To feel sad about losing my copy of The Outsiders

[Flippetydip]

Just realised that somewhere in my many moves in years gone by I have lost my beloved copy of The Outsiders by SE Hinton. It was my favourite novel for many years growing up and I feel sadder than I should that I can't find it.

Did this book influence anyone else's teenage years?

I never read or taught this novel until I came to Australia twelve years ago. Whenever the subject of books they liked comes up with older students, "The Outsiders" is unanimously the novel that strikes home.

Every Time. Year after year.

Whenever I think it could be ditched, I remember this.

Oooh. The Outsiders. YANBU. Can't remember the actual plot, just remember loving it as an angsty 14 year old. Read it in one sitting - started reading under protest and imminent finish date for school, finished that day, then promptly fished out every single SE Hinton book in the library. Haha. If I owned that book, I'd want to keep it too

Love it. we read it in school and then the tacher let us watch the film. All the girls were sobbing at the end! We then read and watched Rumble Fish. Both great, and with Matt Dillon too!

Yes I watched the film well after I'd read and reread x100 the book. I wasn't disappointed.

I will order another copy - I'm hoping my DC will want to read it in a few years. I'm 44 now and the words "stay gold Ponyboy" still cause me to get a catch in my throat.

I'm 44 now and the words "stay gold Ponyboy" still cause me to get a catch in my throat.

You and me both - and I'm 54. I have honestly lost count how many times I read that book.

I love this book and film. Stevie Wonders Stay Gold still makes me cry.

Oh yes... Stay Gold... love that song. Always brings a tear!

I got it out of the library, became obsessed woth it and 'lost' it. It's on my bookshelves right now, 31 years later.
I paid the replacement out of my paper round money. We lived very, very rurally and made a trip to WH Smith in the nearest city about twice a year, they didn't have it and I didn't know you could get them to order books. I thought if it wasn't on the shelf, maybe no more copies had been published.

I pestered the kid next door to record the film when it was on TV, even though we didn't have a video recorder to watch it on. I can still remember going to the newsagents for the blank tape. £5 was a lot of money then!

This thread has brought back a flood of memories, thanks Flippety!

It's studied in Ireland at Junior Cert level so there's billions of copies available in the shops if you'd like me to send you one.

I remember as a teen my mum coming into my room to find me sobbing inconsolably - Johnny had just died. I cried all night. And read the book over and over again. And wrote Ponyboy in love hearts all over my school books -cringe

I mysteriously “lost” the copy I took out of my school library too. It’s on the bookshelf in my study

If you decide to watch the movie again, make sure it's the original version. They released it a few years ago and totally replaced the music with rock & roll tunes which don't work properly at all. There are new scenes too, but it just doesn't flow like it used to.

I loved that book! rumblefish too! im pretty sure i still have a copy of both at mums

Ah, I loved this book too. Think I may have "lost" the school library copy on my shelves too! Loved all of SE Hinton stories when I was a teenager.

It definitely influenced me, can you tell? 😆 I vividly remember reading it in the car and just sobbing. I still have my copy plus my extra copy I bought to avoid my original becoming too dog-eared from constant rereading. Been thinking about getting it for DS but he's a sensitive soul!

I still have my copy from when I was about 10. I am almost 46!

Recently rewatched the film and could no longer perv over the cast, they are so young!

I still know the poem off by heart.

Oh thank you all - you've made me feel less tragic!

mikeyssister that's such a kind offer. If I can't find one readily I'll PM you!

I'm going to have a ferret through my parents' loft and see if it's not still there somewhere.

Yes, I wondered about perving over the cast too lilcamper - I was only 14/15 when I last saw it.

I can't remember how old I was when I first read it. How young is too young? DS is 9 which is too young but I'm wondering now when I can reasonably foist it on him! DD is 7 so that's years away!

And yes ponygirl love the name!!

It doesn't get the attention it deserves in the UK imo, a family friend from New Mexico brought my copy over as part of a bundle of American treats when I was a mid-teen.

I mentally file it as the literary equivalent of a 12A certificate, if that helps?

Yes I was thinking 11/12 as a good age. Thanks Merlinsscarf

It's one of my very favourite books and films. I don't think I've rewatched any film as much as The Outsiders. I made a cassette tape of it (from the video) so I could listen to it on my Walkman for times when I couldn't watch the film ...

My sister and I still quote bits of it to each other and I recently bought her a necklace with "stay gold" engraved on it.

Happy memories (despite all the tears for Johnny, Dally etc!)

I have all her books, loved The Outsiders, although I think Rumble fish was my favourite. Watched them on Sky a couple of years ago for the first time in 20 years and took me right back. Now I need to take a trip up in the attic....

Stunning film - sob every time !

I am very seriously considering buying this necklace.

I teach secondary English and it’s a guaranteed hit with even the most reluctant readers. On an unrelated note, Rob Lowe in the film adaptation should be available on prescription.

Ooh yes, Rob Lowe in the shower 😆