Customer Reviews
Witty, engaging and fulfilling. - By: A.A, 31 Jul 2008 
Focusing on three years of Steve York's life, this novel weavesin & out of timelines & gives the reader a rich & satisfying look into a teen outcastin the early 90s, told from the protagonist's perspective.
Initially I ordered this book because I was suffering from Veronica Mars withdrawal ( a television show about young woman who has to navigate through her corrupt town, using her intelligence wit & guile & the investigation skills from her down on his luck father - she can't help but seek justice however morally gray the answers to her questions maybe. It's an undeniably clever & complex show & was tough sell contributing to it's inevitable cancellation)and what I got was a book that was written with just as much cynicsm as VM had been. The story is laden with dialogue that is witty, hard & downright hilarious. The realtionships are told via Steve Yorke's point of view & he both very eloquent, descriptive & analytical. We get to see a teenager navigate through life surrounded by a tough shell, but his heart is on his sleeve. The discussion on Dadaism is parallel to the characters desire of freedom of expression, but is underscored by the fact that everything that he & his friends do, ultimately have meaning & intent. We see Steve find friends, have his first relationship, his first break up, but we also see Steve become lonely & isolated.
Like Veronica Mars, the most interesting facet though; & what I believe is the spine of the book is Steve's relationship with his father. It's a very realistic portrayal of a successful father & the pressures he puts on his son. The growth & exploration of Alan Yorke is tactfully handled & he becomes more than just an antagonist, over the course of the book Rob Thomas allows exploration of his character, ultimately making you care for him, despite Steve's initial attempt at making him the antagonist.
Rats Saw God is a brilliant character driven story that keeps you guessing & makes you care.
A new classic- READ THIS ITS GREAT - By: , 21 Aug 1999 
In this latest novel, Rob Thomas presents an authentic portrait of high school lifein America. Essentially structured as an autobiographical account of the life of one young self-proclaimed iconoclast, this book deals with typical episodesin the life of a high schoolerin modern times; homecoming floats, semiformal dances, Pearl Jam concerts. But more importantly- it delves into the psyche of teenagers & the varying approaches to these events. From the stereotypical rite of passage types who go to football games on Friday nights & drink at parties afterwards to the self-proclaimed nonconformists whose dogmatic insistence on "standing out" borders on hypocrisy, the author employs poignant characters that the reader identifies with closely & a vivid first person narrator to paint realistic portrait of the social infrastructure of the American high school. Thomas has a powerful contemporary voice that today's youth will relate to & which other teen authors often lack; his obvious familiarity with the modern American teenager (stemming from five years as a high school journalism teacher) manifests itselfin authentic depictions of the ubiquitous social intricacies foundin high schools across the country. From the "low-maintenance Marcia Brady trend girls" & their "long, straight, center-parted hair, poufy, midriff-baring tops, bell-bottom jeans with ragged hems & cork-soled clogs" to the reaction over the death of demigod Kurt Cobain & his "It's better to burn out than fade away philosophy," this book captures the essence of a generation. Also of note, Thomas' protagonist, Steve, a young man with potential but harboring the anarchistic slacker mentality of modern youth, strikes a chord with readers through candid narration of clashes with his famous astronaut father, the anxieties of relationships & the irritating nature of many facets of high school. Definitely one of the best young adult books to come outin years- realistic, captivating & complete- this is an exceptional read.
A great, compelling teenage angst story! A GREAT BOOK! - By: , 14 Aug 1999 I bought this book one day knowing nothing about it. I read itin about two days & feelin love. This is one of my favorite books ever. The humor used & it's real life appeal makes the story believeable. The characters (teenagers on their quest for love, music, & the recreational high)are just like you & me, trying to make it through high school while having some fun along the way. A great story of love. The ending is spectacular.
Rob Thomas has a great writers style. - By: , 19 May 1999 Rob gives so much heart to his writing. As a Seniorin High School much of the views he writes from are what were experiencing. Not to sound mushy, but it was exactly how I fell. GOOD JOB ROB
This book is needed! - By: , 23 Jan 1999 My father borrowed this book from the local library, & when he was done I picked it up. I loved it so much I let a friend of mine read it on the bus to a field trip. This book kinda bothered me at first with the ending being so sudden, but I learned that it was a perfect way to end it. I consider this book to be a book I shall includein my favorite literature collection along with "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" by Tom Robbins & "The Theif of Always" by Clive Barker. It is a must read!
