Doing It by Melvin Burgess

Title: Doing It
Author: Melving Burgess
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Copyright © 2003 by Melvin Burgess
Doing It at Goodreads
Melvin’s Website

Synopsis:

I mean-I like girls. I get on well with them. And I like sex. Not that I've had all that much experience of it-not with another person being in the room at the same time, anyway. I just can't somehow put the two together. I can be getting on really well with a girl but as soon as I get an inkling that there might be a chance of anything happening, I just freeze up. It's scary.

Everything you never wanted to know about sex and boys-but probably should.

Dino, Jonathan, and Ben have got some problems, mostly with Jackie, Deborah, and Alison.
Dino's girlfriend Jackie, the most beautiful girl in school, drives him mad with lust, but won't go all the way and relieve Dino of his desperately unwanted virginity.

Jonathan likes Deborah. She's smart and funny and she makes him feel very sexy, but she's kind of plump and his mates won't let him hear the end of it.

Ben's been seduced by Alison, the pretty young drama teacher at school. And what seems like a dream come true is actually making him miserable.

Have you ever been just sort of browsing in a book store and a book called out your name? Ok, maybe not literally, but you know what I mean. My daughter and I were just hanging out at Barnes and Noble when I came across Doing It. I read the back cover and the word “controversial” was screaming at me, so I knew I had to read it. I am really glad I did!

The line in the synopsis “Everything you never wanted to know about sex and boys-but probably should” is a very accurate description of this book. It reminded me of an “R” rated Judy Blume book for boys. I only have girls, so this book was definitely enlightening. The really great thing about this book is that it was not only informative, but a huge laugh also.

Let me start by saying…the topic of the book is SEX, so if you get offended by this topic…do not read this book. However, I feel it should be a must read for boys. Dino, Jon, and Ben deal with bullying, health issues, broken homes, peer pressure, and body issues. They have to learn to trust one another, talk about feelings (which we all know…boys suck at), treat girls with respect, and know when they need help…ie: medical, law enforcement.


I have to tell you, I laughed so hard at times, my daughter looked at me like I was nuts. She is 16, and we have an open relationship, so I would read her excerpts…she just rolled her eyes and said “why are you reading that?” LOL!


Dino was the boy everybody wanted. He could have had any girl he wanted, but he had his eyes on Jackie. They had a rocky relationship and he did some very stupid things, but deep down, he was a good guy. He won my heart.


Jonathan was the jokester. Always making fun of people and telling jokes at their expense…even his best friend Deborah wasn’t exempt from his sometimes cruel humor. He had a unique sense of “magic helpers.” His reasoning on what to ask for or pray for was very enlightening. He realized there were rules to the “magic.” He found a problem with his “knob” and had to go to the doctor, a most horrifying experience.


Ben was bullied and pulled into a sick young woman’s web of deceit. Just when he thought he was free, something terrible happened.


Each of these young men learned that they could depend on one another and that sometimes EVERYONE needs help. A very good lesson to learn.


Doing It is about sex, so yes, there are some sex scenes. Nothing too terrible, nothing erotic…just three boys trying to find there way in life.


Here are a few of my favorite lines:


I think I nearly went mad for a moment. It was just lying there where she should be, and there was a definite second when I thought she’d actually been turned into a pile of squashed puke. – Dino


And I like sex. Not that I’ve had all that much experience of it – not with another person being in the room at the same time, anyway. – Jon

Secrets are dangerous. They turn on you. You think it’s all nice and snug, just you – and – me, our private place – and then suddenly you can’t get out. – Ben

You should definitely check it out!!!