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aleruuu's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alexisrt's review against another edition
4.0
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl (2006)
therealkathryn's review against another edition
4.0
Great writing but the story was trying too hard.
berlinbibliophile's review against another edition
So pretentious. And the dead body mentioned as the inciting incident of the book in the blurb still hasn't appeared by page 280. I'm not sitting through 240 more pages of pretentious teenage brabble.
deeoh's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
3.0
I'm feeling a little guilty because it seems like nearly everyone is either in love with this book or hates Marisha Pessl because she's hot. I fall into neither category. Yes, she's attractive, but that doesn't make me hate her, but I'm also pretty sure I didn't love her book.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics suffers from the opposite of Spiderman 3 syndrome (too many stories, not enough time) and instead took too long to tell what what actually turned out to be a fairly concise story. For at least 300 pages it sounds like a more erudite version of Mean Girls. The narrator, 16-year-old high school senior Blue Van Meer finds herself for the first time attending the same school for an entire year (her father has spent most of her life criss-crossing the country as a visiting professor of political science). Due to the interest of the alluring film teacher, Hannah Schneider, Blue is initiated into the Bluebloods, the social elite of St. Galway School, but of course struggles adjusting to this new way of life.
As the only child of a widowed professor, Blue is almost ridiculously academic (but in an endearing way), outlining her story like a syllabus, naming each chapter after a major literary work (Shakespeare's Othello begins it and Ovid's Metamorphoses ends it), as well as exhaustively referencing the sources of academic as well as popular culture that influence her. This is all fine and used pretty effectively in quick asides throughout the book. However there are also several occasions where Blue goes into lecture mode, expounding on obscure tales of academia only to tangentially connect to the current action of the story several pages later.
Finally, two-thirds of the way into this 582 page book (I actually had to finish on the 927 large print version after the first copy I checked out from the library was recalled), we discover the real story - a murder mystery that finally uncovers the clouded past of more than one person in Blue's life. However, this has very little to do with the first two-thirds of story that deals so well with Blue's struggles to attempt become part of a social fabric outside of the exclusive Van Meer family (Blue & her dad). Instead, this plot is essentially dropped and Blue seems resigned to always be "the new kid" who never stays in one place long enough to fit in.
I loved getting to know Blue, but you never really get to know any of the other characters in the book, other than as quick caricatures. It felt awful to leave this girl who's perpetually alone (while she & her dad have plenty of intellectual in-jokes, it's clear from the beginning that emotions are something he considers himself above) with no equally fleshed out character of equal depth so that she could finally have a real, true friend.
Quick Take: Starts off as high-school social drama, finally reveals itself to be a dark, political murder mystery - all the pieces are good and interesting, but the whole is bloated and not very compelling - needs considerable editing in the beginning and better development of the ending
Special Topics in Calamity Physics suffers from the opposite of Spiderman 3 syndrome (too many stories, not enough time) and instead took too long to tell what what actually turned out to be a fairly concise story. For at least 300 pages it sounds like a more erudite version of Mean Girls. The narrator, 16-year-old high school senior Blue Van Meer finds herself for the first time attending the same school for an entire year (her father has spent most of her life criss-crossing the country as a visiting professor of political science). Due to the interest of the alluring film teacher, Hannah Schneider, Blue is initiated into the Bluebloods, the social elite of St. Galway School, but of course struggles adjusting to this new way of life.
As the only child of a widowed professor, Blue is almost ridiculously academic (but in an endearing way), outlining her story like a syllabus, naming each chapter after a major literary work (Shakespeare's Othello begins it and Ovid's Metamorphoses ends it), as well as exhaustively referencing the sources of academic as well as popular culture that influence her. This is all fine and used pretty effectively in quick asides throughout the book. However there are also several occasions where Blue goes into lecture mode, expounding on obscure tales of academia only to tangentially connect to the current action of the story several pages later.
Finally, two-thirds of the way into this 582 page book (I actually had to finish on the 927 large print version after the first copy I checked out from the library was recalled), we discover the real story - a murder mystery that finally uncovers the clouded past of more than one person in Blue's life. However, this has very little to do with the first two-thirds of story that deals so well with Blue's struggles to attempt become part of a social fabric outside of the exclusive Van Meer family (Blue & her dad). Instead, this plot is essentially dropped and Blue seems resigned to always be "the new kid" who never stays in one place long enough to fit in.
I loved getting to know Blue, but you never really get to know any of the other characters in the book, other than as quick caricatures. It felt awful to leave this girl who's perpetually alone (while she & her dad have plenty of intellectual in-jokes, it's clear from the beginning that emotions are something he considers himself above) with no equally fleshed out character of equal depth so that she could finally have a real, true friend.
Quick Take: Starts off as high-school social drama, finally reveals itself to be a dark, political murder mystery - all the pieces are good and interesting, but the whole is bloated and not very compelling - needs considerable editing in the beginning and better development of the ending
maryna's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
subvino's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well-written and I loved the premise. The ending wasn't wholly unpredictable (I basically had it pieced together a little over 2/3 through and I'm no genius), but I enjoyed watching the protagonist slowly come to grips with it. I'm writing a short review mostly addressing the criticism I've seen for this book because that same criticism put me off of this book for a few years and now that I've finished it, I'm mad I waited this long to give it a shot.
I agree with the criticism of some of the dialogue being unnatural, but if I'm being honest, I OFTEN feel like dialogue reads as unnatural in a lot of the books I read, especially if the author is verbose or otherwise descriptive. To me, the writing elsewhere in the book makes up for it. Another critique I've seen is that it's overly literary and inaccessible. I liked how all the references tied in to the format of the story and as you read, it all feeds into the characters of Blue and Gareth. It felt apt, and not over my head in any way.
A lot of reviews I've read were saying how this was much worse than Night Film - I read Night Film first and I have to say I liked this a lot more. I was much more easily submerged into the world painted by Pessl in this work versus Night Film, and I didn't hate the characters like I did in Night Film. It can be frustrating watching Blue stumble around the truth for a while, but remember, this book is about a naive teenager that is quite sheltered, despite her intelligence.
Finally, a large amount of reviews mentioned being bitter about the author being young and pretty and getting an advance for this book... say what? Ouch. Not sure of the relevance there. Maybe leave that chip in your shoulder out of your review, fellow random Goodread-ers.
I agree with the criticism of some of the dialogue being unnatural, but if I'm being honest, I OFTEN feel like dialogue reads as unnatural in a lot of the books I read, especially if the author is verbose or otherwise descriptive. To me, the writing elsewhere in the book makes up for it. Another critique I've seen is that it's overly literary and inaccessible. I liked how all the references tied in to the format of the story and as you read, it all feeds into the characters of Blue and Gareth. It felt apt, and not over my head in any way.
A lot of reviews I've read were saying how this was much worse than Night Film - I read Night Film first and I have to say I liked this a lot more. I was much more easily submerged into the world painted by Pessl in this work versus Night Film, and I didn't hate the characters like I did in Night Film. It can be frustrating watching Blue stumble around the truth for a while, but remember, this book is about a naive teenager that is quite sheltered, despite her intelligence.
Finally, a large amount of reviews mentioned being bitter about the author being young and pretty and getting an advance for this book... say what? Ouch. Not sure of the relevance there. Maybe leave that chip in your shoulder out of your review, fellow random Goodread-ers.
mvalat01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
sd1313's review against another edition
5.0
È un libro BELLISSIMO, anche se più che per la trama lo è per la scrittura.
Marisha scrivimi la vita!
E poi vivere nella testa di Blue è stato bellissimo <3
Marisha scrivimi la vita!
E poi vivere nella testa di Blue è stato bellissimo <3