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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*3.5
Like many other people, I absolutely loved the Netflix adaptation. I think the author of this book made an excellent job of writing a book about chess in a way that anyone could enjoy it. Even though this story contains a lot of problematic things, like addiction and sexual harassment, it's just such a unique and interesting thing to read about. Beth Harmon reminds me of Inej Ghafa: a young and small looking woman trying to fight her way through a world dominated by men.
Like many other people, I absolutely loved the Netflix adaptation. I think the author of this book made an excellent job of writing a book about chess in a way that anyone could enjoy it. Even though this story contains a lot of problematic things, like addiction and sexual harassment, it's just such a unique and interesting thing to read about. Beth Harmon reminds me of Inej Ghafa: a young and small looking woman trying to fight her way through a world dominated by men.
challenging
informative
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The ingredients for a Netflix sensation are certainly there, but I thought the book itself was disappointing. Part of it, for sure, was the audiobook. It was pretty terrible. Also is the fact that I don't know chess, so all the different moves were tedious, tiresome and (to me) pointless. Mostly, I didn't like Beth. She's a strong female chess player, yes, but a bit of a featherweight as a woman.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5. I read this directly after rewatching the Netflix adaptation so it became more of an exercise in comparison than anything else. It really was interesting to see what Netflix decided needed sanitisation: removing points of offence for our 2020 disposition. Characters lost a lot of their edge - with more second chances given and feel good moments added. Tevis’ novel is grittier, angrier, more isolated. That is partly the function of it being a book: so much of Beth’s interior world has to be exposed in dialogue for a screen adaptation. I’d like to read it again with a bit more distance from the show to conjure it without seeing Anya Taylor-Joy’s face behind my eyes. Nevertheless, I found both enjoyable though once again a bit more chess knowledge could’ve been helpful.
let’s just say i’m very thankful that the show got rid of some of the shit that goes on in this book bc what the actual hell