the start-up phase - chapter 1°

Hey guys, I´m back :) 

I actually read the first chapter, which consists of only a few pages. It was a good start and introduction to the book. 

We got tasks to do, where we have to describe the setting of the story and to characterize the protagonist Sam. 

 

The main character, 15-years-old Sam (but almost 16), is introduced in this chapter. We don´t find out much about Sam in the first chapter, but we get to know that he loves skating and Tony Hawk is his idol. He often talks to his poster of Tony Hawk (page 11, line 9), which is a little weird. (He basically just calls him TH, what I don´t like that much, but I might read that book "Hawk - Occupation: Skateboarder" one day) Maybe he doesn´t have that many friends. I feel kind of strange about him because of that… 

His parents are divorced (page 10, line 24) and he lives with his single mum now. He obviously doesn´t like her new boyfriend, because he calls him “Steve, the rubbish boyfriend”. That´s actually really funny. Sam is definitely not a geek. He´s not really interested in school and the least in science and stuff (page 10, line 4-6). Alicia is the girl he´s in love with but we didn´t get to know anything about her so far. He doesn´t seem to be really interested in other people and likes to stay for his self.
Skating is basically what his life is about. 

You might wonder how Sam is. So do I. I can´t see through him by now. He seems to be a little distinct and maybe weird but also pretty aware. I think that he is a nice and friendly teenager but he struggles with lots of teenager problems.
It´s funny that he compares lots of things to different celebrities. I can imagine having fun talking to him because I like the way he´s thinking. “Not knowing Tony Hawk is like not knowing Robbie Williams, or maybe even Tony Blair.” 

The story is told by Sam him self, so it´s the ego-perspective. We don´t know where he is currently located or where he lives. I still feel like he´s from Britain but I´m not too sure."(...) that sounds a bit American to me." (p.13) seems like a tip.
I like the perspective pretty much because I think it´s easier for us to relate to him. He gives us a first impression of how his life was when everything was good and how everything began. I´m sure, he starts telling the whole story now. 

my Sam (how I kinda imagine him to look like, because this guy seems to be about 16 years old and I feel like he looks like a skater)

source: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFnIxo3m9y6/?tagged=teenboys

 

I liked the first chapter, especially Sams sayings.
"Who doesn't talk to someone in their heads (...) or maybe just to themselves?" One of my favourite quotations - I´m sure everyone does so. 

I hope you´re as excited for the next chapter as I am :)

Melanie