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A review by stephslibrary
S.T.A.G.S by M.A. Bennett
4.0
This book took me by surprise.
I think by the time I'd read the book it had been so long since I properly read the synopsis that I'd forgotten that the book was supposed to take a sinister turn and was under the impression that whatever bad thing happened on this weekend of huntin' shootin' fishin' was just an accident. But from the moment I began the book, I felt a sense of unease. The setting and the overprivileged students gave me the impression that something very wrong was going to happen, and that these kids would prove themselves to be snooty and believe that they are above everyone else. I was right.
As a film buff myself I really enjoyed the numerous references to films, (though I disagree with Greer's opinion that The Princess Diaries is a bad film). I enjoyed Greer as a character and found her actions and choices to be believable but didn't agree with her opinions on what happens towards the end. For once the idea of incredibly stuck up high school students didn't seem utterly ridiculous considering the upbringing of the kids and so the plot felt really organic given the setting and situation. I also was surprised to find that this was set in England, I was convinced it would be an American book but was actually quite glad to see that I was wrong in that assumption.
I read this book via audiobook, and very much enjoyed the experience. I thought the narrator was engaging and was able to switch between various English accents in a way that suited each character and their varying accents (which in some cases was actually relevant to the story).
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and with the way it ended, I intend to also read the sequel whenever it comes out.
I think by the time I'd read the book it had been so long since I properly read the synopsis that I'd forgotten that the book was supposed to take a sinister turn and was under the impression that whatever bad thing happened on this weekend of huntin' shootin' fishin' was just an accident. But from the moment I began the book, I felt a sense of unease. The setting and the overprivileged students gave me the impression that something very wrong was going to happen, and that these kids would prove themselves to be snooty and believe that they are above everyone else. I was right.
As a film buff myself I really enjoyed the numerous references to films, (though I disagree with Greer's opinion that The Princess Diaries is a bad film). I enjoyed Greer as a character and found her actions and choices to be believable but didn't agree with her opinions on what happens towards the end. For once the idea of incredibly stuck up high school students didn't seem utterly ridiculous considering the upbringing of the kids and so the plot felt really organic given the setting and situation. I also was surprised to find that this was set in England, I was convinced it would be an American book but was actually quite glad to see that I was wrong in that assumption.
I read this book via audiobook, and very much enjoyed the experience. I thought the narrator was engaging and was able to switch between various English accents in a way that suited each character and their varying accents (which in some cases was actually relevant to the story).
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and with the way it ended, I intend to also read the sequel whenever it comes out.