Title: The First Third
Author: Will Kostakis
Release Date: 24th July 2013
My Rating: 4/5
Blurb:
Life is made up of three parts: in the first third, you're embarrassed by your family; in the second, you make a family of your own; and in the end, you just embarrass the family you've made.
That's how Billy's grandmother explains it, anyway. She's given him her bucket list (cue embarrassment), and now, it's his job to glue their family back together.
No pressure or anything.
Fixing his family's not going to be easy and Billy's not ready for change. But as he soon discovers, the first third has to end some time. And then what?
It's a Greek tragedy waiting to happen.
In A Nutshell:
The First Third is about what makes a family a family, the bonds of friendship and what it means to have people who care about you in your life. Sad, funny and heart-warming, The First Third is about as ‘real life’ as you can get and arguably a male point-of-view equivalent to Melina Marchetta’s Looking For Alibrandi.
My Review:
The First Third centres around Billy Tsolkis and his family: older brother Simon, younger brother Peter, mum Kath and grandmother 'Yiayia' Filyo. After Yiayia lands in hospital, she charges Billy with completing her bucket list for her. Number one, find his mother a husband. Number two, make Simon move back to Sydney and find him a girlfriend. Number three, fix Peter. Yaiyai fears that once she dies, the glue that holds their family together will also disappear. Here she sets in motion a hilarious but often heartbreaking sequence of events as Billy attempts to reconnect with his self-distancing brothers and find his mother a guy that won't stand her up. And if he's Greek, all the better.
With the help of his best friend Lucas, affectionately called ‘Sticks’, and Hayley, a girl Yiayia attempts to set Billy up with, Billy has to somehow put his family back together, and maybe find himself a girlfriend who won’t runaway screaming.
Unfortunately it is easier said than done. From his mother asking him to proof read her sexts, schooling her on the acceptable amount of times she can text a guy in a row before scaring him off, as well as attempting to communicate and find common ground with his brothers, the tasks Yiayia has set are difficult. Peter refuses to acknowledge that Billy exists and spends every waking hour at the gym and Simon avoids his phone calls as he ‘lives it up’ in Brisbane.
The First Third is about what makes a family a family, the bonds of friendship and what it means to have people who care about you in your life. Just because certain people may not be around, such as the brothers’ absentee father, doesn't mean there aren't suitable substitutes who pop up at unexpected times and warm your heart. My favourite character would have to be Sticks. His foray into finding a guy who won’t look at him like a “freak” speaks to everyone who is just looking for someone to like them for them.
I loved Yiayia's comparisons of lasagne to moussaka (not what you think!), Billy helping his mum get ready for dates, Billy jumping on stage and performing a comedy act to avoid getting ID checked after sneaking into a bar, and all the bits and pieces that Sticks and Billy collect from their lifetime of adventures. These are all part of what makes the first third of Billy’s life exciting, sad, funny and heart-warming. The First Third is about as ‘real life’ as you can get and arguably a male point-of-view equivalent to Melina Marchetta’s Looking For Alibrandi.
As a side note, Yiayia also reminded me of my grandma, who is unwell and has been working to ‘sort everyone out’ or at least make sure they are on the right path before she is no longer able to do so.
Author: Will Kostakis
Release Date: 24th July 2013
My Rating: 4/5
Blurb:
Life is made up of three parts: in the first third, you're embarrassed by your family; in the second, you make a family of your own; and in the end, you just embarrass the family you've made.
That's how Billy's grandmother explains it, anyway. She's given him her bucket list (cue embarrassment), and now, it's his job to glue their family back together.
No pressure or anything.
Fixing his family's not going to be easy and Billy's not ready for change. But as he soon discovers, the first third has to end some time. And then what?
It's a Greek tragedy waiting to happen.
In A Nutshell:
The First Third is about what makes a family a family, the bonds of friendship and what it means to have people who care about you in your life. Sad, funny and heart-warming, The First Third is about as ‘real life’ as you can get and arguably a male point-of-view equivalent to Melina Marchetta’s Looking For Alibrandi.
My Review:
The First Third centres around Billy Tsolkis and his family: older brother Simon, younger brother Peter, mum Kath and grandmother 'Yiayia' Filyo. After Yiayia lands in hospital, she charges Billy with completing her bucket list for her. Number one, find his mother a husband. Number two, make Simon move back to Sydney and find him a girlfriend. Number three, fix Peter. Yaiyai fears that once she dies, the glue that holds their family together will also disappear. Here she sets in motion a hilarious but often heartbreaking sequence of events as Billy attempts to reconnect with his self-distancing brothers and find his mother a guy that won't stand her up. And if he's Greek, all the better.
With the help of his best friend Lucas, affectionately called ‘Sticks’, and Hayley, a girl Yiayia attempts to set Billy up with, Billy has to somehow put his family back together, and maybe find himself a girlfriend who won’t runaway screaming.
Unfortunately it is easier said than done. From his mother asking him to proof read her sexts, schooling her on the acceptable amount of times she can text a guy in a row before scaring him off, as well as attempting to communicate and find common ground with his brothers, the tasks Yiayia has set are difficult. Peter refuses to acknowledge that Billy exists and spends every waking hour at the gym and Simon avoids his phone calls as he ‘lives it up’ in Brisbane.
The First Third is about what makes a family a family, the bonds of friendship and what it means to have people who care about you in your life. Just because certain people may not be around, such as the brothers’ absentee father, doesn't mean there aren't suitable substitutes who pop up at unexpected times and warm your heart. My favourite character would have to be Sticks. His foray into finding a guy who won’t look at him like a “freak” speaks to everyone who is just looking for someone to like them for them.
I loved Yiayia's comparisons of lasagne to moussaka (not what you think!), Billy helping his mum get ready for dates, Billy jumping on stage and performing a comedy act to avoid getting ID checked after sneaking into a bar, and all the bits and pieces that Sticks and Billy collect from their lifetime of adventures. These are all part of what makes the first third of Billy’s life exciting, sad, funny and heart-warming. The First Third is about as ‘real life’ as you can get and arguably a male point-of-view equivalent to Melina Marchetta’s Looking For Alibrandi.
As a side note, Yiayia also reminded me of my grandma, who is unwell and has been working to ‘sort everyone out’ or at least make sure they are on the right path before she is no longer able to do so.
Wow. This sounds just like my kinda read. And I hadn't heard of thsi one before, so thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, I hope your grandma gets well soon. Hang in there.
I liked the sound of this and you've further sold me on it.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your grandma, I hope she feels better soon. <3
Thanks for your well wishes, Bidisha and Rebecca. I guess only time will tell. I hope you both enjoy The First Third when you get your hands on it :)
ReplyDelete