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A review by mmarlborough
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This buzzy book had been on my list since it came out last year. It’s my first Makkai and I can’t wait to dive into her backlist. She’s a very skilled writer and I’m still thinking about the myriad of themes addressed in this one.
Bodie Kane is back at her private boarding school to teach film and podcasting. She hasn’t been back since she graduated, eager to leave behind the murder of her roommate Thalia Keith. The murderer was convicted back then (the Black athletic trainer Omar Evans) and Bodie accepted the sentencing. But now back at Granby over a decade later, one of Bodie’s students is examining Thalia’s case for her podcast and bringing up a lot of points she never thought of when she was in school.
This book is a long slow burn. It’s so much more than a mystery, exploring complex themes like white saviors, cancel culture, misogyny, and race. It’s maybe too much for one book but also works somehow? The pacing was steady for me for the most part but was bogged down a little bit in the middle. The exploration of memory was also interesting, as was the frame work of the podcast with multiple timelines. I recommend this, preparing yourself not for a traditional fast paced mystery.
✨Trigger Warnings: Murder, Adult/Minor Relationship, Sexual Assault, Racism, Bullying, Eating Disorder, Death of a Parent, Infidelity, Cancer, Self Harm
Bodie Kane is back at her private boarding school to teach film and podcasting. She hasn’t been back since she graduated, eager to leave behind the murder of her roommate Thalia Keith. The murderer was convicted back then (the Black athletic trainer Omar Evans) and Bodie accepted the sentencing. But now back at Granby over a decade later, one of Bodie’s students is examining Thalia’s case for her podcast and bringing up a lot of points she never thought of when she was in school.
This book is a long slow burn. It’s so much more than a mystery, exploring complex themes like white saviors, cancel culture, misogyny, and race. It’s maybe too much for one book but also works somehow? The pacing was steady for me for the most part but was bogged down a little bit in the middle. The exploration of memory was also interesting, as was the frame work of the podcast with multiple timelines. I recommend this, preparing yourself not for a traditional fast paced mystery.
✨Trigger Warnings: Murder, Adult/Minor Relationship, Sexual Assault, Racism, Bullying, Eating Disorder, Death of a Parent, Infidelity, Cancer, Self Harm