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A review by verymom
The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
5.0
Listened to the audiobook after watching the series on Netflix. Some spoilers below:
The series stays pretty close to the book. A few changes (like removing Beth's molestation in the orphanage) seems like a good call. The series allows a Black character (Jolene) to simply be a good friend rather than a harbinger of more harm and trauma (though book Jolene is much more nuanced than just that one scene and does end up being a good friend, after all she was a traumatized and likely abused child too). The series also removes some of the sexism in the book though enough remains to make it feel true to the Cold-War era 60s.
Beth's addictions are dialed up in the series, though they are certainly present (and tragic) in the book. It feels like Netflix turned up the volume on a lot of the book's subtler plot points and I find myself liking the series better than the book because of it. Also, as someone who has never played chess in her life, watching the games on screen was more enjoyable than listening to the games detailed in the book. However, I was still rooting for Beth and would recommend the audiobook to anyone who enjoyed the series.
The series stays pretty close to the book. A few changes (like removing Beth's molestation in the orphanage) seems like a good call. The series allows a Black character (Jolene) to simply be a good friend rather than a harbinger of more harm and trauma (though book Jolene is much more nuanced than just that one scene and does end up being a good friend, after all she was a traumatized and likely abused child too). The series also removes some of the sexism in the book though enough remains to make it feel true to the Cold-War era 60s.
Beth's addictions are dialed up in the series, though they are certainly present (and tragic) in the book. It feels like Netflix turned up the volume on a lot of the book's subtler plot points and I find myself liking the series better than the book because of it. Also, as someone who has never played chess in her life, watching the games on screen was more enjoyable than listening to the games detailed in the book. However, I was still rooting for Beth and would recommend the audiobook to anyone who enjoyed the series.