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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
reflective
I think it’s better written than two stars but I did not really like it.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A lighthearted, funny novel that carries an unexpected and subtle layer of depth, following a whimsical, unconventional schoolteacher and her cohort of protégés as they grow into their own while under the influence of her being in her prime. The concept of "economy of method" will likely remain with me for some time; The Prime challenges us to question the accuracy of our sight as it pertains to instinct and insight.
Six inches is perfectly adequate. More is vulgar. One should have an innate sense of these things.
Update 2/26/2025: Previously rated 4.5 stars; downgraded to 4.25 stars.
Wonderful. A book to make you laugh. . . and then think.
And when you are finished, I encourage you to read Fionnuala's review of the book. It's located on the book's GoodRead's page about the third review down.
And when you are finished, I encourage you to read Fionnuala's review of the book. It's located on the book's GoodRead's page about the third review down.
i went into this book expecting a weird lady to be the main character (almost like in Paradise Rot but not that raw bc *classic*) but i got a Katherine-type who i pretty quickly grew to despise. I really appreciated that the main focus was not Miss Brodie herself but rather how Sandy and the set experienced and later broke out from under her influence. Hate Brodie and Mr Lloyd so i'd say it was a success
It's remarkable how much depth and complexity Muriel Spark fits into this slender novel. It reads like a lovely puzzle box of a book—not in the sense that the plot is driven by a mystery, but rather that every piece slides precisely into place to unlock a much richer story. It's a story that's witty and sharply observed, but most of all, exceptionally well told.
This novel will, I think, particularly resonate with readers who once were a particular type of precocious but day-dream-prone teenage girl. It memorably explores the experience of growing up to regard certain people, ideas, and golden eras of one's own youth with uncertainly, then embarrassment, then contempt, and finally a nostalgic tenderness. For all the often biting humor of the book, that surprising tenderness is particularly welcome.
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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