My co-worker recommended this book to me, and since she had it in her personal library, I decided to give it a try. I remember trying to read it when it first came out back in 2005 but couldn't get into it. I should have remember that because I had the same feeling this time around when I read it this past week.
Basic premise: Lee, a Midwesterner, arrives to the East Coast to attend Massachusetts boarding school, Ault School. The novel follows Lee through her four years of high school at Ault, each chapter representing a period represented by year and season (Junior Fall for example).
My hope was that as Lee continued her time at Ault, she would develop into a different version of herself: into a confident, happy, social young woman. Instead I find her the same person (and how do characters not develop? Especially during high school?) and I would compare her to Belle Swan (for all those Twilight series readers out there). Lee seems trapped in a one dimensional world, and she often views others around her in a one dimensional way. Character development is missing and it is hard to fall in love with the characters.
The only reason while I continued reading (plowing might be a better term) was to be redeemed at the end. Instead the ending felt flat and anti-climactic.
I give it half a headband (out of three headbands), my preppy rating system.
*Note: Keep in mind that I'm not a critic by occupation but instead just lover of books*
I'm interested to hear your opinion of this book. Please let me know if you agree or if I'm off base, which I totally could be! Read the above note ;-)
Hope everyone has a terrific weekend!
Her book American Wife is much better!
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I can't say I enjoyed this book. In fact, I found it somewhat depressing, but I did think parts of it were extremely well-written and spot on in capturing an "outsider's" insecurity and observations of the "true prep" world. American Wife was not what I'd hoped for either.
ReplyDeleteI read this book several years ago and do not recall many of the details but I do remember feeling disappointed in the story, especially the end... so you are not alone! I have American Wife and am hoping it is better when I get around to reading it : )
ReplyDeleteI remember wanting to read this book for the longest time partially because of the super cute cover, but also because I expected it to be an interesting "account" of prep schools. However, like you I was disappointed with the way the story unfolded itself and the anti-climactic way it ended. Happy Blogging!
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