Guy in Real Life

There are a few phrases in French, although only one is translated. Basic information about MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) is given. Part of the plot of Berlioz's Marche au supplice is briefly explained and includes a bit about the way the music advances the plot and expresses emotion.

Lesh starts out his sophomore year of high school grounded for two weeks for getting drunk at a concert. He mostly leaves that behavior behind when his curiosity about the world around him is awakened. Svetlana, a senior, is smart, artistically talented, super crafty, and has healthy self-esteem. Both sets of parents are involved and loving, although their drinking (mostly beer) is frequently mentioned. Lesh and Svetlana's friends are loyal and supportive. The one or two teachers specifically shown model getting the students to think for themselves in a supportive environment.

There are a couple of instances of heavy making out described in some detail but without mentioning body parts, and both instances are interrupted before anything goes beyond some petting. "Getting head" is mentioned once. A fantasy character's bouncing breasts and "nice ass" are mentioned a few times. Fantasy characters kiss once. Lesh speculates that his friend uses his computer to watch pornography.

Specific products mentioned once include Bic, Chuck Taylors, Coke, Facebook, KFC, Magic: The Gathering, Mountain Dew, Totino's, and Kohl's. Magazines mentioned once each are Metal Hammer, Decibel, ​and Kerrang, and the iPod and iPad are mentioned three times each. Bands, albums, and song titles are mentioned too many times to count, mostly to establish mood or character and mostly in the heavy metal genre. In the acknowledgements the author heartily endorses the Omaha band What Dwells Within and mentions its new name, A Sound in Sight. A minor character works at Target, and the store name is mentioned a half dozen times.