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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
relaxing
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
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There's not a lot of jeopardy until the end of the book so this feels like a generous 5, but by the end I did feel very invested and quite emotional when she finally defeated the russian world champion. It obviously helps if you're massively into chess since some of the game descriptions can be quite detailed.
A fast read. The TV serial had got the essence of the book - actually the book reads like a screenplay!
I always try to read the book on which a movie or a series is based before watching it, and I'm happy I did so in this case: I still haven't seen the Netflix show, but if it's half as good as the novel, I'm not surprised by its success. The Queen's Gambit, despite its theme, is a book that begged for an on-screen adaptation; masterfully constructed, if at times a little predictable, with not a wasted word, essential and concise; part bildungsroman, part sport thriller and utterly entertaining. Beth is a wonderful protagonist, clever and naive, as brilliant behind a chessboard as she is flawed in the rest of her life, and it's all but impossible not to take her part, even when she majestically screws up.
Chess is, of course, a crucial feature of The Queen's Gambit and having at least a passing knowledge of the game (as I have: whenever the topic arises, I say I don't know how to play chess, I know how the pieces move, and that's two very different things) is recommended, but, I think, not required: even in its most chess-heavy moments, it's always clear what is happening and what is at stake. But then again, even with the recent popolarity boost, I don't think that someone who don't even know what a rook or a pawn is would be very attracted to this book.
And now, off to Netflix!
//
Cerco sempre di leggere il libro su cui si basa un film o una serie prima di vederli, e sono felice di averlo fatto in questo caso: non ho ancora guardato la miniserie di Netflix, ma se è buona la metà di quanto lo è il romanzo, il suo successo non mi sorprende. La regina degli scacchi, nonostante il tema, è un libro che sembra nato per essere portato su schermo; costruito magistralmente, anche se a volte un tantino prevedibile, essenziale e conciso, senza una sola parola di troppo; in parte romanzo di formazione, in parte thriller sportivo e totalmente coinvolgente. Beth è una protagonista fantastica, intelligente e ingenua, tanto geniale dietro una scacchiera quanto imperfetta in tutti gli altri aspetti della sua vita, ed è pressoché impossibile non parteggiare per lei, anche quando si incasina catastroficamente l'esistenza.
Gli scacchi, ovviamente, sono una parte cruciale di La regina degli scacchi (duh) e una conoscenza almeno di base del gioco (come la mia: ogni volta che mi capita di parlarne, dico sempre che io non so giocare a scacchi, so come si muovono i pezzi, e sono due cose molto diverse) è raccomandata ma, secondo me, non indispensabile: anche durante le sequenze più scacchistiche è sempre chiaro che cosa sta succedendo e qual è la posta in gioco. Ma d'altra parte, anche considerando la recente popolarità del libro, faccio fatica a pensare che qualcuno che non sa nemmeno cosa siano una torre o un pedone sia particolarmente interessato a leggerlo.
E ora, Netflix!
Chess is, of course, a crucial feature of The Queen's Gambit and having at least a passing knowledge of the game (as I have: whenever the topic arises, I say I don't know how to play chess, I know how the pieces move, and that's two very different things) is recommended, but, I think, not required: even in its most chess-heavy moments, it's always clear what is happening and what is at stake. But then again, even with the recent popolarity boost, I don't think that someone who don't even know what a rook or a pawn is would be very attracted to this book.
And now, off to Netflix!
//
Cerco sempre di leggere il libro su cui si basa un film o una serie prima di vederli, e sono felice di averlo fatto in questo caso: non ho ancora guardato la miniserie di Netflix, ma se è buona la metà di quanto lo è il romanzo, il suo successo non mi sorprende. La regina degli scacchi, nonostante il tema, è un libro che sembra nato per essere portato su schermo; costruito magistralmente, anche se a volte un tantino prevedibile, essenziale e conciso, senza una sola parola di troppo; in parte romanzo di formazione, in parte thriller sportivo e totalmente coinvolgente. Beth è una protagonista fantastica, intelligente e ingenua, tanto geniale dietro una scacchiera quanto imperfetta in tutti gli altri aspetti della sua vita, ed è pressoché impossibile non parteggiare per lei, anche quando si incasina catastroficamente l'esistenza.
Gli scacchi, ovviamente, sono una parte cruciale di La regina degli scacchi (duh) e una conoscenza almeno di base del gioco (come la mia: ogni volta che mi capita di parlarne, dico sempre che io non so giocare a scacchi, so come si muovono i pezzi, e sono due cose molto diverse) è raccomandata ma, secondo me, non indispensabile: anche durante le sequenze più scacchistiche è sempre chiaro che cosa sta succedendo e qual è la posta in gioco. Ma d'altra parte, anche considerando la recente popolarità del libro, faccio fatica a pensare che qualcuno che non sa nemmeno cosa siano una torre o un pedone sia particolarmente interessato a leggerlo.
E ora, Netflix!
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol
Minor: Death, Racism, Sexual assault, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment
Like many, I imagine, this book came to my attention after the Netflix adaptation starring Anya Taylor-Joy.
It turns out that the adaptation was commendably faithful to the source novel.
Orphan Beth Harmon grows up to be a chess prodigy, fighting first against being almost the only woman in the male-dominated world of competitive chess, and then fighting her own self-destructive impulses.
This is a compelling novel, even if you don't understand a huge amount about chess beyond the basic moves. During the book, Beth grows from a very young girl to the age of 19, and goes through all the rites of passage you'd expect, plus the small matter of becoming US Chess Champion.
Towards the end of the book, Beth starts seeing other, younger prodigies, and starts reflecting on how she could have been even better if she'd had an earlier start or more support. She sees players catching up with her skill level, worries about losing her gift and no longer being a startling young prodigy, and starts wondering what she'll do with the rest of her life. It's a train of thought familiar to anyone who was "gifted" at anything at school, and intensely relatable.
The Queen's Gambit is a pretty quick read, but has some lovely moments. I adored the simplicity of the final scenes. It's much better than its TV adaptation, but both are great pieces of work on their own terms.
It turns out that the adaptation was commendably faithful to the source novel.
Orphan Beth Harmon grows up to be a chess prodigy, fighting first against being almost the only woman in the male-dominated world of competitive chess, and then fighting her own self-destructive impulses.
This is a compelling novel, even if you don't understand a huge amount about chess beyond the basic moves. During the book, Beth grows from a very young girl to the age of 19, and goes through all the rites of passage you'd expect, plus the small matter of becoming US Chess Champion.
Towards the end of the book, Beth starts seeing other, younger prodigies, and starts reflecting on how she could have been even better if she'd had an earlier start or more support. She sees players catching up with her skill level, worries about losing her gift and no longer being a startling young prodigy, and starts wondering what she'll do with the rest of her life. It's a train of thought familiar to anyone who was "gifted" at anything at school, and intensely relatable.
The Queen's Gambit is a pretty quick read, but has some lovely moments. I adored the simplicity of the final scenes. It's much better than its TV adaptation, but both are great pieces of work on their own terms.