts than it is now. She also tells him about a super cool contest going on where the winner of the best computer game gets a brand new computer (back in the day when those things were the cost of a house) and they get to meet the video game wizard of the time.
So Billy gets himself all worked up, he does have that game of strip poker featuring Christie Brinkley but Alf makes fun of it because her pubic hair is all jacked up. So he takes his second best game, The Impossible Fortress and knows it's a winner.
With Mary's help. (Because she totally is the brains in this operation)
This sounds like a cute book doesn't it? And in some ways it is. It does end up going in a very weird story arc in my opinion, but I'm not the best judge of crap like that.
The thing I am judgey about is if you are going to write a book about the eighties...get your stuff right. I have no clue about all the video game/computery stuff so I'm not judging there. BUT there is a joke made that threw off the whole book. I know the eighties were forever ago.
But you gotta know that some old asshole (namely me) is going to notice when you get something glaringly wrong and there are several things so wrong in this book.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
November 24, 2016
All I need to do is hear that a book takes place in the 1980s and a little alarm in my head goes off that says, "Read this!" Throw in video games and 80s music (even the pop stuff), and I'm totally there!
It's 1987. Billy, Alf, and Clark are all 14, and they're pretty much obsessed with one thing— Playboy has just released pictures of Vanna White. They're determined to do whatever it takes to get their hands on this magazine, which means stealing it from the local office supply/convenience store. The boys hatch a rudimentary plan to get the magazine, and while their mission fails, Billy finds one bright spot: Mary, the daughter of the store's owner.
Mary is not only attractive (albeit a little overweight), but she's funny and tough. And smart—she even knows more about computer programming than Billy, who has created several games on his home computer, and taught himself to code. Mary promises to help Billy with his entry in a computer game design competition being judged by one of the industry's brightest young stars, and she helps him through more than a few tough spots he was stuck on.
When Alf and Clark launch a more complicated yet seemingly foolproof plan to steal the magazines from the store, they need someone to get the alarm code from Mary. Being less than knowledgeable about women, Alf and Clark seem to think they can fake-romance the code out of Mary, but Billy volunteers. He doesn't let on that he and Mary have teamed up on a contest entry, but promises to make progress in order to get the code.
The plot to get the magazines and see Vanna's pictures becomes more and more complicated. While Alf and Clark work on the logistics, Billy is all too happy to spend every evening with Mary, working on their game. He knows he feels something more than teamwork and camaraderie for Mary, and he thinks she feels the same way, but he's never had a girlfriend before, so he doesn't know what to do or how to act. Once the game has been entered into the contest, and things go a little bit awry, Billy is faced with an incredible dilemma: does he tell his friends how he feels about Mary and convince them to end their scheme, or does he keep his word and get the alarm code?
The Impossible Fortress does a good job capturing the cluelessness of teenage boys, and the single-minded pursuit of money, popularity, and naked pictures of women, although not necessarily in that order. It's an entertaining story about loyalty to your friends, the flush of first love, the desire to make something of yourself, and the excitement of creation. Jason Rekulak evokes the 80s really well; it's amazing how different things were back then, when you couldn't rely on the internet for information, when only certain people had a very slow version of email communication, and when no one was in constant communication with anyone.
While Rekulak does a good job portraying his characters' immaturity, he doesn't really give them much depth or appeal. While he throws in one interesting twist, everything else in the book is fairly predictable, and the characters behave much as you'd expect them to. I wouldn't have a problem if we got to know Alf and Clark a little more, but we really just see them acting like idiots and pressuring Billy. Mary is a fascinating character I would have liked more of, and Billy is appealing, while clueless. And for the most part, the boys go from scheme to scheme, each one wackier than the next.
If you're a child of the 80s, or you like entertaining stories about teenage friendships and the challenges of growing up, check out The Invisible Fortress . And as a bonus, you can play The Impossible Fortress game on Rekulak's website, www.jasonrekulak.com, if you're a computer game fan.
NetGalley and Simon & Schuster provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
It's 1987. Billy, Alf, and Clark are all 14, and they're pretty much obsessed with one thing— Playboy has just released pictures of Vanna White. They're determined to do whatever it takes to get their hands on this magazine, which means stealing it from the local office supply/convenience store. The boys hatch a rudimentary plan to get the magazine, and while their mission fails, Billy finds one bright spot: Mary, the daughter of the store's owner.
Mary is not only attractive (albeit a little overweight), but she's funny and tough. And smart—she even knows more about computer programming than Billy, who has created several games on his home computer, and taught himself to code. Mary promises to help Billy with his entry in a computer game design competition being judged by one of the industry's brightest young stars, and she helps him through more than a few tough spots he was stuck on.
When Alf and Clark launch a more complicated yet seemingly foolproof plan to steal the magazines from the store, they need someone to get the alarm code from Mary. Being less than knowledgeable about women, Alf and Clark seem to think they can fake-romance the code out of Mary, but Billy volunteers. He doesn't let on that he and Mary have teamed up on a contest entry, but promises to make progress in order to get the code.
The plot to get the magazines and see Vanna's pictures becomes more and more complicated. While Alf and Clark work on the logistics, Billy is all too happy to spend every evening with Mary, working on their game. He knows he feels something more than teamwork and camaraderie for Mary, and he thinks she feels the same way, but he's never had a girlfriend before, so he doesn't know what to do or how to act. Once the game has been entered into the contest, and things go a little bit awry, Billy is faced with an incredible dilemma: does he tell his friends how he feels about Mary and convince them to end their scheme, or does he keep his word and get the alarm code?
The Impossible Fortress does a good job capturing the cluelessness of teenage boys, and the single-minded pursuit of money, popularity, and naked pictures of women, although not necessarily in that order. It's an entertaining story about loyalty to your friends, the flush of first love, the desire to make something of yourself, and the excitement of creation. Jason Rekulak evokes the 80s really well; it's amazing how different things were back then, when you couldn't rely on the internet for information, when only certain people had a very slow version of email communication, and when no one was in constant communication with anyone.
While Rekulak does a good job portraying his characters' immaturity, he doesn't really give them much depth or appeal. While he throws in one interesting twist, everything else in the book is fairly predictable, and the characters behave much as you'd expect them to. I wouldn't have a problem if we got to know Alf and Clark a little more, but we really just see them acting like idiots and pressuring Billy. Mary is a fascinating character I would have liked more of, and Billy is appealing, while clueless. And for the most part, the boys go from scheme to scheme, each one wackier than the next.
If you're a child of the 80s, or you like entertaining stories about teenage friendships and the challenges of growing up, check out The Invisible Fortress . And as a bonus, you can play The Impossible Fortress game on Rekulak's website, www.jasonrekulak.com, if you're a computer game fan.
NetGalley and Simon & Schuster provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
November 10, 2016
This was my quick-read 'antidote-book-choice'....in response to current events today..... (plus hot tea and cat nap).
"The Impossible Fortress", by Jason Rekulak... was a gift a few weeks ago....
......( along with several other books). This book came package with a candy 'Sweet-Tarts'. ( getting in the spirit of a little 80's nostalgia.
If readers enjoyed "Ready Player One", by Ernest Cline.. there's a good chance you'll enjoy this book too.
Billy is 14 years old. He and his two best buddies Clark and Alf are computer nerds.
The boys are under-age - not old enough to buy a PLAYBOY magazine .... which they must get their hands on since discovering that Vanna White, from 'Wheel of Fortunes',
is photographed. "Her butt's on the cover".
The magazine can be found at Zelinsky's newsstand...and the boys weasel a plan to get the magazine.
Things get complicated when Billy meets Mary... daughter of the owners of Zelinsky's
Games get played ...adolescence angst and minor teen crime, friendships...computer codes...
........ and OF COURSE a heartwarming love story with a girl name Mary!
ADORABLE - quick read!!!
"The Impossible Fortress", by Jason Rekulak... was a gift a few weeks ago....
......( along with several other books). This book came package with a candy 'Sweet-Tarts'. ( getting in the spirit of a little 80's nostalgia.
If readers enjoyed "Ready Player One", by Ernest Cline.. there's a good chance you'll enjoy this book too.
Billy is 14 years old. He and his two best buddies Clark and Alf are computer nerds.
The boys are under-age - not old enough to buy a PLAYBOY magazine .... which they must get their hands on since discovering that Vanna White, from 'Wheel of Fortunes',
is photographed. "Her butt's on the cover".
The magazine can be found at Zelinsky's newsstand...and the boys weasel a plan to get the magazine.
Things get complicated when Billy meets Mary... daughter of the owners of Zelinsky's
Games get played ...adolescence angst and minor teen crime, friendships...computer codes...
........ and OF COURSE a heartwarming love story with a girl name Mary!
ADORABLE - quick read!!!
March 9, 2017
I would think The Impossible Fortress should be described as YA fiction, although it’s not clear to me that it is being marketed that way – maybe because it’s set in the 1980s and therefore offers nostalgia to those who were coming of age at that time. In any event, the thing about YA fiction is that I rarely voluntarily sign up to read it, although when I do so I am not always disappointed. That sort of sums up my experience with The Impossible Fortress. As I started it and realized that it focuses on fourteen year old Billy, and his misadventures with lust, love, petty thievery and computer coding, I braced myself. But I ended up liking some things about The Impossible Fortress – most of all, Billy’s relationship with his mother, his tortured attempt to save face with his friends while pursuing the object of his affection Mary, a clever police interview, and references to the internet-less 1980s. Having said that, my three star rating reflects the fact that much of the book lacked any real depth. It was a quick entertaining read, with occasional real emotions, a bit of slapstick, a weird surprise and a happy ending (surely that’s not a spoiler). Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
March 26, 2017
Billy, Alf and Clark are fourteen year old boys living in the late ‘80’s. Vanna White from the gameshow “The Wheel of Fortune” has just graced the cover of Playboy magazine. It is now available at the local convenience store and they will do anything to obtain a copy of it.
When their first attempt at buying the magazine fails, they come up with a plan to steal it. They have extra incentive after collecting money from classmates seeking to view Vanna naked. The plan involves breaking into the convenience store after hours. The success of the mission relies on Billy becoming romantically involved with the store owner’s daughter, Mary.
While carrying out the plan, Billy finds that he and Mary share the love of computer programming. Mary likes a game he has created and encourages him to enter it in a contest from a prestigious gaming company. She offers to assist him on the project together at the store. It is during this time that Billy finds himself at a crossroads and has to choose between Mary and Vanna White.
I enjoyed the flashback dialogue along with the ‘80’s nostalgia. I was brought back to the days of floppy disks and life without social media. The writer does a realistic job portraying the interaction between the teenagers while learning life’s lessons.
$3.99 3/26 only on digital platforms https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
When their first attempt at buying the magazine fails, they come up with a plan to steal it. They have extra incentive after collecting money from classmates seeking to view Vanna naked. The plan involves breaking into the convenience store after hours. The success of the mission relies on Billy becoming romantically involved with the store owner’s daughter, Mary.
While carrying out the plan, Billy finds that he and Mary share the love of computer programming. Mary likes a game he has created and encourages him to enter it in a contest from a prestigious gaming company. She offers to assist him on the project together at the store. It is during this time that Billy finds himself at a crossroads and has to choose between Mary and Vanna White.
I enjoyed the flashback dialogue along with the ‘80’s nostalgia. I was brought back to the days of floppy disks and life without social media. The writer does a realistic job portraying the interaction between the teenagers while learning life’s lessons.
$3.99 3/26 only on digital platforms https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
June 13, 2018
In the glorious year of 1987, Vanna White appears in Playboy, sending Billy and his friends in a frenzy to grab that coveted magazine. All Billy has to do is get the alarm code from the stationary store owner's daughter, Mary. Things get complicated when Billy discovers Mary is into computer programming on her Commodore 64, just like he is...
Since my wife comandeered the Kindle to read Anne of Green Gables, I'm chewing through my physical backlog of books. I picked this one up at the Goodreads Summit in 2016. It was a fun little read.
It's funny that the Vanna White Playboy was part of the plot of The Impossible Fortress because that's the one skin magazine my dad had, that I know of. Way back in the day, a co-worker of my dad was dying of cancer and asked him to do the 1990 equivalent of clearing his browser history, retrieving his porn stash from his locker at work. Dad brought it home and said "That Vanna White Playboy is on top of the fridge in the garage if you guys want to look it. Don't let your mom catch you."
Anyway, The Impossible Fortress was fun book. While it's not marketed as such, it's probably best classified as a young adult book. I'm guessing Quirk pushed the nostalgia aspect to grab more readers.
The story is part heist tale, part coming of age. Billy and his friends plan capers to secure copies of the Vanna White Playboy issue. Billy starts having feelings for Mary while the two work on a computer game, The Impossible Fortress, for a contest. Anyone who has ever watched a John Hughes movie knows where things are going.
I found the Impossible Fortress entertaining while I was reading it. The nostalgia doesn't feel forced and doesn't overshadow the story. The relationship between Billy and Mary blossomed pretty naturally and I really wanted them to win the contest. Burglary to retrieve the Vanna White Playboy was kind of a stretch. It's not even a great issue but, then again, many a fourteen year old has done many a stupid thing for a glimpse at naked flesh.
While I found it entertaining, I didn't find it particularly memorable. The only characters of substance were Billy and Mary and the writing was... light, maybe? Unchallenging? Stripped down? The writing didn't have a lot of meat to it is what I'm getting at.
At the end of the day, it's a fun story but The Impossible Fortress isn't anything I'd say people need to go out of their way to read. The story is cute and the nostalgia is fun but that's all there is. Three out of five stars.
Since my wife comandeered the Kindle to read Anne of Green Gables, I'm chewing through my physical backlog of books. I picked this one up at the Goodreads Summit in 2016. It was a fun little read.
It's funny that the Vanna White Playboy was part of the plot of The Impossible Fortress because that's the one skin magazine my dad had, that I know of. Way back in the day, a co-worker of my dad was dying of cancer and asked him to do the 1990 equivalent of clearing his browser history, retrieving his porn stash from his locker at work. Dad brought it home and said "That Vanna White Playboy is on top of the fridge in the garage if you guys want to look it. Don't let your mom catch you."
Anyway, The Impossible Fortress was fun book. While it's not marketed as such, it's probably best classified as a young adult book. I'm guessing Quirk pushed the nostalgia aspect to grab more readers.
The story is part heist tale, part coming of age. Billy and his friends plan capers to secure copies of the Vanna White Playboy issue. Billy starts having feelings for Mary while the two work on a computer game, The Impossible Fortress, for a contest. Anyone who has ever watched a John Hughes movie knows where things are going.
I found the Impossible Fortress entertaining while I was reading it. The nostalgia doesn't feel forced and doesn't overshadow the story. The relationship between Billy and Mary blossomed pretty naturally and I really wanted them to win the contest. Burglary to retrieve the Vanna White Playboy was kind of a stretch. It's not even a great issue but, then again, many a fourteen year old has done many a stupid thing for a glimpse at naked flesh.
While I found it entertaining, I didn't find it particularly memorable. The only characters of substance were Billy and Mary and the writing was... light, maybe? Unchallenging? Stripped down? The writing didn't have a lot of meat to it is what I'm getting at.
At the end of the day, it's a fun story but The Impossible Fortress isn't anything I'd say people need to go out of their way to read. The story is cute and the nostalgia is fun but that's all there is. Three out of five stars.
October 16, 2017
"The Impossible Fortress" by Jason Rekulak is so freaking cute!!!
I was smitten on the very first page, and I continued to say that way until the very end. Rekulak's writing is snappy, sharp, hilarious, quirky, and addictive. I love novels that take place in the 1980s (probably because I born in that cool, tacky, and shallow decade). The protagonist, Billy Marvin and his immature friends want a copy of Playboy (circa 1987) which features Vanna White on the cover. Of course the boys are underage and can't purchase the magazine so...high-jinx ensues! They go to extreme lengths to get their greedy, horny hands on that elusive Playboy. Does the plot sound a little silly? Well fear not because it isn't. This is part coming-of-age, part teenage love story, part comedy heist. If you're a fan of '80s video games, (like Atari or Nintendo) you will love this novel. If you enjoy a good old-fashioned puppy love story (Billy and Mary are the sweetest, dorkiest twosome ever) then don't miss out on "The Impossible Fortress". I never laughed or smiled so much while reading a YA novel (which reads like contemporary, by the way). Kudos to Jason Rekulak for writing such relatable characters, and a fun, edgy, and zany plot (with a great twist towards the end).
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this charming and delightful little book. Totally awesome, dudes! Enjoy.
I was smitten on the very first page, and I continued to say that way until the very end. Rekulak's writing is snappy, sharp, hilarious, quirky, and addictive. I love novels that take place in the 1980s (probably because I born in that cool, tacky, and shallow decade). The protagonist, Billy Marvin and his immature friends want a copy of Playboy (circa 1987) which features Vanna White on the cover. Of course the boys are underage and can't purchase the magazine so...high-jinx ensues! They go to extreme lengths to get their greedy, horny hands on that elusive Playboy. Does the plot sound a little silly? Well fear not because it isn't. This is part coming-of-age, part teenage love story, part comedy heist. If you're a fan of '80s video games, (like Atari or Nintendo) you will love this novel. If you enjoy a good old-fashioned puppy love story (Billy and Mary are the sweetest, dorkiest twosome ever) then don't miss out on "The Impossible Fortress". I never laughed or smiled so much while reading a YA novel (which reads like contemporary, by the way). Kudos to Jason Rekulak for writing such relatable characters, and a fun, edgy, and zany plot (with a great twist towards the end).
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this charming and delightful little book. Totally awesome, dudes! Enjoy.
October 28, 2016
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Edit: Just found out that you can play Impossible Fortress, the game from the story, on the author's website! http://jasonrekulak.com/ (Click 'play the game' at the top!)
I grew up saturated in 80s pop culture, so I was initially very excited when I saw a copy of THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS available for request on Netgalley. The cover and premise sounded like READY PLAYER ONE, which is one of my favorite books of all time. However, THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS isn't about a dystopian future with a fully immersible MMORPG - it's about teen game coders and a heist involving pornographic magazines.
Billy Marvin is failing school because he spends all his time programming things for his Commodore 64. His only friends are "losers" like him - Clark, who has syndactyl, and Alf, who's weird for a reason I forgot. Maybe he's just weird. Anyway, the three of them come up with the *brilliant* idea to steal the issues of Playboy featuring nude Vanna White from the local drug store. The problem is, the rooftop entrance is difficult to get into and the front entrance is alarmed.
Well, that's easy, they think - all they have to do is seduce the shopkeeper's fat daughter, because obviously she's lonely and desperate for attention! Billy's already interested in her anyway because he finds out that she's a coder like him, so he volunteers for the mission as an excuse to talk to the only other teen he knows who likes coding just as much as him. You can see how this might be a problem...
I almost, almost, was able to enjoy THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS in spite of all the fat shaming - and there is a ton of fat shaming, from so many people, it's awful - because I told myself, "Fat shaming and bullying were common in the 80s because people didn't realize how harmful bullying was back then psychologically. Maybe the author is making a point here." And I liked how the girl, Mary, was so clever and smart and how Billy began to see her for the person she was, and appreciate her both romantically and intellectually. I even began rooting for them to get together.
But then Mary turns him down. And Billy does something unforgivable. I was so upset, because it seemed to go against his character. The narrative had been building him up as a better person, and then suddenly - that. There's this section of the book where everything gets very unpleasant around 80% in, and then we learn something about Mary that felt like it was an attempt to put some of the blame on her. Like, oh, what Billy did was bad, but Mary is bad too, so everyone's a bad person here!
Then the book ends on a happy note, totally glossing over all the consequences.
It's a shame, because as a nerd, I want to support authentic nerdy books in the YA and NA cannon. That's one of the reasons I loved READY PLAYER ONE so much - it embraces all the things I grew up loving. I did programming in high school, so I really thought it was cool to see the vintage 80s code at the beginning of each chapter, and compare it to the more complex codes of today, like watching a language evolve. The Vanna White Playboy heist just seemed like such an unnecessary secondary plot, detracting from the coding aspects, and I didn't understand why Billy and Mary had to do such horrible things to each other and to other people. Can't we just be geeks in love?
1.5 stars
May 26, 2018
A cute coming-of-age novel about a boy, a computer, a Playboy magazine and first love.
Billy and his awkward friends are in love with Vanna White, the girl-next-door who flips the letters on Wheel of Fortune. When some pictures of Vanna appear in Playboy, they know they have to get that magazine, at any cost.
One problem, none of them are even close to eighteen years old.
This was the moment of truth- the moment I'd rehearsed with Alf and Clark again and again. They'd coached me to keep my pitch exactly the same- to speak the words like I used them all the time: "Just some Tic Tacs," I said, "And a Playboy." pg 29
Part of this story is enjoying the humor and innocence of the boys in an era before the internet. The other part of this story, the one that occupied my book club, was reminiscing about technology and early computers.
We spent most of the time at book club talking about what our first computers were, who knew coding, and what were our favorite early games.
"If I was serious about Planet Will Software, I couldn't work on a Commodore 64 much longer. Newer computers offered more memory and better graphics, and C64s would be obsolete in another year or two. I needed to upgrade to the latest technology, and the contest was my best chance to do it." pg 43
That part of the evening seemed to entertain the older members of our book club more than me. It's not that I didn't have an early computer, I did, I was more interested in the coming-of-age part of this story and the heist-type scenarios the boys go through to get their dirty magazine.
I also enjoyed Billy's struggles to understand Mary and the cute dynamic between them. I liked learning about his loyalty to his friends and his dreams for future computer programming greatness.
"I'm going to make video games," I said. "I'm going to start my own company, and I'll only hire cool people." pg 81
If I ever start my own company, in whatever business sector that it may be (not computer programming), I'll only hire cool people too.
Recommended for book clubs or if you just want a sweet, light read by the pool, The Impossible Fortress just may fit the bill.
Billy and his awkward friends are in love with Vanna White, the girl-next-door who flips the letters on Wheel of Fortune. When some pictures of Vanna appear in Playboy, they know they have to get that magazine, at any cost.
One problem, none of them are even close to eighteen years old.
This was the moment of truth- the moment I'd rehearsed with Alf and Clark again and again. They'd coached me to keep my pitch exactly the same- to speak the words like I used them all the time: "Just some Tic Tacs," I said, "And a Playboy." pg 29
Part of this story is enjoying the humor and innocence of the boys in an era before the internet. The other part of this story, the one that occupied my book club, was reminiscing about technology and early computers.
We spent most of the time at book club talking about what our first computers were, who knew coding, and what were our favorite early games.
"If I was serious about Planet Will Software, I couldn't work on a Commodore 64 much longer. Newer computers offered more memory and better graphics, and C64s would be obsolete in another year or two. I needed to upgrade to the latest technology, and the contest was my best chance to do it." pg 43
That part of the evening seemed to entertain the older members of our book club more than me. It's not that I didn't have an early computer, I did, I was more interested in the coming-of-age part of this story and the heist-type scenarios the boys go through to get their dirty magazine.
I also enjoyed Billy's struggles to understand Mary and the cute dynamic between them. I liked learning about his loyalty to his friends and his dreams for future computer programming greatness.
"I'm going to make video games," I said. "I'm going to start my own company, and I'll only hire cool people." pg 81
If I ever start my own company, in whatever business sector that it may be (not computer programming), I'll only hire cool people too.
Recommended for book clubs or if you just want a sweet, light read by the pool, The Impossible Fortress just may fit the bill.
August 8, 2022
I didn't think the book was bad in any means just wasn't my kind of book as i struggled getting invested in the audiobook but perhaps I would enjoy it more reading an ebook/physical book of this
May 19, 2022
I owe GR Friend Samantha big-time for this one. The Impossible Fortress kept me smiling from start to finish, even as I bit my nails down to the quick watching the protagonist, 14-year-old Will/Bill and his two mates, Clive and Alf, dig themselves in deeper and deeper, making one hilariously stupid mistake after another. Okay maybe I should not have laughed out loud as much as I did, but the author painted the characters with such empathy, it was impossible not to love them. This book is about a computer geek in the 1980s trying to design and write games on his Commodore 64 (does anyone even know what that is? I think we skipped from Atari to PC). Together with a girl geek his age, the Stationer's daughter Mary, Will writes and designs a game in a bid to win a contest and a top-of-the-line IBM computer (before IBM stopped producing PCs). I was totally invested in the story from beginning to end, following the unfathomable lengths the characters were willing to go, to get their sticky (hormonal) paws on a copy of Playboy. In fact, all of their impassioned antics to achieve this goal were perpetrated with total disregard for the immediately obvious consequences they would suffer, if they got caught…and they did get caught, and stung – not once, but every single time!
There were serious undercurrents in the book but for the most part I felt they were completely in character with 14-year-old perspectives. I could not help but sit back and watch good-naturedly as the author offered up this stroll down memory lane – not only historically but also in retrospect, reminding the blushing adult inside what it was like to be 14 years old again (innocent, bashful, in love, horny, dreamy, poor judgement…the works!).
I wish I had known how much I would love this before I started reading or I would have made this a buddy read with my thirteen-year-old grandson. We could have laughed out loud together, and had some serious discussions, too, along the way.
I listened to the audio and the narrator, Griffin Newman, was spot on.
There were serious undercurrents in the book but for the most part I felt they were completely in character with 14-year-old perspectives. I could not help but sit back and watch good-naturedly as the author offered up this stroll down memory lane – not only historically but also in retrospect, reminding the blushing adult inside what it was like to be 14 years old again (innocent, bashful, in love, horny, dreamy, poor judgement…the works!).
I wish I had known how much I would love this before I started reading or I would have made this a buddy read with my thirteen-year-old grandson. We could have laughed out loud together, and had some serious discussions, too, along the way.
I listened to the audio and the narrator, Griffin Newman, was spot on.
February 8, 2021
2017 F.A.B. Bookclub pick # I.❤️. F.A.B.
Looking for your 80's nostalgia? Here it is! Simpler times, when kids rode bikes with massive boom boxes attached, headed to their local video store to rent their VHS tapes and got their cassette tapes from Sam Goody at the mall. This was a quick read that reminded me of just how stupid 14 year old boys are. Those hormones kick in and all they care about is the ladies and just getting a little peak. Nothing complex going on here, somewhat predictable, but never the less entertaining.
Looking for your 80's nostalgia? Here it is! Simpler times, when kids rode bikes with massive boom boxes attached, headed to their local video store to rent their VHS tapes and got their cassette tapes from Sam Goody at the mall. This was a quick read that reminded me of just how stupid 14 year old boys are. Those hormones kick in and all they care about is the ladies and just getting a little peak. Nothing complex going on here, somewhat predictable, but never the less entertaining.
March 6, 2017
This is the short review version. If you want to read about my hiatus and see different cover artwork for this book, keep reading this post here on my blog ♥
★★★★☆ a solid 4 stars.
So, what's special about this one? What do I think you'll like?
★ It's about the late 80's (1987, in partcular)
★ It's nerdy. In a really good way
★ It's about teens, and they are not perfect. Far from it!
★ It's got a fun tone, it's lighthearted, although it deals with tough topics at times
★ And get this, it's got a programmer chick. She is no supermodel either. I LOVED HER.
★ There's a twist and it shocks your socks off. Although maybe it's just me being naive - after all, who uses an expression like shocks your socks off anyway..? Can it, grandma.
A little bit about the story.
The story here is quite simple. A few really nerdy boys want to steal a Playboy from a corner store (there are particulars about why they'd want that, but I won't spoil). One of them infiltrates the store, trying to get closer to the boss's daughter to find out the security code. Little do his friends know that he's really into it because he wants to hang out with a chick who's better at programming than him. Little does he know that she is also not as transparent as he thinks.
The Impossible Fortress here stands for the game they are programming. It's a lovely part of the book and I'll be talking about it more later.
So let's talk about the best bits of the book.
The 80's have been idolized, especially lately, what with all the hipstery pop, taking anything and everything from every possible era in the 20th century. But it's done in such a nice way here - truly, it's a love letter to the decade. Especially if you happen to be a little nerdy yourself (check for me). The main characters in the novel write video games - video games for computers we might not even deem computers anymore. And it's just SO COOL. It might just be me, but remembering how I dabbled in writing code myself when I was 14 or 15, it's just so nostalgic. I enjoyed myself a lot, reading about the ancient computer tech those kids work with. After I finished the book, I even googled an online old tech museum.
Okay, so this one is just a particularly old and sooty model.
They weren't all actually archeologically covered in dirt.
The teens we are talking about are pretty interesting as well. Misfits the lot of them! Adorable, and yet real - some of the choices they make are really, really bad. And I don't mean just 'bad' as in 'morally incorrect'. I mean 'bad' as in 'life cripplingly stupid and obviously going to bite you in the ass' kind of bad decisions. Lying in all the wrong places, not seeing the truth, trying to get out of things when it's really not going to help. And living with their awful choices afterwards. Isn't that part of being a teen? Not being able to see anything the way it really is, the way any adult sees it? And in connection with this, there's this thing about the storyline - that you'll be able to see the plot really soon, perhaps in the first few pages - and that's okay. Why? Because the teen protagonists won't. It makes sense too - something that was complicated when you were 14 can seem a lot simpler when you're older, as you look back. This is part of the fun in this book - you know what's going to happen. But they don't.
And now, let's talk about The Impossible Fortress. That's the game the characters are making, and the whole reason I chose to read this book on NetGalley was because it was featured as a maze on the first cover:
In my opinion, this cover was lovely! It shows the plot so well too.
Anyway, the fun thing about The Impossible Fortress is that it made the jump from fiction to reality and you can play the game the characters are making on the author's site! How cool is that?
But it's not only that. Because you'll find the impossible fortress constructed into the story as well - in the end of the book. I loved that especially, because it gives the book a little bit of the fairytale feel - saving the princess from a castle.
Which brings me to the end. I thought I knew what was going to happen. I was almost right.
But not completely.
I won't spoil it for you anymore, I'll just say that I stayed up till 2 am to finish this one. It was great fun, it's a light quick read and it's greatly enjoyable. And despite being light, it deals with some really hard (and surprising) problems. I do recommend it strongly.
★★★★☆ a solid 4 stars.
So, what's special about this one? What do I think you'll like?
★ It's about the late 80's (1987, in partcular)
★ It's nerdy. In a really good way
★ It's about teens, and they are not perfect. Far from it!
★ It's got a fun tone, it's lighthearted, although it deals with tough topics at times
★ And get this, it's got a programmer chick. She is no supermodel either. I LOVED HER.
★ There's a twist and it shocks your socks off. Although maybe it's just me being naive - after all, who uses an expression like shocks your socks off anyway..? Can it, grandma.
A little bit about the story.
The story here is quite simple. A few really nerdy boys want to steal a Playboy from a corner store (there are particulars about why they'd want that, but I won't spoil). One of them infiltrates the store, trying to get closer to the boss's daughter to find out the security code. Little do his friends know that he's really into it because he wants to hang out with a chick who's better at programming than him. Little does he know that she is also not as transparent as he thinks.
The Impossible Fortress here stands for the game they are programming. It's a lovely part of the book and I'll be talking about it more later.
So let's talk about the best bits of the book.
The 80's have been idolized, especially lately, what with all the hipstery pop, taking anything and everything from every possible era in the 20th century. But it's done in such a nice way here - truly, it's a love letter to the decade. Especially if you happen to be a little nerdy yourself (check for me). The main characters in the novel write video games - video games for computers we might not even deem computers anymore. And it's just SO COOL. It might just be me, but remembering how I dabbled in writing code myself when I was 14 or 15, it's just so nostalgic. I enjoyed myself a lot, reading about the ancient computer tech those kids work with. After I finished the book, I even googled an online old tech museum.
Okay, so this one is just a particularly old and sooty model.
They weren't all actually archeologically covered in dirt.
The teens we are talking about are pretty interesting as well. Misfits the lot of them! Adorable, and yet real - some of the choices they make are really, really bad. And I don't mean just 'bad' as in 'morally incorrect'. I mean 'bad' as in 'life cripplingly stupid and obviously going to bite you in the ass' kind of bad decisions. Lying in all the wrong places, not seeing the truth, trying to get out of things when it's really not going to help. And living with their awful choices afterwards. Isn't that part of being a teen? Not being able to see anything the way it really is, the way any adult sees it? And in connection with this, there's this thing about the storyline - that you'll be able to see the plot really soon, perhaps in the first few pages - and that's okay. Why? Because the teen protagonists won't. It makes sense too - something that was complicated when you were 14 can seem a lot simpler when you're older, as you look back. This is part of the fun in this book - you know what's going to happen. But they don't.
And now, let's talk about The Impossible Fortress. That's the game the characters are making, and the whole reason I chose to read this book on NetGalley was because it was featured as a maze on the first cover:
In my opinion, this cover was lovely! It shows the plot so well too.
Anyway, the fun thing about The Impossible Fortress is that it made the jump from fiction to reality and you can play the game the characters are making on the author's site! How cool is that?
But it's not only that. Because you'll find the impossible fortress constructed into the story as well - in the end of the book. I loved that especially, because it gives the book a little bit of the fairytale feel - saving the princess from a castle.
Which brings me to the end. I thought I knew what was going to happen. I was almost right.
But not completely.
I won't spoil it for you anymore, I'll just say that I stayed up till 2 am to finish this one. It was great fun, it's a light quick read and it's greatly enjoyable. And despite being light, it deals with some really hard (and surprising) problems. I do recommend it strongly.
March 23, 2017
Did you grow up in the 80’s? It’s ok if you didn’t because at its core, this is a sweet love story. Doesn’t matter the generation, everyone knows this language - Everyone who loves books and has a pulse. (This is the point where you place two fingers on your wrist). Found pulse? Good. Next question: Were you once a teenager? Thought so. Bonus for the kids of the late 80’s because you’ll remember a few things sprung from that decade. The Commodore 64 and the dawn of the home computer, those earliest video games that captured minds and many late nights, blasting Van Halen from a boom box on cassette with the volume at 10…yeah all that nerdy stuff (minus Van Halen of course).
Oh, and Vanna White. You know, Wheel of Fortune. Her pictures in the Playboy magazine are the spark that starts this book’s momentum. Yes, even young geeky boys fall for the pretty girl. This makes it sound like a book for the guys, but really it’s a laugh with and at teen boys for the walking hormones that they are. The lengths three 14 year olds will go to get a copy of that magazine are so crazy, it’s practically a truism. But while Billy’s friends, Alf and Clark, are full-on “Operation Vanna”, Billy’s mind is occupied with the writing of his own video game he has named, The Impossible Fortress, and the not-so-popular girl who can help him see a little bit – no wait – a lot more.
This book was fun, and it was light-hearted with a couple of surprisingly touching moments. 4 stars for first loves, friendship, and acceptance. 3 stars for the few parts which were just okay - but can that possibly damper pouring your heart out to a girl for the first time? 4 stars it is.
Oh, and Vanna White. You know, Wheel of Fortune. Her pictures in the Playboy magazine are the spark that starts this book’s momentum. Yes, even young geeky boys fall for the pretty girl. This makes it sound like a book for the guys, but really it’s a laugh with and at teen boys for the walking hormones that they are. The lengths three 14 year olds will go to get a copy of that magazine are so crazy, it’s practically a truism. But while Billy’s friends, Alf and Clark, are full-on “Operation Vanna”, Billy’s mind is occupied with the writing of his own video game he has named, The Impossible Fortress, and the not-so-popular girl who can help him see a little bit – no wait – a lot more.
This book was fun, and it was light-hearted with a couple of surprisingly touching moments. 4 stars for first loves, friendship, and acceptance. 3 stars for the few parts which were just okay - but can that possibly damper pouring your heart out to a girl for the first time? 4 stars it is.
October 14, 2016
Though the concept had potential and the writing was good, I really can't recommend this book. Flat characters, no consequences and more than half of the book was boys being jerks or bullies. It just continues the dangerous rhetorical that "boys will be boys", and "girls are dangerous". I loved Mary's character ... until she just didn't change. Highly important, life changing, things happened with her character and, yet, she remained the same. It just wasn't realistic. At all.
Overall, this book made me sad.
EDIT: The more I think about it, the more angry I get at this book.
Overall, this book made me sad.
EDIT: The more I think about it, the more angry I get at this book.
February 22, 2017
*Disclaimer: I was provided with an ARC of The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion or rating in any way.
When I had first heard about The Impossible Fortress, it sounded like something that was perfect for me. It took place in the 1980’s, it features a female character who is amazing at programming and creating video games and it seemed like a cute contemporary novel. While The Impossible Fortress did consist of all those things, there were moments that bothered me which ultimately turned this book into just an okay read for me. I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it.
--
What I Liked
Mary Zelinsky. Who wouldn’t love a strong female character who also just happens to be wickedly amazing at programming her own video games? I really enjoyed reading about Mary and her friendship/relationship with Will. She was by far my favourite character throughout the entire novel.
The storyline. While it wasn’t the most original concept per se, The Impossible Fortress did deliver everything I had hoped it would. A young first love in a 1980’s setting? Count me in. I enjoyed reading about the progression of Will and Mary’s relationship within this story.
--
What I Didn’t Like
A slow start. This book is literally just over 300 pages. The font size is large and the chapters are short. So why did it take me over a week to read it? It started off pretty slow. I found it pretty difficult to really get in to the story until about maybe 100 pages in, a.k.a. a third of the way through the novel. Once it picked up in pace, it did turn into a faster read.
The fat-shaming. There was A LOT of it. There were moments that were just downright cruel. I get that it’s the 1980’s and things like fat-shaming were probably the norm then, but it still didn’t feel good to read about it. Throw in a crude joke about AIDS and I was pretty fed up with the “humour” within the story.
Every character except Mary Zelinsky. Yupp, every single one. The other characters just were not likable at all for me. The group of boys all pissed me off at least once throughout the novel and there was just nothing about them that made me care about them at all. While I liked the idea of a relationship between Mary and Will, I had hoped that Will’s character development would be a little better than it was by the end of the story.
The ending. Ugh. It just felt so un-needed. There’s definitely spoilers surrounding why I didn’t like the ending, so I’ll try not to go into too much detail. I loved the fact that Mary wasn’t perfect. She was considered the geeky, awkward, “chubby” girl and I loved that about her. She felt real. Then Will started to like her and I thought that was great, because clearly he liked her for who she was rather than what she looked like. Then all of that was shattered. Mary maybe isn’t that geeky, awkward, “chubby” girl and that bothered me. Why change such a great character?
--
Overall, The Impossible Fortress gave me everything it promised, but then it also gave me things that I wasn’t expecting…and not necessarily in the best way.
Initial post reading thoughts:
I'm still unsure on how I feel about this novel. There were things that I loved and things that I really did not. The story was cute, maybe not super original, but definitely cute. Boy needs something from geeky awkward girl. Boy pretends to like geeky awkward girl. Boy ends up actually liking geeky awkward girl. And the rest is history.
I will mention that this book has quite a bit of fat shaming. There was also a crude joke about AIDS. I understand that this book takes place in the 1980's and maybe this was the norm then, but it still made me uncomfortable and angry while reading it.
February 7, 2017
In the year 1987 Playboy released a copy with scandalous photos of the famous Vanna White which became somewhat of a Holy Grail to young teenage boys. Fourteen year old Billy Marvin and his friends were no exception and the three boys vowed to do anything to get their hands on a copy of the magazine.
When their first attempts fail miserably Billy comes up with a plan to get close to Mary Zelinsky, the daughter of the owner of the store selling the coveted Playboy that the boys are desperate to get a copy of. But Billy didn't plan on slowing falling for Mary as the two work together on a computer program that will hopefully win them a prize.
The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak was an incredibly fun read that takes place in the 80's. All throughout the book the author did a wonderful job of reminding readers of the current events and happenings during that decade which is always a favorite of mine. That alone makes it very hard for me to dislike a story when it's bringing smiles of remembrance while reading.
I will say with the characters in this book I really enjoyed Billy and Mary and watching their relationship grow as they worked together. Billy's other friends though seemed a bit more trouble than you would think this shy teen would have in his life. There was also one flaw with the whole plan that does eventually get mentioned but it had me questioning things for a while so that brought my rating down a bit.
Overall, a fun read set in the 80's with plenty of reminders of that decade.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When their first attempts fail miserably Billy comes up with a plan to get close to Mary Zelinsky, the daughter of the owner of the store selling the coveted Playboy that the boys are desperate to get a copy of. But Billy didn't plan on slowing falling for Mary as the two work together on a computer program that will hopefully win them a prize.
The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak was an incredibly fun read that takes place in the 80's. All throughout the book the author did a wonderful job of reminding readers of the current events and happenings during that decade which is always a favorite of mine. That alone makes it very hard for me to dislike a story when it's bringing smiles of remembrance while reading.
I will say with the characters in this book I really enjoyed Billy and Mary and watching their relationship grow as they worked together. Billy's other friends though seemed a bit more trouble than you would think this shy teen would have in his life. There was also one flaw with the whole plan that does eventually get mentioned but it had me questioning things for a while so that brought my rating down a bit.
Overall, a fun read set in the 80's with plenty of reminders of that decade.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
December 29, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6qqY7FJai8/
Bu yıl çok fazla modern gençlik kitabı okuyamadım fakat okuduklarım arasında en eğlenceli kitaplardan biriydi İmkânsız Kale. Yaşları tutmadığı için alamadıkları Playboy dergisi uğruna başlarına açmadıkları bela, düşmedikleri rezillik kalmayan karakterlerin macerasına ortak olmak garip bir şekilde eğlenceliydi. '80lerde geçiyor olması da eğlenceyi katladı tabii ki. Atari salonları, gelişmemiş bilgisayar oyunları, gelişmemiş devasa bilgisayarlar... Stranger Things'in gerilimsiz ve korkunç olmayan versiyonunu düşünün, işte o bu kitap. Karakterlerin başına gelen bütün o aksiyonlu hezimetlerin arasına serpiştirilmiş twistler o kadar iyiydi ki, gidişat tahmin edilebilir olmasına rağmen şaşırtabildi. Ayrıca okurken, karakterlerin playlistine ortak olmak da pek güzeldi 💙👍
Bu yıl çok fazla modern gençlik kitabı okuyamadım fakat okuduklarım arasında en eğlenceli kitaplardan biriydi İmkânsız Kale. Yaşları tutmadığı için alamadıkları Playboy dergisi uğruna başlarına açmadıkları bela, düşmedikleri rezillik kalmayan karakterlerin macerasına ortak olmak garip bir şekilde eğlenceliydi. '80lerde geçiyor olması da eğlenceyi katladı tabii ki. Atari salonları, gelişmemiş bilgisayar oyunları, gelişmemiş devasa bilgisayarlar... Stranger Things'in gerilimsiz ve korkunç olmayan versiyonunu düşünün, işte o bu kitap. Karakterlerin başına gelen bütün o aksiyonlu hezimetlerin arasına serpiştirilmiş twistler o kadar iyiydi ki, gidişat tahmin edilebilir olmasına rağmen şaşırtabildi. Ayrıca okurken, karakterlerin playlistine ortak olmak da pek güzeldi 💙👍
March 16, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
Teen angst, computer programming and friendship - all set in the glorious 80s...
To be honest, any book that focuses on the 80s is likely to be a bit of a winner for me. If that same book also features Commodore 64s, then it's a match made in heaven.
The book focuses on Will (or Billy to his friends) - a hapless, gangly teen who is on a mission to secure a copy of Playboy. What happens next is a crazy succession of events, involving criminal activity, computer programming, a particular girl called Mary, and plenty of obstacles along the way.
In one way, it's a classic 'coming of age' tale, but to label it as just that would be doing the book a disservice. It's a very warm, authentic book, which captures perfectly the torment of being 14, and the value of good friends. The constant referencing to Commodore 64 programming took me right back to my own misspent youth (all those evenings spent poring over the Commodore 64 magazine, religiously typing lines of code, only to find I'd mucked it all up at the end...) and was such an unusual topic to cover that it felt very fresh.
The ending was also fantastically constructed. I didn't see ANY of it coming, and yet it all felt 100% plausible. Very nicely played, Mr Rekulak!
I completely devoured this book in two days - and wasn't expecting to enjoy it nearly as much as I did. A definite 10 out of 10 from me.
Teen angst, computer programming and friendship - all set in the glorious 80s...
To be honest, any book that focuses on the 80s is likely to be a bit of a winner for me. If that same book also features Commodore 64s, then it's a match made in heaven.
The book focuses on Will (or Billy to his friends) - a hapless, gangly teen who is on a mission to secure a copy of Playboy. What happens next is a crazy succession of events, involving criminal activity, computer programming, a particular girl called Mary, and plenty of obstacles along the way.
In one way, it's a classic 'coming of age' tale, but to label it as just that would be doing the book a disservice. It's a very warm, authentic book, which captures perfectly the torment of being 14, and the value of good friends. The constant referencing to Commodore 64 programming took me right back to my own misspent youth (all those evenings spent poring over the Commodore 64 magazine, religiously typing lines of code, only to find I'd mucked it all up at the end...) and was such an unusual topic to cover that it felt very fresh.
The ending was also fantastically constructed. I didn't see ANY of it coming, and yet it all felt 100% plausible. Very nicely played, Mr Rekulak!
I completely devoured this book in two days - and wasn't expecting to enjoy it nearly as much as I did. A definite 10 out of 10 from me.
February 7, 2017
It's 1987, and 14-year old Billy Marvin and his two best friends, Alf and Clark, are in over their heads. What started out as a small scheme to snatch (then photocopy) a Playboy from Sal Zelinsky's corner store has suddenly become much more complicated. Now the boys are sitting on a ton of cash (prepayment from their classmates for glossy pics of naked Vanna White) with no working plan in sight--at least not one that doesn't involve serious criminal activity. But Alf and Clark are getting desperate to make good to their paying customers, so they, with encouragement from their new 18-year old "friend" Tyler, have decided on a new strategy. It will require Billy getting close to Zelinsky's daughter in order to get some inside information. The major problem: thanks to their shared love of coding and computer games, Billy may already be genuinely falling for her. Torn between his loyalty to his friends and the butterflies of his first crush, Billy has to figure out how to keep everyone happy. Of course, he can't, and life-changing drama ensues.
I loved this book. LERVED it. Billy and his friends are so nerdy and lovable--just a perfect blend of humor, intelligence, innocence, and trouble. They remind me of the kids from Stranger Things and Goonies and Super 8 and Stand By Me--ALL THE GOOD MOVIES. I guess a coming-of-age story like this--where a group of young boys has to work through a difficult situation--isn't totally unique, but author Jason Rekulak executes it flawlessly. The plot moves along swiftly. Even though I could guess where things were going generally, the book still managed to surprise me at more than a few points. Best of all, the story made me laugh. The dialogue is legit funny, and I was so entertained by all the 80s pop culture references. It took me back...
On a side note, if you go to the author's website, you can play a real-life version of The Impossible Fortress video game based on the one in the book. It's really fun--and surprisingly difficult... I thought that was a really nice touch.
In short, this is possibly my favorite book I've read this year. So, so good!
ARC provided through Amazon Vine.
See more of my book reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com!
I loved this book. LERVED it. Billy and his friends are so nerdy and lovable--just a perfect blend of humor, intelligence, innocence, and trouble. They remind me of the kids from Stranger Things and Goonies and Super 8 and Stand By Me--ALL THE GOOD MOVIES. I guess a coming-of-age story like this--where a group of young boys has to work through a difficult situation--isn't totally unique, but author Jason Rekulak executes it flawlessly. The plot moves along swiftly. Even though I could guess where things were going generally, the book still managed to surprise me at more than a few points. Best of all, the story made me laugh. The dialogue is legit funny, and I was so entertained by all the 80s pop culture references. It took me back...
On a side note, if you go to the author's website, you can play a real-life version of The Impossible Fortress video game based on the one in the book. It's really fun--and surprisingly difficult... I thought that was a really nice touch.
In short, this is possibly my favorite book I've read this year. So, so good!
ARC provided through Amazon Vine.
See more of my book reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com!
April 16, 2019
Actual rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
MacGyver, MTV, Wheel of Fortune and Video City; Walkman, cassette tapes, floppy disk and Commodore 64.
The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak was a coming-of-age mixtape story that plays a relationship torn between a crush and your best friends, with a taste of heisty delight, computer geekiness and winsome dreams — taking you in a trip down memory lane while listening to old classical music and waking a vibe of your fourteen year old self living in the 80's — simple, standard yet adventurous.
A timeline when writing with your fingers or sending lots of text messages was once performed using your own feet to walk over to a friend's house and ask if they could come out and play with you: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were nothing compared to your platform of personally getting to know someone, making friends with them without hitting the 'like' or 'follow' button; Spotify was less appealing because everyone listens to the radio, waiting for their favorite songs to be played and record them using cassette tapes; and Video games (played at Arcades) were way cooler than those game apps that can be downloaded anytime straight to your mobile phones without even seeing your opponent.
This book was nostalgia at its best with throwback songs, some I personally love I even made a playlist of my own. I was born in the '90s, a millennial but I grew up listening to this kind of music, from Phil Collins to Whitney Houston and U2, playing Pacman and Super Mario games on our family computer with a glimpse of early technology and an everyday life without internet or Wi-fi was never been a problem.
But this story made me see a whole different side of life my parents usually talked about. It was refreshing for a pair of eyes to read something that was out of my year genre. I admit it was a bit challenging because I really worked hard digesting, absorbing it. I did my homework and made some research from all the tv shows, movies, personas, music and technology of the '80s for me to grasp the significance, entirety, and setting of the story.
Set in 1987, when three desperate teenage boys, Billy, Alf, and Clark take on Operation Vanna White, America's Sweetheart and hostess of the show Wheel of Fortune, was on the cover of Playboy magazine and the only way for them to get a copy of their own was to befriend Zelinsky's daughter Mary. At first, it was like Mission Impossible in the making but when Billy learned about Mary's love for computer coding and programming that he didn't have in common from all the kids his age, he used it to devise a plan on getting close to her for the sake of a magazine and help him finish his game called The Impossible Fortress . But one bad decision turn to another bad decision until the situation was too worse to get fixed.
Well, I believe in second chances that's why I love this book. We did a lot of things in the past that we are never proud of, like Billy, Alf and Clark, those cringe-worthy moments of their lives were actually the best and valuable experiences yet. They didn't know the gravity of their actions because they had too much fun. They were too blind to make reason not until they realize the consequences and it was too late to look back and walk away.
I would also like to compliment the cover of this amazing book, totally catchy and matches the story pretty well giving me a bit of clarity how the game, Radical Planet's The Impossible Fortress really looked like and how every chapter was introduced and patterned in BASIC codes or machine language.
Please try playing the actual game (which was the same game programmed by Billy and Mary) at jasonrekulak.com and beat the high scores. I haven't been lucky yet but I'm getting there. And you might as well enjoy The Impossible Fortress Playlist on Spotify. You must give it a try if you love Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House and Lean On Me by Club Nouveau or Let's Wait Awhile by Janet Jackson and La Isla Bonita by Madonna. Hope you enjoy this one like I did. Happy reading!
***Thank you NetGalley, Simon Schuster, and Jason Rekulak for providing me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
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MacGyver, MTV, Wheel of Fortune and Video City; Walkman, cassette tapes, floppy disk and Commodore 64.
The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak was a coming-of-age mixtape story that plays a relationship torn between a crush and your best friends, with a taste of heisty delight, computer geekiness and winsome dreams — taking you in a trip down memory lane while listening to old classical music and waking a vibe of your fourteen year old self living in the 80's — simple, standard yet adventurous.
A timeline when writing with your fingers or sending lots of text messages was once performed using your own feet to walk over to a friend's house and ask if they could come out and play with you: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were nothing compared to your platform of personally getting to know someone, making friends with them without hitting the 'like' or 'follow' button; Spotify was less appealing because everyone listens to the radio, waiting for their favorite songs to be played and record them using cassette tapes; and Video games (played at Arcades) were way cooler than those game apps that can be downloaded anytime straight to your mobile phones without even seeing your opponent.
This book was nostalgia at its best with throwback songs, some I personally love I even made a playlist of my own. I was born in the '90s, a millennial but I grew up listening to this kind of music, from Phil Collins to Whitney Houston and U2, playing Pacman and Super Mario games on our family computer with a glimpse of early technology and an everyday life without internet or Wi-fi was never been a problem.
But this story made me see a whole different side of life my parents usually talked about. It was refreshing for a pair of eyes to read something that was out of my year genre. I admit it was a bit challenging because I really worked hard digesting, absorbing it. I did my homework and made some research from all the tv shows, movies, personas, music and technology of the '80s for me to grasp the significance, entirety, and setting of the story.
Set in 1987, when three desperate teenage boys, Billy, Alf, and Clark take on Operation Vanna White, America's Sweetheart and hostess of the show Wheel of Fortune, was on the cover of Playboy magazine and the only way for them to get a copy of their own was to befriend Zelinsky's daughter Mary. At first, it was like Mission Impossible in the making but when Billy learned about Mary's love for computer coding and programming that he didn't have in common from all the kids his age, he used it to devise a plan on getting close to her for the sake of a magazine and help him finish his game called The Impossible Fortress . But one bad decision turn to another bad decision until the situation was too worse to get fixed.
Well, I believe in second chances that's why I love this book. We did a lot of things in the past that we are never proud of, like Billy, Alf and Clark, those cringe-worthy moments of their lives were actually the best and valuable experiences yet. They didn't know the gravity of their actions because they had too much fun. They were too blind to make reason not until they realize the consequences and it was too late to look back and walk away.
I would also like to compliment the cover of this amazing book, totally catchy and matches the story pretty well giving me a bit of clarity how the game, Radical Planet's The Impossible Fortress really looked like and how every chapter was introduced and patterned in BASIC codes or machine language.
Please try playing the actual game (which was the same game programmed by Billy and Mary) at jasonrekulak.com and beat the high scores. I haven't been lucky yet but I'm getting there. And you might as well enjoy The Impossible Fortress Playlist on Spotify. You must give it a try if you love Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House and Lean On Me by Club Nouveau or Let's Wait Awhile by Janet Jackson and La Isla Bonita by Madonna. Hope you enjoy this one like I did. Happy reading!
***Thank you NetGalley, Simon Schuster, and Jason Rekulak for providing me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
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February 10, 2017
I had so much fun reading this book about three misfit freshman boys. The year is 1987, and Vanessa Williams graces the cover of Playboy magazine. In their small corner of the world, there is only one place in town that sells the magazine, and the protagonist Billy and his friends Alf and Clark devise a multitude of ways to obtain that magazine, despite the fact they are only fourteen years old (they’d need to be eighteen to buy it straight out).
One of their plots is to go to the store pretending to be older guys buying office supplies for Billy’s fledgling business—he programs video games on his Commodore 64 (meanwhile, he is failing his classes, causing no end of angst to his single mother, who works nights at the Food World struggling to make ends meet). During this failed attempt to procure the magazine, Billy meets Mary, who is a whiz at programming. She tells him about a contest to program video games. With her help, Billy starts hanging out at the store under the watchful eye of her father, the proprietor. His friends mock her for being fat, but Billy is dazzled by her computer skills. Plus, he’s found something that keeps his interest, unlike his classes, which bore him senseless.
This is a breezy, quick, fun read. I chuckled outloud several times, and it has all the stuff you want in a book—good writing, character development and change, and a satisfying ending. Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit http://theresaalan.net/blogs
One of their plots is to go to the store pretending to be older guys buying office supplies for Billy’s fledgling business—he programs video games on his Commodore 64 (meanwhile, he is failing his classes, causing no end of angst to his single mother, who works nights at the Food World struggling to make ends meet). During this failed attempt to procure the magazine, Billy meets Mary, who is a whiz at programming. She tells him about a contest to program video games. With her help, Billy starts hanging out at the store under the watchful eye of her father, the proprietor. His friends mock her for being fat, but Billy is dazzled by her computer skills. Plus, he’s found something that keeps his interest, unlike his classes, which bore him senseless.
This is a breezy, quick, fun read. I chuckled outloud several times, and it has all the stuff you want in a book—good writing, character development and change, and a satisfying ending. Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit http://theresaalan.net/blogs
April 4, 2017
Being completely honest, when I received an ARC of this book, and admittedly even a few chapters in - I felt that this book wasn't for me.
I wasn't born in the 1980's, I know nothing about video games or computer code, and I just wasn't sure I'd relate.
Despite this, I pushed on, and I am so glad that I did!
This book really surprised me!
It begins with 14 year old Billy or Will, who, along with his two best friends try and get hold of copies of playboy magazine - mainly because the cover girl is Vanna White - a goddess of their time.
This leads to numerous attempted heists and escapades for the young lads.
One of these crazy ideas of theirs is to steal the magazines from a local high street shop, getting the security code to the door via the shopkeepers daughter Mary, whom Billy befriends and works on building a computer game with from scratch - named The Impossible Fortress.
I won't give anything away, as I so enjoyed being surprised by the way the plot moved, as I just didn't know what to expect - which is what made for such interesting reading I found.
I loved each of the characters, its an easy read with many themes that can be recognised of youth universally. I encourage anyone who is in a bit of reading slump to give this one a go - you won't be disappointed!
3.5 stars
I wasn't born in the 1980's, I know nothing about video games or computer code, and I just wasn't sure I'd relate.
Despite this, I pushed on, and I am so glad that I did!
This book really surprised me!
It begins with 14 year old Billy or Will, who, along with his two best friends try and get hold of copies of playboy magazine - mainly because the cover girl is Vanna White - a goddess of their time.
This leads to numerous attempted heists and escapades for the young lads.
One of these crazy ideas of theirs is to steal the magazines from a local high street shop, getting the security code to the door via the shopkeepers daughter Mary, whom Billy befriends and works on building a computer game with from scratch - named The Impossible Fortress.
I won't give anything away, as I so enjoyed being surprised by the way the plot moved, as I just didn't know what to expect - which is what made for such interesting reading I found.
I loved each of the characters, its an easy read with many themes that can be recognised of youth universally. I encourage anyone who is in a bit of reading slump to give this one a go - you won't be disappointed!
3.5 stars
May 7, 2017
I loved loved loved this book. Yes, I'd read it again. I was completely taken by Billy-Will and his friends Alf, Clark and Mary's world seem so real (and sometimes painful). I knew how some things would end, but I needed to see exactly what path would be taken to get there. There were surprises. There were "Oh, my gosh" moments. There were "no, no, no" don't go there" or "don't do that" moments. I can't wait to meet the author next month.
April 14, 2017
Funny, entertaining, refreshing, and very geeky!
You could say it is a mix of many things, but it has its own style.
I am also the current Lord of the Fortress in the game, and I'm ready for a challenge ;)
You could say it is a mix of many things, but it has its own style.
I am also the current Lord of the Fortress in the game, and I'm ready for a challenge ;)
Read
April 1, 2017What’s More Complicated Than Planning a Heist? Puberty.
By Judge Tyler Coates
Being a 14 year-old, for lack of a better word, sucks. Everything seems to be changing around you and inside you. You have to worry about your future for the first time; suddenly every grade matters (even P.E.!), and everyone seems to have a test for you nearly every day, school-related or not. And then you somehow have to navigate the newly complex social circles of high school, dodging bullies and figuring out how to interact with members of the opposite sex.
Billy Marvin, the protagonist of The Impossible Fortress, is facing all of these problems head-on. And what’s worse? He’s doing so in 1987 at the dawn of the computer age. He can’t rely on email for his communication (CompuServe messages, after all, were not instant). And as a semi-closeted computer geek, Billy has to keep much of his interests in computer programming to himself, since his best friends are too obsessed with fast-forwarding Kramer vs. Kramer to spot a brief nude scene or developing an elaborate heist to procure the coveted issue of Playboy that features a spread of Vanna White.
There’s enough ‘80s nostalgia in The Impossible Fortress to rival Stranger Things, but Rekulak’s debut novel isn’t just a book for ‘80s babies—it’s a book for anyone who ever felt like a weirdo as a teenager. Or whose friendships were based on proximity rather than common interests. Billy’s stuck there, although he does find an unexpected friend in Mary Zelinsky—a girl, sure, but someone who shares his passion for computers and building games.
As Billy and Mary teach themselves code and complete their first video game opus in order to compete in an old school programming competition. I couldn’t help but remember my own teenage years. I was more into reading books than computers, but I was, like Billy, uninterested in what most of my peers liked to do (playing sports and scheming to see boobs). The Impossible Fortress makes Billy’s seemingly fleeting desires and frustrations feel real and poignant. When you’re trapped in the prison of adolescence, you only want to break out, like the hero of an old Atari game—even if all of that angst seems pretty hilarious in hindsight.
Read more at https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-im...
By Judge Tyler Coates
Being a 14 year-old, for lack of a better word, sucks. Everything seems to be changing around you and inside you. You have to worry about your future for the first time; suddenly every grade matters (even P.E.!), and everyone seems to have a test for you nearly every day, school-related or not. And then you somehow have to navigate the newly complex social circles of high school, dodging bullies and figuring out how to interact with members of the opposite sex.
Billy Marvin, the protagonist of The Impossible Fortress, is facing all of these problems head-on. And what’s worse? He’s doing so in 1987 at the dawn of the computer age. He can’t rely on email for his communication (CompuServe messages, after all, were not instant). And as a semi-closeted computer geek, Billy has to keep much of his interests in computer programming to himself, since his best friends are too obsessed with fast-forwarding Kramer vs. Kramer to spot a brief nude scene or developing an elaborate heist to procure the coveted issue of Playboy that features a spread of Vanna White.
There’s enough ‘80s nostalgia in The Impossible Fortress to rival Stranger Things, but Rekulak’s debut novel isn’t just a book for ‘80s babies—it’s a book for anyone who ever felt like a weirdo as a teenager. Or whose friendships were based on proximity rather than common interests. Billy’s stuck there, although he does find an unexpected friend in Mary Zelinsky—a girl, sure, but someone who shares his passion for computers and building games.
As Billy and Mary teach themselves code and complete their first video game opus in order to compete in an old school programming competition. I couldn’t help but remember my own teenage years. I was more into reading books than computers, but I was, like Billy, uninterested in what most of my peers liked to do (playing sports and scheming to see boobs). The Impossible Fortress makes Billy’s seemingly fleeting desires and frustrations feel real and poignant. When you’re trapped in the prison of adolescence, you only want to break out, like the hero of an old Atari game—even if all of that angst seems pretty hilarious in hindsight.
Read more at https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-im...
August 25, 2021
Bir Playboy dergisi uğruna neleri göze alabilirsiniz?
Eğer siz de ergen bir genç iseniz pek çok şeyi! Kitap mükemmel değildi ama oldukça keyifli ve eğlenceliydi. Zaten '80ler teması, bilgisayarın, internetin, cep telefonunun olmadığı dönemi de gören bizim jenerasyonumuz için adeta zamanda yolculuk. O planlama, heyecanlanma, kıç üstü düşme, tekrar kalkma, karşı cinsle konuşmaya çalışma hissiyatını oldukça derinden hissettim.
Yalnız bu tarz hikayelerde bir örüntü (pattern) oldukça dikkatimi çekiyor. Mesela Stranger Things'deki Mike, Will, Dustin ve Eleven gibi bu tarz hikayelerde hep üç erkek bir kız oluyor. Hatta üç erkekten birinin de hafif bir engeli olması gerekiyor. Mesela Clark'ın eli, Dustin'in konuşması. İçinde lise ve macera ağırlıktaysa Harry, Ron ve Hermione gibi hep iki erkek bir kız oluyor. Belki sizin de dikkatinizi çekmiştir.
Size iki fantastik bonus bırakayım.
1. Billy, Alf ve Clark'ın uğruna dağları deldiği Vanna White kapaklı Playboy kapağı. Mayıs 1987 ve fiyatı 600 dolar: https://www.ebay.com/itm/183947855496
2. Evet, Will ve Mary'nin tasarladığı İmkansız Kale'yi oynayabilirsiniz! İşte linki: http://jasonrekulak.com/game/
O yüzden siz de akıcı bir '80ler gençlik kitabı okumak isterseniz oldukça keyif alacağınıza eminim. Bu kitabı tavsiye eden sevgili dostum Jeffy'ye de teşekkürler.
Eğer siz de ergen bir genç iseniz pek çok şeyi! Kitap mükemmel değildi ama oldukça keyifli ve eğlenceliydi. Zaten '80ler teması, bilgisayarın, internetin, cep telefonunun olmadığı dönemi de gören bizim jenerasyonumuz için adeta zamanda yolculuk. O planlama, heyecanlanma, kıç üstü düşme, tekrar kalkma, karşı cinsle konuşmaya çalışma hissiyatını oldukça derinden hissettim.
Yalnız bu tarz hikayelerde bir örüntü (pattern) oldukça dikkatimi çekiyor. Mesela Stranger Things'deki Mike, Will, Dustin ve Eleven gibi bu tarz hikayelerde hep üç erkek bir kız oluyor. Hatta üç erkekten birinin de hafif bir engeli olması gerekiyor. Mesela Clark'ın eli, Dustin'in konuşması. İçinde lise ve macera ağırlıktaysa Harry, Ron ve Hermione gibi hep iki erkek bir kız oluyor. Belki sizin de dikkatinizi çekmiştir.
Size iki fantastik bonus bırakayım.
1. Billy, Alf ve Clark'ın uğruna dağları deldiği Vanna White kapaklı Playboy kapağı. Mayıs 1987 ve fiyatı 600 dolar: https://www.ebay.com/itm/183947855496
2. Evet, Will ve Mary'nin tasarladığı İmkansız Kale'yi oynayabilirsiniz! İşte linki: http://jasonrekulak.com/game/
O yüzden siz de akıcı bir '80ler gençlik kitabı okumak isterseniz oldukça keyif alacağınıza eminim. Bu kitabı tavsiye eden sevgili dostum Jeffy'ye de teşekkürler.
January 30, 2020
3.5 stars
Initially I got off to a slow start with The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak but the further into the story I got the faster I read. Early on I couldn't work out where the story and its characters were headed and I was kind of put off by the immature antics of the 14 year old characters. These feelings were soon replaced by the pleasure I got from 1980's reminiscences, I became caught up in the storyline which had suddenly become interesting to me, and though I was bothered by some of the behaviours and ill formed decisions by our young protagonist I found myself enjoying the book.
Billy, the central character is a 14 year old boy whose passion is creating video games. He has a couple of good friends Clark and Alf and together they get up to mischievious schoolboy pranks which somehow backfire and snowball. During one of these antics Billy meets Mary, a girl who is even more into computers than he is. They strike up a friendship and though he wouldn't admit it, he has a bit of a crush on her. At times I was dismayed by the crazy situations Billy, Clark and Alf found themselves in and I was terribly disappointed at some of the decisions Billy made, his betrayals and bad behaviour were uncharacteristic. At heart though he was a kind and thoughtful boy and I could understand, maybe even excuse, his reasoning as the folly of youth.
Perhaps the denoument was a little too tidy but I liked it and have to admit I was pleasntly surprised at how my opinion of this book turned around from start to end. Overall this worked for me and I'm glad it was chosen as my irl bookclub read for January 2020.
Initially I got off to a slow start with The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak but the further into the story I got the faster I read. Early on I couldn't work out where the story and its characters were headed and I was kind of put off by the immature antics of the 14 year old characters. These feelings were soon replaced by the pleasure I got from 1980's reminiscences, I became caught up in the storyline which had suddenly become interesting to me, and though I was bothered by some of the behaviours and ill formed decisions by our young protagonist I found myself enjoying the book.
Billy, the central character is a 14 year old boy whose passion is creating video games. He has a couple of good friends Clark and Alf and together they get up to mischievious schoolboy pranks which somehow backfire and snowball. During one of these antics Billy meets Mary, a girl who is even more into computers than he is. They strike up a friendship and though he wouldn't admit it, he has a bit of a crush on her. At times I was dismayed by the crazy situations Billy, Clark and Alf found themselves in and I was terribly disappointed at some of the decisions Billy made, his betrayals and bad behaviour were uncharacteristic. At heart though he was a kind and thoughtful boy and I could understand, maybe even excuse, his reasoning as the folly of youth.
Perhaps the denoument was a little too tidy but I liked it and have to admit I was pleasntly surprised at how my opinion of this book turned around from start to end. Overall this worked for me and I'm glad it was chosen as my irl bookclub read for January 2020.
October 3, 2020
Bir dergi uğruna neler yapabilirsiniz? Günümüz için konuşursak hiçbir şey bir tıkla elimizin altında ama seksenlerde reşit olmadan playboy dergisi almaya çalışmak? oldukça zormuş öğrenmiş olduk 😂 bir dergi uğruna zavallı üç ergenin başına gelmeyen kalmadı,eğlenceliydi bilgisayarla ilgilenenler için biraz da öğretici olabilir.
May 17, 2017
I read this because this was a book of the month choice for last month and I just got around to reading it now, and this was cute. There are some things about this book that I really liked and some things I thought were weird or random or just okay. One thing I just found out thought is that you can play the game The Impossible Fortress on the author's website: http://jasonrekulak.com/ when you click "play the game" at the top, so that automatically makes this book way cooler.
The things I liked about this book is that it takes place in 1987, and the friendship and teenage boyhood between Billy and his friends. They are only 14 years old and they are obsessed with the idea of getting pictures from the latest playboy magazine, and it was all very entertaining. The crude teenage boy humor reminded me of Jesse Andrews style of writing, or like Paper Towns with the way the teenage boys talk to each other. I thought the romance between Billy and Mary was really sweet, but I liked how the main focus of this story revolved around Billy and his desire to create this game: The Impossible Fortress. As Larry Hoffer said in his review: "The Impossible Fortress does a good job capturing the cluelessness of teenage boys, and the single-minded pursuit of money, popularity, and naked pictures of women."
The things I didn't like is that sometimes Billy was such a frustrating main character and I wish he could learn to stand up for himself sometimes. Also the ending got a little random and confusing for me... This story isn't something I'm going to remember month from now but I still enjoyed it while I was reading it. It isn't necessarily something I would recommend though, unless you really love stories that take place in the 80's and follows fourteen year olds boys haha.
The things I liked about this book is that it takes place in 1987, and the friendship and teenage boyhood between Billy and his friends. They are only 14 years old and they are obsessed with the idea of getting pictures from the latest playboy magazine, and it was all very entertaining. The crude teenage boy humor reminded me of Jesse Andrews style of writing, or like Paper Towns with the way the teenage boys talk to each other. I thought the romance between Billy and Mary was really sweet, but I liked how the main focus of this story revolved around Billy and his desire to create this game: The Impossible Fortress. As Larry Hoffer said in his review: "The Impossible Fortress does a good job capturing the cluelessness of teenage boys, and the single-minded pursuit of money, popularity, and naked pictures of women."
The things I didn't like is that sometimes Billy was such a frustrating main character and I wish he could learn to stand up for himself sometimes. Also the ending got a little random and confusing for me... This story isn't something I'm going to remember month from now but I still enjoyed it while I was reading it. It isn't necessarily something I would recommend though, unless you really love stories that take place in the 80's and follows fourteen year olds boys haha.
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