The Chocolate War (Readers Circle)

Frank Muller did a great job performing this audiobook. Unfortunately, the story is filled with stereotyped caricatures. Most of the characters appear nothing more than one-dimensional, with the attempts to 'broaden' them oten falling flat. The end also seems somewhat forced on the story.

The bleak viciousness that is this novel made me really really anxious and depressed. I couldn't wait until it was over. I skimmed the whole final chapter and I've been doing my breathing exercises for the past couple of hours to rid myself of the bad chemicals that are pumping through my body.

Ultimately this book is about:

How evil pervades
How pacifism is ultimately a violent act
Martyrdom gets you nowhere
How vicious children really are
Writing a vicious book about viciousness that assaults the reader doesnt make the world a better place

A neat little construct of macrocosm within the microcosm of a high school. Definitely a book that all teenagers should read, however this worn out, paranoid and depressed Gen-yer found it to reiterate stuff that she no longer wants to think about. That and high school was an entirely traumatising experience for me that I'll never be keen to relive.

The Chocolate War is about a freshman at an all boy high school called Trinity, where a poster hangs reading,"Do I Dare Disturb The Universe?" hanging in a student's locker named Jerry Renault. This school is no ordinary school, because it has a secret society called the Vigils. The Vigils is run by a boy named Archie, who is the leader and assigner of the tasks they give. Every year at Trinity, the boys have to sell chocolate to earn money for the school. Jerry gets an assignment from the Vigils that he is not to sell the chocolates; like everyone else who is assigned a task by Archie, he follows orders. This makes the teachers anrgy and the other students question whether they should be selling the chocolates too. One of the teachers, Brother Leon, orders Archie to make Jerry sell the chocolates as one of his assignments. When Jerry is told this by Archie, he disobeys by still not selling the chocolates while encouraging other students to do the same. Jerry changes the way the school works under Archie's watch. Jerry takes a huge risk, whether that risk will bring him danger or fame, the question is: Did He Dare Disturb The Universe?

Imagine a tale of fiction that portrays real life. Could such nonsense really exist? Well you don't have to search too far. Robert Cormier has converted such nonsense into a creation of genius. Cormier's famous title, The Chocolate War, filled the shelves of bookstores in 1974. As its popularity skyrocketed, so did the controversies. As usual, language, sexual content, and a mature theme push this novel to the edge of the banishment plank. However, the uproar is only as loud as the book is true. Life is not a fairy tale; there isn't always a happy ending. Cormier wanted to express the darker side of life and depict its reality. In an interview, Cormier states, "'I'm very much interested in intimidation...the way people manipulate other people. And the obvious abuse of authority.'" ([...]). His interests in what may seem immoral to some have painted this novel's true colors.
Cunning, nefarious, browbeating, and savage, Archie Costello is the spawn of violence at Trinity High School. As a prime member of the notorious Vigils, Archie gets his kicks from shattering the spirits of students and dwarfing the authority of the school staff. And with this clandestine plethora of power which Archie possesses, he manages to control the entire school body. Teachers become his puppets and students become his army. If his victims are not eating out of the palm of Archie's hand, he is crushing them with it. His sly tongue and apace thinking only compliment his genius. In the act, Archie will adeptly configure not just one atrocious scheme, but a fiasco of chain reactions. He seeks out the weak points and fears of a victim and strikes hard in their moment of vulnerability--destroying them emotionally and physically. And because Archie could easily be the most feared yet respected character in this novel, he is alone. It is likely that Archie will never have allies, friends, or love--only minions. Archie Costello would be titled as no less than a vicious bully at its worst--despite nothing.
An author whom can collide the art of fantasy with the truth of reality and give birth to a masterful story is nothing short of a genius. Robert Cormier has done exactly this. I can think of no better term to describe this book than pure originality. It is a triumph that completely denies the laws of fiction. After every chapter I read, I would repeat to myself, "I cannot believe what just happened". And though you always seem to know the story's final destination, you never know exactly where Cormier will lead you next. It is a labyrinth of epic events and characters that will stop you at a dead end. There is no telling what type of twist Cormier will follow up with. I can only hope that this new breed of literature will be a successful archetype for future generations.

After reading some recommendations for young adult novels, I chose to read this novel. I was sorely disappointed. The characters are not believable, neither is most of the plot. If you want to talk theme, the theme of "disturbing the universe" by not selling chocolates falls flat when Jerry says he doesn't know why he won't sell the chocolates. He does say, "It's personal," but we never get a good reason. Oh, sure, we can guess, but isn't the point to make a stand for something you actually believe in rather than "just because"?

Most, if not all, of the characters are static. They don't go through any changes, except for MAYBE Jerry. In the end, the school and the characters are no better than they were before. I'd even argue that they are no worse than before.

The theme of "disturbing the universe" becomes moot when Jerry tells Goober, "Don't disturb the universe, Goober, no matter what the posters say." In the end, Jerry's refusal to sell chocolates becomes pointless.

The novel was a complete waste of time, even though I read it within a day. I doubt I'll read anything else from this author.