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lelex's review against another edition
5.0
God, I love this book. It's quick and perfect and I've read it so many times that it feels like a softcover book from the library, all worn and well-read.
It's similar to All-American Girl and If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? where there were parts that I could call forth like a premonition because I've read it so many times but there were also bits that I'd completely forgotten. The Titus/Brat storyline completely slipped my mind and I was so surprised to read it again. Absolutely some I Am Not Like Other Girls vibes, but in the reverse way where Gretchen is normal at an arts school, so when it came out it was probably kind of subversive lmao. Also, heads up for the frequent f slurs, although there is a pretty good conversation about it near the end of the book.
An absolute treat and a quick read. Plus all the biscuit and milkshake and gherkin talk has always made me laugh.
"What's up?"
"With me? The usual. Random acts of violence, media saturation, teenage angst, utter mayhem." I sound like an idiot. But what else am I gonna say? My parents are getting a divorce? I'm practically flunking drawing and literature? My best friend's barely speaking to me and changes the subject when I ask her where she was on Saturday night? I think about you all the time and I want your body?
"I freak the hell out for several hours, just creeping up and down the windowsill with my heart in a knot of anxiety and fear."
"God. In which case, God is punishing me. But for what, precisely? Being too lame to clean my room? Too shy to talk to the boys I like? Too obsessed with superheroes? Angry at my dad? I mean, I am a schmuck in all these ways and more and I also say "hell" too much, but if God has decided that I deserve possibly eternal insectitude for what I've done, then what is he (or she) doing to all the rapists and murderers?"
"And if this is Hell, then why does eternal damnation look exactly like the boys' locker room at Ma-Ha? And why am I being punished for my short, schmucky life by watching naked boys parade around the showers?"
"But maybe he was saying, "Hey, enjoy your youth because I'm putting a curse on you and TURNING YOU INTO AN INSECT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, STARTING TOMORROW."
"What do I want in a guy, anyway? I might be pretty happy dating a geek who can really shake it."
"Two almond croissants, a fresh-squeezed orange juice and a hot chocolate later, I am convinced that the existence of French pastry and Florida fruit is enough to make anyone happy to be alive."
"When they're clean, I keep Yellow Baby and Rollo, plus my old teddy bear, and put the rest in a bag for the Salvation Army store. I know it's stupid, but I whisper goodbye to them and tell them I love them."
"Spidey's got nothing on me today. I'm Gretchen Yee, advocate for equal opportunity and proud wearer of a red vinyl miniskirt. Housefly no more."
It's similar to All-American Girl and If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? where there were parts that I could call forth like a premonition because I've read it so many times but there were also bits that I'd completely forgotten. The Titus/Brat storyline completely slipped my mind and I was so surprised to read it again. Absolutely some I Am Not Like Other Girls vibes, but in the reverse way where Gretchen is normal at an arts school, so when it came out it was probably kind of subversive lmao. Also, heads up for the frequent f slurs, although there is a pretty good conversation about it near the end of the book.
An absolute treat and a quick read. Plus all the biscuit and milkshake and gherkin talk has always made me laugh.
"What's up?"
"With me? The usual. Random acts of violence, media saturation, teenage angst, utter mayhem." I sound like an idiot. But what else am I gonna say? My parents are getting a divorce? I'm practically flunking drawing and literature? My best friend's barely speaking to me and changes the subject when I ask her where she was on Saturday night? I think about you all the time and I want your body?
"I freak the hell out for several hours, just creeping up and down the windowsill with my heart in a knot of anxiety and fear."
"God. In which case, God is punishing me. But for what, precisely? Being too lame to clean my room? Too shy to talk to the boys I like? Too obsessed with superheroes? Angry at my dad? I mean, I am a schmuck in all these ways and more and I also say "hell" too much, but if God has decided that I deserve possibly eternal insectitude for what I've done, then what is he (or she) doing to all the rapists and murderers?"
"And if this is Hell, then why does eternal damnation look exactly like the boys' locker room at Ma-Ha? And why am I being punished for my short, schmucky life by watching naked boys parade around the showers?"
"But maybe he was saying, "Hey, enjoy your youth because I'm putting a curse on you and TURNING YOU INTO AN INSECT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, STARTING TOMORROW."
"What do I want in a guy, anyway? I might be pretty happy dating a geek who can really shake it."
"Two almond croissants, a fresh-squeezed orange juice and a hot chocolate later, I am convinced that the existence of French pastry and Florida fruit is enough to make anyone happy to be alive."
"When they're clean, I keep Yellow Baby and Rollo, plus my old teddy bear, and put the rest in a bag for the Salvation Army store. I know it's stupid, but I whisper goodbye to them and tell them I love them."
"Spidey's got nothing on me today. I'm Gretchen Yee, advocate for equal opportunity and proud wearer of a red vinyl miniskirt. Housefly no more."
imgunnagetyou's review against another edition
What the fuck did I just read? I want to kill myself to get rid of the memories of this book
ex_libris_ad_astra's review against another edition
5.0
Ok, I really loved this book. I had read books by E. lockhart before and had liked them, but I really loved this one. I was halfway through it before I realized it and I finished the book the same night I started it. Though the book is set in an unusual setting that most people could not identify with, the pure honesty of the story is what made it so amazing. Gretchen Ye is the main character, but it is the cast of secondary characters that makes this story come to life. From her divorcing parents to the Art Rats, all of the secondary characters bring their own unique opinion and personalities to the story. All together an amazing book.
ghgemawesome's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Ariel for recommending this book. It was such a thrill to read. I managed to read it in one day!
The ideas in this book were fascinating. Something in which I really enjoyed reading.
The ideas in this book were fascinating. Something in which I really enjoyed reading.
onceuponagracey's review against another edition
3.0
It was awhile a go that i read this book, before i learned to love reading but i did a project on it & did good so i recommend it !!
missprint_'s review against another edition
4.0
Fly on the Wall is a YA book that came out last year. It is Lockhart's second or third YA book. Basically, the story takes Franz Kafka's plot from The Metamorphosis and brings it into the modern world and into a book that would appeal to teenage girls. And, for that reason, I almost didn't read it. I hated reading The Metamorphosis in high school and, to be honest, I still strongly dislike the book and avoid Kafka at all costs because of it. BUT, I am happy to say that the similarity to Kafka's novel begins and ends with this fact: Gretchen Yee one day wishes she could be a fly on the wall of the boy's locker room at her high school. The next day she wakes up as just that.
Gretchen wakes up stuck to the locker wall and she stays there for most of the novel. A fact that, surprisingly, does not make for a boring story. Gretchen gets to observe the boys as they come and go for each gym class. Lower classmen, acquaintances, friends, and even her crush, are all available to scrutinize. Instead of just learning, as she had expected, about what the boys really think and say behind closed doors--Gretchen also gets a chance to find out how she fits into the school. The book is broken into three parts: Life as an artificial red-head, Life as a vermin, and Life as a superhero.
I like Gretchen a lot as a character. She goes to an art school (like La Guardia for any New York natives reading this) in NYC where everyone tries to be special. In a school with girls wearing unitards or saris and cliques like the Art Rats, Gretchen feels too ordinary to belong. Gretchen is also a comic book fan which almost always makes a character fun to read about. Excuse the pun, but after being a fly, Gretchen's metamorphosis from insecure to empowered girl really starts.
At times Lockhart's language seemed a little . . . unique. You can tell me what you think after reading her segment on "gherkins" *ahem*. I don't know if it's that she's using slang that I find weird and this is therefore only my problem, but it just made me hyper-aware that I was reading a book at certain points in the story.
As for the plot, it's a classic problem-resolution kind of story. Which I like. If you need to pick up something light and fun after a sad book (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian perhaps) I'd recommend this. The writing is straight forward and Gretchen is such a unique character that even if you thought Metamorphosis spin-offs are over done (I'm thinking of all those Fly movies right now), you'll find a lot to call new and novel here (that pun was intended too). Finally, even though you think the book is about a girl turning into a fly which is a fair assumption, it's really about more than that too. Specifically, it's about a girl learning to go after what she wants. Now you may ask, does Gretchen get what she wants? You'll have to pick up a copy yourself to find out.
Gretchen wakes up stuck to the locker wall and she stays there for most of the novel. A fact that, surprisingly, does not make for a boring story. Gretchen gets to observe the boys as they come and go for each gym class. Lower classmen, acquaintances, friends, and even her crush, are all available to scrutinize. Instead of just learning, as she had expected, about what the boys really think and say behind closed doors--Gretchen also gets a chance to find out how she fits into the school. The book is broken into three parts: Life as an artificial red-head, Life as a vermin, and Life as a superhero.
I like Gretchen a lot as a character. She goes to an art school (like La Guardia for any New York natives reading this) in NYC where everyone tries to be special. In a school with girls wearing unitards or saris and cliques like the Art Rats, Gretchen feels too ordinary to belong. Gretchen is also a comic book fan which almost always makes a character fun to read about. Excuse the pun, but after being a fly, Gretchen's metamorphosis from insecure to empowered girl really starts.
At times Lockhart's language seemed a little . . . unique. You can tell me what you think after reading her segment on "gherkins" *ahem*. I don't know if it's that she's using slang that I find weird and this is therefore only my problem, but it just made me hyper-aware that I was reading a book at certain points in the story.
As for the plot, it's a classic problem-resolution kind of story. Which I like. If you need to pick up something light and fun after a sad book (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian perhaps) I'd recommend this. The writing is straight forward and Gretchen is such a unique character that even if you thought Metamorphosis spin-offs are over done (I'm thinking of all those Fly movies right now), you'll find a lot to call new and novel here (that pun was intended too). Finally, even though you think the book is about a girl turning into a fly which is a fair assumption, it's really about more than that too. Specifically, it's about a girl learning to go after what she wants. Now you may ask, does Gretchen get what she wants? You'll have to pick up a copy yourself to find out.
maciecret's review against another edition
3.0
It was GREAT, FUN, ADORABLE, WITTY, HUMOROUS, EYE OPENING, AND FAST READ!
I though it would be boring 'cause where the hell is the fun when someone turned into a fly. But then, that was the fun in there. What could possibly happen if someone randomly been turned into fly. I mean no one would probably have the idea, right?
And the good part is, Ive all ready read "The Metamorphosis" in our literature class. It was a sad story about Gregor Samsa who just woke up and happened to be 'vermin' with no apparent reason. This book, I think, was inspired by that short story.
Also, it was such an inspirational story for every teenager out there who is just scared to be heard. However, strong enough to be themselves.
Yeah, so just read it! <3
I though it would be boring 'cause where the hell is the fun when someone turned into a fly. But then, that was the fun in there. What could possibly happen if someone randomly been turned into fly. I mean no one would probably have the idea, right?
And the good part is, Ive all ready read "The Metamorphosis" in our literature class. It was a sad story about Gregor Samsa who just woke up and happened to be 'vermin' with no apparent reason. This book, I think, was inspired by that short story.
Also, it was such an inspirational story for every teenager out there who is just scared to be heard. However, strong enough to be themselves.
Yeah, so just read it! <3
mannu's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0