Beautiful Children Post 3

In the last section of Beautiful Children by Charles Bock, I noticed a different format in his writing. Bock wrote for a small part of his novel in the form of online chat. In a chat room of four people it is written "]1450SAT: You told him this? ]BRIXXE: Well, he wasn't really verbal. ]1450SAT: Some would argue this is more reason to encourage him" (54). I think using the writing format of online chat was successful. It provides the reader with variety and is the online chat sections effectively move the story forward. This format also gives us a different perspective on the other characters thoughts. Bock continues with his traditional narrative format again but soon switches over to a short letter type format. I think this is also effective and done successfully to tell the story because like before it offers the reader a different perspective. This time the perspective happens to be of more mature figures which stands out among all the other teenager talk throughout the book.

Throughout the novel so far Bock has used vulgar dialogue for many of his characters. At first I was somewhat taken aback but as I continued reading I understood that these words and improprieties were necessary to telling the story. The vulgar words that each of the characters spit and spew at each other show how they respect and act among others. Ponyboy yells to his friends "WHAT UP, COCKSUCKER?" (200). This rude language is not often used in other pieces of literature that I have read, so it really stands out to me. At first I thought that it was informal and that there must be another way for Bock to develop the character Ponyboy and his friends as disrespectful teenagers. After reading further I realized using vulgar dialogue really was the best way to go. Afterall this is how teenagers converse with one another and if an author really wishes to make the reader understand that, there is only one good way to do it; say it how it is.