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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
Pretty bored by this one - I wanted more out of it. More action, more resolve, just something more than we got. It was less of a slow burn and more like a slog. Every story felt unfinished, each chapter ending with an email felt awkward and out of place at times.
“All Girls” is a debut novel by Emily Layden, a graduate of Stanford University who has taught at several girls' schools in the U.S. The book follows a bevy of high school girls though a full year of their time at the prestigious (but fictional) Atwater school.
Readers start off by meeting freshmen women during the first week of school, who arrive on the heels of a public lawsuit from a former alumna. So maybe we think the book is about the #metoo movement and sexual abuse? But the book offers tangents into the lives of different girls, their upbringing, their desire to get with boys, make it into prestigious colleges, participate in traditions at the school, and discover the truth behind the allegations and the school’s cover-up.
While reading, I was literally taking notes about the book. I felt I needed to keep track of all of the characters. And I’m glad I did because there were so many names, descriptions, hometowns, pedigrees, and backstories. Yet I was frustrated in that I didn’t really need all of those details. The story mainly focuses on 10 people despite me being introduced to what felt like 20 or more. And 10 is a lot to begin with. Consequently, with 10 stories, the plot bounces around a lot and didn’t hold my interest. Things just didn’t add up for me and I was without a main protagonist to root for. This is a major pass for me.
I’m left wondering if this book is meant to be about a pedigreed school that empowers young women? But then silences them when it comes to their first amendment rights? Or is it about girls who go to boarding school to find their place, their voice and their purpose? I honestly cannot say it was wrapped up in a bow.
Despite this book not being my cup of tea, I’m grateful for the opportunity to review an advanced e-galley from St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest feedback.
Readers start off by meeting freshmen women during the first week of school, who arrive on the heels of a public lawsuit from a former alumna. So maybe we think the book is about the #metoo movement and sexual abuse? But the book offers tangents into the lives of different girls, their upbringing, their desire to get with boys, make it into prestigious colleges, participate in traditions at the school, and discover the truth behind the allegations and the school’s cover-up.
While reading, I was literally taking notes about the book. I felt I needed to keep track of all of the characters. And I’m glad I did because there were so many names, descriptions, hometowns, pedigrees, and backstories. Yet I was frustrated in that I didn’t really need all of those details. The story mainly focuses on 10 people despite me being introduced to what felt like 20 or more. And 10 is a lot to begin with. Consequently, with 10 stories, the plot bounces around a lot and didn’t hold my interest. Things just didn’t add up for me and I was without a main protagonist to root for. This is a major pass for me.
I’m left wondering if this book is meant to be about a pedigreed school that empowers young women? But then silences them when it comes to their first amendment rights? Or is it about girls who go to boarding school to find their place, their voice and their purpose? I honestly cannot say it was wrapped up in a bow.
Despite this book not being my cup of tea, I’m grateful for the opportunity to review an advanced e-galley from St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest feedback.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year, and while it was good, this wasn’t what I expected. I don’t know whether it was the marketing for the book, if the synopsis was misleading, or if this was just me wanting it to be something different. That is not to say this wasn’t good, it was just not what I expected.
Also, I feel like the rapist storyline could've been better explored, but maybe it is more realistic this way, since in real life not many girls would go all 'detective mode' to find out what really happened.
Also, I feel like the rapist storyline could've been better explored, but maybe it is more realistic this way, since in real life not many girls would go all 'detective mode' to find out what really happened.
medium-paced
Entertaining and well-written. I had a hard time following all the characters- each chapter was told from a different perspective.
All Girls is a novel about a girls' boarding school in Connecticut and what happens in the year after sexual assault allegations come out in the school community. Each chapter gives the point of view of a different student that year, separated by emails sent out during that time. From the perspective of a brand new student who just wants to work out how to fit in to seniors taking part in leaving traditions, the interconnected stories show what happened to the wider student body whilst also focusing on a range of teenage issues and the battle to have your voice heard.
One of the most notable things about the book is the fact each chapter is from a different perspective, something likely to divide readers as to whether it works or leaves you disconnected. I personally found it less of an issue that I have with other books that only give each character's perspective once, though it did vary by character as some (those naturally more popular or prevalent) you see outside their own perspectives, and others you hardly do. The individual stories, however, never feel like they quite all come together into anything, and it didn't really feel like the sexual assault narrative, looking at how institutions deal with not only allegations, but with the general conversation and atmosphere around consent, sex, and assault, really came to much either.
I found All Girls a pretty enjoyable reading experience, but lacking in an overall narrative that made the ending satisfying. There were also a number of small things—descriptive phrases, narrative choices—that seemed a bit lazy, and by the end I had forgotten some of the characters' names so did get slightly confused. As someone who likes adult fiction set in closed off academic environments, it wasn't a bad take on the subgenre, but needed something more.
One of the most notable things about the book is the fact each chapter is from a different perspective, something likely to divide readers as to whether it works or leaves you disconnected. I personally found it less of an issue that I have with other books that only give each character's perspective once, though it did vary by character as some (those naturally more popular or prevalent) you see outside their own perspectives, and others you hardly do. The individual stories, however, never feel like they quite all come together into anything, and it didn't really feel like the sexual assault narrative, looking at how institutions deal with not only allegations, but with the general conversation and atmosphere around consent, sex, and assault, really came to much either.
I found All Girls a pretty enjoyable reading experience, but lacking in an overall narrative that made the ending satisfying. There were also a number of small things—descriptive phrases, narrative choices—that seemed a bit lazy, and by the end I had forgotten some of the characters' names so did get slightly confused. As someone who likes adult fiction set in closed off academic environments, it wasn't a bad take on the subgenre, but needed something more.
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow and meandering. i thought that atwater was gorgeously rendered in this book and that emily layden really captured a lot of the little intricacies and details of all girls schools, but i wish that same complexity was lended to the characters. there were just far too many characters that we were in the heads of, and the head-jumping lessened the impact of the central plot for me, as i felt like the characters' connections to the central story lessened the more and more i read on. i just wasn't able to connect with any of the characters or the story as a whole as much as i would have like because of the perspective choices that were made. overall, i did mostly enjoy this book and found the writing atmospheric and vivid and the reflections on the way teen girls today use social media to be pretty insightful, though it was by no means a flawless book.