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    Doing It
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    Doing It
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    Doing It
    Audiobook (abridged)3 hours

    Doing It

    Written by Melvin Burgess

    Narrated by Jason Flemyng

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Dino, Jon, and Ben have each got problems-a girlfriend who won't put out, a girlfriend who won't give up, and a predatory teacher . . . just for starters.

    Award-winning author Melvin Burgess has written a daringly honest and often hilarious account of contemporary teenage life, and the ups and downs that surround Doing It.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJun 8, 2004
    ISBN9780807223888
    Unavailable
    Doing It
    Author

    Melvin Burgess

    Melvin Burgess was born in London and brought up in Surrey and Sussex. He has had a variety of jobs before becoming a full-time writer. Before his first novel, he had short stories published and a play broadcast on Radio 4. He is now regarded as one of the best writers in contemporary children's literature, having won the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize for his acclaimed novel Junk.

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    Reviews for Doing It

    3.5/5

    199 ratings39 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Doing It deals with the taboo topic of sex from the perspective of three predictably randy teenage boys. Though the content may be perceived by some as crude, the light tone and witty humor captures the essence of all the anxiety, comedy, and drama that goes along with having (and wanting to have) sex for the first time in a way that feels both honest and awkwardly relatable. Burgess keeps the story moving quickly between the interwoven story of the three friends Dino, Jon, and Ben, three seemingly crass boys whose personal lives and insights reveal surprisingly real and complex characters as the story progresses.
    • 3/5
      VOYA - 2.5Q, 3P -- if I have to pick whole numbers, 3Q, 3P - I just really had a problem with the language in the first half and it did get a tad bit repetitive at times.At first I really could not get into this book - the language in the first few pages was a bit too crude for my liking. That being said, once I got pass the language and started getting into the book I realized this book was about so much more than just sex. Yes, sex is discussed - A LOT - but in the end the book is about relationships - healthy and unhealthy -, learning to trust yourself and your feelings, learning to stand up for yourself, learning from consequences, bullying, etc. While, as I mentioned, I did dislike the language in the beginning, I think this book does present some important themes and lessons to teens.
    • 3/5
      This book merits a 4P in my opinion. The erotic sexual scenes are enticing enough to interest most young adults, especially when coupled with a dramatic plot and plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged. The quality of the writing I gave a 3P. Burgess' style is interesting and fluid though not outstanding by any means. The real value of this novel is the way in which what seems to be purely erotic literature develops into a cautionary tale of the consequences that can be a fallout of unequal sexual relationships. From statutory rape to dramatic self-harm, Doing It is a serious book that deals with serious issues. It preaches a look before you leap attitude about sex and warns teens not to participate in a risky situation just because it feels good. I really like that it combines this with the lesson that honesty is a requirement for healthy sex and hiding your feelings from yourself or others can be harmful. Burgess strikes a great balance between warning teens to use caution before intercourse and also encouraging them to pursue sex with someone they trust and are close to already (like Deborah).
    • 4/5
      Entertaining story told with a lot of humor. It honestly captures the awkwardness of blooming sexuality in teens.
    • 4/5
      This is a touching and hilarious look at the emotional lives of three teen boys. The first chapter was as shocking as I'd been led to expect, but most of the quotes I'd read in reviews had been taken out of context. I really enjoyed seeing the thoughts of these boys: - Dino, convinced he's in love with the best looking girl in school, but continually frustrated when she won't sleep with him - Ben, having a relationship so secret he can never breath a whisper of it to anyone - Jon, appearing conflicted over his attraction to an overweight friendThe three of them are obsessed with sex, confused by their feelings, and trying to create relationships with girls, families and each other.The shifting point of view between different first person speakers and an omniscient narrator, lets us dip into the thoughts of different characters, seeing scenes form different angles.The girls too have a voice, they are not cardboard characters, they are more than the objects of desire the boys paint them as.I wish I'd read this before I went to college
    • 4/5
      I read this when it originally came out about ten years ago. I was in high school and remember enjoying male perspective on sex and growing up. So often the books on this topic are based around the emotions females feel in certain sexual situations and how they deal with relationships. After reading this I could see how controversy could come from this title and it's crass and upfront dialog.
    • 3/5
      I'll be perfectly honest: I don't know what my feelings on this book are. I'm inclined to call the characters whiney little high schoolers but they're much deeper than that. The fact is, each character has their own sh*t, and to them its the worst kind. As annoying as that is to read, it is human nature.

      I don't feel like anything was fully resolved in this book. I feel like Burgess just left so many subplots unfinished, and not in the exciting cliffhanger sort of way. I also don't care, which is weird and alarming and goes back to me not knowing how I feel.
    • 3/5
      While the writing style in Doing It draws heavily on contemporary British slang, thus rendering it appealing to readers who enjoy British slang, it is frequently repetitive, with words and phrases often re-used within the same sentence. The narration is also a bit confusing, jumping abruptly from one character to another, and sometimes switching back to an omniscient narrator. The main characters are the primary narrators, although occasionally secondary characters have their own chapter, which just adds to the reader's confusion. The repetition and odd narrating style earn this book a 2Q from me. As for popularity, this is a book about sex, with many depictions and description of the act itself and sexual fantasies, so it will easily appeal to many curious YA readers.Personally, the writing style turned me off of this book almost immediately, although I do appreciate the frank depictions of sexual activities. I think these will be informative and appealing to teen readers. I think that there is a lot of information teen readers could garner from this book - many insecurities, questions about "is this normal?", and sexual thoughts and practices are described in detail from the viewpoints of the teenage narrators - but I think if asked for a recommendation, Doing It would be nowhere near the top of my list. Certainly not because of the content or because of any censorship/challenge concerns, but just because I didn't think it was very well written. However, I would still absolutely argue for its place on library shelves - if that's what teen readers are interested in, if this book will help inform them in any way, then I would absolutely encourage them to read it.
    • 2/5
      Ugh. I do think this is a valuable book for teens in some ways, but I didn't personally like reading it. It made me feel icky!!
    • 3/5
      3Q 4PMelvin Burgess brings a story told in the perspective of three teenage boys and as the title alludes - "Doing It." Each of the characters: Dino, Jonathan, and Ben share the desire for girls and sex and the Burgess does not hold back any details of their desire or their crude conversations among each other or their interactions with girls. This story is unique in that readers are exposed to the perspective of a male involved in various relationships - friendship and sexual desires. This rare perspective takes readers into the world of boys and the kinds of things they talk about, think about, and do. The male characters were well developed and I found it refreshing to have the male's perspective on girls and their take on relationships. However, I thought the girl characters were not as interesting and at times quite annoying. Perhaps they are portrayed this way, because it is written in the male's perspective.The writing of each boy's desire is authentic and will help teens connect with characters through shared experiences or thoughts and curiosity of sex.
    • 4/5
      4 Q, 5 P"Shagging Miss had always been scary, but lately there were worries beginning to creep in. It wasn't just the question of where it was all going. It seemed ungrateful, but he was missing girls his own age. He sometimes felt jealous of Dino's problems with Jackie; it all seemed so sweet and innocent and sexy." p. 58
    • 4/5
      4Q 4P. I was blown away by this horrifically honest telling of the sexual thoughts, feelings and experiences of the young adult world. At times I was absolutely scandalized and at others I was applauding enthusiastically for the characters and their decisions when it came down to "doing it". I gave this novel a 4Q because I felt like the writing was a little stunted in areas which made me had to backtrack when reading. However, I will admit that sometimes I felt like Burgess was writing in a way that emulated his teenage characters, therefore it could be a wholehearted 5Q. I think this is a great YA novel that gives teenagers an outlet in which to explore the good, and definitely the bad, of what it means to be sexually active. It opens up an extensive amount of areas to converse about and some morally devious topics to address. This is definitely a must read for anyone interested in the psyche of young adults.
    • 3/5
      This book is a raw telling of how teens talk to each other about sex and how they think about sex. It is brutally honest and unflinching. It is also a very British take on gender relationships.
    • 3/5
      3Q 4PDoing It tells the story of young adults Dino, Jonathan, and Ben, and their first attempts at getting the girlfriend of their dreams while losing their virginity. The only thing standing in the way of their plans is their own faults: Dino's immaturity, Jonathan's susceptibility to peer pressure, and Ben's inability to be assertive. Each one must overcome their faults if they're going to have the relationship--and the intercourse--they've always wanted.The writing is superb. It's divided up into three intertwined plotlines and told from Dino, Jonathan, and Ben's point of view, and the individual voices of each plotline is unique and very true to the character. The reason the quality rating isn't at 5 is because there are places in the plot that don't seem true to the characters. For example, after several chapters of Dino pressuring his girlfriend Jackie to sleep with him, she agrees only to walk out when she discovers someone threw up in the bed they were planning to use. Dino is upset, but discovers this girl named Zoe and sleeps with her in his own bed. For me, it was hard to believe that Dino would have sex with Zoe when he'd just met her and when he'd been preparing for Jackie. Also, Jackie's actions seemed unexplainable, random, and unlike the person she was described to be in the beginning of the book.Another reason, voiced by many reviewers, is that an awful lot about sex and anatomy is described graphically, which may or may not be overwhelming to some readers--particularly those who aren't used to this kind of material. While many scholars say that YA literature shouldn't avoid intercourse/body-part description, Doing It seems a bit much. That, of course, depends on the audience.What I personally didn't like about the story was that there were some disappointing scenes in this book. A character named Zoe tricks Dino and sabotages his relationship with Jackie, and she never got a comeuppance for it. Also, after Jackie forgives Dino and goes out with him again, she is dropped from the story without a mention while Dino goes out with another girl (I imagine quite a few young adults will be lamenting that Jackie and Dino never have sex).Despite my personal objections, this book will probably do well with young adults because it answers many questions the protagonists have about relationships/sex/proper conduct. Dino learns what consent and mutual trust look like, Jonathan learns not only that peer pressure isn't always good but which feelings he should listen to, and Ben learns about what manipulation is and why to avoid it.
    • 3/5
      3Q 3P, Melvin Burgess said about Doing It, "I wrote Doing It because I do believe that we have let young men down very badly in terms of the kinds of books written for them. This book is my go at trying to bring young male sexual culture into writing." I think he successfully wrote this book about teenage sexuality from a boys perspective. Maybe that's why I didn't really connect with the material. I thought it was a little boring, but I could appreciate that it was well written. Maybe I'm too old and too female for teen boy angst.
    • 4/5
      Q4 P5Quote: Disc 4 track 5 (2:30):you wouldn't think girls would like sex. You'd think it's too rude for them. Doing sex with a girl, it's a bit like throwing putting a dead frog down their back, or scaring them with dead mice or throwing worms at them. They're such sensible and grown up sorts of people ... and yet apparently ...
    • 3/5
      The raunchy language and conversations will cause immediate knee-jerk reactions in both adults and teenagers and the british slang may cause some confusion (fanny means different things in England than it does here in the States). While I am ready to believe that Burgess is depicting a realistic high school scene, what he has created bears little resemblance to my personal high school experience. I thought most of the characters rang true, although I felt I knew Ben and Dino better than Jonathon. I'm not sure how I felt about the resolution, particularly of Ben's plotline, but it's certainly got me thinking.
    • 4/5
      4PQuote:"Sex is . . . well, it's so rude, isn't it? You wouldn't think girls would like sex. You'd think it's too rude for them. Doing sex with a girl, it's a bit like putting a frog down their backs or scaring them with dead mice or throwing worms at them. They're such sensible, grown-up sorts of people. And yet apparently even the nice ones like you sticking the rudest thing you have on your whole body up the exact, rudest part of their body that they have! It doesn't make a lot of sense to me." p144
    • 2/5
      I think the only thing I appreciated about this somewhat raunchy book was getting to hear some of the boy's inner thoughts, namely those that were not so pornographic. I did like Burgess' honesty and felt like there was a great deal of truth to it, though I couldn't help but hope that the guys I know aren't aren't like that - teen-aged or not. I thought that the way that the boys interacted with each other in the couple of scenes when they confided in each other was a positive element. It was nice to see that kind of loyalty and display of emotion. The different perspectives of the boy's lives, as well as the very different situations they were facing, added a nice element to the book and showed the different ways that they all chose to deal with things and deal with the consequences of their actions. Ben was my favorite character and despite his foolish affair with his teacher, he stood out as the best example. Jon's fat jokes towards Deborah were harsh, and Dino's - well Dino's lack of...everything, was over the top and quite frankly concerning. Overall, I think it is an okay book and can be used for good, but I couldn't help but feel like I was watching a really bad reality show and wished I could separate myself from the crass icky-ness that was these boys raw, unadulterated ideas and thoughts about sexuality.
    • 1/5
      2Q, 4PI was really looking forward to reading this book. I remember being in junior high and sneaking peeks at certain books in the library that I knew contained sex. It felt so scandalous! If this book had been in the library when I was 12 and I had come across it, I would have had my fill, been so shocked that I probably never would have looked for another sexy passage again.I am perhaps not familiar enough with the inner workings of a teenage boy's brain, but I had difficulty following what was going on sometimes. It was too frenetic, and especially at the beginning I felt like it jumped back and forth between the past and the present too much. I couldn't tell if the characters were talking about an hour ago or a year ago. The changing from first person to third person and back again was obnoxious. I wouldn't mind changing between characters, but it would have been much easier to follow if it had all been one or the other.Being a grown up (in number at least), I wasn't offended by the sex parts (85% of the book), though I was pretty bored by most of them, but I can't imagine ever recommending this to anyone under the age of 18, unless it was maybe my own (very mature) child, and even then I probably wouldn't because I didn't think it was very well written. That being said, I can definitely see this as the type of book that would appeal to a lot of curious browsers - how many teenagers do you know who wouldn't be interested in a book called "Doing It"?All in all I think I was most put off by the cruelty of the characters, even the ones we were supposed to be sympathizing with. Perhaps that's just realism at work, but I didn't like any of them or care if they got a happy ending. I am perfectly able to disagree with characters and still find them likeable and/or well-written, but these characters were all too self-centered and one-dimensional.
    • 2/5
      VOYA P5Q3This is a colorful, exlicit, sexually-charged book about the sexual adventures of several teenagers in a variety of awkward predicaments. Because of it's pretty vile language and outrageous situations, the book is very controversial. Personally, I would not recommend this book to anyone, as I don't like the way it normalizes disgusting ways of talking about bodies and people, especially women. However, I did like how girls had just as many sexual urges and feelings as boys did in this book, which counters the idea that women should always be, do and think modestly." In order to stop her from talking as much as anything else, Jonathon kissed her. Deborah kissed him back, pushing herself into him. Mr. Knobby rose up at once." (194)
    • 4/5
      4Q, 5P (my VOYA codes). I found this book to be of pretty high quality, and was a smooth and easy read. I feel like this book would appeal to many readers as everyone has either been a teenager or will be a teenager at one time in their life. Although this was an awkward read for me, at times, mainly because teenagerdom is such an awkward time in anyone's life, I found it to be a touching story of teenagers searching for identity that resonates with teens the world over. I loved that the book was written by a British author, yet the story had so many topics in it that made it easy to relate for any teen reading the book. Intimacy is portrayed in many different ways throughout the work - and although the scenes are mostly from the boy's point of view, you can see the difference in each of the boys' thinking - whether the act is being done out of curiosity, true feelings, or just a biological response to the situation.I found that this novel truly highlighted Amy Pattee's claim that sexually explicit young adult literature "should be considered as unique information sources that can offer young readers both realistic and needed information about sex and the sex act as well as a private, safe space to try on new feelings of sexual desire." Doing It definitely provides a safe place for teens to be able to experience what it is like to have multiple sexual partners, be involved in taboo sexual situations, and even see the emotional connection that is made when people have sex - things many teens might not automatically take into consideration when they encounter these types of situations in their lives.Although I read this book as an adult, and not as a teenager in the throes of hormones and peer pressure, I think this book is a great resource for teens who might not have a parent or adult in their life that they can feel comfortable asking questions of - and might need a safe place to go to sort out their thoughts on the issue of sex.
    • 3/5
      3Q 3PBurgess's coming of age story centers on a group of British teenagers exploring their sexual feelings and working through their emotions of teen angst, sexual affairs, love, and lust. Burgess does not hold back and depicts the sexual frustration of teens quite well. The language is a bit vulgar at time but starkly depicted and quite honest. However, there is an absence of worry about unsafe sex, making this book somewhat unrealistic.
    • 4/5
      This multiple-voice teen novel departs from the typical "relationship book" by offering the perspective of teenage BOYS about intimacy (physical and otherwise... but mostly physical). It's racy and edgy, though British slang terms like "shag" and "snog" soften the subject matter a bit for US audiences. It's also hilarious and far-reaching in its treatment of the kinds of situations that 17-year-old guys find themselves in. An excellent read, and important for a certain demographic. Recommend carefully, as it may draw fallout from parents... but do recommend.
    • 3/5
      3Q, 4P (my Voya tags)Three teenage boys and their sexual shenanigans take center stage in this novel. With a title like "Doing It," it's not hard to determine it's content. I did not find an overwhelming interest in this book but, I did appreciate the narration from a teenage boy's perspective and I think this novel would be an important addition to any YA collection. My teenage self would also have thoroughly enjoyed this novel, especially its more redeeming qualities when the boys familial and personal situations become the stronger story line over their sexual interest and adventures. Certainly, a desirable book for the hormone driven teenager and a gem for young boys.
    • 5/5
      When I say "I couldn't put it down," I mean it. I was glued to the couch and read his book from start to finish, and was sorry when it was done. I laughed, I gasped in horror, I bit my nails with worry. Not many novels do that for me. The book shares the mindset and voice of the incredible British TV show SKINS. So much so that I was convinced Burgess was a co-creator of the series, but this seems not to be. Like SKINS, DOING IT follows the lives of a group of Brit teens as they obsess about themselves and about sex, as they lean on their friends, and muddle through life dealing with some serious issues as well. Parental infidelity. Adult manipulation. Character scarring events. Self esteem. Heartache. You can't help but be drawn in by the shocking language, and brutally frank thoughts. So honest. So spot on. And, I might add, not at all vicarious. This book isn't one of those stupid shocker tales. It's brilliant and witty. And it shows how teens really are, at least at times. This is a book to share among friends, so please do! Because of the content, you might not find it on a library shelf or in a classroom, even though it so deserves to be there. Seek this title out, devour it, and enjoy!
    • 4/5
      I never quite understood all of the British slang, and I never really quite enjoyed my experience reading this, but it was very well written, well thought-out, and there were brief points of humor about it I did like. Mostly though, I was annoyed and disgusted by the protagonists. I was horrified at least twice while reading.
    • 4/5
      4Q 4PTold from the perspective of three teenaged boys (best friends, of course), this tale explores the murky world of teenaged sex. All three boys are entirely preoccupied with sex - how to get it, who to have it with, and how to extricate themselves when it gets rocky. From the popular boy dating the top girl, to the awkward class clown who likes the chubby girl, and even on to the dark world of sleeping with a teacher, this book covers it all. Overall this is an uproariously funny tale that is often highly reminiscent of high school years - raging hormones, confusion, and a distinct preoccupation with sex. Though the content and situations are often raunchy and a bit crude, these are situations often faced by teens, albeit some more than others. This makes the book an honest, often endearing, sexual coming of age tale.
    • 2/5
      Q3, P4The book was well-written and the dialogue seemed realistic. I wasn't a fan of the subject matter, though, and found it difficult to continue reading because it reminded me of what jerks teen boys can be. I could see how this could be popular with teens, though, because it's salacious and covers a lot of issues about budding sexuality that are highly likely to be faced by the reader or somebody they know.
    • 4/5
      Rating: A-I picked this book up at Barnes & Noble. This guy, a British fellow, gets a lot of critical acclaim for his writing--it's honest and believable stuff about young adults (plus, this particular book was spawned into a short-lived series by the geniuses that brought up the other great short-lived series Freaks and Geeks). I decided to buy and read this book because, in my writing, I'm wondering if I got the teenage male voice right... not ever having been a teenage male, I wasn't sure that what I thought they were thinking about lust and love and what-not was really accurate. Seeing as how Burgess used to be a teenage male, I wanted to hear what he had to say. The book was very funny and parts were really moving and the range of emotions that young guys go through deserves more attention.