Rating: 
Summary: Terribe
Review: I couldn't believe how bad this book was. As a fan of the hardcore/punk scene in my teenage years I found almost the whole book to be unreal. I was actually rooting for something bad to happen to Frank because 1)he started to annoy the hell out of me, and 2)I just wanted something interesting to happen. The dialogue was totally forced and unrealistic and scenes tended to go on forever. In spite of myself, I actually managed to finish it. If your a serious reader, don't get this book. It is aimed at the young teenage crowd that doesn't pick up a book to often.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for a memoir but...
Review: I was really hoping for more. For all the good qualities of this book, I had a few big problems I just couldn't get past. First is the apparent attempt to put a textual soundtrack into the story. Rather than making casual references, the story was nearly stopped on occasion in order to get in the name of every band and every song that Frank/Romalotti ever played or heard. Now, I grew up in the punk scene too, so I "get it" but there's a reason I bought a book and not a punk cd.
Another problem I had was character development. They seem pretty flat with their quirkiness left wholly unexplained and their personalities sometimes make a 180 degree change simply because it's convenient for the scenario... or so it seems. It was almost too inconsistent to get a good sense of each character at all.
Other than that, it was a good read that brought back a lot of great memories, but will probably do nothing for anyone that was never involved in the punk scene.
Rating: 
Summary: Punk Bible
Review: This book was absolutely amazing. I am a professional-type woman who wears comfortable shoes and sensible clothes, but I found myself completely involved in the lives of the inspiring characters in Salad Days.
I was never lost in lingo or references, as I usually am with "niche" type books, and now I consider myself very knowledgable in the 80's punk scene.
This book is hard to put down, and I have already read it three times. I can't say enough great things about this book than you have to read this immediately
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: I have the hardest time finding great books to read. I started out with Rash first, and I read it so fast my brain was screaming for more. I loved it, and rushed through Talon as soon as I got it in my possession. I have since started reading Salad Days. I am about halfway through, but felt compelled to express my love for this book. I do not know if it's because I grew up in rural Georgia and went through similar experiences with the whole "country living" dilemma, or if it is a shared passion for music and the energy I felt when I was right there supporting underground hardcore bands. What I do know is this book makes a cherished addition to my library. Romalotti has a wonderful writing style and brings out the character's personality in a way that really makes a person identify, or get to know them, almost on a personal level.
Rating:
Summary: sad, and not in a good way
Review: Read this if you hate punk rock and wish to revel in it's destruction. Pointless whining by spoiled jerk who was lucky enough to join his favorite band, and paid them and their other fans back by ruining the band with self-indulgent noodling, then wrote this little yawn fest about it, thouroughly slagging all band members except his equally lame soon to be music professor cohort. Full of insights into one weenie's sweaty feelings of self importance, and love for a ballerina. I couldn't possibly be more sorry to have read this. Worse than Jack Chick. Way worse.
Rating:
Summary: Creative writing student publishes first assignment...
Review: After having read some of the other reviews on this page, I was very excited to read "Salad Days". It sounded as if it might be as enjoyable a book as "SLC Punk" was a movie. While they both share many strengths, unfortunately I could never recommend "Salad Days" to a literate reader.Charles Romalotti has apparently never met an adjective he didn't like. Compounding this stylistic no-no, he is evidently unaware of the actual MEANING of many of the words chosen, often creating some unintentionally funny sentences. Many of the descriptive passages become so convoluted & confused that it is difficult to follow the story. Time & again, when dialogue is used, it doesn't ring true. The discussions simply don't SOUND like high-school freshman/sophomores. Punks tend to be among the most intelligent teens, yet I never knew any 15/16 year olds who spoke the way Romalotti writes. Sarcasm/cynicism: yes. Junior grade Jean-Paul Sartre: NO. There is nothing wrong with "Salad Days" that a good editor couldn't have fixed in the early manuscripts. Even though an editor is thanked in the acknowledgements,it is difficult to believe this one ever heard of a red pencil. Too bad for Romalotti (a good editor can be the best writing teacher an author will ever have) & too bad for us, the readers. So: if you are an angst-filled teen who is out of step with all but a few individuals, you'll probably love "Salad Days" & identify strongly with the characters. If you have survived until 30 or so, & read more than 1 book a year, you will probably end by being quite frustrated with this book. I know I am!
Rating: 
Summary: Amusing, but such poor writing!
Review: While this book stirs up memories of blurry punk rock shows, the prose is cliche-laden, overwritten high school drudge. NO Midwestern kids talk like this. If Romalotti would drop the psuedo-hi-falutin' language, this could be a decent (though slighty cliched--think SLC Punk) story.
Rating:
Summary: Ahhhhhh...now THAT was refreshing
Review: I actually stumbled over this book, and I'm not certain how I did, but I'm glad I added it to my library. I read it as slow as possible because I didn't want it to end! I am impressed with Romalotti's writing technique. Through developing his character's personalities as vividly as he does, he really made me feel as if I knew these people. Especially Frank, who we travel with from high school on into his college years. I was able to experience the emotions and feelings expressed by Frank, and understand his opinions and decisions as he made them. I am not a critic by any means, and I do not intend to give anything about this book away. However, by reading this book, I was able to "revisit" my own past, remembering the days of my life when nothing was certain and definate, when friends came and went, but left an impact on my life none the less. I felt the naming of many bands through out the book had a special effect. Especially if you are familiar with punk music. It just made it all the more real to me. If you want to read a great book of fiction dealing with punk rock bands and the life of a guy living out a dream many of us possessed once in our lives, or maybe just take a "stroll down memory lane", I recommend this book. It is written well with powerful discriptions to really get an image of places/people/situations. Rock on Romalotti!
Rating:
Summary: Inspired me
Review: Salad Days is, by far, the best book I have ever read. I've read it so many times through I lost count. I bring Salad Days with me on road trips and I recommend it to all my friends. Salad Days really touched me and inspired me. When I first picked up Salad Days I had no idea the impact it would have on me, but I soon came to find that Salad Days was not just another book to be put on my bookshelf when I was finished with it. Salad Days never made it to my bookshelf because I refuse to be finished with it, it's just too good! I hope I enjoy Romalotti's other two books just as much as I enjoyed Salad Days.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOK EVER!
Review: this has got to be the best book i ever read! i wasn't really sure to buy it at first because there was no real description of it...but im so glad i did...and all of you should... The writing is so amazing.. i feel like im actully there .. there's such great descriptions and funny metaphors... the book made me cry and laugh out....Mr. Romalotti is such a talented writer... this book should be made into a movie... id hate to say it..but i feel like the book kinda changed my life..if not that-- then opened my eyes.... a must read!
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