Book Club Review: Binge by Tyler Oakley

Here's the latest review from the Student Edge Book Club! Read a member's take on Tyler Oakley's Binge and share your thoughts below.

Tyler Oakley: What a personality!

When I heard that he was to release a book, I just had to have it. The first page was a mix between the funniest and the most inspirational piece I’ve read in a book and it immediately had me hooked. I knew then, this was definitely one to binge read.

Even if you don’t have any remote clue who Tyler Oakley is or what he does, sit back and enjoy the ride that is his life. For those who are aware of the persona, brace yourself for a completely different perspective of the man: his own.

Now, Binge. The introductory page is an offer of encouragement by Tyler to embrace life and binge on the things that offer enjoyment; however, that may vary for each reader. His book provides insight to all of the memorable times that he has binged and its outcome.

“I’ve binged plenty of times in my life, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Regardless, I indulged. This collection is the result.” This perhaps is my absolute favourite line of the book. It gives the reader a stimulus for the entire story.

In the first page alone, Tyler has done an exceptional job of summarising the purpose of his book and putting forward a taste of its mood, his signature whimsical personality lasting throughout much of the story.

Oakley’s clever and highly effective use of writing techniques significantly enhances the quality of the book compared to other autobiographies. His imagery is absolutely outstanding, provoking just about every sense in a teenage girl’s body.

Oakley has managed to provide incredible detail to allow every reader to create the same story within the comfort of their own minds, including the vibe and smell of the dog poop covering the floor at the end of the thirteenth chapter. Excellently done, Tyler.

He strategically places rhetorical questions that successfully include the reader into the persona’s thought process, followed by how he views his own memories in the present day.

The book consists of a huge range of stories completely unheard of by the fanbase created over his years as a YouTube sensation. (Plot twist: His name isn’t really Tyler! *gasps*)

Oakley begins with personal struggles about his eating disorders as a young child as well as financial issues within his family. This stretches to major mistakes and exposes his non-existent driving skills. He talks about relatable experiences including his numerous jobs, schooling and relationships. He tells sad and excitable stories that provoke some serious emotion in readers who genuinely love the guy; particularly the stories about his first love. That chapter is by far the longest, at a massive forty pages, and can be described simply as beautiful, yet tragic; a classic teen favourite.

As Oakley continues into his twenties he seems to disregard his growing popularity as a YouTuber, even as we reach the part about meeting One Direction and Michelle Obama. He later talks about his struggles as a growing personality and the trending hate messages he receives on social media. The story concludes with a Tyler-to-reader thank you session, acknowledging all of the amazing people that made his life, well, amazing, seven million subscribers later.

Through the production of this well-written autobiography, readers are intrigued with never-before-shared stories by Matthew Tyler Oakley in high style. This story was excellently narrated and I very highly recommend it to anyone with a sense of humour and a love for the man.

5/5

Congratulations to Dana for writing last month's winning Book Club review. Dana scores a $200 Simon & Schuster book bundle for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest Book Club selection. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!