A book about a frat -- how much of a realistic portrayal can this book really offer?

Those were the exact thoughts going through my head when I started to read Epsilon Zeta by Jock Young.

However, Young proved me wrong by writing a fictional tale about frat brothers that had graphic and honest truth to the dialogue between characters.

Epsilon Zeta is based on Young's own experiences as a member of Sigma Chi at Florida State University. Epsilon Zeta weaves a year's worth of ups and downs for the brothers of Sigma Chi throughout the book.

To outsiders, this fraternity appears to be like every other fraternity at the fictional Northwest Florida University; however, there is a civil war going on behind the brick walls of Epsilon Zeta's mansion.

The internal conflict involves main characters Damon Joyce, Ross Baxter, Jason Edgar and Rick Saachi, who were all kicked out of the fraternity for using illegal drugs, but were later reinstated.

The other side involves Zack Lawrence, Martin Pierce, Greg Bates, Jeff Sharples and Cal Bazemore, all of whom wish to clean up the image of their fraternity.

Sound familiar? I thought this was an appropriate topic given that Penn State is currently trying to clean up the image of greek life here.

Throughout the novel, the characters often talk about their escapades with women and drinking. I don't think of myself as a prude by any means, yet the dialogue made me laugh at times and appalled at other times.

The truth remains that the things that are said about the characters' "sexcapades" are more than likely uttered in fraternity houses across the country, and more broadly by college jerks, frat boy or not.

Young details the lengths college guys go to just to be allowed to wear certain greek letters on their clothing.

Being forced to clean a house I don't even live in, constantly being yelled at and not being allowed to speak for a week are not my idea of a good time. While this type of pledging and initiation may not exist within the "hallowed" walls of all fraternities, more than likely it does still exist at some.

The very fact that this fictional university has a main road named College Avenue, the description of the huge campus and the scene involving the football games all made this book remind me of Penn State.

While some of the details, such as a pledge being taken to a brothel, were a little hard to believe, the book still offered an uncensored truth that made Epsilon Zeta worth my valuable fall break time. Grade A-

-- Reviewed by Emma Straley