Scan barcode
mrswhite's review
3.0
Pessl's debut seems to have met a steady stream of both critical acclaim and general annoyance following its 2006 release. Well aware of the opinions of both camps, I tried to approach Special Topics... with an open mind, and I found myself wavering between loving it and wanting to hurl it across the room. The novel - at least in terms of length - is epic, but although the plot meanders considerably, it's essentially a murder mystery wrapped in coming-of-age drama. Blue van Meer has spent her formative years bouncing around the country with her brilliant and pedantic father who seems hell-bent on creating a child who is every bit as brilliant and pedantic as himself. Although they rarely stay in one city for longer than a college semester, Dr. van Meer finally gives in to his daughter's desire for stability by accepting a teaching position in a sleepy little town in North Carolina and enrolling her in St. Galloway - a ritzy prep school that reeks with pretension. Here, Blue's major plans are to enjoy her senior year and clinch the title of class valedictorian, but when she catches the eye of Hannah Schneider - a mysterious, beautiful teacher who is the beloved leader and mentor of "The Bluebloods" (basically the richest, snottiest kids in school) - drama, intrigue and death are soon to follow.
Again, it's been awhile since I've read something that was as enjoyable as it was frustrating. While the actual story was intriguing enough to keep me reading, I found the writing to be gimmicky and grossly overwritten. I was constantly getting lost in endless strings of smiles, metaphors and parenthetical citations used, presumably, to prove how smart the narrator was (i.e. - a chandelier isn't "gaudy." Rather, it's "a gold, five-tiered chandelier...hung like an upside-down duchess shamelessly exposing to the paying public her ankle boots and froufrou petticoat." Ugh.) But there are moments, especially after the first 150 or so pages, when Pessl seems to forget how witty, dazzling, and innovative she is trying to be and just writes, and these are the moments that keep me reading. Basically, is there considerable talent here? Yes. Would Pessl have benefited from more disciplined editing? Most definitely.
Again, it's been awhile since I've read something that was as enjoyable as it was frustrating. While the actual story was intriguing enough to keep me reading, I found the writing to be gimmicky and grossly overwritten. I was constantly getting lost in endless strings of smiles, metaphors and parenthetical citations used, presumably, to prove how smart the narrator was (i.e. - a chandelier isn't "gaudy." Rather, it's "a gold, five-tiered chandelier...hung like an upside-down duchess shamelessly exposing to the paying public her ankle boots and froufrou petticoat." Ugh.) But there are moments, especially after the first 150 or so pages, when Pessl seems to forget how witty, dazzling, and innovative she is trying to be and just writes, and these are the moments that keep me reading. Basically, is there considerable talent here? Yes. Would Pessl have benefited from more disciplined editing? Most definitely.
willbefunorelse's review
1.0
For the full review (including digressions into Things Alaina Likes and Things Alaina Does Well [with citations, even!]), follow the link to That's What She Read.
angelamichelle's review
4.0
Told with gobs of asides--literary allusions, cultural references, scientific similes. Fun to wade through all the flourishes--how did the author have the energy to lavish so much whimsy and so many referents on every blessed little thing. But then, I wanted to just read the book and know what happened next in the story, so I lost patience with the whimsy and flourishes and skimmed a hundred pages or so. But THEN the ending took a surprising turn, revealing that the book really wasn't about a self-absorbed group of teenagers and that breadcrumbs from hundreds of pages ago would be picked back up.
[SPOILERS: Precocious girl and her uber-intellectual father move from one visiting professorship to another until they settle down for her senior year. She gets pulled into the orbit of an eccentric teacher and her pet group of bluebloods. Things get psycho. Turns out Dad, teacher, and other minor characters are all radicals in hiding.]
[SPOILERS: Precocious girl and her uber-intellectual father move from one visiting professorship to another until they settle down for her senior year. She gets pulled into the orbit of an eccentric teacher and her pet group of bluebloods. Things get psycho. Turns out Dad, teacher, and other minor characters are all radicals in hiding.]
mayjasper's review against another edition
5.0
I am so happy to have tracked down this novel that I read years ago and loved. I have been wracking my brains to remember it's title and author. I picked it up for the cover but it was a great read too.
wheezy_reads11's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Could’ve been 200 pages shorter
sagelee12's review
1.0
this book made me feel too dumb for it, and it’s not often a book gets under my skin like this. it was one of those books that said so much and yet almost nothing at all and by the end it “wrapped i in such a bizarre fashion … i think i am not smart enough for this lmao
cloudy_dawn's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I just feel nothing besides frustration for this book
sarahautry's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75